Mobile BayBears Bite The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 20-3
July 9, 2012
Mobile launched four home runs, including two longballs from right fielder Marc Krauss, while six different BayBears hitters recorded a multi-hit game to defeat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 20-3 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss drops Pensacola to an 11-7 record in the second half, while Mobile improved to an 8-10 mark since the Southern League’s All-Star Break. The Blue Wahoos announced during the game that Sunday home contests in July and August will move to a 4:00 p.m. first pitch, with gates opening at 2:30 p.m. Games that will reflect this change are July 15, August 12 and August 19.
The BayBears scored a Southern League-high for this year of 20 runs, plating five tallies in the fifth, three in the sixth, five in the seventh, three in the eight and four in the ninth. The club combined for four longballs, including grand slams from LF Bobby Borchering and pinch hitter Daniel Kaczrowski, while Krauss mashed a pair of three-run blasts.
Krauss (3-4, 4 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), along with SS Chris Ownings (3-7, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI), 1B Kyle Greene (3-4, 3 R, 2 BB), CF Evan Frey (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB), 3B Matt Davidson (2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and C Ed Easley (2-4, 3 R, 2 BB) all collected a multi-hit effort in the contest for the BayBears. All eight position players in the Mobile starting lineup accumulated at least one base knock.
The Blue Wahoos started the scoring with single scores in the third and fourth to go up 2-0. RF Andrew Means doubled down the left field line before coming home when 2B Brodie Greene singled to right in the third, while C Tucker Barnhart doubled in the fourth for his first hit at the Double-A level in his third game, prior to a run-scoring single up the middle by Miguel Rojas.
3B David Vidal added to Pensacola’s tally in the ninth by leading off the frame with a roundtripper that snuck inside the foul pole down the left field line. The longball was the third of the year for Vidal and his first since June 29 versus Jacksonville in Pensacola.
Mobile starting pitcher David Holmberg (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory to improve to 2-1 this year after allowing just two earned runs on five hits in six frames, while Pensacola reliever Brian Pearl (0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) suffered the defeat to fall to 0-1. Blue Wahoos starter Mark Serrano (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 SO) started the game strong by firing four shutout innings, yielding just three hits and fanning five in his outing.
With the series tied at 1-1, the Blue Wahoos and BayBears are scheduled to face off Monday night for the rubber match of the three-game set, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is expected to send RHP Daniel Corcino to the mound, while RHP Derek Eitel is slated to take the mound for Mobile.
By Andrew Green.
David Vidal crushed his third home run of the year for Pensacola Sunday afternoon. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE 16U Girls Beat Atmore, Head To State Championship; NWE 12U Boys Rained Out
July 8, 2012
Northwest Escambia beat 20-2 Atmore Saturday to advance in the 16U state playoffs at Brewton’s YMCA park.
NWE will face Brewton at 1 p.m. in the 16u championship game.
Also on Saturday, NWE’s 12U boys were rained out in the state tournament in Alexander City, Ala. Northwest Escambia will face Southern at 1 p.m. and Florence at 1 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Beat Mobile 8-2 To Open Series Before Sellout Crowd
July 8, 2012
Pensacola first baseman Beau Mills homered and drove in four runs, while starting pitcher Tony Cingrani fired six shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak to 20.2 frames as the Blue Wahoos topped the Mobile BayBears 8-2 in front of the 30th sellout crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos improved their record to 11-6 in the second half and remain tied for first in the Southern League’s South Division with a Montgomery victory. The BayBears fell to 7-10 since the Southern League All-Star Break with the defeat. The capacity crowd was the 30th of the year in their 42nd home opening.
Former Alabama star running back and number three overall draft pick by the Cleveland Browns Trent Richardson was in attendance and joined the team for batting practice before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch just prior to the contest.
Pensacola got the scoring started in the third, when Didi Gregorius started the two-out rally with a triple to right and was sent in by LF Bryson Smith’s single up the middle. Smith would subsequently score when Mills launched a two-run shot to left to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 3-0.
The Fish would add four more in the sixth to extend the margin to 7-0. 3B David Vidal began the inning with a walk and then scored on a run-scoring double from C Mark Fleury, who would move to third on a groundball before coming home when Cingrani reached on a fielder’s choice. Gregorius then got on with a base knock and Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Mills, who laced a line drive down the left field line to plate Cingrani and Gregorius.
After Pensacola plated their final run of the game in the eighth with Smith’s sacrifice fly, Mobile brought home two in the final frame to end the Fish’s shutout hopes. 3B Matt Davidson and 1B Marc Krauss drew back-to-back free passes to start the frame before 2B David Nick singled to load the bases for C Ed Easley. The backstop would then single to right to send home Davidson and Krauss, though that would be Mobile’s only scores.
