Wahoos Winning Season Ends With Loss To Mississippi
September 11, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finished with its first winning season in its five-year history with a franchise record 81 wins this year.
But the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate, which won both the first and second halves this season, lost to the Mississippi Braves, 4-2, Saturday, ending its dream to win its first Southern League Championship.
It’s the second year in a row that Pensacola has lost in the opening round of the playoffs. After winning the second half of the season last year, it was swept in three games by the Biloxi Shuckers.
Mississippi’s victory at Trustmark Park earned it a 3-1 South Division playoff title. It advances to play the North Division title winner the Jackson Generals, who beat the Montgomery Biscuits, 8-2, Saturday.
Pensacola’s hitters were shut down by Mississippi’s pitching, generating just 10 runs and 30 hits in the four games. Meanwhile, the Braves scored 23 runs on 47 hits, getting 17 and 11 in the last two games.
In its three losses to the Braves, Pensacola seemed unable to get a clutch hit when it needed one. That was unusual for a team that set a franchise record with 12 walk-offs this season. But in the playoffs, the Blue Wahoos left 23 runners on base and was 5-31 or .161 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
The only player who did come through at the plate against Mississippi for Pensacola was shortstop Zach Vincej. He was 8-17 or .471 with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
On Saturday, Mississippi right-handed starter Lucas Sims struck out the side in the third inning and struck out five of the six batters he faced between the second and third innings. He retired seven in a row. In his five innings of work, Sims allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out six.
He came out after Game 4 in Pearl, Miss., was delayed by rain for just over an hour at the end of the fifth inning.
The Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning for right fielder Connor Lien who singled to right field to drive in second baseman Levi Hyams and left fielder Dustin Peterson to jump out in front, 2-0. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde threw to second to catch Lien trying to stretch his single to a double to end the inning.
“They got some big two-out hits and that’s kind of what they did all series,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said after the game.
Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco hit a two out double in the bottom of the third inning off the wall in right field to score Peterson from first to put Braves ahead, 3-0. Franco finished the series 7-15 or .467 with a home run and 6 RBIs.
Pensacola came back in the fourth inning when Elizalde singled to drive in Blandino, who walked, and left fielder Phillip Ervin, who doubled off the center field wall, and pulled the Blue Wahoos within, 3-2.
Mississippi went ahead, 4-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning when center fielder Mallex Smith singled on a ground ball to left field with two outs to score shortstop Johan Camargo. Pensacola reliever Barrett Astin came in and struck out Hyams to end the inning.
“I thought the fourth inning was huge,” Kelly said. “We throw a two-spot on the board, we come back 3-2, and then they score a run. The momentum switches a little bit right there.”
The run chased Pensacola starter Tyler Mahle out of the game. The 21-year-old right hander worked 3.2 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on seven hits and a walk.
In the seventh inning, Pensacola had second baseman Brandon Dixon reach base with a walk and shortstop Zach Vincej earned the Blue Waboos third hit of the game with no outs but they were both stranded on base.
Ervin got his second hit of the game Saturday when he hit a line drive off of Mississippi reliever Caleb Dirks hip in the eighth inning and the fourth in the game for the Blue Wahoos. Ervin went 2-4 in the game.
Aggies Cruise To Homecoming Win Over West Gadsden
September 10, 2016
The Tate Aggies cruised to an easy homecoming win Friday night, 41-6 over West Gadsden.
The game was scoreless until 24 second before the end of the first when Tate took a 7-0 lead. By the half, the Aggies had expanded their lead to 21-0 after touchdowns with 5:42 and 0:50 remaining in the second half. Tate continued to dominate with a 34-0 advantage in the third, with West Gadsden’s only score coming with 4:38 in the third.
Tate (3-0) will be away next week at Pensacola High School.
COMING UP: NorthEscambia.com will publish a photo gallery with football action photos, the band, cheerleaders and the homecoming court by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Plays Up Against Gulf Breeze, Falls 42-0
September 10, 2016
For the second time this season, the Northview Chiefs played up several classifications and against much larger rosters, and for the second time this season the Chiefs were sent home scoreless. The 1A Chiefs lost to the 6A Gulf Breeze Dolphins Friday night, 42-0 in Gulf Breeze.
