Mississippi Beats The Wahoos In Five Hour Game
August 5, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mississippi Braves were locked in a 2-2 tie for 13 innings and then the 14th inning happened.
That’s when the Braves sent 12 batters to the plate scoring eight runs on four walks, four singles and four errors by the Blue Wahoos. Mississippi won, 10-2, over Pensacola Thursday in a four hour, 57 minute game at Blue Wahoos Stadium to stay tied with Mobile for first place in the Southern League South Division. Both teams are 24-16, while Mississippi improved to 58-51 this season.
Pensacola fell to 9-4 on the season in extra-inning games. They also dropped to 9-2 in five-game series at home on the year after going a perfect 7-7 in the first half.
Pensacola is now 19-21 in the second half and 60-50 on the season.
In the top of the 14th inning, Pensacola relief pitcher Jake Ehret gave up a one out, bases loaded walk to center fielder Connor Lien to score third baseman Johan Camargo, who started the inning with a single. It gave the Braves a 3-2 lead and opened a flood gate of runs for Mississippi.
Pensacola set a franchise record with 20 strikeouts in the extra-inning game. The previous high was 18, including one that was a regular nine inning game.
Pensacola second baseman Ronald Bueno came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning. Bueno, who was called up from High-A Daytona Tortugas Tuesday, took a 2-2 pitch and sent a liner to left field to score right fielder Brandon Dixon to tie the game, 2-2, and send it into extra innings for the second time this series.
It was no pressure on the 23-year-old Bueno, who in his last bases loaded situation this season hit a double and drove in two runs for Daytona.
The Braves scored first, going up, 2-0, when first baseman Carlos Franco hit a two-out, two-run line drive over the center field wall in the sixth inning.
Pensacola got a run back in the seventh inning when the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with one out and right fielder Brandon Dixon scored from third on a wild pitch, pulling them within 2-1.
Pensacola went 6-50 or .120 with runners in scoring position against Mississippi in the series. In the previous series against the Montgomery Biscuits, the Blue Wahoos hit .190.
Sean Newcomb, the top Atlanta Braves pitching prospect, retired 16 in a row Thursday. He struck out a season-high 10 Blue Wahoos and gave up three hits in 6.2 innings.
Newcomb, who has allowed one run or less in nine of his 22 starts, did not get a decision Thursday and remains 5-7 on the year with a 4.26 ERA.
A first round pick in 2014, Newcomb dueled Pensacola spot starter Barrett Astin matched goose eggs through the first five innings. Astin, who had started in his last three outings and eight times this season, finished his outing pitching 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and one walk and striking out six.
Football Registration Continues At NWE, Century
August 4, 2016
Practice is underway for the 2016 football season for both Century and Northwest Escambia, and registration is continuing.
Century Blackcats CRA football is continuing football player registration during practices 5:30-7:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays until August 23 at the Anthony Pleasant Park on Highway 4. Registration fee for football is $25, free for cheerleaders. Cheerleaders must purchase a uniform for $110-$140. The ages for football are 5-13 and 4-13 for cheerleading. For more information, contact April at (850) 776-5334 or Ricky at (850) 777-6288.
Northwest Escambia is continuing to register football players during practices. Football registration is $50 with NWE providing all equipment and uniforms, except cleats. Football practices and registration times are 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and some Fridays until August 12 at Bradberry Park. Cheerleader registrations are no longer being accepted due to uniform turnaround times. For more information, call (251) 234-4716.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Loads Bases In Ninth But Drop 3-2 To Mississippi
August 4, 2016
One thing about the Pensacola Blue Wahoos this season, you can never count them out until the very last out.
Mississippi reliever David Peterson loaded the bases by walking three Blue Wahoos with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning but allowed just one run to give the Braves a 3-2 victory Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The teams are tied, 2-2, headed into the final game of the five-game series Thursday.
In all, Mississippi’s four pitchers walked nine batters and lead all of Double-A with 437 walks but Pensacola, which added two hits, failed to capitalize.
“Without getting any hits it’s tough to take advantage of nine walks,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly, whose team has a franchise record 10 walk-offs this season.
Pensacola and Mississippi are 1, 2 with the best earned-run averages in the Southern League at 3.17 and 3.21, respectively.
The Mississippi Braves twice threatened to go ahead and both times Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Sal Romano thwarted them.
However, Mississippi’s best pinch hitter Levi Hyams delivered a two-out, two-run triple on a fly ball in the right center gap off of Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez in the seventh inning to put the Braves up, 2-1. Hyams is 5-12 as a pinch hitter this year and 2-2 in this series.
