Blue Wahoos Topple Lookouts 7-3 To Take Series
August 13, 2012
Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton collected three hits, drove home three runs and stole three bases, while Brodie Greene and Bryson Smith recorded multi-hit efforts and starting pitcher Wirfin Obispo fired six strong innings as Pensacola topped the Chattanooga Lookouts 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory gave the Fish a 3-2 series win over the Lookouts, and improved their record to 26-24 in the second half to remain within two games of Jacksonville and Montgomery for the South Division lead, pending the final outcomes of their contests on Sunday evening. Chattanooga fell to 28-22 since the midpoint of the season with the defeat.
With his three thefts, Hamilton has now taken 139 bases this year and is now seven away from breaking Vince Coleman’s all-time single-season record of 145, which he set in 1983. Along with Hamilton (3-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 BB), Smith (2-4, 1 RBI) and Greene (2-2, 2 R, 2 BB) also accumulated a multi-hit effort for Pensacola.
The Lookouts got on the board in the opening frame to snag an early 2-0 advantage. CF Anthony Jackson led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, before being sent in on 1B J.T. Wise’s run-scoring single to center. RF Brahiam Maldonado would then mash a solo blast to left later in the inning, his sixth of the year, to push the margin to two.
Pensacola however, would plate two tallies in the third, fourth and six frames to take a four-run lead. Hamilton walked, stole second and then third as part of a double steal with CF Ryan LaMarre, who also reached on a base-on-balls, before coming across on an RBI single off the bat of RF Bryson Smith. LaMarre later scored on 1B Beau Mills’ run-scoring base knock to left.
Hamilton would then bring home two runs in the fourth with a single to left, scoring Greene, who singled, and C Mark Fleury, who was hit by a pitch. The speedster would drive home Greene again in the sixth after Greene walked with a triple to center, before Hamilton was plated on LaMarre’s base hit to left, making it 6-2.
The two clubs would follow by swapping single scores in the seventh, with Pensacola keeping their four-run lead. Chattanooga SS Jake Lemmerman drew a leadoff free pass, got to second on a groundout and third on Luis Nunez’s single before coming home on Jackson’s RBI groundout. Mills was hit by a pitch while 3B David Vidal singled in the bottom of the frame, with both runners advancing a base on a groundout, before Mills scored on pinch hitter Tucker Barnhart’s run-scoring knock to left.
Obispo (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) earned his fourth consecutive victory after giving up just two earned runs on five hits while fanning five in six innings, while closer Justin Freeman (1.1 IP, 1 H) notched his 13th save for Pensacola. Lookouts starter Chris Reed (4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-4 after yielding four earned runs on six hits in four innings of work.
Freeman extended his scoreless innings streak to 24.0 frames, tying LHP Tony Cingrani’s team-record. Freeman has not allowed a run in his last 19 appearances dating back to June 22.
Following an offday Monday, the Blue Wahoos will head to Mobile for a five-game series with the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mobile BayBears. The next Blue Wahoos homestand begins on Sunday, August 19, with Pensacola hosting the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
By Andrew Green
Wirfin Obispo earned his fourth straight win in the Wahoos’ 7-3 victory Sunday.Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County’s Justin Gatlin And Team Take Silver Olympic Medal
August 12, 2012
Escambia County’s Olympian and team matched a world record but took the silver Saturday in the men’s 4×100 meter relay.
Justin Gatlin of Pensacola, Trell Kimmons, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey finished in an American record time of 37.04 seconds Saturday evening at London’s Olympic Stadium.
The gold medal went to Jamaica, which shattered the world record with a time of 36.84 seconds, improving the world standard by 0.2 seconds. By comparison, the U.S. team’s effort matched the world record that was surpassed by Jamaica and is the second-fastest result of all time in the event. Trinidad and Tobago won the bronze medal with a time of 38.12 seconds after Canada finished third but was disqualified.
Gatlin finished third last weekend in the 100m dash for an individual bronze medal.
Gatlin had waited eight years to get back on the podium. The 2004 Olympic 100-meter champion, Gatlin served a doping ban.
