Chiefs Work Out At Baltimore Orioles Park; Play In Final Four Today
May 13, 2015
Tuesday was a big day for the Northview High baseball team, and today will be an even bigger day, a school history-making day, for the Chiefs.
The Northview Chiefs worked out Tuesday at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles — compliments of former Century resident and Baltimore Orioles coach Buck Showalter. They also caught a minor league game between the Orioles and the Red Sox.
This afternoon, they will take on Blountstown in the Chiefs first-ever appearance in the FHSAA baseball final four. Blountstown (21-8) and Northview (19-2) did not meet during the regular season. Blountstown is coming off a 3-1 win over Central in their regional final, while Northview has scored an impressive 26 runs in their last three games.
Today’s game is at 3 p.m. (local North Escambia time) in Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers. The winner heads to the state championship game on at 7:35 p.m Thursday against the winner of Wednesday night’s Hamilton County versus Williston game.
Live video from Wednesday’s game (and the following 1A semi-final game between Hamilton County and Williston) will air on the NFHS Network. For a FHSAA.org special access rate of $9.95 for one month, click here.
Also, for periodic live score updates and bonus photos, like NorthEscambia.com on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @northescambia.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Beat Jacksonville 5-0
May 13, 2015
Timothy Adleman finally celebrated his first win as a Pensacola Blue Wahoos starter after 11 starts over the past two seasons.
The visiting Blue Wahoos backed the right hander up with three runs in the first inning and Adleman (1-3) shut out the Jacksonville Suns over the next six innings in the, 5-0, win.
Adleman scattered six hits, walked one, struck out two and lowered his earned-run average to 1.70, currently the fifth lowest in the Southern League. Adleman has whiffed 22 batters in 33.2 innings and walked nine this season.
Pensacola scored three runs in the first when right fielder Kyle Waldrop tripled in center fielder Beau Amaral and left fielder Jesse Winker to put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-0. Waldrop scored on a ground out by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean to make the score, 3-0.
The 6-foot-5 Adleman entered the game against Jacksonville 0-6 in 11 starts with a 2.21 ERA and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings over two seasons with Pensacola.
Adleman has pitched well enough to win other games during that span. The 27-year-old left his last start against Tennessee in the fifth inning with a 1-0 lead, but Pensacola lost, 4-1. He also shut out the Smokies in his first start on April 17 over five innings.
Adleman has whiffed 22 batters in 33.2 innings and walked 10 this season.
In 2014, Adleman, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 24th round in 2010 out of Georgetown, made 30 appearances for Pensacola, including six starts. In those starts, he was 0-3 with a 2.38 ERA. He struck out 30 in 34 innings and walked three.
The Blue Wahoos added another run in the sixth inning when Mejias-Brean hit a sacrifice fly to right field in foul territory that scored Winker from third base. Mejias-Brean added a third RBI in the eighth when he singled in Winker, who scored for the third time in the game, to go up, 5-0.
Northview Hits The Road For First Ever State Series
May 12, 2015
The Northview High School Chiefs loaded up and hit the road Monday afternoon for their first-ever in school history trip to the state final four.
The Chiefs will take on Blountstown at 3 p.m. (Bratt local time) Wednesday in the 1A state semi-final game at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. With a win, the Chiefs will advance to the state championship game at 7:35 p.m. Thursday.
The players are staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites at 4350 Executive Circle, which is now sold out. Other lodging and special rates for fans can be found by clicking here.
Live video from Wednesday’s game (and the following 1A semi-final game between Hamilton County and Williston) will air on the NFHS Network. For a FHSAA.org special access rate of $9.95 for one month, click here.
Live video from Thursday’s championship game will air on the Bright House Sports Network. Click here to purchase a one-day pass for $6.95.
Also, for periodic live score updates and bonus photos, like NorthEscambia.com on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @northescambia.
The Northview Chiefs baseball team hit the road Monday afternoon for the state tournament in Fort Myers. They received a send-off from the practicing football team (most students were already dismissed and off campus at the time). NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Snap Three-Game Win Streak With Loss To Jacksonville
May 12, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (11-20) are at an early disadvantage in the race for the Golden Skillet as they dropped the first game of the series against Jacksonville (14-16) 5-4 . The defeat also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Wahoos, their longest of the season.
Pensacola starter Keyvius Sampson (1-1) pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Jacksonville starter Austin Brice (1-3) earned his first win of the season in 5.0 innings while giving up two runs, two hits and six walks. Sean Donatello earned the save for the Suns, his ninth of the season.
