Tate Softball Beats Niceville; Tate Baseball Beats Pace
April 15, 2017
SOFTBALL
Tate 9, Niceville 6
The Tate Lady Aggies came alive in the bottom of the fifth Friday on their way to a 9-6 win over Niceville.
The Aggies added six runs in the fifth for a 7-1 lead before Niceville answered with five runs in the top of the sixth.
Hannah Brown pitched a complete game for Tate, allowing 10 hits, six runs, three errors, walking three and striking out four. She was 3-4 at the plate with a double.
For Tate: Hayden Lindsay 2-4, 2R; Belle Wolfenden 1-3, RBI; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, R, RBI; Leslee Scruggs 2-4, R, 3 RBI 2B; Ashely Lundquist R; Shelby McLean 1-3, 2 RBI; 2B; Deazia Nickerson 1-3, R.
BASEBALL
Tate 7, Pace 2
The Tate Aggies beat Pace 7-2 Friday night.
Gabe Castro pitched a fulll game for Tate, allowing four hits, two runs, two errors an striking out one batter.
For Tate: Reid Halfacre 1-2, R; Mason Land 3-3, R, 2RBI, 2B; Logan McGuffey 1-4, 2RBI; Logan Blackmon 1-2, R, RBI; Jesse Sherrill 2-3, R; Corben Young, R; Blake Anderson R; RBI; Ethan Bloodworth R.
Blue Wahoos Fall To Shuckers 6-2
April 15, 2017
The Biloxi Shuckers sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the second and scored five runs to end the Pensacola Blue Wahoos three-game winning streak, 6-2, Friday at MGM Park.
Biloxi got four singles from right fielder Clint Coulter, second baseman Javier Betancourt, catcher Dustin Houle and shortstop Maurico Dubon and a line drive double to left field from third baseman Angel Ortega to score the first four runs in the inning and go ahead, 4-0. Ortega capped the scoring when he crossed the plate when first baseman Dustin DeMuth grounded into a force out.
Blue Wahoos righty Keury Mella lasted just 1.2 innings. He gave up five earned runs on six hits and struck out two. The Cincinnati Reds’ organization 19th ranked prospect is now 0-2 on the year.
Pensacola used four pitchers in relief of Mella and allowed just one more run to the Shuckers on five hits. Biloxi Michael Reed hit his second home run of the season to left field off of Blue Wahoos reliever Alex Powers in the fourth inning to put Biloxi up, 6-2. Powers pitched 3.1 innings in relief, giving up three hits and striking out one.
Seven of Biloxi’s nine starters earned hits in the game.
The Blue Wahoos had pulled within, 5-2, in the top of the fourth inning when second baseman Josh VanMeter doubled to center field with two outs to drive in both Brian O’Grady and Powers. VanMeter has three doubles this season and is hitting .292 on the year.
Blue Wahoos left fielder Gabriel Guerrero went 2-5 with two singles to raise his average this season to a team-leading .344. He has four multi-hit games in the first eight games.
Pensacola fell into a three-way tie with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Mississippi Braves for first place in the South Division at 5-3.
Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight
April 14, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Luis Castillo pitched his second strong outing, allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings.
In his first start for Pensacola, after being traded to the Cincinnati Reds from the Miami Marlins on Jan. 19, Castillo allowed one run on three hits in six innings.
Castillo’s performance helped the Blue Wahoos win its third straight game, 4-1, over the Biloxi Shuckers Thursday night at MGM Park in front of 2,545. It also gave Pensacola a, 2-0, lead in the five-game series.
Castillo, the Red’s No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, picked up his first victory after getting a no-decision in his first start. His ERA is 1.36 after two games. In Miami’s organization, Castillo who can touch 100 mph with his fastball, was Minor League Pitcher of the Year and the No. 2 prospect.
The Blue Wahoos sent seven hitters to the plate in the fifth inning and broke out with three runs to take the lead, 3-0. Its first two runs came when center fielder Brian O’Grady doubled to drive in both left fielder Gabriel Guerrero, who had singled, and first baseman Angelo Gumbs, who earned a walk. Guerrero is hitting .333 this season. Then third baseman Alex Blandino drove in O’Grady with his third double and fourth RBI in two games against Biloxi.
Pensacola tacked on another run to go up, 4-0, in the sixth when right fielder Aristides Aquino walked and stole second. Blue Wahoos second baseman Josh VanMeter, who is hitting .316, then doubled to right field to score Aquino.