“I went out there to challenge a mountain,” Gatlin said last weekend. “I went out there to challenge the odds.”
Chattanooga Tops Blue Wahoos
August 12, 2012
Lookouts first baseman J.T. Wise blasted a three-run homer as part of a four-run seventh inning, while Blue Wahoos right fielder Josh Fellhauer recorded a three-hit game and drove home three runs, as Chattanooga defeated Pensacola 6-4 in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win the Lookouts bumped their second half record up to 28-21 on the year. The Fish fell to 25-24 on the year and remain two games behind Jacksonville for first place in the South Division. It was the 36th sellout crowd the Blue Wahoos have hosted in their 58th home opening of their inaugural season. Prior to the contest, NASCAR driver and Pensacola native Johanna Long was honored on-field and threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
With Chattanooga trailing 3-2 entering the seventh, pinch hitter Brahiam Maldonado began the rally with a single and moved to second on a walk before scoring on a Pensacola error to even the margin. Two pitches later, Wise blasted his three-run homer over the left field wall for his seventh longball of the year, which put the Lookouts up 6-3.
The Blue Wahoos however, mounted a comeback effort in the final two innings. Hamilton reached on a walk and stole second for his 136th theft of the season, before being brought home on Fellhauer’s run-scoring base knock to center to cut the deficit to two. Pensacola then put the tying run on base in the final frame, but Chattanooga closer Steven Ames shut the door to end the Blue Wahoos’ comeback thoughts.
Both teams traded longballs for the first scores of the contest, with the Fish striking first in the opening inning courtesy of Fellhauer’s fourth big fly of the year, which landed on the Hill Kelly Hill to right-center. Lookouts 2B Joe Becker blasted his first roundtripper of the year in the second frame to tie it at 1-1. Fellhauer would then put Pensacola back ahead 2-1 with his RBI single to right in the third.
Fellhauer (3-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) with his three base knocks was the lone hitter from either side to record a multi-hit effort. With Hamilton’s stolen base in the eighth, the speedster is now just 10 away from breaking Vince Coleman’s single-season record of 145, with 21 games remaining.
Chattanooga starting pitcher Zach Lee (6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after giving up three earned runs on eight hits in his six innings of work, while closer Steven Ames (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) notched his 15th save of the season for the Lookouts. Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) did not factor in the final decision after allowing two earned runs on just two hits in five innings, while RHP Drew Hayes (1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the defeat to fall to 2-3.
Pensacola and Chattanooga will now meet Sunday afternoon for the rubber match of the series, with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. The Blue Wahoos are scheduled to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound, while the Lookouts are expected to give the ball to LHP Chris Reed.
By Andrew Green
Josh Fellhauer recorded three hits and a homer in the Wahoos’ 6-4 loss Saturday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fall Ball Registrations For NWE, Molino, Cantonment
August 11, 2012
Fall ball registration is underway for Molino, Cantonment and Northwest Escambia leagues.
Molino Ballpark
Sign ups are underway for Fall Ball at the Molino Ballpark.
Registration will take place every Saturday in August from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the board room at the ballpark. Fall ball is for all ages — tee ball, baseball and softball. $35 per player.
Cantonment Ballpark
Fall Ball registration will be held Saturday, August 11 from 10 a.m. until noon.
Registration is $40 per player for all ages, no birth certificate needed, at the ballpark on Well Line Road. The Fall Ball parent meeting will be held Monday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call (850) 417-0673.
NWE Bradberry Park
NWE is organizing the park’s first Fall Ball program for the Walnut Hill, Century, and Atmore area. Baseball is for children 5 to 15, and softball is open to ages 7 to 16. Games will run mid-September until the end of October.
Players will be registered at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill with no money collected at the time of registration. A $50 registration fee will be collected when teams are created; the fee will cover park expenses and a player team shirt. Each team will also raise $5 per player, per game for umpire fees
NWE Fall Ball registration will be held:
Friday, August 17, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 18, 10 a.m. – noon
Saturday, August 25, 10 a.m. – noon
For more information, call (850) 327-4579 after 5 p.m.