Beau Amaral and Kyle Waldrop each added two hits and an RBI, with Amaral hitting his first home run of the season in the ninth. Ryan Wright made an impact at the plate for the Blue Wahoos, reaching safely on four of his five plate appearances with a hit and three walks to go along with a stolen base. Ray Chang extended his hit streak to eight games on a pinch-hit single in the seventh.
The Wahoos got things started with a run in the top of the first. Second baseman Ryan Wright was able to score from second on an infield single from outfielder Kyle Waldrop as the Wahoos managed a pair of hits and a walk in the inning.
The Suns struck back in the bottom half, first with a ground-rule double from Matt Juengel with runners on first and second. The RBI double left runners at second and third, which allowed Viosergy Rosa to drive in another run on a groundout to give Jacksonville a 2-1 lead.
Jacksonville’s Kenny Wilson opened the bottom of the third with a stand-up triple to the right field corner, but Sampson was able to fan three consecutive batters to leave him stranded.
Rosa was able to add to the Jacksonville lead with a solo shot to right to make the score 3-1 in the fourth. The Suns looked to inflict further damage after a pair of singles to put runners at the corners with nobody out, but Sampson was able to strand both of them with two groundouts and a strikeout.
In the fifth, a pair of walks and a wild pitch put Wright and outfielder Beau Amaral at second and third, respectively. First baseman Marquez Smith was able to send Amaral home on a sac-fly to center, bringing the Wahoos within a run.
Zack Cox sent the second solo shot of the game for Jacksonville to right field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, his third home run of the season.
The Wahoos managed a pair of singles from Kyle Waldrop and catcher Kyle Skipworth, putting runners at the corners with one out in the top of the eighth. Waldrop was able to reach home on a sacrifice fly from infielder Juan Perez to bring the Wahoos back within a run at 4-3.
The Suns pushed their lead back to two on a pair of doubles from David Adams and Sharif Othman, with Othman’s resulting in an RBI.
Amaral made things interesting with a solo home run to right field in the top of the ninth to make it 5-4, but a fielder’s choice and a fly-out to center ended the game.
Northview, Jeff Davis Grad Inks Volleyball Scholarship
May 11, 2015
A Northview High School grad has signed a volleyball scholarship after completing two years of junior college play.
Morgan Smith graduated from Northview High School in 2013 after two years playing varsity volleyball. She signed a two-year volleyball scholarship with Jefferson Davis Community College, where she graduated last week. Now, she has signed a volleyball scholarship with Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, GA, as a starting middle hitter.
After graduating with a bachelors degree in biology, Smith plans to join the U.S. Air Force to pursue a nursing career.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight Over Tennessee
May 10, 2015
Wandy Peralta usually needs a translator when speaking with the media.
Asked if he trusted his fellow Spanish-speaking catcher, Yovan Gonzalez, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos left hander gave his answer in English. “Yes, a lot.”
The battery mates stole the show Saturday as Pensacola won its third in a row—it’s longest win streak since July 22-25 last season—in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola beat the Tennessee Smokies, 5-1, to also win the six-game series, 4-2. It was the first series the Blue Wahoos have taken this season, too.
Peralta gave up eight runs in two innings in his last start against the Jackson Generals. This time, Peralta got stingy. He gave up just one run in seven innings on four hits and four strike outs. He improved to 2-3 with a 4.85 ERA.
Meanwhile, Pensacola hitters backed him up with five runs, including a solo homer deep over the left field fence by Gonzalez, who was activated off the disabled list Saturday. Gonzalez, who put Pensacola up 4-1, went 2-4 on the night after hurting his back so much he couldn’t even swing a bat.
“My back was so sore I couldn’t even swing,” Gonzalez said. “In a game, I couldn’t throw the bat at the ball.”
Did he feel any pain on his long home run? “No, but the ball did,” Gonzalez said.
Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said jokingly that he doesn’t remember seeing Gonzalez hit a dinger in his career. He actually has 11, including one last year for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze that Kelly managed.
“Wandy is very emotional out there and Yovan does a great job of keeping him calm,” Kelly said. “Their communication is better because of their language. (Gonzalez) caught him a lot in Bakersfield.”
Pensacola got Peralta runs right off the bat, when they went ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Waldrop lashed a two-out triple into the right field corner that scored Jesse Winker, who had doubled, and Marquez Smith, who earned a walk.
