Smokies Top Wahoos 4-1
June 25, 2016
After the Pensacola Blue Wahoos kicked off the second half of the season with a win, game two of the second half ended in a hard-fought 4-1 loss to the Tennessee Smokies.
In a game that saw Pensacola and Tennessee scatter eight and nine hits, respectively, the Smokies found ways to turn those hits into runs.
The Blue Wahoos struck first in the top half of the first inning when Sebastian Elizalde drove in Zach Vincej on an RBI single.
Tennessee took a 2-1 lead with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, as Billy McKinney singled to score Ian Happ followed by an RBI single by Ben Carhart to drive in Victor Caratini. From that point on, the Smokies would not relinquish that lead.
The Smokies lead increased to 3-1 with a sac fly by Chesny Young to score Jacob Hannemann in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth, Kelly Dugan homered to left center to provide Tennessee with a 4-1 lead.
Sal Romano (1-8) took the loss in his start for the Wahoos, allowing seven hits and a pair of earned runs in his four innings of work. Romano also struck out three batters and walked one in the outing before being relieved by Evan Mitchell, who tossed a pair of hitless innings. Mitchell walked and struck out a batter in his two innings of work.
Kyle McMyne finished out the contest for the Wahoos, allowing two earned runs on two hits—one of them a home run—in his two innings of work, while striking out a pair of batters.
Jen-Ho Tseng (3-3) garnered the start for the Smokies, allowing the lone run on six hits in six innings of work and earning his third win of the year for Tennessee. He struck out four batters while walking three. R.J. Alvarez and Josh Conway both pitched an inning each in shutout relief. Jose Rosario closed out the contest with a shutout inning, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair while earning his second save of the season.
Wahoos Win Second Half Opener
June 24, 2016
Three Reds youngsters made their Double-A debuts for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Thursday night at Smokies Stadium. Reds No. 10 prospect Tyler Mahle made his debut by starting tonight’s game against the Tennessee Smokies.
The hard-throwing right hander made batters look silly, striking out eight Smokies hitters in the 6-4 Pensacola victory. Mahle (5.0, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, HR) picked up his ninth win of the season.
His former Daytona Beach teammate Taylor Sparks (2-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI) also debuted at the Double-A level Thursday. On the first pitch of his debut, Sparks launched a two-run homer in the second inning with one on and nobody out to give the Wahoos a 4-1 lead. He joins former Wahoo and current Pensacola resident Travis Mattair on the list of Wahoos to hit homers on the first pitch of his first Double-A at-bat.
Zach Vincej, who has been on fire the month of June hitting .357, gave the Blue Wahoos an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with a homerun to left center, his first of the year.
In the sixth, Sparks came to the plate again. With one on and two down, the third baseman drilled his second homerun of the game, extending Pensacola’s lead to 6-3. Other Wahoos to homer in their first Double-A game include Donald Lutz (2012) and Alex Blandino (2015).
The Blue Wahoos only managed five hits in the ballgame tonight. Like we’ve seen all season: they found a way to win. It’s the “Wahoo Way,” as manager Pat Kelly’s players like to call it.
With nobody on and two away in the bottom of the seventh, Smokies centerfielder Jake Hanneman hit his second homer of the game off Jake Ehret, the third Wahoo to make his AA debut tonight. That cut the deficit to 6-4, and it was as close as Tennessee would get. Ehret (2 IP, 2 H, R, 3 SO) buckled down and finished off the inning.
Southern League All-Star Alejandro Chacin came in to close the deal in the ninth, picking up his 12th save of the season.
With the win tonight, Pensacola rides a four game win streak, tied for the longest of the season.
FWC Cracking Down On Boating Under The Influence
June 22, 2016
As the summer recreational boating season gets into full swing, the FWC Law Enforcement Division is ramping up its enforcement efforts as part of a national crackdown on boating under the influence.
The annual three-day, heightened awareness and enforcement campaign, Operation Dry Water, focuses on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide will be out in force June 24-26, looking for boaters who choose to boat under the influence, and then removing them from the water. Increased awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence, along with officers focused on identifying impaired operators, aim to drastically reduce the number of accidents and deaths due to impaired boating.
“It is our job as law enforcement officers to identify and remove impaired boaters from the water so that everyone else can continue to have an enjoyable boating season and not become a victim of boating under the influence. Protecting the public goes to the heart of our mission,” said Maj. Richard Moore, FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “Our agency is participating in Operation Dry Water, and joining thousands of law enforcement officers nationwide to decrease the number of accidents, injuries and deaths that come as a result of boaters who choose to drink and boat.”
