Pelicans Rally But Can’t Catch Cats
August 2, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans couldn’t come back against Fort Worth, losing 7-6 on Saturday night. Though the Pelicans tied the game at six after initially trailing by four runs, the Cats prevailed in the end, scoring the pivotal run in the top of the eighth to end a three-game losing streak.
The Cats scored first in the top of the second inning when Michael Bell doubled to start the frame, and scored on a Ryan Patterson single. The Cats added three more runs in the third inning before the Pelicans could get on the board.
Pensacola broke up the shutout in the bottom of the third inning when Dallas Christison hit a solo bomb for his first home run of the year. Antoin Gray imitated him with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth (his eleventh) to cut the Cats’ lead to 4-2.
Fort Worth lengthened their lead again in the fifth inning with a John Allen round-tripper. Isa Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to plate Michael Bell and the Cats went back up by four.
The Pelicans rallied for three runs in the sixth. Back to back walks with one out put Gray at second and Rodriguez at first. Lester Contreras drove in Gray with a single, and Adam Darby roped a base hit that scored both Rodriguez and Contreras.
Pensacola actually tied the game when Francisco Leandro came in on a RBI groundout by Rodriguez. However, the Cats’ scored the game winner in the top of the eighth when Brian Fryer tripled and scored on a Patrick O’Sullivan base knock.
The Cats’ 7-6 victory went in the books attributed to Ryan Riddle, with Scott Vander Weg earning the save. Adam Brandenburg took the loss for the Pelicans.
Pensacola and Fort Worth play the rubber-match of the series tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The Kids Day warrants free admission to all Kids Club members sporting their Kids Club t-shirts. Randy Beam will throw for Pensacola, and Nat Harris for Fort Worth. All fans who wear their tie-dyed Pelicans t-shirts to the game will receive a free fountain drink. Also, all attendees of a Pelicans’ Camp this year can gain free admission by wearing their camp t-shirts to Sunday’s game.
Former North Escambia Resident Considered For All-Time Navy-Marine Football Team
August 1, 2009
A former North Escambia resident is in the running to be on the All-Stadium Team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium.
John Skaggs, a 2000 graduate of Tate High School, is one of the finalists to be on the specials teams of the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team.
The Naval Academy is planning a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, including honoring the 1959 Navy team that defeated William & Mary in the first game played at the stadium. Additionally, an all-time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium team will be selected with fans having an opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite Navy players who have played at the stadium.
The all-time team will be revealed at halftime throughout the 2009 season.
Skaggs punted for Navy from 2001-2003. He is the Navy’s all-time punting leader for a single-season and a career. He broke Bill Busik’s 60-year old single-season record in 2001 when he averaged 44.8 yards per punt, while his 43.1 yards per game career average is also a school record. In 2001, Skaggs had 48 punts for 2,151 yards.
“It would be an honor to be recognized on the All-Stadium team,” Skaggs told NorthEscambia.com Friday afternoon.
To vote for the specialists on the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team, click here. Voting ends Sunday.
Skaggs and his wife Emily (Fillingim) Skaggs now reside in Panama City. They both have numerous relatives in the North Escambia area.
Benefit Softball Tournament Needs Teams By Saturday
July 30, 2009
A coed softball tournament to benefit Marty Green will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on August 1 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. The coed softball team must consist of seven men and three women, double elimination. There is a $200 entry fee. For more information, contact Bodie Tullis at (850) 327-6788 or (850) 327-6722, Theresa Hanks at (850) 327-6722 or Pam Brown at (850) 327-6155.
The tournament is sponsored by Northwest Escambia Little League and Northwest Escambia Football, with all proceeds going toward Marty Green’s medical expenses.
Learn more about Marty Green by clicking here.
Wingnuts Clobber Pelicans
July 30, 2009
The Wingnuts clobbered the Pelicans 12-4 in Wichita on Wednesday. With the victory, the Wingnuts won the three-game series two games to one. The Wingnuts wasted no time in claiming the ballgame, jumping out to an 8-0 advantage after two innings.
Five Wingnuts came home in the bottom of the first inning, including Josh Horn after he blasted his first of two doubles en route to four hits. Michael Sharp collected two RBI on a single, as Wichita had six total hits in the very first frame.
