Mobile Beats Wahoos In 11
May 20, 2013
The Mobile BayBears offense awakened late in Sunday’s contest, tying the game in the ninth before winning it with three runs in the 11th inning, 6-3, over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Mobile’s Jon Griffin proved to be the difference in the contest, providing the game-tying single to right in the ninth inning before smacking a two-run base knock up the middle in the 11th. The BayBears added two more tallies in the 11th on a wild pitch scoring Griffin and an RBI single from Rossmel Perez.
The BayBear comeback nullified an outstanding outing from Daniel Renken. He made his first relief appearance since 2010 due to Manny Parra’s Major League rehab start. Renken was phenomenal in six-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. Parra faced the minimum in two innings, walking one and striking out one.
Pensacola got on the board early with a first-pitch leadoff home run from Bryson Smith in the first inning. It was Smith’s fifth blast of the year, tying him for the team lead with now Major Leaguer Donald Lutz.
After Mobile tied the game in the top of the fourth, the Wahoos retook the lead in the last of the fourth on a sac fly from Tucker Barnhart scoring Ryan LaMarre, but lost another runner at the plate as Travis Mattair was thrown out from left field trying to score on David Vidal’s single with two outs.
The series continues on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Josh Smith (3-3, 3.86) will start for Pensacola against Mobile’s Michael Bolsinger (2-0, 3.63)
story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCracken, click to enlarge.
Northview Splits Two Spring Jamboree Games (With Photo Gallery)
May 19, 2013
The Florida 1A state champion Northview Chiefs took on a couple of Alabama teams in spring football games Saturday afternoon in East Brewton, Ala.
The Chiefs defeated Andalusia High School 12-6 in a two-quarter game before losing 22-12 to Hillcrest of Evergreen (Ala.).
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Andalusia, click here.
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Evergreen, click here.
For Northview Coach Sid Wheatley, Saturday was a chance to check out the strengths — and weaknesses — of a team that’s full of new, young faces with 24 seniors graduating. There were three ninth graders starting for the Chiefs Saturday.
“We’re talking about fundamentals…we’ve got to get better as blockers and tacklers,” Wheatley said after Northview’s 1-1 jamboree performance. “Our young offensive linemen are going to keep getting better and better because we are going to coach them up. We are kind of struggling right there at this moment…this was kind of a landmark to see where we are at and were we will progress from here.”
Summer will bring long days at practice and new plans for the Chiefs.
“We will evolve our offensive package during the summer,” Wheatley said. “I did not want to throw too much at the young faces during the spring.”
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Andalusia, click here.
For a photo gallery from Northview vs. Evergreen, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NWE 15U Boys Win Bay Minette Youth Baseball Tournament
May 19, 2013
Northwest Escambia’s 15U Boys won the Bay Minette Youth Baseball tournament Saturday in Bay Minette. NWE’s tournament record was 4-1. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mobile BayBears Even Series With 4-1 Over Blue Wahoos
May 19, 2013
The Mobile BayBears scored in four straight innings, slowly separating themselves from the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in a 4-1 win on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Entering the third inning trailing 1-0, Mobile put up single tallies in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth frames. Justin Greene provided the tying RBI with a two-out double in the third and two innings later, made it 3-1 with another double that scored Ender Inciarte. Nick Evans launched a solo homer in the fourth that gave Mobile a 2-1 lead. It was Evans’ seventh homer of the year, and fourth in the last five games. The BayBears scored their fourth run thanks to a passed ball scoring Brent Clevlen in the sixth inning.
Pensacola’s lone tally against Archie Bradley came in the first inning. The Wahoos were able to load the bases with nobody out on a hit batter, single and an error. Joe Mather brought a run home with a sac fly, but Bradley retired the next two hitters to get out of the jam.
The Wahoos ended up tying a season-high with 12 runners left on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth as Kevin Munson struck out Bryson Smith. Munson went on to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Bradley picked up his third win in four starts at Double-A, allowing a run on five hits in six innings while striking out five. He bested Ryan Dennick (2-3) who gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits in five frames.
The two teams square off again on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Manny Parra (0-0, 0.00) will make his third rehab start for Pensacola and will be followed by Daniel Renken (1-3, 4.58). David Holmberg (1-2, 2.20) will start for Mobile.
story by Kevin Burke
Scalpball Tourney Raises Funds For HS Volleyball Program
May 19, 2013
Winners in the annual Northview High School Scalpball Tournament Saturday were Nada Es Facil in the teen bracket (below) and D’s Balls in the adult division (above). Proceeds from the event benefit the volleyball program at Northview High School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay’s Olivia Wright Signs Softball Scholarship With Wallace State
May 18, 2013
Jay High School senior Olivia Wright signed a softball scholarship with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL.
The Wallace State fast pitch softball program won the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Championship, finishing national runner-up on two other occasions and third in 2012. Wallace State softball reclaimed the top spot in the state in 2012, winning its fifth Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 state championship in six seasons and its seventh straight Northern Division title. The Lions finished with a 60-12 record and had a third-place finish at the NJCAA tournament.
Wright is the daughter of Shannon Wright and Keith Wright. She is the granddaughter of Aldon and Nancy Lloyd and Marie Wright.
