Wahoos Walk Off With 3-2 Win Over The Tenn. Smokies
September 2, 2012
Blue Wahoos left fielder Bryson Smith drove a single down the right field line to plate shortstop Billy Hamilton in the ninth to complete a three-hit game and propel Pensacola to a 3-2 walkoff victory over the Tennessee Smokies in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved to a 34-33 record in the second half of 2012, while Tennessee fell to 35-33 since the midpoint of the season. The capacity crowd was the second straight and 39th overall this season in the club’s inaugural year at the bayfront stadium as the team continues to lead the Southern League in attendance.
Tied at 2-2 in the ninth, Hamilton drew a one-out walk and then stole second to set the stage for Smith. The University of Florida product would come through with a line drive down the right field line, plating Hamilton and cueing the celebration. The theft for Hamilton was his 155th of the year as he continues to extend his single-season steals record.
Pensacola also scored the game’s first score of the evening, taking a 1-0 lead in the third. Smith began the frame with a double and then was sent home on 1B Donald Lutz’s RBI single up the middle.
Tennessee however, countered with a pair of tallies in the fifth, thanks to their fifth longball of the series. RF Matt Szczur led off with a double and subsequently scored when 2B Logan Watkins left the yard with a two-run blast to right, his ninth of 2012.
The Blue Wahoos would then draw the game even at 2-2 in the following frame. 2B Brodie Greene started the game-tying rally with a single and moved from first to third on C Tucker Barnhart’s single to center, prior to coming across on pinch hitter Beau Mills’ sacrifice fly to left.
Smith (3-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) led all batters with his three hits, while Lutz (2-4, 1 RBI) and Barnhart (2-4) also accumulated multi-hit efforts. Szczur (2-5, 1 R, 1 2B) was the lone Smokies batter to record two or more hits.
Pensacola closer Justin Freeman (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory after tossing the final 1.1 shutout frames, while Tennessee RHP Kevin Rhoderick (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Smokies starter Eric Jokisch (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite yielding a lone earned run on six hits while fanning five in five innings pitched.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Chad Rogers (3-1, 1.73) is slated to take the mound for the Blue Wahoos, while RHP Dae-Eun Rhee (9-8, 4.95) is expected to get the ball for Tennessee.
Earlier Saturday the Cincinnati Reds, the Blue Wahoos’ parent club, announced several September call ups to the Major Leagues, including two Blue Wahoos alums. Former infielders Didi Gregorius and Henry Rodriguez were both promoted to the Big Leagues, while the club has also announced they will promote former RHP Pedro Villarreal from Triple-A Louisville later this week.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals Easily Beat Rocky Bayou
September 1, 2012
The Jay Royals easily beat Rocky Bayou Friday night, 67-21 in Destin.
The Royals opened the scoring with a 64-yard run from Ricky Cofield. A good kick from Dakota Smith, and JHS was up 7-0. Jay scored again after QB Tate Upton fumbled but recovered for a 25-yard touchdown, 14-0.
Cofield scored again on a 4-yard run that followed a 26-yard QB keeper by Upton. Cofield added another touchdown, 33-0. And Cofield added yet another touchdown, this time a 55-yard run, to make it 40-0.
The Royals increased their advantage to 46-0 with a Brandon Boutwell touchdown.
The Jay Royasls will be on the road next Friday night against Holmes County High School.
Pictured: The Jay Royals beat Rocky Bayou 67-21 Friday night in Destin. NorthEscambia.com photos by Michele Gibbs, click to enlarge.
West Florida Hangs On To Top Escambia 9-7
September 1, 2012
The West Florida Jaguars won a hard-fought battle over the Escambia Gators Friday night, 9-7 at Emmitt Smith Field.
Lawrence Lee, who had seven catches for 100 yards, put the Jaguars on the board in the first quarter on a five-yard run. With a missed kick, the WFHS Jags were up 6-0 with 1:41 to go in the first quarter.
The Jags expanded their lead with a 32-yard field goal from Luke Jackson with 1:55 in the third. Escambia scored next, with an 80-yard run from Danikee Hollowell and a good kick by Patrick Mackovic.
Northview Chiefs Beat John Paul 60-0
September 1, 2012
The starting line for the Northview Chiefs spent most of Friday night on the sidelines, on the bench or cheering on their team as the Chiefs easily rolled past John Paul II Catholic of Tallahassee, 60-0.
To say the Chiefs over-matched the Panthers, a team that went 0-8 last year, would be an understatement. Just seconds into the second quarter, the Chiefs were up 41-0, and Coach Sid Wheatley pulled the starters, substituting backup players and even a few junior varsity guys.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Cheerleader, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.)
“I’ve been on the other side of that ,and you kind of feel for them a little bit,” Wheatley said following a game where one of his toughest challenges was not running up the score.
