Wahoos Open Mississippi Series With Win
May 7, 2012
It took 13 innings for the Blue Wahoos to claim a series opening 4-3 win over the Mississippi Braves on Sunday night in Pearl, Miss. Didi Gregorius scored from second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Joel Guzman that resulted in a throwing error at third base by the Braves first baseman.
The Blue Wahoos got going offensively with a solo home run by Cody Puckett in the top of the second inning. Mississippi, countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame off Blue Wahoos starter Tim Gustafson. Ian Gac came home with the first run on a force out at second base which tied the game. A batter later, the pitcher, Zeke Spruill singled up the middle to drive home Keenan Wiley to put the Braves in front.
Puckett would strike again to drive home his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield which plated Josh Fellhauer from third and tied the game at two. Pensacola would move in front when Mark Fleury scored on a fielding error by the Braves second baseman on a ball hit by Gregorius that would have ended the inning.
Wiley homered with two outs in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings before Pensacola scored the winning run on another error in the top of the 13th.
Henry Rodriguez extended his hit streak to 14 games with a 4-for-5 game at the plate. Gregorius and Fellhauer each added three hit games for the Blue Wahoos. Gustafson didn’t record a decision despite his longest start of the season. The right-hander went six innings and allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out six. Wirfin Obispo (1-0) pitched a scoreless 11th inning to earn the win. Justin Freeman (S, 1) earned the save by getting the final batter of the game to ground out. Andy Russell (2-1) was tagged with the loss by allowing the winning run to score, despite it being unearned. It was the only run he allowed in his one inning.
The series continues on Monday when the Blue Wahoos send right hander Mark Serrano (2-0, 3.68) to the mound against Mississippi lefty Jose Lugo (2-0, 0.90). First pitch is set for 7:00 at Trustmark Park.
Flomaton Takes Series From Wicksburg, Advances In Playoffs
May 6, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes (29-5) advanced to the Class 2A Round 4 playoffs Saturday, taking a three game series from the Wicksburg Panthers, behind a two-run homer in the fourth from Hunter Bonds.
Game Three: Flomaton 8 – Wicksburg 4
The Hurricanes defeated the Wicksburg Panthers in deciding matchup Saturday 8-4 . James Dean (6-0) started for the Hurricanes and got the win and Levi King took the loss. The Hurricanes will host the fourth round against the Leroy Bears Friday starting at 4:30 followed by the second game at 6:30.
Wahoos Take Series With 4-0 Win
May 6, 2012
Pensacola starter J.C. Sulbaran and reliever Justin Freeman combined to shut out the Jackson offense, while right fielder P.J. Phillips and left fielder Cody Puckett each homered to give the Blue Wahoos a 4-0 victory over the Generals in front of another sell-out crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola’s bayfront stadium. The victory gave the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 victory in the series.
It was also the tenth time in 14 home dates this year that Pensacola has hosted a capacity crowd. The Blue Wahoos started the night leading the Southern League in average attendance at just over 4,800 in 14 openings.
Sulbaran (7.0 IP, 5 H, 9 SO) was solid in his seven shutout frames, fanning nine batters and yielding just five hits to earn his second win of the season, while Freeman (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) gave up just one hit over the final two innings. Jackson starting pitcher Danny Hultzen (4.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 4 SO), the second-best prospect in the Seattle Mariners’ system according to Baseball America, suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 after giving up two earned runs on seven walks in 4.1 frames.
After CF Ryan LaMarre scored on a wild pitch in the second frame Phillips and Puckett each left the yard with solo homers, with Phillips blasting a lead-off shot in the fifth, while Puckett hit his an inning later. Phillips’ homer was his first longball since August 19, 2009, while it was Puckett’s third roundtripper of the season. Pensacola tacked on an additional insurance run in the sixth when C Koyie Hill came home on DH Yordanys Perez’s run-scoring single.
Generals 2B Nick Franklin (2-4, 1 2B) and RF Johermyn Chavez (2-4) each collected two hits in the contest, while no Blue Wahoos hitters recorded a multi-hit game. Pensacola 3B Henry Rodriguez tallied a single in the seventh frame to extend his hitting streak to a team-record 13 games. Since April 22, the infielder has hit .408 (20-49) with ten runs, two doubles and eight RBI.
The Blue Wahoos now head back on the road for a five-game series with the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. First pitch for the opening game of the series is set for 5:00 pm, with RHP Tim Gustafson expected to take the hill for Pensacola. Mississippi’s starting pitcher for the first game has not yet been announced.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: J.C. Sulbaran fired seven shutout innings in Pensacola’s 4-0 win Saturday night over Jackson. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jackson Tops Pensacola To Even Series
May 5, 2012
Five different Jackson hitters recorded a multi-hit game, while Generals starting pitcher Brandon Maurer kept the Pensacola offense at bay by allowing just one earned run in seven frames, as the Blue Wahoos fell 10-2 on Friday night in front of another sell-out crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium. The capacity crowd was the ninth in 13 home dates for the Blue Wahoos in 2012.