The loss came two weeks after a road trip to 6A Crestview in which the Chiefs lost 70-0. At 1-2, Northview’s win this season came last week 21-14 against a much similar-sized team from Escambia Academy in Canoe, AL.
Next week, the Chiefs are back home in Bratt as they play host to the Chipley Tigers. The Tigers (0-3) are coming off a 42-8 loss to Blountstown Friday night.
COMING UP: NorthEscambia.com will publish a photo gallery with football action photos, the band, and cheerleaders by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Miracle League Open New Baseball Field
September 10, 2016
Members of Impact 100 and the volunteers of the Miracle League of Pensacola celebrated the grand opening of a new baseball field Friday night. The Miracle League of Pensacola provides an opportunity for the physically and mentally challenged to play baseball in a safe and encouraging environment. The generous grant received from IMPACT 100 has provided the resources to create an additional field to service future players and their families. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Game Three To Mississippi
September 10, 2016
The Braves scored four runs in the first two innings, including a controversial two-run, inside-the-park home run by right fielder Keith Curcio, and defeated Pensacola, 9-2, Friday at Trustmark Park. The victory put Mississippi up, 2-1, in the best-of-five series.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are on the brink of elimination by the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League South Division playoffs.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly was ejected for the second time this season when he stormed the field to argue about Curcio’s home run. Blue Wahoos right fielder Sebastian Elizalde raised his arms in the air signaling for a ground rule double when Curcio’s hit appeared to get lodged under the fence.
Kelly spiked his hat, took a big kick at the grass and gestured wildly at the right field fence to first base umpire Alex Zeigler, who threw Kelly out of the game.
The Braves got big contributions from two players that were recently called up from the High-A Carolina Mudcats. Curcio, playing in his second game, went 1-5 with the homer and two RBIs that put the Braves up 4-0 at the end of two innings.
Meanwhile, catcher Kade Scivicque, playing in his fourth game, went 4-4 with one run scored and one RBI. His single drove in first baseman Joey Meneses for a 6-2 Braves lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Mississippi Mallex Smith also led the Braves 17-hit attack going 3-3 with a walk, double and triple and one RBI. Smith has now played in eight games for the Braves on a major league rehab assignment after breaking his left thumb.
After Pensacola loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the first and failed to score, Mississippi jumped out ahead, 2-0, in the bottom of the inning.
Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco, who is hitting .545 in three playoff games including a three-run homer Thursday, singled to right field to score center fielder Mallex Smith to take a 1-0 lead. Braves first baseman Joey Meneses singled to left field to drive in left fielder Dustin Peterson to put Mississippi up, 2-0.
In the third inning, Pensacola first baseman Ray Chang smacked a two out single to left field that scored center fielder Brandon Dixon bringing the Blue Wahoos within, 4-1, of the Braves.
Pensacola cut the lead in half to 4-2 when Zach Vincej tripled off the left field wall with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to score left fielder Phillip Ervin.
But that was as close as Pensacola would get to Mississippi in Friday’s game.
Pensacola starter Sal Romano, who threw great all second half going 5-4 with a 2.43 ERA, gave up five earned runs on nine hits and one walk, while striking out three in five innings.
Pensacola and Mississippi play the fourth game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Trustmark Park. If Game 5 is needed, it will be played at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In the North Division playoffs, the Montgomery Biscuits won, 4-3, over the Jackson Generals and now trail in the series, 2-1.
Prep Football Scores
September 10, 2016
Here’s a look at tonight’s high school football FINAL scores from across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
Gulf Breeze 42, Northview 0
Tate 41, West Gadsden 6
Wewahitchka 34, Jay 22
Kemper County 14, West Florida 9
Pine Forest 28, Pace 7
Escambia 36, Catholic 32
PHS 38, Washington 21
Milton 31, Fort Walton Beach 19
ALABAMA
Clarke County 35, Flomaton 21
Escambia Academy 52, Pickens Academy 6
Monroe County 24, Escambia County (Atmore) 18 2OT
T.R. Miller 38, Hillcrest (Evergreen) 12
Satsuma 29, W.S. Neal 12
Volleyball: Jay Tops Northview
September 9, 2016
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs varsity in three sets, 25-15, 25-15, 25-21, Thursday night in Bratt. In JV action. Jay downed Northview 25-13, 25-23.