Biloxi scored its only run when pinch hitter Nick Ramirez blasted a solo home run to right field to make the score, 4-1.
Once again, the Pensacola bullpen blanked the opposition. In his one inning, Ariel Hernandez gave up one hit, one walk and struck out two. Ismael Guillon earned his first save of the season, even though, he gave up two hits and had to work out of a jam with Biloxi runners on first and third.
Tate Falls To Pace
April 14, 2017
Pace 6, Tate 2
The Tate Aggies lost a crucial 7A district game to Pace Thursday night 6-2.
The Aggies took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Trey LaFleur singled with one out. But the game took a turn in Pace’s favor quickly in the bottom of the fifth with six runs for the Patriots.
LaFleur was 2-3 with a run, a double and a RBI. Also for Tate: Logan Blackmon R; Kyler Hultgren 1-3.
Tate will host Pace Friday night.
Pace 3, Tate 2 (JV)
Northview Softball Beats Neal
April 13, 2017
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated W.S. Neal Tuesday night 10-1.
Tori Herrington earned the win in seven innings on the mound for Northview, allowing two hits, one run and striking out 10 while allowing no errors.
For Northview – J Newton 1-3, R, RBI; Tori Herrington 1-4, RBI; Aubrey Love 2-4, R, RBI, 3B; Peighton Dortch 3-2, 2 R, RBI; V Shelly 1-3, 3 R; Lydia Smith 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI 2B.
Escambia Academy has canceled their Thursday game at Canoe against the Chiefs. Northview has added a 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 home game against Chipley for Senior Night.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Shut Out Biloxi
April 13, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos second baseman Alex Blandino hit a line drive double to left field with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to score three runs.
It was all the Blue Wahoos needed to win its first game, 3-0, on the road Wednesday against the Biloxi Shuckers at MGM Park in front of 3,708.
Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino led off the fourth inning with a walk and moved to second base on a single to left field by left fielder Gabriel Guerrero. Leon Landry then reached on a fielder’s choice and Guerrero was out at second base. Blue Wahoos third baseman Taylor Sparks then got the first of his three walks in the game to load the bases.
That’s when Blandino, who’s working on being more consistent at the plate, hit the first pitch to left and cleared the bases. He was 3-4 on the night with two doubles.
Meanwhile, Tyler Mahle allowed just one hit in seven innings of work, walked two and struck out six. Mahle is now 2-0 on the year with a 0.71 ERA.
In the home opener, Mahle pitched 4.1 perfect innings. Against Biloxi he pitched 5 perfect innings. To start the sixth inning, Mahle walked Angel Ortega and then second baseman Javier Betancourt singled to right field. He then walked Dustin DeMuth to load the bases with no outs.
But Mahle got out of the inning unscathed. He struck out the next two batters and got the third to ground out to first base.
Austin Brice and Jimmy Hegert both pitched one inning of hitless relief and closed out Pensacola’s first shutout of the season. Brice walked one, while Hegert struck out the side for his third save of the season. The Blue Wahoos now lead the Southern League with a 2.50 ERA in its six games this season.
Northview Athletes Qualify For Track Regionals
April 13, 2017
The following Northview High School athletes have qualify for regionals in track:
Beauchaine Tosses No Hitter For Tate Lady Aggies
April 12, 2017
Tate 14, Pine Forest 0 (5 innings)
The Tate Lady Aggies 10-run ruled the Pine Forest Eagles 14-0 Tuesday evening in five innings as freshman Avery Beauchaine threw a no-hitter.
Beauchaine was on the mound for five innings, allowing no hits, no runs, no errors, walking four and striking out eight. At the plate, she was 1-3 with 2 RBI.
For Tate: Deazia Nickerson 1-1, R; Kendall Attaway R; Shelby McLean 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Leslee Scruggs 1-2, 2 RBI 2B; Gabby Locke, 1-2, 2 R; Ashley Lundquist 1-2, R, RBI; Sydni Solliday, 2 R; Madison Nelson 1-2, 2 R; RBI, 3B; Taylor Hedgepeth 1-2, R, 2 RBI; Katie Snyder 2-3, 2 RBI.
Wins For Northview, Tate; NHS Softball Adds Games
April 11, 2017
BASEBALL
Northview 9, T.R. Miller 6
The Northview Chiefs took on T.R. Miller (25-1) Monday. In the end, the Chiefs dished out the second loss of the year for Miller as Northview beat T.R.M. 9-6.
The Chiefs begin a long series on the road Thursday against Baker, followed by away games at Chipley, Jay, and West Florida before returning home to host Freeport on April 21.