Northview played most of their entire roster, including 10 different players at running back. Noticeably missing was starting quarterback Kevin Vaughan, who suffered a wrist injury last week. Vaughan is also the kicker for the Chiefs. Friday night saw the substitution of LaMikal Kyles who practiced at the position just briefly last week.
“”It was a great total team win,” Wheatley said.
“I thought they played with a great amount of passion,” Wheatley said of his defensive team, which held the Panthers to just a couple of first downs. “Tonight was good.”
Two plays and less than 30 seconds into the football game, the Chiefs were up 6-0 with a 19-yard touchdown run from senior LaMikal Kyles. On the next possession for Northview, it was a repeat process — Kyles was in again from 43-yards out after two plays, 12-0.
Next, it was Roderick Woods’ turn for a touchdown, a 9-yarder, 18-0. And Woods repeated with a 7-yard touchdown a few minutes later. With a good two point conversion, the Chiefs were up 26-0. And they were just getting started.
Kyles added a 52-yard touchdown followed by a good two point conversion from Woods, 34-0.
And that was just the first quarter, prompting the Northview coaching staff to pull starters. And a running clock was started to help speed things along.
The Chiefs opened the second with another touchdown on their first down, a 48-yard run from Brannon Freemen. With 11:49 on the clock in the half, the Chiefs were up 41-0.
In the third quarter, Northview scored yet again, this time with a touchdown from senior Austin Dorriety, 47-0. And again, the Chiefs scored with 1:31 in the third quarter with a 23-yard touchdown from sophomore Jaron Myles, 53-0. And just one more time, the Chiefs scored when Dillian Crutchfield recovered a fumble in the endzone with 7:34 on the clock and a good kick from Myles, Northview 60-0.
The Chiefs, ranked number three in the state in the 1A Rural Division, will host Marianna next Friday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Cheerleader, band and dance team photos will be published Sunday.)
Pictured top: Ladarius Thomas, a sophomore, gains yardage for the Northview Chiefs Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: One of LaMikal Kyles touchdown runs. Pictured middle inset: Starters Neino Robinson and Arkelle Elliot sit out part of Friday night’s game on the bench in an effort to hold back Northview’s scoring. Pictured bottom inset: Austin Dorriety on a 29-yard touchdown run. Pictured below: NHS Coach Sid Wheatley in the opening huddle Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
T.R. Miller Beats Escambia County 41-14 In Atmore
September 1, 2012
T.R. Miller jumped out to a commanding 27-0 halftime lead on the home field of Escambia County High School Friday night in Atmore, an advantage the Blue Devils just could not overcome.
The Tigers increased their lead to 34-0 late in the third quarter before Escambia County answered.
The Blue Devils got on the board with a 93-yard kickoff return with 3:48 on the clock. Moments later Chris Johnson had a 24-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Meigs and made the two point conversion.
Miller racked up 334 total offensive yards, while the Blue Devils have 171 total yards, 94 of them rushing.
Smokies Shut Out Wahoos
September 1, 2012
Tennessee hurlers Chris Rusin, Nick Struck and Tony Zych combined to yield just two hits and two walks to shut down the Blue Wahoos bats, while left fielder Rubi Silva drove home four runs to lead the Smokies to a 5-0 shutout win over Pensacola in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win, Tennessee improve to 35-32 in the second half, while the loss drops the Fish to a 33-33 mark in that same time frame. The defeat along with a Montgomery victory over the Huntsville Stars Friday also eliminates Pensacola from playoff contention in the Southern League’s South Division. The capacity crowd was the 38th sellout of the year hosted by the club in their inaugural season of Southern League play.
The duo of Rusin (3.0 IP, 1 SO) and Struck (5.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 SO) joined forces to allow a lone hit in the first 8.2 frames, with Rusin firing three perfect frames. Struck earned his 14thh win of the year and fell one out short of going the rest of the way.
Each of the first 12 Blue Wahoos batters were retired, before yielding a base knock in the fifth. 1B Beau Mills laced a triple to right-center, but would be erased on a fielder’s choice later in the inning, marking the only time Pensacola had a runner at third.
Zych (0.1 IP, 1 H) came on with two outs in the ninth and preserved the shutout for Tennessee. Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss despite allowing just the lone earned run on five hits in his five frames.
Tennessee tallied their first score in the opening frame, with an inning-ending double play holding the Smokies to no more. CF Matt Szczur led off the game with a single and advanced to third on a double before being sent in when RF Jae-Hoon Ha lifted a sacrifice fly to right.
The Smokies subsequently scored three in the sixth, with their fourth longball of the series. 1B Justin Bour began the inning with a base knock while 3B Junior Lake also reached on a base hit, prior to Silva’s shot to left, which extended Tennessee’s margin to four. Silva brought home his fourth RBI of the evening two frames later with an RBI single up the middle to cap the scoring.