Lookouts Beat Pensacola 4-2
August 11, 2012
Chattanooga third baseman C.J. Retherford blasted two solo home runs and reliever Wes Roemer fired four solid innings of relief, while Pensacola shortstop Billy Hamilton swiped two more bases, as the Lookouts topped the Blue Wahoos 4-2 in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss, coupled with Jacksonville’s victory over Mobile, dropped the Blue Wahoos to 25-23 in the second half and two games behind the Suns for first place in the Southern League South Division. Chattanooga with the win now owns a 59-57 mark since the midway point of the season. The capacity crowd was the 35th the Blue Wahoos have hosted at the bayfront stadium in their inaugural season.
Retherford collected his solo shots in the second and seventh frames, with his second roundtripper turning out to be the game-winning hit. The Florida native has now totaled three roundtrippers at the Double-A level after blasting 20 with High-A Rancho Cucamonga prior to his promotion. The 26-year-old also collected two multi-homer efforts with the Quakes earlier this season.
The Lookouts struck first in the opening frame, with 2B Rafael Ynoa starting off the contest with a walk and stealing second prior to being sent in on an RBI triple from CF Nick Buss. Pensacola would then answer in the bottom of the frame with two scores to grab a 2-1 advantage.
Hamilton drew a free pass and then stole second and third, while CF Ryan LaMarre was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 1B Donald Lutz then drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Hamilton before LaMarre scored later on a fielder’s choice. Chattanooga however, would draw the contest even at 2-2 courtesy of Retherford’s first homer of the evening.
With Hamilton’s two steals, the speedster is now just ten away from tying Vince Coleman’s single-season Minor League record of 145, which he set in 1983. Including tonight, the 21-year-old has already stolen 18 bases in just ten games in the month of August.
The Lookouts would add an additional insurance run in the eighth for their final tally. 1B Luis Nunez walked and then moved to third on a two-base error, before coming home when RF Blake Smith reached on the second Blue Wahoos fielding miscue of the inning.
Chattanooga reliever Wes Roemer (4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 SO) earned the victory after yielding just four hits while striking out five in four shutout innings, while LHP Steven Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) shut the door in the ninth for his first save of the year. Pensacola starter Kyle Lotzkar (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite allowing just two earned runs on four hits in his six innings of work, while RHP Josh Ravin (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos.
With the Fish leading the series 2-1, the two teams are scheduled to square off again Saturday night, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is slated to give the nod to RHP Daniel Corcino, while Chattanooga is expected to counter with RHP Zach Lee.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Adds Strength, Conditioning Classes For Girls, Needs Donations
August 10, 2012
Northview High School will offer strength and conditioning classes for girls this school year, and organizers are looking for donations to make the program a success.
The program was not established prior to students registering for classes. Girls that are involved with fall sports are being encouraged to sign up for the class. Parents of athletes participating in cross country, volleyball, weightlifting and cheerleading should call the school guidance department and make scheduled changes as soon as possible.
The girls’ weight room is in need of donations, according to Coach Natalie Nall.
“We are in need of cardio equipment and weight training equipment that works; treadmill, stair climber, elliptical machine, row machines, weights, bars, leg press, jump boxes, medicine balls, or etc.,” she said. “We also have broken equipment that needs a fatherly touch or jump boxes that could be created.”
For more information on how you can volunteer or donate equipment, contact Nall at nnelson@escambia.k12.fl.us or call the school at (850) 327-6681.
Nall said the girls’ athletic programs at Northview have lacked strength and conditioning classes to physically prepare athletes and help prevent injuries. With more time after school to work on strategies, she said it could lead to a healthier lifestyle and more athletic scholarships for girls.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Olympics: Women’s Soccer (With NorthEscambia Gallery)
August 10, 2012
Great Britain advanced as far as the quarterfinals in Olympic women’s football (soccer) in London.
A Molino family living in England was there at Wembley Stadium for Great Britain’s 1-0 win over Brazil. For a photo gallery, click here.
Great Britain went on to lose to Canada 0-2.