Romano came out with a cramp in his right hamstring in the top of the seventh after allowing a single to Mississippi first baseman Carlos Franco and getting ahead on the count 0-2 against Braves right fielder Joey Meneses.
Franco’s run counted against Romano. It was the first earned run off of the big righty in his last four starts going back to July 17 against the Jacksonville Suns. Romano has allowed one unearned run in 22.2 innings.
The No. 17 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization turned in six innings, giving up one run on six hits, walking none and striking out six. He retook the Southern League lead in strike outs with 112 on the season. After starting the season 1-10, Romano has won three of his last five starts by pitching inside more effectively and relaxing before the game, Kelly said.
“I have a sour taste in my mouth that I didn’t get the win,” Romano said. “All of our starters are in a really good groove right now.”
Pensacola’s Romano was coming off his best game of the 2016 season when he threw 6.2 perfect innings the Montgomery Biscuits. He ended up throwing seven scoreless innings with one hit and seven strikeouts.
“It was nice. I got to dwell on it one day,” Romano said. “Then I had to pitch in the bullpen and get ready for this start. You can’t have that kind of outing every day.”
The Blue Wahoos scored its first run in second inning when Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej singled sharply back up the middle to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Pensacola first baseman Eric Jagielo got the other hit for Pensacola when he doubled in the sixth.
Vincej went to third when Mississippi pitcher Lucas Sims threw the ball past the first baseman on a pickoff attempt and it rolled into the bullpen. Pensacola third baseman Taylor Sparks then hit a fly ball to the warning track in right field to score Vincej easily.
Pensacola clung to that 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Mississippi threatened to score with base runners on second and third with one out. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson reached third base on left fielder Dustin Peterson’s Southern League-leading 34th double.
But Pensacola first baseman Eric Jagielo leaped to his right to catch a rocket off of the bat of the Braves Franco. Pensacola’s Romano then struck out Joey Meneses looking and pumped his fist as he walked to the dugout.
Again in the fifth inning, Mississippi third baseman Johan Camargo doubled off the left center wall and reached third with two out. And again, Romano ended the inning by striking out Mississippi second baseman Ozzie Albies — who is ranked No. 18 in MLB.com’s Top 100 and who has reached base in 37 straight games.
Mississippi added another run when center fielder Connor Lien hit his third homer this series and fourth home run in seven games, drilling the ball just right of center field. Lien now has five homers on the year and 11 RBIs in 34 games.
Tate’s Freeman Commits To The Air Force Academy
August 3, 2016
Tate High School long snapper Raymond Freeman committed to the United States Air Force Academy. The 6-foot 3-inch, 210 pound senior also had an offer from West Point.
Freeman was recently picked as the best overall at the Rubio Long Snapping Camp in Kennesaw, GA. Freeman beat out approximately 70 participants from 11 states as Snappers gathered to learn from the best and get the most exposure possible to college coaches.
Off the field, Freeman also shines academically at Tate, ranked high in his class with a 4.63 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Football Practices Open With New Contact Rules; New Coach For Northview
August 2, 2016
High school football practices opened across the North Escambia area Monday, with new practice rules for everyone and a new head coach for one school.
At Northview High School, it was the first practice under new head coach Derek Marshman, who was named to the position just last Friday following the resignation of Sid Wheatley. The Chiefs were the last team in Escambia County to bring home a state title, having won a state championship in 2012 under Wheatley and then-assistant coach Marshman.
Monday also marked the first day new Florida High School Athletic Association procedures that limit live contact at every member school in the state in an effort to improve player safety.
During the regular season, live contact will be restricted to 30 minutes per day and 80 minutes total per week. Live contact, defined as drills with game-like conditions where players are taken to the ground, will not occur on more than two consecutive days and may not exceed three practice days per week.
“Player safety has and will always be the number one goal of the FHSAA,” FHSAA executive director Dr. Roger Dearing said. “Protecting our student-athletes is paramount in growing the game of football and this administrative procedure is a step in the right direction.”
From day six through Monday of the first regular season game, live contact at all schools will be limited to 40 minutes each day, with no more than two straight days of live contact. During two-a-days, only one practice shall include live contact and it shall not surpass 40 minutes.
“The game of football will always come with some inherent risk, but we will never stop working to try and make one of the greatest team sports on earth safer,” FHSAA Football Administrator Frank Beasley said. “We will continue our efforts to educate and teach coaches on the Drive to December about how to run effective practices while using the limited-contact procedures.”