Blue Wahoos starter Tony Cingrani (6.0 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after yielding just two hits for the second straight outing and allowed three walks in his six scoreless frames. The southpaw has not been scored on in his last three outings, totaling 20.2 consecutive shutout frames. Reliever Drew Hayes (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) followed Cingrani to shut down the BayBears bats with two quiet innings, while Mobile starter Chase Anderson (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 2-2.
Mills (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB) and Gregorius (2-5, 2 R, 1 3B) each tallied two hits in the contest to lead the Blue Wahoos, in addition to all eight position players in Pensacola’s lineup collecting a base knock. Easley was the only BayBear batter to collect a multi-hit game in the losing effort.
With the Blue Wahoos up 1-0 in the series and 6-5 in the overall season series with Mobile, the two teams will square off again Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola has not yet announced their starting pitcher, while the BayBears are expected to send LHP David Holmberg to the mound.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Tony Cingrani tossed six shutout innings in the Wahoos’ 8-2 win on Saturday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Beats Brewton In 16U All Star Softball
July 7, 2012
The Northwest Escambia 16U All Star girls beat Brewton 11-6 Friday night in Brewton.
NWE will take on Atmore on Saturday as the state playoff series continues, and championship games will be played on Sunday.
Submitted photo by Michelle Thomas for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Win Sixth Straight Series 5-3 Over Barons
July 7, 2012
The Blue Wahoos capitalized on five Barons errors, with center fielder Ryan LaMarre and Didi Gregorius each scoring twice, while Birmingham center fielder Jared Mitchell launched two homers as Pensacola won their sixth straight series with a 5-3 victory in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Fish improved to 10-6 in the second half and remain in a tie for first in the Southern League’s South Division with Montgomery due to a Biscuits victory over Mobile. The Barons fell to 9-7 since the league’s All-Star Break. The capacity crowd was the 29th the club has hosted this season in 42 home openings in their inaugural season.
The two teams combined for three runs in the first, with Mitchell mashing his seventh home run of the year to right to give Birmingham a 1-0 lead in the top of the opening frame. The Blue Wahoos would answer with two tallies of their own in the bottom of the inning, when LaMarre led off with a single, advanced to second on a balk and third when Gregorius reached first before the team executed a double steal. Gregorius took off from first on the pitch, with LaMarre swiping home after Birmingham C Luis Sierra’s throw arrived to second late. Gregorius would eventually score on a wild pitch in the frame to put the Wahoos ahead.
Pensacola then extended their advantage to 3-1 in the fourth thanks to a pair of Barons fielding miscues. LF Bryson Smith reached on an error to begin the frame, stole second and got to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming home on another fielding mistake. Mitchell however, tied the game in the fifth with his second homer of the night, a two-run blast, to make it 3-3.
The Blue Wahoos subsequently grasped the lead for good in the seventh. LaMarre was hit by a pitch to start the inning and then swiped second before he was sent in on Gregorius’ RBI triple down the right field line. Gregorius would then come plateward on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of 2B Brodie Greene to end the scoring at 5-3.
Fish reliever Curtis Partch (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned the win after firing two shutout innings in support of starter Tim Crabbe (4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO), while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) notched his seventh save of the year by finishing the job in the ninth. Partch has now fired 21.1 consecutive scoreless innings over 14 appearances for Pensacola dating back to May 29.
Birmingham relief pitcher Leroy Hunt (3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-3 after yielding two earned run on two hits in his three frames, while starter Cameron Bayne (5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs, all unearned on three hits in his five innings of work.
Barons CF Jose Martinez (3-4, 1 2B) led all hitters with three hits in the contest, while Mitchell (2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 IBB) also collected a multi-hit game with his two roundtrippers and reached base a total of five times. No Blue Wahoos batters recorded two or more hits, though Gregorius’ triple in the seventh extended his hit streak to sevens straight games.
The Blue Wahoos will now host the Mobile BayBears for a three-game series in Pensacola as part of the Bay-to-Bay Series, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm at the bayfront stadium. LHP Tony Cingrani is slated to take the mound for the Fish, while RHP Chase Anderson is expected to toe the rubber for the BayBears.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Lady Astros Take On The Firecracker Classic
July 6, 2012
Molino’s Lady Astros finished second in the recent Firecracker Classic at Exchange Park.
The highs school division included a dozen teams from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Lady Astros won the first two out of three in pool play for a bracket first seed. The Lady Astros advanced to the championship after two bracket wins before falling 5-0 to the Lady Hustlers from Louisiana.
“The championship game was very tense, and we gave it our best only to come up short,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said, noting the pitching from Meagan Green of Pace, Heather Thomas from Tate and Ronni Renfroe of Tate.
