Two-Run Homer Leads Wahoos To Win Over Biloxi
April 17, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Hudson smashed his first home run this season in the third inning to give his team a 2-0 lead and the win over the Biloxi Shuckers Sunday afternoon at MGM Park.
Pensacola took four of the five games from Biloxi and shut the Shuckers out twice.
With Cincinnati Reds 2014 All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco doing his rehabilitation in Pensacola, the Blue Wahoos have three catchers. It’s meant less playing time for Hudson, who was playing in only his second game this season.
However, Hudson got all of the pitch thrown by Taylor Jungmann. His blast to center field also scored third baseman Taylor Sparks, who singled on a soft grounder back to the pitcher.
Meanwhile, Pensacola righty Austin Ross threw eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, two walks and struck out three. He picked up his first win for the Blue Wahoos and is now 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA.
Jimmy Herget saved his fifth game in five appearances, striking out two. He’s only allowed one hit and one walk in six scoreless innings on the year and struck out 13.
Pensacola’s pitching staff has been dominant this season. It leads the Southern League with a 2.18 ERA, has the second most strikeouts with 90 and has allowed the second least amount of hits at 59.
After the first two series of the 2017 season, the Blue Wahoos are in first place in the South Division at 7-3.
At Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, last year’s Blue Wahoos starter Sal Romano made his big leg debut Sunday. Romano got the loss, allowing a two-run homer to Ryan Braun and a solo homer to Travis Shaw in the third inning. Romano pitched three innings, allowed three runs, two earned, gave up three hits, walked four and struck out two. Relieving Romano was former Blue Wahoos pitcher Tim Adleman, who in his first game this season with Cincinnati pitched four innings, allowing two hits, including a home run and struck out five.
Wahoos Beat Biloxi
April 16, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos third basemen Taylor Sparks said he gets as excited when he walks as when he hits a home run.
Sparks was really excited Saturday when he hit the game-winning homer to right field in the 11th inning at MGM Park against Biloxi Shuckers reliever Taylor Scott. The Sparks homer, his second of the season, gave Pensacola a 2-1 victory Friday over the Shuckers and helped the Blue Wahoos clinch the five-game series with its third win.
Biloxi only got one hit on the night when shortstop Maurico Dubon singled on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Sparks.
Pensacola starter Deck McGuire tossed a one-hitter in his six innings of work and allowed one unearned run, while walking two and striking out seven.
Biloxi went ahead, 1-0, in the first inning when shortstop Maurico Dubon walked and then stole second and third base. Dubon scored when Pensacola catcher Devin Mesoraco was charged with an error trying to throw Dubon out at third. Dubon also stole second and third in the third inning.
But Pensacola pitchers combined after Dubon’s bunt single in the third inning to the 11th inning to retire the last 26 batters that Biloxi sent to the plate.
McGuire, Brennan Bernardino, Ariel Hernandez, Domingo Tapia and Jimmy Herget shut down the Biloxi lineup. Herget struck out the side in the 11th inning to earn his fourth save in four opportunities. Pensacola’s five pitchers struck out 16 Biloxi hitters.
Pensacola tied the game, 1-1, in the eighth inning when Blue Wahoos right fielder Aristides Aquino hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored catcher Devin Mesoraco.
Biloxi pitcher Luis Ortiz threw a no-hitter through five innings, walking four and striking out five. The Shuckers five pitchers combined to strike out 14 Blue Wahoos hitters.
Pensacola left fielder Gabriel Guerrero was 2-5 with two singles for his fifth multi-hit game in nine games. He is batting .351 on the season. Second baseman Josh VanMeter also had two hits in four at bats, and walked. He is now hitting .321 for the Blue Wahoos.
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.