Pictured top: New Northview Coach Derek Marshman held practice Monday, just day after being named head coach. Pictured inset and below: The Chiefs open practice Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sparks Crushes Walk-off Homer For The Wahoos
August 2, 2016
Taylor Sparks hit his second solo home run in two games but this time it came in the 11th inning as a pinch hitter to give the Pensacola Blue Wahoos its franchise record ninth walk-off of the season.
Sparks is now 3-3 as a pinch hitter with two homers and a single.
“That’s fun right there,” said Sparks after the game whose seventh homer of the season gave Pensacola a 4-3 victory Monday in front of 3,943 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he “felt very comfortable” with Sparks, who is hitting .198 on the season, pinch hitting with one out.
“I did like Sparks in that situation,” Kelly said. “He’s a good looking player. Obviously, he’s got power. Those (walk-offs) are pretty amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team hit that many.”
Sparks, who is playing his first season in Double-A getting called up June 22, said he goes to the plate with a different approach when he’s pinch hitting.
“I walk up to the plate just trying to smash one,” said Sparks, who hit two homers in his Double-A debut. “It’s tough coming off the bench and swinging it. I waited for a pitch I could hammer. There’s no science to it.”
Pensacola, the first half Southern League South Division, improved its record to 18-19 in the second half and 59-48 overall. Mississippi is now 13 of 17 and leads the South Division in the second half with a 22-15 record and are 56-50 on the season.
Pensacola third baseman Alex Blandino sent the game into extra innings with his solo bomb that tied the score up, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning. His deep fly ball cleared the left field fence just over the outstretched glove of Mississippi left fielder Dustin Peterson.
Mississippi had taken the lead, 3-2, in the seventh inning when catcher Joseph Odom ripped his first home run of the season over the left field wall in the top of the seventh inning to score two runs to tie the game, 2-2. Braves pinch hitter Carlos Franco hit a two-out single to drive in right fielder Stephen Gaylor, giving Mississippi a 3-2 lead.
“These are two pretty good clubs right here,” Kelly said. “They got a hanger and beat us last night and we got a hanger and beat them tonight (Monday).”
Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej, named Southern League Player of the Week earlier in the day, continued his hot hitting Monday. Vincej — batting .444 during his seven game hit streak — hit a chopper that squeezed between the third baseman and shortstop in the fourth inning to drive in left fielder Phillip Ervin, who doubled to start the inning. The run put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 1-0.
Ervin then hit a grounder to shortstop and beat out the throw on a double play attempt by Mississippi, allowing center fielder Jeff Gelalich to score from third in the fifth inning to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0.
Pensacola starting pitcher Rookie Davis cruised through the first six innings against Mississippi, allowing only one hit and retiring 11 in a row.
Mississippi’s best chance to score against Davis came in the sixth inning when center fielder Connor Lien reached third base with two outs and shortstop Dansby Swanson at the plate. Swanson entered the game hitting .360 against Pensacola but Monday was 0-4. Davis, a 22-year-old righty, struck out Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 draft choice, to end the inning.
Davis ended up allowing three runs, though, in the seventh inning to the Braves. He finished the game throwing 6.2 innings, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
In his previous four starts, Davis has allowed three earned runs in 23.1 innings for a 1.16 ERA, while striking out 24. He has won his last three starts and the Blue Wahoos had won all four games that Davis started.
“Rookie (Davis) was terrific,” Kelly said. “He had a one-hitter going into the seventh. I told him real men play in the National League. You have to run the bases and pitch, too.”
Mississippi starting pitcher Jed Bradley had dominated the Pensacola lineup coming into the game going 3-0 in 10 appearances and throwing 15 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
After throwing three scoreless innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts Monday, Pensacola finally broke the lefty’s streak with Ervin’s run in the fourth inning.
Mississippi’s Bradley ended up lasting 5.2 innings giving up two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high eight batters.
The Braves gave up two runs on two hits both solo homers by Sparks and Blandino. Despite that, they have now allowed nine runs in 65.1 innings dating back to July 11.
Mississippi Beats The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 8-3
August 1, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos win 63.4 percent of the time at Blue Wahoos Stadium but the Mississippi Braves hit three home runs to take the opener of the five-game series, 8-3, Sunday.
Mississippi center fielder Connor Lien smacked two homers and drove in four runs, while the Braves No. 1 prospect Dansby Swanson hit a two-run blast in front of 4,502 Pensacola fans.