Member of the Molino Lady Astros are Kathleen Smiley, Brook White, Heather Thomason, Ronni Renfroe, Gracie Kilcrease, Terri Andrews, Meagen Green, Caitlyn Hagan, Audrey Hamric, Amber Peebles and Ashley Richerson. Coaches are Donnie Nicholson, Swan Green and Pat Paulson.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Molino Lady Astros. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barons Even Series With 6-2 Win Over Blue Wahoos
July 6, 2012
Birmingham plated three insurance runs in the top of the ninth, while right fielder Jose Martinez, shortstop Tyler Saladino and first baseman Andy Wilkins all homered, to lead the Barons to a 6-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win the Barons now own a 9-6 mark in the second half, while the Fish also sport a 9-6 record since the All-Star Break after the loss but remain in a tie for first in the Southern League’s South Division with Montgomery. It was the 28th capacity crowd in Pensacola’s inaugural season, while the club also welcomed before the game the 200,000th fan to enter the ballpark. In 41 home openings, the Fish have hosted a total of 200,270 fans in 2012.
Both teams got on the board with a single tally in the first, with Martinez exiting the yard with a homer to left for the Barons, his fourth of the year. Pensacola answered with a score of their own in the bottom half of the inning when CF Ryan LaMarre drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single, before taking advantage of a Birmingham error to even the contest at 1-1.
The Barons however, would go ahead in the third thanks to Saladino’s shot to left for his fourth of the season and move ahead 3-1 three innings later when Wilkins blasted his team-leading 12th longball to left. Blue Wahoos OF Yordanys Perez then narrowed the margin to one in the bottom of the frame with a solo big fly to deep center field just to the right of the batter’s eye, but Birmingham pulled away with a three-run ninth.
3B Erik Morrison was hit by a pitch to start the rally and subsequently scored on C Luis Sierra’s RBI triple, before 2B Dan Wagner drove Sierra home with a run-scoring single to left. CF Jared Mitchell brought home the final tally of the evening with an RBI double to left to bring home Wagner and end the scoring.
Blue Wahoos starter J.C. Sulbaran (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-6 after allowing three earned runs on six hits in six innings, while Birmingham RHP Matt Heidenreich (8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory in his Double-A debut and yielded two runs, one of which was earned, on six hits in eight frames. Reliever Ryan Kussmaul (1.0 IP, 1 SO) fired a scoreless ninth frame in a non-save situation.
Saladino (2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Morrison (2-3, 1 R) each collected a pair of base knocks for the Barons in the winning effort, while Perez (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) was the lone Pensacola hitter to record a multi-hit effort. Perez has gotten off to a nice start in the second half, batting .343 (11-32) in his eight games since the Southern League All-Star Break.
With the series even at one, the two teams will face off in a rubber match Friday night to decide the series, with the Fish scheduled to give the nod to RHP Tim Crabbe, while Birmingham is expected to counter with RHP Cameron Bayne. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top:Yordanys Perez blasted his fourth longball of the year in the Fish’s 6-2 loss. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Barons 7-3
July 5, 2012
Pensacola designated hitter Brodie Greene drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the second, as the Blue Wahoos plated five runs in that frame to top the Birmingham Barons 7-3 in front of another sellout crowd on Wednesday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win is the third straight for the Fish and improves their second half mark to 9-5, while the Barons fell to 8-6 since the All-Star Break. The capacity crowd was the 27th of the year and third straight in 40 home dates in the club’s inaugural season.
After Pensacola plated their first run in the opening frame thanks to an RBI single by LF Bryson Smith, Birmingham answered to even the game at 1-1 in the second courtesy of LF Brady Shoemaker’s solo homer to left.
The Blue Wahoos however would go ahead for good with five runs in the bottom of the frame. 3B David Vidal led off with a single, before he was plated by RF Andrew Means’ RBI triple to make it 2-1. After Means came plateward on an RBI groundout, C Mark Fleury and CF Ryan LaMarre both walked before Greene launched his third home run of the year to left to push the margin to 6-1.
Birmingham and Pensacola would then swap tallies in the sixth, with Barons 2B Tyler Saladino blasting his third longball of the season to right, while LaMarre began the sixth with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out before Greene brought him home with a sacrifice fly for his fourth RBI of the evening. The Barons got their last run of the game in the eighth when DH Seth Loman drove in a run with an RBI single.
Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Corcino (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) earned the win after yielding just two earned runs on four hits in his six innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.2 IP, 1 H) notched his sixth save of the year after tossing the final 1.2 innings. Birmingham starter Matt Wickswat (3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 7 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-6 after allowing six earned runs on six hits while walking seven in three frames.
LaMarre (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB) Smith (2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Vidal (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B) all recorded two hits for the Fish, while Saladino (2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Shoemaker (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI) collected multi-hit efforts for the Barons.
