Blue Wahoos Hang On For 6-5 Win
May 20, 2012
The Blue Wahoos had to hang on for their second straight win as they downed the Jacksonville Suns 6-5 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Saturday night. Pensacola got out to a 6-0 lead before the Suns plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull within one.
Brodie Greene put the fish in front with an RBI single in the first, which scored Ryan LaMarre, one of two runs he scored in the game. David Vidal drove in Didi Gregorius later in the inning to put the Wahoos up 2-0. Joel Guzman doubled the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, part of his 2-for-4 night with three RBI. The home run was his team-leading sixth of the season. Pensacola went up 6-0 in the seventh on an RBI double by Greene and a run-scoring knock by Guzman.
The Suns added some suspense in the bottom of the inning when they scored five runs against four different pitchers. They used three hits, three walks and two hit batters for the rally, which all took place with two outs. Curtis Partch was able to get Ryan Patterson to fly out to right field to end the inning. Patterson made two of the three outs in the inning. Partch worked a scoreless eighth to get the game to Donnie Joseph (9) in the ninth.
Joseph walked a batter with one out in the ninth but retired the next two batters to earn his league-leading ninth save of the season as the Blue Wahoos move within one win of the .500 mark.
LaMarre led the way offensively for the Blue Wahoos with a 3-for-4 game. He also scored two runs and stole a base. Greene and Vidal added a pair of hits to the effort. Mark Serrano (3-0) earned the win by working 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs on one hit. Kyle Lotzkar started for Pensacola and went four shutout innings. He surrendered just two hits and struck out seven batters, the most of his three Double-A appearances. Graham Taylor (2-4) was tagged with the loss for the Suns. He gave up four runs on eight hits over six innings.
The series continues in Jacksonville on Sunday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander Daniel Corcino (2-2, 3.64) to the mound against Suns righty Matt Neil .
Blue Wahoos Take Jacksonville
May 19, 2012
After waiting out another rain delay, this one only 25 minutes, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos came away with a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Suns at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Friday night.
The Wahoos plated their first run in the top of the second when Yordanys Perez singled home Mark Fleury from second for the game’s first run. The Suns responded immediately when Thursday night’s hero, Shawn Bowman, blasted his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot, to tie the game.
Pensacola scratched across the winning run in the fourth. Joel Guzman opened the inning with a single. He stole second before scoring on another RBI single by Perez, his second of the game. That was all the Blue Wahoos needed behind a solid pitching effort by Tim Gustafson. The Pensacola starter lasted 5.2 innings and allowed just one run on only two hits while striking out five. He walked three straight in the bottom of the second before bouncing back to retire the next 10 batters. Gustafson got credit for the win, his first as a starter this season.
His opposition, Bryan Evans, was equally impressive. He gave up just two runs over seven innings in the losing effort. Donnie Joseph (8) recorded the final four outs for the Blue Wahoos to earn the save.
The two teams continue the series on Saturday from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Blue Wahoos will send right-hander Kyle Lotzkar (1-1, 1.46) to the mound against Suns righty Zach Neal (2-5, 4.29). First pitch is slated for 5:05 central time.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured above: Tim Gustafson allowed just one run over 5.2 innings Friday night against Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring Football: Northview Vs. West Florida (With Photo Galleries)
May 18, 2012
The 1A Northview Chiefs lost to the defending 5A district champion West Florida Jaguars in a two-quarter varsity game Thursday evening in Bratt, while the junior varsity teams from the two schools walked away in a tie.
West Florida 14 – Northview 6 (Varsity)
In the first half of the Spring Game, West Florida defeated Northview 14-6 in game where NHS Head Coach Sid Wheatly said the Chiefs were plagued by a few mistakes.
For a varsity photo gallery, click here.
“Mentally, we had a couple of mistakes where we just didn’t take care of our assignment. We had a couple of guys go the wrong way, and it cost us down there when we had a chance to score,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to get more physical along both fronts — offensively and defensively.”
But Wheatley said the 1A Chiefs will recover form the lost to the 5A Jags.
“We are going to learn from the film; we are going to learn from our mistakes, and we are going to come back and be better for it, he said.”
Once school is out, Wheatley said the summer’s focus will be on building a better team with an eye on the state championship by December.
“We are going to work hard,” he said. “We are going to stay in that weight room. We are going to condition; we are going to work on our speed — all aspects of the game,” he said. “Each individual is going to be a better football player for it, and it’s going to make our team better.”
