Blue Wahoos Lose Third Straight; Time Clock Added To Double-A Baseball
April 12, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tim Adleman said he didn’t even notice the two 2-foot by 5-foot clocks on either side of the dugouts.
Third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean had a hard time seeing base balls hit by the Biloxi Shuckers because of the glare off the clocks.
All Double-A teams in the Southern League began using a clock for the first time Saturday to speed up a game that averaged 2 hours, 43 minutes in 2005 and 8 minutes more in 2014.
Last night, that meant the Blue Wahoos dropped their third straight game to the Biloxi Shuckers, 7-2, in 2 hours and 41 minutes.
In some instances, the new time-saving measures that allows 20 seconds between pitches and 2 minutes, 25 seconds between innings, could shave anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes from America’s pastime, baseball experts have said. For the first month, there will be no penalties enforced, such as assessing a pitcher a ball, if he fails to throw his pitch in time.
Adleman said he’s not sure what the effect of a clock will be on a game that’s never had one.
“Will it speed up the game and engage young fans or blow up too much and never work?” asked Adleman, who took the loss after leaving the game behind, 3-1, in the sixth inning. “Honestly, I did not notice (the clocks) at all. I was so focused on hitting my spots and getting out there and getting in a good rhythm.”
The first three games of the opening season series and the Blue Wahoos have managed three runs on 13 hits against Biloxi’s top-flight pitching staff. They are hitting just .153 against the Shuckers.
Pensacola’s Jesse Winker, at least, snapped his 0-7 slump with a single and double in four at bats. However, he was left on third base both times.
Kelly said he’s not worried about Winker or his other hitters in the middle of the lineup.
“I don’t worry about how Winker is hitting ever,” Kelly said. “I feel pretty comfortable with (Marquez Smith, Mejias-Brean and Kyle Skipworth). It didn’t work tonight and hasn’t worked so far this season. But I like my chances with those three guys.”
Adleman entered the game looking for his first Wahoos win as a starter after getting six starts the previous year. He was 0-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 2014.
After a shaky start in which he gave up three runs on seven hits in the first two innings, including muffing a bunt hit right to him that ended up costing him two runs, Adleman settled down. He allowed just three hits over the next four innings, benefitting from two double plays. On the night, Adleman allowed 11 men on base but left the game after six innings with Pensacola trailing, just 3-1.
One of the biggest Shuckers at the plate? Shortstop Orlando Arcia, the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect, has torn up Pensacola pitching, hitting .583, going 7-12 with two doubles, a triple, four runs scored and five runs batted in.
The fourth game of the five-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers is scheduled at 4 p.m. Sunday. LHP Wandy Peralta takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Shuckers RHP Jorge Lopez.
Lady Jags Beat Escambia; Tate Over Fort Walton Beach
April 11, 2015
SOFTBALL
West Florida, 7, Escambia 3
The West Florida Jaguars beat Escambia 7-3 in a rain-shortened game Friday. Jibrasha Moore was 1-3 with homer and 2 RBI; Kristin Gunter was 1-2; Emily Loring 1-2 with a double; Lauren Carnley 1-3 with a double; and Farrah Ncholas was 1-3 with a RBI.
The game was the last of the regular season for the Lady Jags. They travel to Marianna to start district play Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the Marianna Bulldogs.
BASEBALL
Tate 3, Fort Walton Beach 2
The Tate Aggies held on with two runs in the bottom of the seventh Friday to beat Fort Walton Beach 3-2. Branden Fryman was 2-3 with a RBI; Sawyer Smith was 1-3; Jake Davis was 1-2 for the Aggies.
Pictured top: Jabrasha Moore rounds the bases on a homer Friday as West Florida beat Escambia. Pictured below: The Lady Jags won 7-.3. Photos by Gary Carnley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Wahoos Fall in Rain Shortened Game Against The Shuckers
April 11, 2015
Biloxi Shuckers pitcher Tyler Wagner proved why he’s ranked the No. 9 prospect by Baseball America in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization.
Before rain canceled Friday’s game in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Shuckers ahead, 7-1, over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Wagner looked in total control through six innings. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up five hits, one unearned run and struck out four.
“Wagner did a nice job,” said Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly. “We’ve seen two really good pitchers and it doesn’t get any easier.”
Meanwhile, after a 1-2-3 first inning, Blue Wahoos Daniel Wright struggled in his Double-A debut. The righty ranked first in wins with 14 and second in strike outs with 141 in A ball for the Reds last year.