With the Wahoos leading the series 1-0, the two teams will meet again Thursday night at 7:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. RHP J.C. Sulbaran is scheduled to take the hill for Pensacola, while Birmingham LHP Pedro Hernandez is expected to toe the rubber.
By Andrew Green
Pictured; Brodie Greene homered & drove in four in the Wahoos’ 7-3 win Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cingrani Leads Pensacola Wahoos To 2-0 Shutout Win
July 3, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tony Cingrani gave up just two hits and struck out nine in 6.2 scoreless frames, while reliever Justin Freeman fired 2.1 perfect innings in relief to lead Pensacola to a 2-0 shutout win over the Jacksonville Suns on Monday night at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The win for the Fish even the series at 1-1 to set up a rubber match on Tuesday night and improved their record in the second half to 7-5. The Suns fell to 5-7 since the All-Star Break.
After being named the Southern League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on July 1, Cingrani (6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 9 SO) kept the Jacksonville bats in check and allowed just the two hits while striking out nine. The victory improved the southpaw to a 3-1 record with the Blue Wahoos this year.
The left-hander had been recognized by the league earlier in the day for his 15 strikeout performance in his previous outing on June 27 versus Jackson. Cingrani did not give up a tally in that contest as well, meaning he has not given up a run in his last 14.2 innings of work.
Freeman (2.1 IP, 4 SO) came on in the seventh in support of Cingrani and finished off the Suns in firing the last two plus innings for his fifth save of the year. The righty added four punchouts of his own to help extend the club’s lead in the Southern League in strikeouts. Entering tonight, only the Visalia Rawhide of the California League had tallied more strikeouts overall this season than Pensacola’s total of 720.
Jacksonville relief pitcher Alan Oaks (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss after giving up the Blue Wahoos’ two runs on three hits in his three innings of work. RHP A.J. Ramos (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) tossed the final two innings for the Suns and allowed just one hit while striking out two.
Both teams were held quiet until the sixth when Pensacola got the only runs they would need. Cingrani helped his own cause by beginning the inning with a single to left and moved to second when 2B Brodie Greene was hit by a pitch before coming across on a run-scoring base knock from SS Didi Gregorius. Gregorius would subsequently score in the frame thanks to an infield base hit by C Brian Peacock.
Peacock has now recorded a hit 12 of his last 13 games with the Blue Wahoos dating back to April 29, with that span including a pair of stints with the Louisville Bats. During that period, the backstop has hit .340 (16-47) with five runs and six RBI.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Tony Cingrani struck out nine & yielded just two hits in the Wahoos’ 2-0 win. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suns Beat Pensacola Blue Wahoos 10-4 In Season Opener
July 2, 2012
Eight of the nine spots in the Jacksonville lineup reached base while first baseman Curt Smith, right fielder Jeff Dominguez and second baseman Paul Gran all homered to power the Suns to a 10-4 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Sunday night at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
With the win, Jacksonville improves their record in the second half to 5-6, while the Blue Wahoos fell to 6-5 since the Southern League All-Star Break.
The Suns got the scoring started early on, plating two tallies in the opening frame. LF Jake Smolinski drew a leadoff walk and then stole second before coming home on Smith’s blast to left to push Jacksonville to a 2-0 advantage. Dominguez would then leave the yard in the next inning to move the Suns margin to three.
Pensacola however, would answer with three runs of their own in the third to draw the contest even. After C Mark Fleury and CF Ryan LaMarre each drew a free pass, SS Didi Gregorius brought both home with a triple down the right field line, while Gregorius would later come across on 2B Brodie Greene’s sacrifice fly to right.
Jacksonville would then take command of the game however in the fifth thanks to their third longball of the evening. Relief pitcher Kyle Kaminska drew a leadoff base-on-balls prior to a another walk by Smolinski, his third of the contest, before Gran launched a three-run blast to left to give the Suns a lead they would not give up.
The home team would add a total of four insurance runs combined in the sixth and seventh frames, including a run-scoring single by Gran for his fourth RBI of the contest. Smolinski would reach base once more when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh with the bases loaded to force in a run.
Jacksonville reliever Kyle Kaminski (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) earned the win after yielding a lone earned run on two hits, while Joshua Schmidt (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 SO) earned his first save of the year by tossing the final three innings. Blue Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe (4.0 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 SO) suffered the loss after allowing six earned runs on three hits while walking six in his four frames.
Three Suns batters, including Gran (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB), Smith (2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB) and Dominguez (2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI), all collected two hits in the contest while Pensacola LF Bryson Smith (4-4, 1 2B) tallied four base knocks in the loss. Smith in his last three games has now tallied eight hits in 12 at bats and is hitting .533 since his promotion from High-A Bakersfield on June 27.
By Andrew Green