The Chiefs took an early lead with 6:56 to go in the first quarter of the varsity matchup on a short 1-yard touchdown dash from junior La’Mikal Kyles. After a missed extra point kick from junior Kevin Vaughan, Northview was up 6-0. A Chiefs field goal attempt was not good with 31.2 seconds to go in the first.
West Florida answered quickly with 17.1 seconds on the clock in the first with a touchdown run from Lawrence Lee and good kick the Jaguars took a 7-6 lead headed into the second quarter of varsity play.
The Jags struck again in the second for a 14-6 lead with 2:13 to go before the end of varsity play at the half.
For a varsity photo gallery, click here.
Northview 14 – West Florida 14 (JV)
A two-quarter junior varsity scrimmage ended with the Northview Chiefs and the West Florda Jaguars in a 14-14 tie.
For a junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
“I thought the kids played real hard. We had some guys kind of step up and break some runs for us. We turned the ball over a time or two and probably should have came up with a win. I thought they competed hard,” Wheatley said.
In the first quarter of junior varsity play, LaMikeal Banks scored a touchdown for the Chiefs with 7:35 on the clock. Sophomore Brannon Freeman added a two point conversion for an 8-0 Northview Chiefs lead.
The JV Chiefs expanded their lead with a touchdown run from Austin Dorriety. A missed extra point kick, and the Chiefs were up 14-0.
West Florida narrowed the gap with a touchdown run from Vonché and a kick through the uprights, 14-7 Northview. Then the Jags tied it up with 9:00 on the clock in the second quarter of JV play with a Jacquez Rodgers touchdown, 14-14.
For a junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Players, Coaches Named To Subway All-Star Softball, Baseball Rosters
May 18, 2012
Several North Escambia area players made the cut when the Pensacola Sports Association announced today the rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star Baseball and Softball Games. And two area coaches will be among those calling the shots.
The 6th annual all-star game is scheduled for Thursday, May 24 at the University of West Florida baseball and softball field complex. Beginning at 6 p.m. the women will have their first pitch followed by the men’s first pitch at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West). Head coaches for this year’s event include Brian Watson from Jay High School for the east softball team and Mike Haveard from Pine Forest for the west softball team. In the baseball game, Cory Hamrick from Niceville High will head up the east team while Tate High’s Greg Blackmon will lead the west boys.
Tickets to the game are only $7. Fans are encouraged to bring canned good items to donate to the Manna Food Pantry to get a discount on game admission.
Rosters for the 2012 Subway High School All-Star baseball and softball games are below (with North Escambia area players in bold).
West Softball: Victoria East, Ashley Peters, Brittany Morris, and Aubrey Yeagle from Escambia, Brianna Coleman, Brittany Manning-Davis, Rebeka Touary, and Sara Grace Gunter from Pine Forest, Kristen Hughes from East Hill, Lauren McCall from Northview, Amber Wells from Catholic, Samantha Hurley from Pensacola, Kayla Rosario, Kaitlyn Kenfield, Gabby Leifur, and Kalina Kenfield from West Florida Tech, Heather Schaff, Kim Baker, Barette Barnes, Marina Cobbs, Holly Brown, and Kat Tucker from Tate, and Rachel Medley from Washington.
East Softball: Kasey Harrison from Laurel Hill, Megan McDonald and Amanda Curington from Gulf Breeze, Hannah Day from Crestview, Lauren Osburn, Sarah Beth Marquis, and Meghan Redalieu from Navarre, Hannah Jones from Pace, Stephanie Hartness, Jamie Ujvari, Jessica Ujvari, and Courtney Adams from Niceville, Brittany Tiller from Rocky Bayou, Katie Worley, Kassandra Gilley, and Desiree Velasguez from Milton, Becca Calloway and Tessa Hendricks from Jay, Tory Kilcrease from Baker, Jaime Phillips and Jennifer Phillips from Fort Walton, and Rikki Rummel from Choctaw.
West Baseball: Scott Robertson, Matt Mckibben, and Avery Van Brussel from Washington, Skyler Beckerman, Tyler Murphy, Chase Anderson, and Tucker Massey from West Florida Tech, Tyler Curtis, Hunter Black, Austin Quina, Mac Seibert, and Cody Palmer from Tate, Preston Szuch, Tyler Henry, and Chase Keifer from Catholic, Tanner Brooks and Zach Barrow from Northview, Trenton Potter and Kody Bryant from Pensacola Christian, Brandon Nagem, Jon Cagle-Lister, and Zach Hathaway from Pine Forest, Joey Scapecchi and Kaleb Lewis from Escambia, and Brandon Haragul and Jimmy Threat from Pensacola.