Wright gave up three runs in the second inning on a one-out, bases-loaded clearing double down the left field line by Shuckers catcher Adam Weisenburger that put Biloxi ahead, 3-1. He gave up three more runs on three singles and a walk in the third inning before being pulled with two outs and the Wahoos trailing, 6-1.
On the night, Wright lasted 2.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on five hits and four walks with no strikeouts.
“He’s a command guy and he can’t afford to get behind guys,” Kelly said.
Also making his Double-A debut was leftfielder Sean Buckley who posted a double and single in three at bats.
Pensacola, which recorded its 106th sellout in four seasons, is hosting the season opening series with Biloxi.
The third game of the five-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. RHP Tim Adleman takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Shuckers LHP Hobbs Johnson.
Escambia Allocates Tourist Dollars To Tate’s Aggie Classic Tourney
April 10, 2015
Escambia County will provide tourist development funding for the next Aggie Classic hosted by Tate High School Baseball.
Over its 22 year history, the tournament has brought in over 350 teams from California, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, New York, and the District of Columbia — along with thousands of out of town parents and fans spending money locally and staying nearly a week.
“We are looking to always improve our tournament and to put our best foot forward for our annual guests,” Tate baseball coach Greg Blackmon wrote in his funding request.
Escmabia County placed $250,000 in the 4th Cent Tourist Development Tax reserves. These funds are split $50,000 per commission district for events and other tourist promotion activities. District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry has proposed $5,000 for the 23rd Aggie Classic to be held March 14-17, 2016. The Escambia County Commission approved the proposal at a Thursday meeting.
Baseball: Northview Tops In District; Niceville Over Tate
April 10, 2015
Northview 4, Chipley 3
The Northview Chiefs (15-2, 8-2) beat Chipley Thursday night in Bratt 4-3. With the win, the Chiefs will enter the district tournament as the No. 1 seed. For the Chiefs, Brodie Amos was 1-3, 3 RBI; Chasen Freeman 1-3, R; Roman Manning 1-2, R; Aaron McDonalds 0-3; Zach Payne 1-2; Brian Cantrell 1-3, R. In their final regular season game, the Chiefs will host Rocky Bayou on Monday.
Niceville 1, Tate 0
The Tate Aggies dropped a district game to Niceville Thursday night, 1-0. Branden Fryman was 1-3; Jacob Saulnier 1-2; Josh Key 1-3. The Aggies will host Fort Walton Beach Friday night in another district matchup.
Paxton 2, Central 2
West Florida 11, Walton 1
Pictured: Northview beats Chipley Thursday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night, Take On Wisconsin Team
April 10, 2015
The Northview High School Lady Chiefs celebrated Senior Night Thursday as they wrapped up their regular season. The Chiefs dropped both games of a double header to visiting Oshkosh North High School from Wisconsin. The Lady Chiefs will travel to Freeport Monday as the district tournament gets underway.
Pictured top: (L-R) Seniors Kendall Cobb, Penny Banda, Coach Ronald Peebles, Kyndall Hall, Courtney Peebles, Addy Lee, Kristen Byrd and Mallory Ryan. Not pictured above is Angel Lathan, who is on the left below, and Ciara Campbell. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Softball: West Florida Beats PFHS; KY Over Tate
April 10, 2015
West Florida 12, Pine Forest 2
West Florida 11, Pace 6
The West Florida Lady Jaguars beat Pine Forest Thursday night 12-2. Farrah Nicholas pitched the win for WFHS, allowing two runs and striking out five. Haile Bell 1-1; Bre Rogres 1-3; Kayla Miller 1-4; Jibrasha Moore 1-2; Ealon Pyle 1-1; Farrah Nicholas 1-2, 2 RBIs; Emily Loring 1-2; Kristin Gunter 1-4; Lauren Carnley 1-2. Earlier this week, West Florida beat Pace 11-6.’
For more West Florida softball photos, click here.
Male High (KY) 4, Tate 1
Casey McCracking went 1-3 as Tate was handed their fourth loss of the season by a visiting Kentucky team Thursday. Tori Perkins pitched seven for Tate, striking out five. Other Tate hitters were Savannah Rowell 1-3, and Jasmin Gonzalez 1-2. The Lady Aggies will next take on the Milton Panthers.