The Generals plated got off to a quick start with a six-run second frame thanks to three hits and four walks. Included in the inning were two-run singles from DH Joe Dunigan and 1B Rich Poythress, while C Jesus Sucre also drove in a run with a base knock. Jackson would be held quiet until the final frame, when they would bring across four more scores.
Pensacola got their first run of the contest in the fourth with a two-out rally. RF Josh Fellhauer walked with two outs and advanced to third on 2B Brodie Greene’s single, before scoring on C Koyie Hill’s RBI single to right. The Blue Wahoos would also tally another run in the eighth on 1B Joel Guzman’s run-scoring base knock to left.
Maurer (7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory to improve to 2-0 on the year after yielding just an earned run on six hits in his solid seven innings of work, while Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe (4.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss to drop to 1-2 after allowing six earned runs on six hits in his four frames. Blue Wahoos reliever Mark Serrano (3.0 IP, 2 H, 4 SO) turned in a strong outing in relief, firing three shutout innings.
Dunigan (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Poythress (2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI), along with 3B Francisco Martinez (2-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI), RF Johermyn Chavez (3-5, 1 R, 1 RBI) and C Jesus Sucre (2-4, 2 RBI) all collected two or more hits for the Generals. Greene (3-4) led all Blue Wahoos batters with three hits on the evening, while Guzman (2-4, 1 RBI) also recorded a pair of hits.
3B Henry Rodriguez reached base with a single in the eighth to extend his hit streak to 12 games, which is now the longest stretch by a Blue Wahoos player this year. Rodriguez in addition currently rides a 14-game on-base streak.
With the series tied at 2-2, Pensacola and Jackson will meet for the final game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 pm on Saturday night. The Blue Wahoos are expected to start RHP Pedro Villarreal in the rubber match, while the Generals are slated to send LHP Danny Hultzen, the Mariners’ second-best prospect according to Baseball America, to take the bump.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Brodie Greene tallied three hits in Pensacola’s 10-2 loss Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo by Chris Nelson, click to enlarge.
Tate Falls To Mosley In Quarterfinals
May 4, 2012
The Tate Aggies lost their Region 1-6A quarterfinal game Thursday night to the Mosley Dolphins.
Tate jumped out to an early lead with an RBI single to left field in the first, and another RBI single in the third. But Mosley tied it up 2-2 in the third before scoring a go-ahead run with a single up the middle. Mosley increased their lead to 5-2 in the fourth.
The Aggies cut the lead to 5-4 in the fifth, with the sixth and seventh inning scoreless.
With the loss, the Aggies season came to an end with a 22-6 overall record, 12-2 in the district.
Tate Hitters: David Moorhead 2-4, 2RBI, 1R; JT Granat 2-4, 1RBI; Mac Siebert 1RBI; Maverick Champman 2-3; Hunter Black 2-4; Austin Quina 0-3, 1R
NHS Girls Track: Can You Spare A Dollar?
May 4, 2012
It’s a simple fundraiser underway by the Northview High School girl’s track team team — it’s a No Calorie and No Dust collecting fundraiser. The team is having a dollar drive — skipping asking people to buy expensive items to raise money. Instead, they are opting to ask Chiefs fans to just donate a buck.
During the first week of the event, the team raised $75. They are still asking friends, family and alumni to donate, and there’s special interest on from just how far away a donation might be sent.
Donations can be made to:
Northview High School
Girl’s Track
4100 West Hwy 4
Century, Fl 32535
The money collected with used to enhance the girl’s track program at Northview such as a camp and new equipment.
Pictured: This display on a wall at Northview High promotes a girls track team fundraiser. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Split Double Header With Generals
May 4, 2012
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their double header with the Jackson Generals on Thursday evening in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium, with Generals winning the first contest 3-1, while the Blue Wahoos answered with a 1-0 victory in the second game. The capacity crowd was the eighth in 12 home dates for the Blue Wahoos in their inaugural season.
It was quiet in the first contest until the fourth inning, when Jackson plated single tallies in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. DH Joe Dunigan brought home the opening score with an RBI single, while run-scoring singles from RF Johermyn Chavez and SS Nick Franklin in the fifth and sixth frames, respectively.
The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases in the fourth and plated a run courtesy of an RBI infield single by 3B Henry Rodriguez but were stopped short from there in their comeback attempt. Rodriguez (2-3, 1 RBI) recorded the lone multi-hit effort for the Blue Wahoos, while Jackson 3B Francisco Martinez (2-3, 2 R, 1 2B) was the only Generals batter to collect two hits.