East Baseball: Kameron Miller, Dylan Lee, and Derek Lovelace from Crestview, Kyle Mcgee from Gulf Breeze, Tanner Black, Miguel Paulino, and Luke Clark from Choctaw, Bucky Locke from Baker, Cory Eller and Mike Haynes from Niceville, Sammy James from Jay, Patrick Maddox, Patrick Ervin, Daniel Hampton, Steven Jernigan, and Clay Benefield from Pace, Paul Young and Jordan Martin from Milton, Dylan Peacock from Central, Steven Wills from Rocky Bayou, Kyle Slingerland from Laurel Hill, Jacob Terry and Dusty Jones from Navarre, Ian Hok and Trey Marshall from Fort Walton.
Suns Walk Off With 8-5 Win Over The Wahoos
May 18, 2012
Following a 44 minute rain delay, the Jacksonville Suns walked off with an 8-5 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The walk-off came right after the Wahoos got the game tied with a two-out run in the top of the ninth.
Both teams traded blows over the game’s first five innings. Jacksonville plated single runs in the first and second, before Pensacola put up two runs in each the third and fourth innings to go up 4-2. The Suns were quick to respond pulling within one in the bottom of the fourth before they got two in the bottom of the fifth capitalizing on back to back walks to open the inning.
The game stayed 5-4 until Pensacola rallied in the top of the ninth. Didi Gregorius singled with one out then stole second base before scoring two batters later on a two-out RBI double by Joel Guzman to even the game at five.
Jacksonville was able to get to Curtis Partch (2-3) in the ninth. Jake Smolinski led the inning off with a double. After an intentional walk to Kyle Skipworth, Shawn Bowman unloaded for his fourth home run of the year to send the Suns home 8-5 winners.
Guzman, Gregorius and P.J. Phillips led the Blue Wahoos offensively with a pair of hits each and Guzman added a pair of RBI while Gregorius scored two. The Wahoos perfectly executed a suicide squeeze in the top of the fourth when Gregorius scored from third on a bunt by Ryan LaMarre for the Blue Wahoos fourth run of the game. J.C. Sulbaran was charged with the first five Suns runs over four-plus innings. He allowed four hits, walked four and struck out five. Partch took the loss, his first since returning from Bakersfield. Despite allowing the tying run in the ninth, Evan Reed (2-1) earned the win for Jacksonville.
The series continues in Jacksonville on Friday when the Blue Wahoos send right-hander Tim Gustafson (1-0, 4.55) to the mound against Suns righty Bryan Evans (0-2, 4.41). First pitch is set for 6:05 central time.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos’ Joel Guzman had a pair of hits and RBI in against his former team. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Tate, Jay Release Football Schedules
May 16, 2012
Northview, Tate and Jay high schools have released their 2012 football schedules, and all three teams will have spring games this month.
Northview will have a full 11-game season this year, including seven home games. The Northview Spring Game will be this Thursday at 7 p.m. as the Chiefs host the Jaguars of West Florida High School. General admission is $6.
The Tate Aggies will begin their season at home against Pensacola High School on August 24. Tate will have a Crimson and Gray intersquad game at home this Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to Washington High for a Spring Game on May 28 at 7 p.m.
The Jay Royals will travel just over half of the 2012 season, with their first three games on the road. The Royals will host Rocky Bayou Christian School in a Spring Game on May 24 at 6 p.m.
Schedules for the Northview Chiefs, Tate Aggies and Jay Royals are below.
LCpl Travis Nelson Scholarship 5K Trail Run Is Saturday
May 16, 2012
The Winged Warrior Centennial 5K this Saturday will benefit the LCpl Travis Nelson Scholarship Fund.
The United States Marine Corps and the University of West Florida Semper Fi Society will present the trail run to celebrate 100 years of Marine Corps Aviation. The run will take place at 7:30 a.m. Saturday on the University of West Florida nature trails. The race starts at the Multipurpose Field on the UWF campus.
Race proceeds benefit the LCpl Travis Nelson Scholarship Fund, named in honor of LCpl Travis Nelson of Bratt, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 19, 2011. The scholarship is presented to outstanding seniors in the Northview or Pace high school ROTC programs or outstanding students in the Young Marines of Pensacola.
Registration is $22. To register, click here.
Tate Senior Chase Carroll Honored By Escambia School Board
May 16, 2012
Tate High School senior Chase Carroll was recognized Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board.
Carroll was honored for winning the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state 2A weightlifting championship in his weight class, as well as numerous academic achievements.