Another run came across in the third when Beau Amaral doubled in Ray Chang, who had doubled to make it, 3-0, after two innings. Gonzalez then homered and Pensacola added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Winker scored his second run of the game on a Chang sacrifice fly to right field that made the score, 5-1.
Kelly said he was not surprised by the Blue Wahoos (11-19) performance in the series.
The Smokies hitters, who entered the series leading the league in hitting, batted just .201 against Pensacola pitching. Smokies star hitters catcher Kyle Schwarber, who bats third, went 2-11 and is batting .325 on the season. Meanwhile, first baseman Dan Vogelbach was 3-16 and drove in three runs and is now batting .330.
“This is what we are capable of doing,” Kelly said. “Getting those two-out base hits really makes a difference. It’s nice to see the players with some confidence. They really played great all series.”
Tate Softball Championship Team Returns To Hero’s Welcome
May 9, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies returned home to a hero’s welcome Friday afternoon, a Class 7A state championship trophy in hand. The state softball championship is the first in Tate High School’s history.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Northview Heads To State After First Ever Regional Win
May 9, 2015
The Northview Chiefs are headed to the Class 1A state baseball championship tournament for the first time ever after an 8-4 win over Bozeman Friday night in Panama City.
The Chiefs (19-2) will face Blountstown (21-8) Wednesday in the state semifinal round at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. Blountstown beat Central Friday night 3-1.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Over TN
May 9, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their first back-to-back games of the season with a, 3-0, victory over the Tennessee Smokies in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The winning run was actually knocked in by starting pitcher Josh Smith—an .086 hitter in his sixth year in the minor leagues. It was his first Double-A RBI when he singled in center fielder Beau Amaral from third in the third inning. Amaral tripled, singled, stole a base and scored two runs in the game.
Smith threw five scoreless innings, retiring the first 11 batters before allowing a sharp single up the middle to Tennessee right fielder Bijan Rademacher. Smith allowed two hits and struck out five to earn the victory and improve to 3-1 on the season with a 2.16 ERA.
“When I was here before I didn’t do much extra work in the cage,” Smith said. “But in the big leagues, I noticed the guys would go hit 3, 4, 5 times a week. I don’t want to come out in the fourth, fifth or sixth innings. I want to be able to help the team any way I can.”
Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said the Blue Wahoos fans deserved to see an entertaining baseball game Friday night.
“That’s a great crowd that comes and supports us every night,” Kelly said. “It was nice to give them a good game to watch. We want them to keep coming back.”
First baseman Ray Chang had one single in his three plate appearances and scored the other run for the Blue Wahoos. The hit extended his hitting streak to six games. He’s hitting .500 (8-16) and scored four runs total in those games.
Chang credited hitting coach Alex Pelaez and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin for helping tweak his swing this week, giving him more power. He tripled off the glove of Tennessee right fielder Bijan Rademacher’s glove but the three-bagger was ruled an error, instead of a hit.
Larkin is in Pensacola in his new role as the Reds roving minor league infield instructor.
“I’ve been working real hard with Al and Barry on my swing,” Chang said. “To be honest with you we had a team meeting before (Thursday’s) game and he was not bashing on us, just making comments on what he saw. He talked about his approach to the game and what he sees in our styles.”
Kelly said he would like to keep Larkin around to continue helping the Blue Wahoos, who entered Friday’s game with the Smokies batting a Southern League worst .224 batting average.
“He’s been outstanding working with the hitters and doing stuff with the infielders,” Kelly said. “He’s had a great impact on the players. I wish we could keep him all year.”
Tate Aggies Win Class 7A State Championship
May 8, 2015
The Tate High School Lady Aggies beat Sarasota 8-1 Thursday afternoon in Vero Beach to claim the FHSAA Class 7A state championship.
Tori Perkins slammed an infield homer in the top of the seventh to help seal the win, brining home Casey McCrakin and Rachel Wright.
Perkins pitched the win for the Aggies, allowing five hits, one run and striking out five. Tate hitters were Casey McCrackin 2-3, BB, 3R; Rachel Wright 2-4, 2R; Tori Perkins 3-4, 6 RBI, R; Lauren Brennan 2-4, R, RBI; Hayden Lindsay 1-2; Samantha Burks R, 2 BB.
Pictured: The Class 7A state champion Tate Aggies. Photos by Mike Brennan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