Szczur (2-5, 1 R) and Silva (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI) each recorded multi-hit games to lead the Smokies, while no Blue Wahoos batters collected two or more base hits. Fish SS Billy Hamilton was kept off the basepaths, which keeps his single-season steals record staying put at 154.
The two teams are scheduled to square off Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the bayrfront stadium. Tennessee is slated to send LHP Eric Jokisch (7-2, 2.97) to the hill, while Pensacola is expected to counter with LHP Tony Cingrani (5-3, 2.00).
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Daniel Corcino allowed only a lone earned run Friday night for the Wahoos. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Prep Finals
September 1, 2012
Here are Friday night finals from around the North Escambia area:
- Northview 60, John Paul Catholic 0 [Read more...]
- Jay 67, Rocky Bayou 21 [Read more...]
- West Florida 9, Escambia 7 [Read more...]
- Navarre 33, Washington 7
- Gulf Breeze 21, Walton 0
- Pace 45, Arnold 6
- Monroeville 30, Flomaton 20
- TR Miller 41, Escambia County 14 [Read more...]
- WS Neal 41, Holtville 0
- Hooper Academy 37, Escambia Academy 20
Complete coverage, photos and more from Northview and other area schools coming up Saturday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
Volleyball: Catholic Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 31, 2012
The Catholic Crusaders swept the Northview Chiefs Thursday in high school volleyball action.
Northview fell to Catholic in three varsity sets, 17-25, 23-25, 20-25. Misty Doran had five kills for the Lady Chiefs, while Taylor Roberson recorded two digs. Also for NHS, Morgan Payne had thee blocks and one kill.
In junior varsity action, Northview lost to Catholic in two, 11-25, 8-25.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Lady Chiefs will next be on the road at Laurel Hill Tuesday afternoon. Northview will return home to Bratt to host Central next Thursday at 4:30 for JV and 5:30 for varsity.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs take on Catholic High Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hunter Safety Course Offered
August 31, 2012
Hunter safety training lead by Florida Fish and Wildlife trained volunteers will be offered next month at the Langley Bell 4-H Center.
Classes will be held from 6-9 p.m. September 11, 13, 18 and 20 with the shooting range portion of the course on September 20. Participants must be 12 or older; anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Preregistration is required. To register or for more information, click here or call Libbie Johnson at Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu.
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium Named Ballpark Of The Year
August 31, 2012
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium has been recognized as the top new stadium in all of professional baseball according to Baseballparks.com, a popular website that annually reviews baseball stadiums all over the country. Baseballparks.com site mater, Joe Mock made the announcement in a press release early on Thursday that Pensacola Bayfront Stadium was the recipient of the 13th annual Ballpark of the Year.
This distinction is just another in a long list of memorable moments that have made the Blue Wahoos inaugural season a resounding success. The Blue Angels flyover on opening day, visits from Masters Champion Bubba Watson and National Champion running back Trent Richardson, a no-hitter, Billy Hamilton’s stolen base record and now baseball’s best new stadium have all molded a lasting impression of Minor League Baseball on fans in the Pensacola community.
“We are very grateful for the high praise from Baseballparks.com,” said Blue Wahoos’ president Bruce Baldwin. “Considering the other stadiums that have opened this season, we are thrilled to receive this award. It is truly an honor. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication to this project by our owners Quint and Rishy Studer and the confidence and support of this stadium and the vision by the Community Maritime Park Associates, the City of Pensacola and its citizens. I don’t consider this an award for the Blue Wahoos, but one for all of Pensacola and Northwest Florida.”
Mock visited the park in May and provided a review of the stadium on his site following the trip. Other stadiums in consideration for the award included Marlins Park in Miami and the Boston Red Sox spring training facility in Lee County, Fla.
“The architects at Populous should be very proud of their facilities that opened this year,” said Mock. “They designed the incredibly impressive spring-training park and complex in Lee County, Florida for the Red Sox. They were also the architects for one of the most ambitious sports facilities ever built, Marlins Park. But even though it was the smallest of their three projects, I think Pensacola’s ballpark is the best.”
The selection of Populous as the stadium’s architecture firm is indicative of the commitment to the project by the City of Pensacola and the CMPA. Fans have been flocking to the stadium all summer long. The bayfront stadium has been sold out 37 times in 2012 and the Blue Wahoos boast an overall attendance of 303,744 averaging 4,821 fans per game.
“Over the past five months, thousands of people have enjoyed the great atmosphere and gorgeous view at Pensacola’s new bayfront stadium,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “This latest accolade is another testament to the Blue Wahoos’ fanastic first season and the hard work of so many over the past six years. This stadium has been an amazing addition to our vibrant downtown and growing waterfront and another reason that Pensacola is the Upside of Florida.”
Mock credited the design, fan amenities and site selection as contributing factors for the award. Past recipients of this award include AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and last year’s winner Salt River Field in Arizona