Pictured top: Great Britain’s women’s football (soccer) team celebrates after a 1-0 win over Brazil in London’s Wembley Stadium. Pictured below: Game action. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Walk Off With 3-2 Extra Inning Win Over Lookouts
August 10, 2012
Blue Wahoos second baseman Brodie Greene drove home the winning run with a walk off single to left in the tenth, while left fielder Bryson Smith recorded three hits and shortstop Billy Hamilton stole two more bases to lead Pensacola to a 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved to 25-22 in the second half to move to within one game of the Jacksonville Suns for first place in the South Division. Chattanooga fell to 26-21 since the league’s midpoint after the defeat. It was the first walkoff victory for Pensacola since June 13 versus Mobile.
Smith reached on an error to begin the bottom of the tenth, took second on 3B David Vidal’s sacrifice bunt and third on an error to set the stage for Greene. With a 1-1 count, the infielder grounded the pitch through the hole between shortstop and third base to cue the celebration. It was the first and only time the Blue Wahoos led all game.
Chattanooga took their first lead in the fifth, when starting pitcher Aaron Miller helped his own cause with a solo homer to left. It was the hurler’s first career roundtripper in his fourth season of his professional career. The Blue Wahoos tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame when Hamilton tripled before coming across on a fielder’s choice.
The Lookouts then grabbed the advantage again at 2-1 in the seventh thanks to their second longball of the evening. LF Brahiam Maldonado began the frame with a solo blast to left, his fifth homer of the season.
Pensacola answered the tally in the bottom of the seventh when Hamilton led off with a bunt single, stole second for the second time on the evening and moved to third on a flyout before coming home on Smith’s run-scoring single to center, which would force extra innings.
Smith (3-5, 1 R, 2 RBI) and Hamilton (2-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 BB, 2 SB) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the contest for the Blue Wahoos, while Maldonado collected three hits for the Lookouts. With his two steals tonight, Hamilton has now totaled 133 this year, bringing him to within 12 of tying Vince Coleman’s single-season record of 145, set in 1983.
Blue Wahoos starter Tony Cingrani (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) did not factor in the decision despite giving up only a lone earned run on just four hits while fanning six in six innings of work, while RHP Curtis Partch (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the win after firing the final 1.2 frames. Chattanooga reliever Chris Withrow (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 3-3 on the year after yielding the final unearned run.
With Pensacola leading the series 2-0, the two clubs are scheduled to meet again Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is expected to get the nod for the Fish, while RHP Allen Webster is slated to take the hill for Chattanooga.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hamilton Steals Three As Wahoos Shut Out Lookouts 5-0
August 9, 2012
Pensacola starting pitcher Chad Rogers earned his second win in as many starts at the Double-A level, with relievers Drew Hayes and Justin Freeman keeping Chattanooga off the board, while shortstop Billy Hamilton stole three bases to increase his total to 131 as the Blue Wahoos shut out the Lookouts 5-0 on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win, the Fish moved to a 24-22 record in the second of the season, keeping within two games of the first-place Jacksonville Suns in the South Division. Chattanooga fell to a 26-20 mark since the All-Star Break with the loss.
Rogers (6.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 SO) threw six solid innings to improve to 2-0 with the Blue Wahoos, yielding just three hits while striking out six. Rogers also recorded his first professional hit of his career with a triple to center in the sixth, later scoring. Hayes (2.0 IP, 2 SO) and Freeman (1.0 IP, 1 H) followed Rogers by combining to give up just one hit and no walks in the final three frames, while Lookouts starter Matt Magill (5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss.
The scoreless outing from Freeman increased his scoreless consecutive innings streak to 21.2 innings dating back to June 22. In those 17 appearances, the right-hander has been successful in all 11 save opportunities and combined to give up just seven hits. Left-hander Tony Cingrani owns the team-record at 24.0 straight shutout frames, having accomplished that task between June 22 until July 13.
After reaching on an infield hit in the fourth, Hamilton proceeded to swipe second and then third, before coming home on a throwing error to push Pensacola up 1-0. The speedster tallied his third theft of the contest two innings later after reaching on a base knock before taking advantage of a wild pitch for the club’s second score of the inning, which made it 4-0.