In Florida it is illegal to operate a vessel with a BAC level of .08 or higher. The FWC wants to remind boaters to stay safe this summer by staying sober on the water. Alcohol use is one of the leading contributing factors in recreational boater deaths. During the national weekend of heightened awareness and high-visibility enforcement, boaters can expect to see an enhanced law enforcement presence and increased messaging about this dangerous and preventable crime.
Pensacola First Half South Division Champions
June 20, 2016
On Father’s Day, Eric Jagielo had his dad, Steve, in the stands watching him play.
He treated his dad to one of the best Father’s Day gifts possible by hitting a walk-off single with two outs that hugged the third base line and bounced over the third base bag, scoring Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon for a 2-1 victory over Mobile.
Not only did his dad celebrate but the 18th sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium went wild. The Blue Wahoos went wild after the game mostly spraying each other with about three dozen bottles of iced champagne.
Jagielo came in for Kyle Parker to play first base in the ninth inning. He came to the plate hitting .198 before the game-winning hit that upped his average to .202.
“My dad was in the stands on Father’s Day,” Jagielo said. “I just let my instincts take over as who I am as a baseball player. I’m not going to say it’s a storybook ending but it left a good feeling for the entire day.”
The Blue Wahoos improved Sunday to 41-29 – the most victories by Pensacola in a half in its five-year history. The Blue Wahoos were also perfect at home winning all seven series.
Meanwhile, Biloxi lost the opening game of a doubleheader, 2-1, against the Jacksonville Suns, so Pensacola knew it won the division crown in the bottom of the first inning. The Shuckers finished 39-30, 1.5 games back of Pensacola.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he preferred winning it the “Wahoo Way” as his players have dubbed it. It means winning on a walk-off hit, which Pensacola has done in five of the last 10 games and they tied the club record with seven walk-offs on the year.
The win was even more special to Kelly, he said, because they won the division by earning a victory.
“This team just finds ways to win,” said Kelly, who was drenched with champagne by his players, while conducting an interview with the media on the field. “We’re not doing anything all game but we stay close and have a chance to win in the ninth. We turn it on in the last three innings.”
It was a not-so-secret secret that the Blue Wahoos had won their second straight South Division title with players giving each other high fives and hugs in the dugout near the beginning of the game. The team broke the news in the middle of the eighth inning to the Pensacola fans by projecting “South Division Champions” on the scoreboard. The sold out crowd gave the team a loud standing ovation.
Like it has done a lot lately, Pensacola tied the score, 1-1, when left fielder Tony Renda hit a high pop up half way between third base and left field near the line. Mobile shortstop Ildemaro Vargas and left fielder Cody Regis collided and the ball dropped to the ground. Neither Vargas or Regis moved to pick up the ball as Renda raced around the bases for an inside the park home run. It was his first homer of the year for Pensacola.
It was his first inside the park home run since T-ball, said Renda. His .326 average gave him the Southern League first half batting crown.
“It was always drilled into me to run hard because you never know what’s going to happen,” said Renda, who has hit in 20 of his last 22 games at a .413 clip. “I thought, ‘You know, you should run. I saw them both lying on the ground. It was good.”
The Southern League All-Star added, “It’s fun. One of the best feelings you can have is cold champagne running down your back. What a way to win the game.”
The BayBears led, 1-0, in the second inning when Vargas doubled in the right center gap with two outs and then scored on catcher Ronnie Freeman’s bloop single.
Pensacola also got a quality start by Nick Travieso, who was the Blue Wahoos opening day starter. Travieso threw six innings, giving up one earned run on three hits, two walks and struck out two. He lowered his ERA to 4.91, which is below 5.00 for the first time since May 28.
Travieso said he’s been working hard with Pensacola pitching coaches and in the weight room to get back to his form that made him the Cincinnati Reds’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014.
“In the second inning, I saw the guys celebrating,” Travieso said. “I knew I had a job to take care of. I wanted to come in and win it. We have a bunch of guys who are hungry.”
The ever-popular Ray Chang made his second appearance in a game in June in the sixth inning. He walked and hit an infield single to shortstop. He also showed flashy fielding in the hot corner picking up a slow roller with his bare hand in the seventh inning to get the speedy Mobile shortstop Ildemaro Vargas. In the eighth inning, Chang back handed a hard hit grounder behind the third base bag and robbed a hit from first baseman Kevin Cron.