Earlier this year, Northview High senior Misty Doran also signed a softball scholarship with Wallace State.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat The Baybears 4-2
May 18, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored all of their runs in a four-run fifth inning and held off a late-inning comeback from the Mobile BayBears to win the series opener 4-2 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Friday night.
In the decisive fifth, the Wahoos posted six straight singles to start the inning with RBI’s coming from Brian Pearl, Bryson Smith, and Luis Durango to open up a 3-0 lead. After a double play and a walk, Travis Mattair laced a single to left, scoring Smith, but Durango was cut down at the plate on a strong throw from left field Brent Clevlen to abruptly end the inning. It was the second time in the ballgame Clevlen threw out Durango, with the first time coming for the final out in the first inning.
The BayBears battled back in the later innings against the Pensacola bullpen. Mobile smacked three straight one-out singles in the sixth against Brian Pearl, but was only able to get one run on a fielder’s choice. In the eighth inning, Raywilly Gomez brought home a run on an infield single with one out, but Loek Van Mil retired the next two hitters to strand an additional two runners
Missed chances reigned supreme for Mobile as they left 12 runners on base, including two in each of the last five frames. The BayBears had 13 hits in the contest, but just one extra base hit.
Wahoos’ starter Chad Rogers received a no-decision in the contest as he was ejected with two outs in the top of the fifth arguing a call at third base. Rogers was in complete control at the time of his ejection as he had scattered six hits and struck out two. Pearl (2-0) earned the win with 1.1 innings of relief and also gathered his first career hit and RBI in the fifth inning.
Prior to Rogers’ ejection, Ryan LaMarre was tossed from the game in the last of the fourth after he popped out to the second baseman. LaMarre was arguing a check swing appeal at first base on the previous pitch.
Having won four of their last five, the Wahoos turn to southpaw Ryan Dennick (2-2, 2.93) in game two of the series with the BayBears. Archie Bradley (2-0, 0.64) gets the call for Mobile. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke
Northview’s Kahlil Grice Signs With Minnesota College
May 17, 2013
From team manager to a state championship to a college scholarship, hard work and dedication have paid off for senior Northview Chief Kahlil Grice.
Grice, just a few days before graduation, has signed a scholarship to play for Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minnesota — just south of Canadian border.
Grice started as a team manager his freshmen year and spent the next three years playing for the Chiefs.
Pictured top: Kahlil Grice signs a football scholarship Thursday afternoon with Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minnesota. Pictured inset: Grice was joined by his mother, Felicia Grice (seated) and sisters (L-R) Alisha and Keyth Grice. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Andrew Briske Signs With Misssissippi College
May 16, 2013
Tate High Schools senior Andrew Briske has signed to play defensive tackle for Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. Briske is a four-year player for Tate and also played little league at Ensley. He made the district All-Star team as a senior and carries a 3.5+ GPA.
Pictured are (seated, L-R) Kathy Briske (mom), Andrew Briske, Christopher Briske (brother), Wayne Briske (dad), (standing) Meagan Briske (sister) Dean David Venettozzi, Coach Bobby Reyes and Tate Principal Rick Shackle. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Beat Chattanooga
May 16, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos extended their winning streak to a season-high three games in dramatic fashion, walking off over the Chattanooga Lookouts 4-3 in 10 innings on Wednesday night in front of 3,914 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Ryan LaMarre was the hero in Wednesday’s contest providing the game-winning single that scored Bryson Smith from second. LaMarre was originally trying to lay down a sac bunt with runners on first and second, but slapped the single inside the first base bag with two strikes.
The Wahoos offense jumped out to an early start with two solo homers, one from Joe Mather in the second inning and another from Smith in the third. Both Mather and Smith finished with three-hit games as the Wahoos scored four or more runs for the fourth consecutive contest.
Much like last night, Chattanooga battled back and eventually took the lead in the later innings. Trailing 2-1 heading to the eighth, Omar Luna snuck a single through the middle of the infield that scored Yasiel Puig and Blake Smith to give the Lookouts a 3-2 advantage.
In the last of the eighth inning, Pensacola loaded the bases and knotted the game when Mather blooped a single into right for his second RBI of the contest. The Wahoos couldn’t push across another run though as Jose Dominguez forced a fielder’s choice from Travis Mattair and struck out Devin Lohman.
Chris Manno got the win in relief for Pensacola by working out of trouble in the 10th inning, his only inning of work. He allowed a walk and a single but struck out two to improve to 1-1. Aaron Miller (0-2) took the loss for Chattanooga by giving up a run on two hits without recording an out.
Pensacola starter Josh Smith turned in a quality start by giving up a run while scattering seven hits in six innings. He didn’t factor in the decision but struck out four and lowered his ERA to below 4.00 for the first time this year.
Having already won the series, Pensacola looks to win its fourth in a row on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Major league rehabber Manny Parra (0-0, 0.00) will start and throw two innings for the Wahoos, followed by originally scheduled starter Tim Crabbe (2-2, 2.27). Ross Stripling (1-0, 1.50) gets the ball for Chattanooga.
story by Kevin Burke