Pensacola Blue Wahoos Drop Fourth Straight 7-2
May 12, 2013
The Jacksonville Suns took advantage of a key Pensacola error in the fifth inning, scoring four unearned runs en route to a 7-2 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
With the game scoreless headed to the last of the fifth, Noah Perio grounded a ball to first baseman Joe Mather who had the bouncer deflect off his glove, allowing Perio to reach safely. That opened the floodgates for the Suns against Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved Perio to third, Christian Yelich brought him home with a sacrifice fly. Jake Marisnick and Kyle Jensen then launched back-to-back solo homers to make it 3-0. Mark Canha would single home the fourth run of the inning two batters later following a Ryan Fisher double.
Crabbe (2-2) took the loss for Pensacola despite not giving up an earned run. He gave up the four unearned tallies on seven base hits in five innings.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville starter Adam Conley (2-1) mowed through the Pensacola lineup giving up just a fifth-inning bunt single from Devin Lohman over six frames while facing the minimum as Lohman was caught stealing.
Bryson Smith snapped the Wahoos’ scoreless innings streak at 15 frames with a seventh-inning solo homer, his third round-tripper of the season. Smith went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI to lead the Pensacola attack.
Jacksonville would put the game out of reach in the eighth inning against the combination of Drew Hayes and Shaun Ellis. Perio, Yelich, and Marisnick all brought home runs in a three-fun frame that gave the Suns a 7-1 lead.
Pensacola added a tally in the top of the ninth when Travis Mattair scored on a two-out single from Ryan LaMarre, but Michael Brady got Mather to ground out to end the game.
The Wahoos now return home for a season-long 10-game homestand starting on Sunday with the first of five against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Chad Rogers (2-1, 1.51) will try to stop Pensacola’s four game skid against Chattanooga’s Zach Lee (3-2, 2.15). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Pictured: Devin Lohman was 2-for-3 with a double in Pensacola’s 7-2 loss on Saturday night. (Emmele Photography).
Holmes County Ends Northview’s Playoff Run
May 11, 2013
Holmes County won the Regional 1A title Friday night in Bonifay, defeating the Northview Chiefs 3-0.
Holmes County took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, expanding their lead to 3-0 with single from Corey Wilson in the second inning. The Blue Devils advance to the state semifinals next week in Fort Myers.
Kevin Vaughn pitched three for the Chiefs, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K.
Chason Freeman was 1-3 for Northview, while Chad Smith was 0-1.
The Blue Devils were the district champs, having beat Northview on April 25. During the regular season, it was an even split. The Chiefs end their first season under first-year head coach Marty Lister at 10-9. Northview has never made the baseball final four in school history.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs take on Holmes County Friday in Bonifay for the Regional 1A title. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Jax Beats Pcola 1-0
May 11, 2013
Audy Ciriaco delivered the game-winning single on a looping line drive over second baseman Brodie Greene in the bottom of the ninth to score Ryan Fisher from third to give Jacksonville a 1-0 win on Friday night at Bragan Field in Jacksonville. The loss is the third straight for Pensacola.
Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith pitched brilliantly over six shutout innings. He surrendered just three hits while fanning a season-high nine batters, including a span of six consecutive batters from the second inning to the fourth. Loek Van Mil pitched well out of the bullpen for the Blue Wahoos with two scoreless innings. Josh Ravin had two strikes on Ciriaco before he delivered the game winning hit with two outs in the ninth. Ravin (L, 0-2) was handed his second loss of the season. Collin Carill (W, 1-1) earned the win for Jacksonville after pitching the final two innings for the Suns.
Offensively the Wahoos had only three hits. Third baseman David Vidal had two of them as part of a 2-for-4 game to extend his hit-streak to four games. The Blue Wahoos only threat came in the top of the ninth when they had runners at second and third with two outs. It was the only time the Blue Wahoos had a runner at third base in the game.
Pensacola will try to salvage the final game of the five-game series on Saturday night. RHP Tim Crabbe (2-1, 2.60) will start for the Blue Wahoos against Suns LHP Adam Conley (1-1, 5.88). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT from Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
by
Four Northview Seniors Sign Sports Scholarships
May 10, 2013
Four Northview High School seniors signed college athletic scholarships Thursday morning.
Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne both signed volleyball scholarships with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. Ariel Holland signed a cheerleading scholarship with Faulker State Community College in Bay Minette, and shortstop Shaquanna Jones signed a softball scholarship with Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Pictured top: (L-R) Morgan Smith, Morgan Payne, Ariel Holland and Shaquanna Jones. Pictured below: The seniors sign their scholarships as family and school staff look on. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Suns Burn Wahoos 10-3
May 10, 2013
The Jacksonville Suns put Thursday’s game out of reach with a five-run eighth inning against the Blue Wahoos at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Blue Wahoos have now dropped two straight at the hands of the Suns.