Northview will travel to Flomaton on Monday (4:00 JV/5:00 varsity), while Jay will host Pensacola Christian today (5:00 JV/6:00 varsity).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Majorettes To Host Mini-Majorette Clinic
September 9, 2016
The Northview High School Majorettes are hosting a Mini-Majorette Clinic on September 13, 14 and 15 from 4-5 p.m. each day. The clinic will teach students baton tricks, skills and a baton routine they will perform during a pregame show on September 16. The clinic is open to any student between age 5 and grade 8. Students should bring their own baton, or one will be provided.
The cost is $25 per child and includes the clinic, a t-shirt, game admission and the performance.
To register, or for more information, click here for a registration form.
Wahoos Drop Playoff Game
September 9, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos gave up four runs in the third inning to the Mississippi Braves and couldn’t recover Thursday.
Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco hit a three-run homer in the third inning and 6-foot-6 right-hander Patrick Weigel handcuffed the Pensacola hitters throwing seven scoreless innings to give the Braves a 5-0 win Thursday in front of 3,866 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Mississippi tied the Southern League South Division series, 1-1, and now plays the next two games at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday at Trustmark Park. If Game 5 is needed, it will be played at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly expressed confidence in his team, despite the split at home. The Blue Wahoos won both series at Mississippi, going 7-3.
“Obviously, we wanted to win two here,” Kelly said. “It’s a best of three series now. It’s nice to know we can come back for game five.”
Franco lifted a high deep fly ball into Hill-Kelly Dodge Hill in right field with one out in the third inning to score three runs and put Mississippi on top, 5-0. It was his fifth homer this year.
Pensacola seemed jinxed to start the third inning. Braves center fielder Mallex Smith bunted down the first base line and Pensacola pitcher Jackson Stephens fielded and threw to first base hitting Pensacola first baseman Ray Chang right between the eyes.
Then Braves second baseman Levi Hyams hit a ball that deflected off of Stephens’ glove and reached first. Mississippi slugging left fielder Dustin Peterson smacked a hard liner into center field to score Smith to put the Braves up, 2-0. Franco finished the inning off with the fourth straight hit off of Stephens.
Stephens has been inconsistent in his last five starts. He’s allowed 16 runs in his last 21.1 innings pitched, which is a 6.75 ERA. In the second game of the playoffs, he pitched five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five.
Meanwhile, Pensacola’s Evan Mitchell pitched three scoreless innings of relief and now has thrown 15.2 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one. Kyle McMyne retired the Braves in order in the ninth.
Kelly said it has been fun watching Mitchell gain confidence on the mound.
“It’s fun to see,” Kelly said. “He’s got great stuff. He has a 94 mph sinker and what a scout told me was a man hole cover slider.”
But the story Thursday was really 22-year-old Weigel who was making just his fourth start in Double-A. The right-hander pitched a gem throwing seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out eight.
Pensacola was unable to figure out the Braves’ Weigel, who allowed one Blue Wahoos runner to third base and one to second base. Weigel was called up to Mississippi on Aug. 19 from the Low-A Rome Braves where he was 10-4 with a 2.51 ERA.
“Weigel was good,” Kelly said. “He had all four pitches working. He was very impressive. We had a report on him that if you got him into the stretch he was not very good. We just didn’t get him in the stretch too many times.”
In his last start on Sept. 1 against Biloxi, Weigel was sharp, too. He allowed one unearned run on two hits over 8.1 innings, while striking out four.
Mississippi jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Franco hit a leadoff single to left field. He scored easily from second base when Braves right fielder Connor Lien doubled over the head of Pensacola left fielder Phillip Ervin for a 1-0 lead.
Blue Wahoos leadoff hitter Alex Blandino and No. 3 hitter Sebastian Elizalde got five of the Blue Wahoos six hits Thursday. Blandino was 3-4 with a double, while Elizalde had two singles in four at bats.