In April, Carroll’s total lift was at 655 pounds with a best bench of 380 and a best clean & jerk of 275. Carroll’s total lift was 20 pounds greater than the second place finisher in the state finals.
It was the third trip to the FHSAA finals for Carroll, who also excels off the bench. He has a 3.7 GPA, and is in the National Honor Society, BETA Club, Rho Kappa, FFA, is FCA president and has participated in football and track.
Pictured above: Tate Senior Chase Carroll is honored Tuesday by the Escambia County School Board. Pictured below: School Board members (L-R) Gerald Boone, Patty Hightower, Jeff Bergosh and Bill Slayton; Chase Carroll and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Shuts Down B’ham 2-0
May 16, 2012
Pensacola starting pitcher Tim Crabbe, along with relievers Curtis Partch and Donnie Joseph, combined for the team’s fourth shutout win, while pinch hitter Josh Fellhauer launched an eighth inning two-run homer to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 win over the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday night at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium.
The win gives the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 series victory and improves their record to 19-21, while the defeat drops Birmingham to a 21-19 mark in 2012.
Crabbe (7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) tossed his best outing of the year despite not receive a decision after yielding six hits in seven scoreless frames, while Partch and Joseph combined for two perfect innings of relief. Partch (1.0 IP, 2 SO) earned the win and struck out two before Joseph (1.0 IP, 3 SO) notched his seventh save of the year after striking out the side in the ninth. Barons starter Jose Quintana (7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 SO) did not factor in the decision either despite allowing just two hits in addition to eight strikeouts in seven scoreless frames, while RHP Henry Mabee (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss after allowing the two earned runs on two hits in one frame.
Both offenses were held quiet until the eighth, when Fellhauer broke the scoreless draw with his second homer of the year. DH P.J. Phillips reached with a one out single up the middle before the pinch hitter came to the plate and launched the 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to make it 2-0.
Birmingham had a runner past second base once, with a solid defensive play in the fourth keeping them off the scoreboard. After Barons 1B Seth Loman led off the frame with a double, C Damaso Espino lined a single up the middle to Pensacola CF Ryan LaMarre. Loman was waived home on the play as LaMarre fired a strike home to C Mark Fleury, who held on to the ball after colliding with Loman to end the inning and prevent the run.
Loman and Espino were the lone batters to record multi-hit efforts for either side, while SS Tyler Saladino reached base three times via a free pass. No Blue Wahoos batters collected two or more hits, though LaMarre and SS Didi Gregorius each did make it on base twice.
Pensacola has an off-day Wednesday and will travel to Jacksonville in preparation for their five-game series with the Suns, with the opening game set for Thursday night at 7:35 ET.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Tim Crabbe fired seven shutout innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 2-0 win Tuesday night over Birmingham. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barons Beat Blue Wahoos 8-4 To Even Series
May 15, 2012
Birmingham plated five runs in the top of the second inning, including a grand slam from third baseman Corey Smith, to lead the Barons to an 8-4 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Monday night at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium.
After Pensacola took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to part to DH Cody Puckett’s seventh home run of the season, Birmingham grabbed a lead they would not relinquish with a big second frame. CF Jared Mitchell led off the inning with a solo shot to left before the Barons loaded the bases with two walks and a single from 2B Jose Castro, which set the scene for Smith. The third baseman slugged the first pitch he saw down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Barons a 6-2 advantage.
The Blue Wahoos brought home single tallies in the fourth and fifth frames with 1B Joel Guzman leaving the yard for his fifth longball of the year in the fourth, while CF Ryan LaMarre singled and then was driven in on SS Didi Gregorius’ run scoring triple in the following frame. Birmingham would then plate additional insurance runs in both the sixth and seventh frames to increase the margin to 8-4.
LaMarre (2-3, 2 R, 1BB) and Guzman (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) accumulated two hits on the night for the Blue Wahoos, while no Barons hitters recorded a multi-hit effort.
Barons starting pitcher Pedro Hernandez (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO) earned his fifth win in as many starts after allowing four earned runs on six hits in five frames, while relievers Brandon Kloess (3.0 IP, 5 SO) and Leroy Hunt (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined for the four perfect innings in support of Hernandez. Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO) suffered the loss after yielding six earned runs on five hits in his five innings pitched.
With the series now tied at 2-2, the Blue Wahoos and Barons will meet Monday evening for the rubber match with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm at Pensacola’s bayfront stadium. RHP Tim Crabbe is scheduled to take the hill for Pensacola, while Birmingham is expected to send LHP Jose Quintana.
By Andrew Green