Pensacola had tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth inning when third baseman Taylor Sparks crushed a solo shot to deep left center field, which was his sixth homer of the season.
But both of Lien’s homers came at critical times for Mississippi. His first one was a solo shot in the first inning and his second was a three-run blast in the seventh inning that put the Braves up, 6-3. He finished the game 2-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
Lien injured his thumb in Mississippi’s first game and returned June 23. Pensacola last saw Lien in the opener when he had a strike out and a walk before going on the disabled list. Lien now has four home runs in the last eight games and 10 RBIs on the season.
“We saw him in one at bat for Mississippi,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “He’s obviously a big strong guy and he hit two balls pretty good.”
Pensacola starter Tyler Mahle rebounded from his first bad showing in Double-A when he gave up seven earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Montgomery Biscuits.
Against Mississippi Sunday, Mahle threw six innings giving up three runs, one earned on six hits and a walk, while striking out six. Mahle, who led the High-A Florida State League in strikeouts, has 38 strikeouts in 44.1 innings with Pensacola. He left the game, when it was tied, 3-3.
Kelly said he has been impressed with the 21-year-old Mahle, who threw a no-hitter for High-A Daytona before getting called up to the Blue Wahoos.
“I don’t think you can be perfect every time out,” Kelly said. “He gave us six good innings and kept us in the game. He’s shown maturity all the way through.”
The game was a seesaw battle until the seventh inning. Mississippi right fielder Joey Meneses laced a line drive deep into the left center gap for a stand-up double that drove in both Lien and Swanson to put the Braves ahead, 3-2.
Pensacola had gone ahead in the fifth inning, 2-1, when Eric Jagielo scored on a deep sacrifice fly to center field by center fielder Beau Amaral.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game, 1-1, in the third inning when second baseman Alex Blandino hit a grounder past a diving Swanson to drive in Pensacola catcher Chad Wallach. Blandino is hitting .343 in his last 10 games and has driven in six runs.
All month, Zach Vincej was hot at the plate, going 34-92 for a .370 average and driving in 11 runs, making July his best month, so far, this season. He went 3-3 Sunday with a double and walk and is hitting .289 on the year.
Wahoos Fall To The Montgomery Biscuits
July 31, 2016
The Montgomery Biscuits came back from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 4-3, Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium.
Montgomery overcame Pensacola in its last at bat in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Justin Williams led off with a double to center field. He then came around to score the winning run when DH Granden Goetzman bunted back to Pensacola reliever Abel De Los Santos, who threw the ball away.
The victory in the final game of the five-game series allowed Montgomery to capture the series, 3-2. The Biscuits improved 21-14 in the second half to lead the Southern League North Divison. Pensacola, dropped to 17-18 and starts a five-game series at 4 p.m. Sunday against the Mississippi Braves.
Pensacola could have won the game but had two runners thrown at home plate.
In the ninth inning, Blue Wahoos DH Eric Jagielo singled on a ground ball to center field and Brandon Dixon replaced him as a pinch runner. Pensacola catcher Chad Wallach bunted Dixon to second. Then, Pensacola center fielder Jeff Gelalich hit a line drive single to center field to Montgomery’s Braxton Lee who threw Dixon out trying to score the go-ahead run.
Again in the fourth inning, Pensacola third baseman Taylor Sparks struck out but reached first on a wild pitch and then stole his first base of the season to move to second. Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej then hit a line drive single to left field to Montgomery’s Cade Gotta, who came up throwing to Biscuits catcher Jake DePew to get Sparks out at home to end the inning.
Pensacola had gone ahead when it scored three runs in the seventh inning. The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with two out in the inning when second baseman Alex Blandino stepped to the plate and delivered a line drive single to left field to drive in Vincej and first baseman Ray Chang for two runs. Pensacola scored another run when Wallach scored on a passed ball to make the score, 3-0.
But Montgomery came right back in the bottom of the seventh. The Biscuits’ Lee came to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a ground ball to Vincej, who got the force out at second base allowing Williams to score to pull the Biscuits within, 3-1. Montgomery’s Gotta then doubled in DH Granden Goetzman and Lee to knot the game at 3-3.
All three runs were charged to Pensacola reliever Evan Mitchell, who pitched 0.2 innings.
Montgomery’s comeback victory spoiled the start by Barrett Astin. Making his seventh spot start of the season, Astin pitched a season-high six shutout innings, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out eight.