Jackson LHP James Paxton (5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) earned the win in the first game after yielding the unearned run on just three hits in 5.1 frames, while closer Stephen Pryor (1.2 IP, 4 SO) notched his seventh save of the year, fanning four of the five batters he faced. RHP Pedro Villarreal (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss for Pensacola after allowing three earned runs on six hits in six innings.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second half of the twin bill until the sixth, when the Blue Wahoos broke the 0-0 draw. Rodriguez led off the frame by reaching on a fielding error and then took second and third on groundouts, before being plated on a clutch two-out run-scoring single to right by 2B Brodie Greene.
Pensacola RHP Daniel Corcino (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 SO) got the better of Jackson starter Taijuan Walker in the pitcher’s duel, earning the win after giving up just three hits in six shutout innings. Walker (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) suffered the tough loss after allowing just the lone unearned run on five hits in 5.2 innings, while Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 2 SO) notched his fifth save of the season.
Rodriguez recorded at least one hit in each contest to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. The infielder is now tied with OF Ryan LaMarre for the longest such streak by a Blue Wahoos player this year.
The Blue Wahoos and Generals will meet again Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola RHP Tim Crabbe is expected to take the hill, while Jackson is slated to counter with RHP Brandon Maurer.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Henry Rodriguez tallied three hits as Pensacola split their twin bill with Jackson Thursday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Trawick Signs Golf Scholarship
May 3, 2012
Tate High School’s Billy Trawick has signed a scholarship to play golf at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Pictured: (front) Dottie Hodge, Billie Trawick, Mary Ann Trawick, (back) Ronnie Hodge, David Venettozzi, Rick Shackle . Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Win Regionals, Setting Up Historic Trip To State
May 2, 2012
The Jay Lady Royals won the Class 1A Softball Regional Championship at home Tuesday night 7-6 over the Holmes County Lady Blue Devils.
The game was tied 6-6 in the sixth when senior Tessa Hendricks powered a double to right field. With a double from Camille Driver, the Royals claimed a historic victory; it’s the first trip ever to the state finals in fast pitch softball for the Lady Royals.
The win means a final four road trip for Jay (20-3) for the state finals May 7-8 at the National Training Center Softball Complex in Clermont, Fla.
The Jay Lady Royals will face Port St. Joe Jr-Sr High at 11 a.m. (CDT) on Monday, May 7. Port St. Joe is coming off a 5-4 regional win over Liberty County.
The 1A final game will then be played Tuesday, May 8 at 4 p.m. (CDT). Admission will be $9 per game, with no passes.
WP—Sydney Lowery (17-3; 7 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 K, HB, BB)
Jay— Tessa Hendricks 3-4, 3 R, 2 2B, RBI; Olivia Wright 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB; Camille Driver 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B; Ashlyn Geck 1-4, R; Becca Calloway 2-3, 3B, 4 RBI, BB
Wahoos Win 5-4 Over Jackson Generals
May 2, 2012
Blue Wahoos left fielder Cody Puckett drove in three runs, including the tying run on a solo home run in the sixth and a walk-off single in the tenth, to give Pensacola a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Jackson Generals on Tuesday night at Pensacola’s bay-front stadium.
The win gives Pensacola a 1-0 advantage in the five-game series with the Generals, who entered tonight’s contest with the Southern League’s best record at 17-8.
With two outs in the extra frame, C Koyie Hill reached base on an infield single and went to second on an error by Jackson reliever Brian Moran to set the stage for Puckett. The left fielder drove the 1-2 pitch over the head of Generals left fielder Chris Pettit to end the game and cue the celebration.
Puckett (3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB) also led off the sixth inning with a solo blast to left to tie the game at 4-4 and drove in another run on a run-scoring single in the fourth as part of his three-hit day. Hill (2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) along with 3B Henry Rodriguez (2-4, 1 BB) also recorded multi-hit efforts for the Blue Wahoos in the contest.
Jackson got off to an early 4-0 lead after three innings courtesy in part to RBI doubles from SS Nick Franklin and 1B Rich Poythress in the opening inning. After an RBI groundout in the third, Pettit increased the margin to 4-0 with an RBI double in the fourth.
Pensacola reliever Donnie Joseph (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) earned his third victory of the season as part of a Blue Wahoos relief corps that yielded just three hits and no walks in the final six frames. Moran (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 after pitching the tenth frame.
The Blue Wahoos and Generals will meet again Wednesday night for the second game of the series, with first pitch set for 7:00 pm from Pensacola’s multi-use stadium. RHP Pedro Villarreal is expected to get the nod for Pensacola, while LHP James Paxton, the third-best prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization according to Baseball America is slated to start for Jackson.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Cody Puckett’s walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth gave Pensacola a 5-4 win over the Jackson Generals Tuesday night in Pensacola. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.