3B David Vidal, who reached base three times, led off the fifth with a double and advanced to third on a flyout before being sent in on C Mark Fleury’s sacrifice fly to center. Pensacola plated their final tally in the eighth after RF Josh Fellhauer drew a free pass, his third of the game and got to third on a base knock prior to scoring on a fielder’s choice.
Hamilton (2-4, 2 R) was the lone Blue Wahoos batter to record two hits in the contest, while Chattanooga RF Blake Smith (2-4, 1 2B) collected half of the Lookouts’ four base knocks. With his three thefts, the 21-year-old has now stolen 131 bases this season, meaning he needs 15 to break Vince Coleman’s single-season Minor League record of 145, which he set in 1983.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again Thursday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. LHP Tony Cingrani is slated to toe the rubber for the Blue Wahoos, while the Lookouts are expected to counter with LHP Aaron Miller.
Andrew Green
Obispo Shines As Pensacola Beats Huntsville Stars 6-1
August 8, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Wirfin Obispo earned his third straight win with seven shutout innings pitched, while catcher Tucker Barnhart and left fielder Donald Lutz each blasted homers to lead Pensacola to a 6-1 victory over the Huntsville Stars in the series finale on Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.
With the win, the Fish improved their second half record to 23-22 to remain within two games of Jacksonville for first place in the South Division of the Southern League. The defeat dropped Huntsville to a 22-23 mark since the league’s All-Star break.
Obispo (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 8 SO) was victorious for the third consecutive outing after yielding just four hits in his seven scoreless innings. Including tonight, the right-hander in his last three starts has accumulated a 1.50 ERA (3 ER in 18.0 IP) and struck out 25 while giving up just eight hits in that span.
Relievers Wilkin De La Rosa (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) and Curtis Partch (1.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 SO) joined forces to fire the final two frames in support of Obispo, holding the Stars to just one run. Huntsville starter Jimmy Nelson (5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year, while RHP R.J. Seidel (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO) kept the Fish off the scoreboard in his three innings of relief for the Stars.
The Blue Wahoos got the game’s scoring started in the fourth, taking an early 1-0 lead. RF Josh Fellhauer drew a leadoff walk and then moved to third on a double to right from 1B Beau Mills, before coming across on a passed ball for the contest’s first score.
Pensacola would then power ahead to a 6-0 advantage in the next two frames to go up 6-0. 2B Brodie Greene began the fifth with a double, before Barnhart left the yard for his first homer at the Double-A level, which made it 3-0. Andrew Means and 3B David Vidal would then each reach on free passes in the next frame, before Lutz brought both in when he launched his third longball for the Blue Wahoos to right.
Huntsville plated their lone tally in the eighth to dash the Blue Wahoos’ shutout hopes. CF Josh Prince doubled to left and would move to third on a groundout, before coming across on 2B Scooter Gennett’s run-scoring single to center.
Greene (2-4, 1 R, 2 2B), Barnhart (2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and CF Ryan LaMarre (2-5) each recorded multi-hit efforts for the Blue Wahoos in the victory, while Gennett (2-4, 1 RBI) collected two hits for the Stars. Greene continued his hot streak at the plate and has now compiled a .533 average (8-15) in his last four games after going hitless in his previous five contests.
The Fish now head back to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium for a five-game series with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. First pitch of the series is set for Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., with RHP Chad Rogers scheduled to get the nod for the Blue Wahoos, while the Lookouts are expected to counter with RHP Matt Magill.
Families Count will be holding a hygiene drive to benefit homeless veterans, and will be collecting new hygiene products such as soap, shaving cream, razors, deodorant and more at the main gate. It’s also Back to School Night at the bayfront stadium, with fans encouraged in addition to bring new school supplies to help “Cram the Van. All items will be donated to area families, while there will also be old fashioned carnival games set up around the concourse.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Wirfin Obispo earned his third straight win Tuesday night for the Blue Wahoos. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.