Asked which division title was more fun, Chang hesitated. It was his second game in a row that he’s played this month. He said he had the jitters just like he did when he played his first game ever.
“Probably the second time,” said Chang. “You kind of know what to expect. I don’t know. It’s a tie. It’s awesome.”
Pensacola And Biloxi Battle Down To The Wire
June 19, 2016
In his five-year professional career with six different teams, Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Rookie Davis has never made it to the playoffs and played on a winning team once.
After the Mobile BayBears jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, it looked like his streak of bad luck might continue.
“Honestly, I knew what was at stake,” Davis said. “When I came to the dugout and looked my teammates in the eye, I thought everything they’ve done for me this year the least I could do for my team was give them the best chance to win. This is the best game I’ve had.”
Davis buckled down shutting out the Mobile BayBears over the last four innings, including the last 10 batters he faced and his teammates delivered a four-run second inning to help Pensacola to a 6-3 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In the first game Saturday that was resumed from the night before because of rain, Pensacola won, 3-2, over Mobile in the eighth inning, thanks to a single by shortstop Zach Vincej. He smacked a line drive to right center that scored Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon from second base with the game-winning run.
With the two victories Saturday, Pensacola improved to 40-29 – the most victories by the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate in its five-year history. The Blue Wahoos play their final game of the first half Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Biloxi Shuckers, who are 38-29, play two games against the Jacksonville Suns on Sunday after the teams’ game on Saturday was rained out.
If Pensacola defeats Mobile Sunday, they will win the first half title. If Biloxi loses one game Sunday, Pensacola will capture the title, the second in its history.
Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly said he’s confident his team can get the job done. Pensacola leads Mobile, 3-2, in this six-game series.
“You always want to be able to claim the title yourself,” Kelly said. “If we go out and win the game, it’s ours. They’ve played hard all year. I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow.”
The start falls on the Blue Wahoos opening day starter, Nick Travieso, who is 3-3 with a 5.27 ERA on the season.
“He’s one of our best competitors,” Kelly said. “He’s the perfect guy in this position.”
Davis, who improved to 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA this season, also trusts Travieso in the final game of the year with title implications on the line.
“I know he’s ready,” Davis said. “I wouldn’t have anyone else going. He’s going to work his ass off to do everything he can to win the game.”
Davis got the most offensive support he’s had this season with the Blue Wahoos scoring six runs.
Leading the way was left fielder Tony Renda, who is now 36-88 or .409 and has 12 multi-hit contests in his last 21 games. He’s now batting .323 on the year, which is second in the Southern League.
Renda had the big hit to help Pensacola come from behind to take a 4-3 lead in the second inning. Renda came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and smacked a two-out double that bounced off the left field wall to score Blue Wahoos catcher Kyle Skipworth, shortstop Zach Vincej and third baseman Alex Blandino.
Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker scored the first run of the inning when Blandino got hit in the hand by a pitch.
The 24-year-old Renda was added to the Southern League All-Star team but declined, so that he could support his wife, Samantha, who is opening a home furnishing store in California. The couple has been dating for nine years and were married in December.
“She’s fired up,” Renda said. “She’s supported me throughout my entire baseball career.”
Mobile scored three runs in the first inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. BayBears right fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score center fielder Evan Marzilli, who walked to start the game. Then BayBears first baseman Kevin Cron clobbered a two-run homer over the left field wall that also brought in shortstop Ildemaro Vargas, who had singled.
In the first game Saturday that was resumed from the night before because of rain, Pensacola won, 3-2, over Mobile in the eighth inning thanks to a single by shortstop Zach Vincej. He laced a line drive to right center that scored Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon from second base with the game-winning run.
Raisel Iglesias started the sixth inning of the suspended game Saturday when the game picked up where it left off. He pitched one inning, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one. The Cincinnati Reds opening day starter pitched three rehab games for Pensacola in his recovery from a shoulder
impingement in his throwing arm. In those three games, he threw five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five.
“There’s a lot of fight in this team,” Renda said. “We’re never out of any ball game. We just have to go out and play our game.”
Wahoos Washed Out
June 18, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mobile BayBears game was suspended and is scheduled to be completed at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The second game will begin 30 minutes after and will be seven innings.
The score was tied, 2-2, in the top of the fifth inning when an ominous dark cloud settled over Blue Wahoos Stadium and the rain started.
The Blue Wahoos scored two runs in the second inning to take the lead for the first time in the early innings in 11 ball games since June 8.
Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon singled on a sharp grounder past the shortstop and stole second base. Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej then hit a line drive to right field to score Dixon to put Pensacola ahead, 1-0. Vincej then scored when left fielder Tony Renda smacked a line drive to right field to put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-0.
However, in the top of the fifth inning, Mobile catcher Ronnie Freeman and shortstop Ildemaro Vargas scored to tie the game, 2-2, on a rocket hit by center fielder Evan Marzilli back up the middle.
Pensacola starting pitcher Sal Romano was hurrying to finish the fifth inning to make the game official and give the Blue Wahoos the victory. He was one pitch away from doing just that with a 3-2 count on Mobile’s Marzilli. But Marzilli ripped the ball to center to tie it.
Pensacola is 38-29 and temporarily tied with the Biloxi Shuckers, who defeated the Jacksonville Suns, 4-1, Friday.
Jay-Fidelis All-Stars Win 8U District Tournament
June 17, 2016
The Jay-Fidelis Rookie League All-Star Team recently won the AL District 7 Cal Ripken 8U District Tournament at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore. The team will represent the district at the 2016 Alabama 8U Cal Ripken State Tournament in Athens, AL, from June 24-28.
The team is accepting donations to offset travel and tournament expenses. Click here to donate.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Carson Baxley, Nicholas Baxley, Nathan Strickling, Brady Godwin, Rowdy Fretwell, Judson Marcantel, Cooper Willis, Mason Mathis, Mason Jordan, Ethan Pipkin, Jacob Knowles, Clay Norris, Ryan Wells, and Reece Partrick, (back) Stewart Baxley, Assistant Coach; Brandon Godwin, Head Coach; Brent Jordan, Assistant Coach; Brandon Pipkin, Assistant Coach. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Mobile
June 17, 2016
In an all-important doubleheader against the Mobile BayBears, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos split the games to take a half game lead in the Southern League South Division over the Biloxi Shuckers.
In a must-win game, Pensacola pinch hitter Jeff Gelalich hit a soft line drive to the opposite field in left to give the Blue Wahoos a walk-off win, 3-2, with two outs in the seventh inning.
It was Pensacola’s fourth walk-off hit in its last seven games.
Then in the second game, Mobile returned the favor when Mobile right fielder Gabriel Guerrero led off with a single to center and then first baseman Kevin Cron singled to right field, allowing Guerrero to reach third base. Mobile third baseman Cody Regis delivered a deep sacrifice fly ball to right center to score Guerrero for a 3-2 lead.
The split puts Pensacola at 38-29 a half game up on the Biloxi Shuckers, who dropped to 37-29 with a 3-1, loss to the last place Jacksonville Suns.
In the first game, Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth launched an opposite field homer to left field, his third in 35 at bats this season, to start the sixth inning and tie the game, 2-2, in the sixth inning.
Pensacola starting pitcher Amir Garrett reached 5.2 innings before being yanked after throwing 98 pitches. The southpaw reached his pitch limit after throwing 10 pitches to third baseman Travis Denker before walking him.
Garrett allowed three hits and three walks and gave up two earned runs to Mobile, while striking out eight.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said the victory was critical.
“To be up a half game in the win column in this division is huge,” Kelly said. “It is very important.”
Pensacola left fielder Tony Renda said he’s confident in his Blue Wahoos teammates to win the first half and make the playoffs for the second time in the team’s five-year history.
“In my eyes we are clearly the best,” said Renda, who was 3-7 with a run scored and his 24th double of the year. “I have all the faith in the world that we will finish strong.”
In the second game, Pensacola shortstop Calten Daal smashed a standup triple to the right center gap that drove in Renda, who hit a hard liner to left field, and pulled the Blue Wahoos within, 2-1. Elizalde then lifted a deep fly ball to left field to score Daal and tie the game, 2-2. Mobile then pulled out the victory in the eighth.
Mobile scored first when left fielder Steward Ijames hit a solo blast into the Hill-Kelly Dodge hill in right field.
Mobile went ahead, 2-0, in the top of the fourth inning when Pensacola starting pitcher Barrett Astin intentionally walked BayBears shortstop Ildemaro Vargas to pitch to right-hander Billy Buckner, who was hitless this year. But Astin walked him on five pitches to score Mobile’s Cron.
Mobile’s Buckner retired the last 12 batters in a row before coming out at the end of the fourth inning for reliever Luis Ramirez, who retired two more, before hitting Pensacola third baseman Eric Jagielo.