Jacksonville jumped on Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Renken early with a three-run homer in the first inning from Major League rehabbing catcher Jeff Mathis. The Suns never trailed from there, although the Blue Wahoos remained within striking distance until the five-run eighth inning.
Pensacola scattered their three runs beginning in the second. Joe Mather scored from second on a base-hit from David Vidal, which at the time, pulled the Wahoos within two. In the sixth, Tucker Barnhart singled home Bryson Smith, but Mather was thrown out trying to score from second by Suns left fielder Christian Yelich. The final run scored on a bases loaded walk in the ninth when the game was well in hand.
Travis Mattair picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 night and extended his hit streak to six games with his single in the second. Barnhart also had a two-hit performance, his eighth multi-hit game of the year.
Renken (L, 1-3) took the loss for Pensacola after getting charged with four runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out a season-high seven betters and matched a season-high with four walks. Jacksonville’s Matt Neil (W, 1-2) earned the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Pensacola will look to even the series on Friday night with RHP Josh Smith (3-3, 5.20) going against Jacksonville’s RHP Robert Morey (0-0, 4.15). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT from Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
FWC Proposes Rule On Importing Deer From Other States
May 9, 2013
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to hear from deer enthusiasts and those who have deer farms or hunting preserves about a proposed rule change that would prohibit the importation of live captive deer into Florida from out-of-state sources.
The change is being proposed in an effort to reduce the chances of chronic wasting disease (CWD) being introduced into the state. CWD is not known to affect people.
The disease, which has been discovered in 22 states, two Canadian provinces and in South Korea, is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It is similar to mad cow disease, always fatal, and there is no known cure or vaccine for the animals.
The rule-change proposal will go before the Commission at its June 13 meeting in Lakeland, and the FWC encourages all those who have an interest to go to MyFWC.com/Deer and select “Captive Cervids” to read about what is being proposed and offer any comments, questions or concerns they may have.
To learn more and comment on the proposal, click here.
Weekend Golf Tourney To Benefit Miracle League
May 9, 2013
The Scenic Hills Men’s Golf Association is sponsoring a golf tournament on behalf of The Miracle League of Pensacola on Saturday, May 11 beginning at 9 a.m.
Cost is $50 per golfer, which includes green fees, cars, food and beverages.. Contact John Eisinger at (850) 477-5869; Jerry Huggard at (850) 291-2036; Mark Gray at (850) 380-5753 or the Scenic Hills Golf Shop at (850) 476-0611.
Tate’s Ward Signs Basketball Scholarship With Palm Beach State
May 9, 2013
Tate High School senior point guard Jardae Ward has signed a scholarship with Palm Beach State College. She signed her scholarship in the school’s Fryman Gym in front her teammates, ROTC members and classmates. Pictured: Jardae Ward (left) signs her Palm Beach State College scholarship as her mother, Gwendolyn Ward, looks on. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suns Even Series With 3-1 Win Over Wahoos
May 9, 2013
For the second straight day, it was Christian Yelich who provided the bulk of the Suns offense, as Jacksonville defeated the Blue Wahoos 3-1 at Bragan Field on Wednesday afternoon. Despite a strong start by Wahoos lefty Ryan Dennick, the Suns prevailed to even the series at one game apiece.
Yelich broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run home run to right-center field off Blue Wahoos reliever Shaun Ellis. Pensacola had tied the game in the top of the inning when Ryan LaMarre scored from first on a bloop double down the left field line by Joe Mather. It was his second hit of the game.
Jacksonville plated their first run in the sixth inning when Yelich scored from second on a double by Kyle Jensen. It was the only run that Dennick allowed in the game.
Ellis (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing the home run in the eighth inning. Despite giving up the lone Wahoos run, Scott McGough (W, 3-0) earned the win for Jacksonville. Both starters pitched well, though neither got a decision. Dennick gave up just the one run over six innings with four strikeouts for Pensacola. For the Suns, Sam Dyson pitched five shutout innings and allowed four hits.
Offensively, Travis Mattair picked up another two-hit game with a 2-for-4 afternoon. He has now hit safely in five straight.
Pensacola and Jacksonville will continue their series Thursday night from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. CT. Pensacola will start RHP Daniel Renken (1-2, 3.07) against Suns RHP Matt Neil (0-2, 4.79).
Chiefs Beat Paxton In Region 1-1A Semifinals
May 8, 2013
The Northview Chiefs scored seven runs in the final two innings Tuesday night to beat Paxton 8-3 in the Region 1-1A semifinal.
A couple of errors and three hits let to four runs in the top of the sixth for the Northview Chiefs, plus Chad Smith and Jason Freeman had singles. In the top of the seventh, the Chiefs scored three more unearned runs on errors by the Bobcats.
Northview will travel to Holmes County (Bonifay) in the regional finals at 7 p.m. Friday. Holmes County is coming off a 4-2 semi-final win over Central. Admission will be $7 for all ages.