Pensacola was led at the plate by Vincej, who went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. He is now hitting a season best .359 in the month of July. Meanwhile, Blandino went 1-4 and drove in two runs to increase his RBIs to 27 this season.
Wahoos Beat Montgomery
July 30, 2016
All season long, Pensacola starting pitcher Sal Romano has worked hard to improve with Blue Wahoos pitching coach Danny Darwin.
That extra work paid off Friday when the 22-year-old pitched 6.2 perfect innings to help lead Pensacola to a 4-0 victory Friday over the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium. The series is now tied, 2-2, going into the final game of the five-game series Saturday.
Pensacola, the first half Southern League champions, improved its record to 17-17 in the second half. Meanwhile, Montgomery fell to 20-14 but still leads the North Division.
With two out in the seventh inning, Romano hit Montgomery shortstop Willy Adames to end his perfect game. The next batter, Biscuits first baseman Jake Bauers, singled on a line drive to right field to break up the no-hitter.
After Darwin visited the mound to calm the big righty, Romano struck out Montgomery left fielder Granden Goetzman.
Romano, rated the ninth best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization by MLB.com, struck out six batters total, which included striking out the side in the fifth inning. He didn’t walk any batters.
The last time Romano pitched a one-hitter was when he completed seven innings July 21, 2015, for the High-A Daytona Tortugas. Romano struck out six in that game, too, and walked none.
Romano improved to 4-10, winning three of his last four starts, and lowered his earned-run average to 3.98. It’s the first time his ERA fell below 4.00 since May 4
Rated the pitcher with the best fastball in the Reds system, Romano now has 106 strikeouts this season to lead the Southern League.
Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez replaced Romano in the eighth inning and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one more hit to Montgomery. He earned his seventh save for the Blue Wahoos this season.
The Blue Wahoos scored two runs with two outs in the eighth inning to go up, 2-0, when Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej doubled —his 17th of the season — to left field to drive in Ray Chang, who had doubled. The second run scored when DH Brandon Dixon reached first on an error by Adames that allowed Vincej to score from second base.
Vincej is now hitting .337 (29-86), so far, this month and has 11 RBIs in July — his highest monthly total.
Alex Blandino launched a two-run homer to center field in the top of the ninth inning to give Pensacola a 4-0 lead. It was his seventh homer this season and he now has 25 RBIs.
Pensacola did have two good chances to score earlier in the game. In the third inning, Chang came up with the bases loaded and one out and flew out to Montgomery right fielder Cade Gotta. Gotta then threw home to catcher Jake DePew to nail the Blue Wahoos’ Blandino at home.
Chang had been 3-3 with the bases loaded with a double and five RBIs when he stepped to the plate.
Again, Pensacola had runners at the corners with two outs when right fielder Jeff Gelalich doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch and Blandino walked. However, Pensacola center fielder Beau Amaral struck out to end the inning.
Montgomery starting pitcher Chris Kirsch also threw well. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out seven. He left the game in a 0-0 tie.
Northview Chiefs Name Dereck Marshman As New Head Football Coach
July 29, 2016
Northview High School has named Dereck Marshman as their head football coach.
Mashman has been an assistant coach for the Chiefs since 2010, except for a short stint in Tennessee. He was part of the coaching staff that led the Northview Chiefs to a state football championship in 2012. He said he expects his transition from defensive and strength coach into the head coaching position will be an easy step for a team he says is poised for great season.
“It will be seamless when we start practice on Monday. We have our assistant coaching staff already in place, and I have confidence in them. It will not be like we are starting over today.”
“We have a chance to be a pretty special team this year. The senior leadership is special this year; they have worked together for a long time and have proven themselves during very demanding summer workouts and in the weight room.”
Marshman said the Chiefs have a very touch regular season schedule in which they will play up several classifications against much larger schools, and he said he’s looking forward to a December trip to Orlando and the state championship game.
Northview Principal Gayle Weaver said Marshman was an easy and obvious choice to lead the Chiefs. He was offered and accepted the position Friday morning after interviews were conducted.
“He brings stability and consistency to the team,” Weaver said. “I have great hopes for this season.
Marshman will not take over as Northview’s head baseball coach as the position was originally to be advertised. Instead, Weaver said Marshman’s current job as In School Suspension coordinator will be advertised in conjunction with the head baseball coach position.
Former football and baseball head coach Sid Wheatley announced his resignation in late July to return home to a coaching position in his native Mississippi. He said he wanted to be closer to his family after 11 years away at Northview. He had a 50-31 record as Northview’s head coach.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