T.R. Miller 7, Northview (JV)
Tate 5, West Florida 1 (9th)
SOFTBALL
Tate 10, Osceola 4
The Tate Aggies beat Osceola 10-4 on Saturday to place 7th out of 16 teams in the Kissimmee Tournament. The Lady Aggies were 2-2 in the tournament play.
For Tate: Hannah Brown 3-4, 3 R, RBI, 2B; Belle Wolfenden 2-3, 3 R RBI, 2B; Shelby Ullrich 2-2, 2R, 3RBI, 2B; Ashley Lunquist 1-3, RBI; Shelby McClean 2-3, RBI; Katie Snyder R; Deazia Nickerson 2-3; R.
Northview adds WS Neal games
Northview High School’s Lady Chiefs has added games at W.S. Neal on Tuesday. The JV will play at Neal at 4:00, while the varsity will play at 6:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Smokies In Home Series
April 11, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Austin Ross got his first start in two seasons Monday against the Tennessee Smokies.
All the 28-year-old did was toss six innings—his longest start since he pitched 6.1 innings Aug. 25, 2014 in a start for the former Double-A Huntsville Stars. He gave up two runs on three hits to help Pensacola to a, 3-2, win in front of 4,018 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
And afterward, Pensacola club co-owner Quint Studer introduced Ross to a group of star-struck baseball fans from Wisconsin. Ross played seven years in the Milwaukee Brewers organization before the Cincinnati Reds picked him up as a free agent in January.
“It was definitely fun,” Ross said. “It was something different than I’ve done the last two years. But I built up to it all spring training.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly liked what he saw from Ross, who pitched 96 games out of the bullpen for Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Colorado Springs the past two seasons. He threw 96 innings and struck out 157.
“That was great,” Kelly said. “He got stronger as the game went along. The sixth was his best inning.”
Ross retired the last 12 of 13 batters he faced, giving up a walk in the fourth inning. He credited catcher Devin Mesoraco for his good showing. The 2014 Cincinnati Reds All-Star is doing his up to 20-day rehabilitation assignment in Pensacola.
“I felt like I fell into a groove in the middle innings,” Ross said. “Me and Mez got into a good rhythm out there.”
It was Mesoraco who delivered the single that propelled the Blue Wahoos to victory. With the game tied, 2-2, in the seventh inning, catcher Devin Mesoraco came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and ripped Pensacola’s fourth straight single. The hit to left field drove in center fielder Brian O’Grady with the winning run, putting the Blue Wahoos on top, 3-2.
Kelly said Mesoraco, who played all nine innings Monday, will likely play three games against the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers this week, including back-to-back nine inning games. Kelly said Mesoraco will likely stay in Pensacola until it finishes the series with the Mobile Bay Bears April 26. The Reds’ are bringing him back slowly after his two hip surgeries and shoulder surgery limited him to 18 games behind the plate for the big league club the past two seasons.
Mesoraco’s game-winning hit also helped Pensacola clinch its first series of the year, 3-2, and the Blue Wahoos have now beat Tennessee in six straight series at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Not only that, he threw out Smokies second baseman Davis Bote trying to steal second on a double steal.
“As much as we would love to have him back (in Cincinnati), we want him to go there and stay there,” Kelly said. “The biggest thing is not to rush it.”
Pensacola scored its second run to knot the game, 2-2, in the fourth inning when right fielder Aristides Aquino doubled and then scored when left fielder Gabriel Guerrero knocked a double into left field. Guerrero has reached base seven straight times in the last two games.
Tennessee scored first for the third straight game, taking a 1-0 lead, when Charcer Burks singled, was bunted to second, stole third on a double steal and then scored on first baseman Yasiel Balaguert soft liner to right field.
The Smokies scored its second run in the third inning when pitcher Duane Underwood scored on a ground out by second baseman David Bote, to take a 2-1 lead.
Austin Brice, who also is on rehab in Pensacola, made his second appearance for the Blue Wahoos, pitching the seventh inning. He got the win, striking out one, allowing one hit and throwing a wild pitch.
“Brice looked a little freer today (Monday),” Kelly said. “He looked a lot better.”
Jimmy Herget protected the Blue Wahoos one-run lead and picked up the save by retiring all six batters he faced in the final two innings. He struck out three of the Smokies hitters.
The Blue Wahoos staff has an earned-run average of 3.00 in its first five games.
“I got to give them an A,” Kelly said of his pitching staff after the first series. “They’ve been outstanding.”