Jay 11, Flomaton 1
The Jay Lady Royals were led by Harley Tagert Thursday as they pounded Flomaton 11-1. Tagert was 3-for-4 with a homer, double and five RBIs. Other Jay hitters were Michaela Stewart 2-3, 3 runs, RBI; Riana Wolf 2-3, 2 runs; Averi Jackson 2-3, 2 runs, double; Emily Dobson 1-3, 2 RBIs, triple. Jay (18-3) will host Central Friday night.
Pictured: West Florida Jaguars softball action. Photos by Gary Carnley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tagert Powers Jay Over Flomaton
April 10, 2015
Jay 11, Flomaton 1
The Jay Lady Royals were led by Harley Tagert Thursday as they pounded Flomaton 11-1. Tagert was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, double and five RBIs. Other Jay hitters were Michaela Stewart 2-3, 3 runs, RBI; Riana Wolf 2-3, 2 runs; Averi Jackson 2-3, 2 runs, double; Emily Dobson 1-3, 2 RBIs, triple. Jay (18-3) will host Central Friday night.
Thursday was Senior Night for the Royals as they honored Dana Blackmon and Emily Dobson.
Pictured top: Harley Targert slams a three-run home Thursday for the Jay Royals. Pictured below: Seniors Dana Blackmon and Emily Dobson. Photos by Diann Tagert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Open With Loss To Biloxi
April 10, 2015
Pensacola hosted its second historic season opening game in its four years of existence. This time, it was the Biloxi Shuckers first game in history and the city’s first game since 1908 – nearly 107 years ago.
The Shuckers earned its first Southern League win, 4-0, Thursday against the Blue Wahoos, thanks to shortstop Orlando Arcia’s double that knocked in two runs in the top of the third inning. The Wahoos managed just three hits in the loss.
The Shuckers scored its first runs in the third to go ahead 2-0. That’s when the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect Arcia, who was 3-4 with two doubles and three runs batted in, lined a shot over Blue Wahoos right fielder Kyle Waldrop that drove in both Biloxi’s Adam Weisenburger and Kyle Wren.
The Shuckers added another run in the 6th when Michael Reed smashed a single off Pensacola reliever Chad Rogers down the third base line that scored Arcia for a 3-0 lead. Arcia singled in the 9th inning to score Josh Fellhauer, a former Wahoos player, to put the Shuckers ahead, 4-0.
Blue Wahoos Manager Pat Kelly said he doesn’t envy the Shuckers’ extended road trip.
“That’s a really long time,” Kelly said. “They will either be really close or fighting all the time.”
Biloxi’s road game – Pensacola’s 105th sellout in its history – was the first of 55 scheduled over the next two months for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Double-A affiliate. The team will spend 60 straight nights in a hotel in nine different cities reached by bus.
It’s one of the longest road trips in recent history after the franchise moved from Huntsville, Ala., to Biloxi in the offseason. Its home opener is tentatively scheduled June 6 in downtown Biloxi.
Just how excited were Shuckers fans for the team’s season opener? Interim Mayor Kenny Glavan showed up in a Biloxi jersey and threw out the first pitch with Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward.
“This is a historic day for Biloxi just as it was for Pensacola when they had their first opening day (in 2012),” Glavan said. “We look forward to a great relationship.”
Asked before the game who was going to win, Glavan, a likely mayoral candidate, sounded like a true politician: “It will be really competitive and the best team is going to win,” he said.
The Reds top prospect Robert Stephenson welcomed the Shuckers to Pensacola with five straight fastballs in the 95 mph range. He ended up striking out Wren, Milwaukee’s 19th best prospect.
Stephenson, who had his 80-mph change up working, too, fanned Wren again in the 5th and had seven total in 5.2 innings. He gave up four hits, two walks and three earned runs.
Stephenson said he’s happy with the way his change up looked.
“I was a little bit amped up and that’s when I ran into trouble,” Stephenson said.
He also promised the Blue Wahoos would not pop champagne over the Shuckers first franchise victory.
“I can’t tell you we will be celebrating that,” he said smiling.
The second game of the five-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Friday. RHP Daniel Wright makes his Double-A debut as he takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Shuckers RHP Tyler Wagner.
Northview, Jay To Meet In Spring Game
April 9, 2015
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals will meet in a Spring Football Game next month.
The game will come at the end of the three weeks allowed for spring training. It will be held May 22 at 7 p.m. in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium on the Northview campus in Bratt.
Last season, Northview beat Jay 55-20 in Bratt.
Pictured: Last year’s Jay at Northview game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