In the North Division playoff, the Jackson Generals took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series against the Montgomery Biscuits with a 2-1 victory at home.
Wahoos Win First Playoff Game
September 8, 2016
In the opening game of the best-of-five Southern League South Division playoffs, Pensacola did it the Wahoo Way.
They extended its franchise record to 12 walk-offs this year when with the bases loaded Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Hudson walked on four straight pitches from Mississippi closer Caleb Dirks to give Pensacola a dramatic 6-5 victory Wednesday.
The game was also entertaining for the 2,652 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium and everyone else in attendance, including Pensacola manager Pat Kelly.
“They call it Wahoo Way baseball,” a grinning Kelly said. “We’ve played it all year. We only had to score two runs to win.”
The thriller came in front of all the top brass in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
“That was outstanding,” said Walt Jocketty, President of Baseball Operations. “It was the best game I’ve seen all year.”
It appeared the game was over with the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-3, and Southern League saves leader Alejandro Chacin taking the mound to shut down the Braves like he had done in 30 of 35 times during the regular season.
But that’s not what happened. What happened was with one out left to go in the ninth, Mississippi pinch hitter Stephen Gaylor slapped a single up the middle to score right fielder Connor Lien. A low throw from Pensacola center fielder Brandon Dixon and a high throw from second baseman Alex Blandino to home allowed Mississippi shortstop Johan Camargo to score, putting the Braves back on top, 5-4.
After the inning, a dejected looking Chacin walked slower than a turtle back to the dugout.
“We didn’t want to say it but we had a feeling in the dugout that something special was going to happen,” said veteran minor leaguer Ray Chang, who played at first base.
And it did.
Chang tied the game on a single to left field that scored left fielder Phillip Ervin to tie the game, 5-5. Chang’s double in the fourth inning that drove in Dixon also knotted the game, 1-1.
Then Hudson walked with two outs to allow Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde to score the game winning run, 6-5.
“He deserves a lot of credit,” said the 32-year-old Chang about Hudson. “That’s a big time situation. He forced him to throw strikes. That’s a big at bat.”
The Blue Wahoos and the Braves have now played in a one-run game 11 times in the clubs’ 21 meetings this season.”
“Anytime you win game one it’s huge,” Kelly said. “When we squandered an opportunity, you kind of wonder if you’re going to get a chance to get it back.”
Both clubs had their aces starting the playoff opener. Mississippi had southpaw Sean Newcomb on the mound who is the Atlanta Braves No. 3 prospect and led the Southern League with 152 strikeouts this season. He faced Pensacola right hander Rookie Davis, the Reds No. 7 prospect, who leads the team with 10 wins this year.
Davis was pumped up to start his first playoff game of his professional career against Mississippi, striking out the side in the first inning. Davis struck out five of the first nine Braves hitters and eight for the game. He tossed six innings allowing one run on three hits and a walk.
“I just wanted to set the tone for the playoffs,” Davis said. “Striking out the side was great put I was just trying to get three outs so we could get our bats going. That’s what I was going for.”
It was the 23-year-old Davis’ first start at home since being sent down from Triple-A Louisville where he was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in five games.
“It was a learning experience,” Davis said. “It’s something I needed. After 15 years in the big leagues, I’ll be happy I went through it.”
Newcomb has been plagued this season by control issues, ranking second among Southern League pitchers in the regular season with 71 walks. In his five innings of work, he gave up only two hits and one earned run but he walked six. He also struck out six batters on 96 pitches.
Pensacola had taken the lead in the see-saw battle, 4-3, in the seventh inning when Ervin belted a line drive past the third baseman that Mississippi left fielder Dustin Peterson over ran. The ball rolled past Peterson for an error allowing both pinch hitter Ronald Bueno and Blandino to score and help the Blue Wahoos regain the lead, 4-3.
In the North Division playoff game, the Jackson Generals won just as dramatically to take a 1-0 lead against the Montgomery Biscuits. The Generals won, 3-0, over the Biscuits when Tyler O’Neill hit a walk-off three-run homer in the 10th inning at The Ballpark at Jackson. Generals pitcher Andrew Moore threw nine scoreless innings and allowed just one hit.