Pensacola Storm Wins Open State Championship
June 16, 2016
The Pensacola Storm 13-year old Majors team recently competed in the Florida Panhandle 13 Open State Championship in Destin.
On Saturday they beat Team Phenom Navy by a score of 4-3 and the Pace Mudcats by a score of 13-0. On Sunday, they outscored the Niceville Traveling Eagles 6-2 to go to the championship game. The Pensacola Storm’s bats stayed hot and they played outstanding defense and defeated Machine Baseball by a score of 10-1.
This is the fourth state tournament championship out of the five years that the Pensacola Storm has competed. This victory finished up the regular season for the Pensacola Storm with a 36-9 record. The Pensacola Storm will compete in the Wilson DeMarini Elite World Series in Orlando next month.
Pictured: (Bottom, L-R) Bailey Mott, Tanner Rouchon, Josh Turner, Ian Ladieu, Aaron Noack, (top, L-R) Wilson Perkins, Blake Holman, Jordan McCants, Hunter Pierson, Damarius McGhee and Jordan Jarman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Remain In First Place Despite Loss
June 16, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost for the second straight game but remained tied with the Biloxi Shuckers for first place in the Southern League South Division.
Pensacola managed just two hits off of Mobile starting pitcher Anthony Banda, who threw eight scoreless innings to lead the BayBears to a 2-0 win Wednesday in front of a crowd of 4,340 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly knew that Mobile had some strong arms coming in to the six-game series boasting a 3.40 ERA, which is good for third in the Southern League.
“(Banda) was outstanding,” Kelly said. “We didn’t have many good swings on him. His fastball is very deceptive and he has a very good changeup.”
Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin got the first hit by either team in the bottom of the fourth inning on a ground ball past the second baseman into right field. Blue Wahoos shortstop Calten Daal in his first game back from the disabled list got the other hit when he hit a bloop single to right field.
Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker got a third hit for Pensacola off of Mobile reliever Joey Krehbiel.
In its last six games, the Blue Wahoos are hitting .187 as a team. They’re hitting .244 on the year.
“I think we’ve seen some good pitching,” Kelly said. “We knew it would be tough.”
Banda, the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 14 prospect according to MLB.com, threw a season-high eight innings, gave up a season-low two hits and tied his season-high with nine strikeouts.
Despite Pensacola’s loss it is still deadlocked at 37-28 for the Southern League South Division lead with Biloxi, who fell to Jacksonville, 8-4.
With just five games to play in the first half, including a seven-inning doubleheader that begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Kelly said he likes how his team is playing.
“I mean it’s fun,” Kelly said about battling Biloxi for the first half crown. “I’d rather be in that position than where we were last year—out of contention.”
Raisel Iglesias threw a total of 23 pitches and 18 strikes in two scoreless innings and didn’t allow a hit, while striking out two. Like his first two-inning rehab assignment with Pensacola, he showed a mix of pitches and motions. In his first rehab assignment June 11, Iglesias allowed two hits and struck out two throwing 30 pitches with 22 for strikes.
After five starts with the Cincinnati Reds, including the opening day start, Iglesias went on the disabled list with an impingement in his right shoulder.
Kelly, who played catcher, said Iglesias is scheduled to pitch one more time in Pensacola.
“I saw a little better velocity,” Kelly said. “He was impressive to me tonight.”
In the top of the fifth inning, Mobile catcher Michael Perez earned the BayBears first hit of the game. Perez hit it up the middle and Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon dived and knocked it down behind second base. Blue Wahoos shortstop Calten Daal picked it up and threw it away, allowing Mobile third baseman Travis Denker, who led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, to advance to third base and Perez to reach second.
Pensacola pitcher Jackson Stephens got the next two batters to fly out to bring up Mobile pitcher Anthony Banda to the plate. Banda hit a line drive single to left field to get his first RBI of his professional career, scoring Denker for a Mobile lead, 1-0.
Stephens then allowed the first two Mobile hitters to single in the sixth inning but worked out of the jam.
Mobile centerfielder Evan Marzilli tripled to lead off the eighth inning and then scored on right fielder Gabriel Guerrero’s double over Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin’s head in dead center for a 2-0 BayBears lead.
In the ninth inning, Pensacola had runners at first and second with the winning run at the plate but couldn’t get a hit.
“We thought Iglesias and Stephens would keep us in the ball game and they did,” Kelly said. “They could have easily blown us out.”