The second inning started the same way for the Wingnuts, with Horn hitting his second double. He and Dustan Mohr both scored when Kelly Hunt hit his league-best fifteenth home run of the season to put Wichita up 8-0.
The Wingnuts added another run in the third inning when Horn scored from first on a double by Nick Blasi. Blasi would score the next Wingnuts run in the fifth inning, hitting a one-out double, and scoring on a single by Greg Porter.
Wichita ended their offensive outburst in the seventh when Greg Porter connected for a two-run shot that brought in Horn and himself. 12-0 Wingnuts.
Pensacola tallied four runs in the top of the eighth, but it wasn’t nearly enough. After starter Derek Blacksher pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Tyler Rhoden started the eighth inning by giving up a hit to Lester Contreras. Dallas Christison followed by reaching on an error by the second baseman. Francisco Leandro singled to load the bases, and Kevin Reynolds collected the only Pelican RBI by drawing a walk to score Contreras. Three more Pelicans would score when the second baseman committed another error on a ball hit by Antoin Gray. Gray ended up on second base and Christison, Leandro, and Reynolds scored to make the scoreboard read Wichita 12, Pensacola 4.
The score would hold and the Wingnuts claimed the game and the series. Jason Navarro started the game and took the loss after lasting just two innings, yielding eight runs (all earned). He allowed nine hits and two walks, striking out one. Tyler Wilson relieved him by pitching three innings and striking out two, but Wilson gave up two runs on six hits with a walk. Joey Wedner pitched the sixth and seventh innings and allowed two runs of his own on three hits. Ulysses Roque pitched a scoreless eighth on two hits.
Lester Contreras had two hits while Leandro, Burch, and Rodriguez each had one.
The Pelicans will use Thursday to travel back to Pensacola. They start a three-game home series against the Fort Worth Cats on Friday at 6:35 p.m. The entire weekend will be Woodstock themed, with tie-dying on Friday and fireworks following Saturday’s game. More information is available at www.pensacolapelicans.com.
Pelicans’ Winning Streak Comes To An End
July 29, 2009
Pensacola initially jumped out on top, scoring a run in the top of the second inning when Marcos Rodriguez singled and scored after Luis Guance hit him in.
The Pelicans added another run in the third inning that saw Antoin Gray lead off with a base knock. Francisco Leandro sacrificed himself and Gray moved to second, scoring when Rodriguez hit safely.
The Wingnuts roared back in the bottom of the fourth, when Dustin Mohr hit a grand slam, his ninth homer of the season, and Wichita led 4-2. Pensacola closed within one a half-inning later, when Chase Burch singled and Marcos Rodriguez doubled him in. However, it was the Wingnuts’ game the rest of the way.
Brenan Herrera started the bottom of the fifth with a single, stole second, and scored when Greg Porter struck a single. In the sixth inning, Kelly Hunt added another run with his league-leading fourteenth round tripper of the year. Mike Thompson followed up with a single later in the inning and came around to home as well.
Dustan Mohr went deep to lead off the bottom of the seventh, his second dinger of the night and tenth of the year. The eighth run for the Wingnuts would be their last, as Wichita defeated Pensacola 8-3.
Randy Beam took the loss after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing seven runs (six earned). Beam struck out five, but allowed nine hits and one walk. Ulysses Roque finished the sixth and pitched the seventh, yielding one earned run on three hits while notching a strikeout. Joey Wedner pitched the eighth and struck out two of the three batters he faced.
The Pelicans were led at the plate by Marcos Rodriguez. He finished the evening 3-4, hitting a double, stealing a base, scoring a run, and driving in two. Antoin Gray and Luis Guance each had a pair of singles, with Guance driving in the other Pelicans’ run.
The Pelicans finish their seven-game road trip on Wednesday with a 12:05 p.m. start time. The Pelicans will throw Jason Navarro against Wichita’s Derek Blacksher. The game may be heard online via SportsJuice.com; the Pelicans provide a link to the broadcast on their website, www.pensacolapelicans.com.
Eight In A Row For The Pcola Pels
July 28, 2009
The Pelicans won their eighth straight game on Monday, defeating the Wingnuts 5-4. Winning eight games in a row is never easy, and the Pelicans almost lost the game in the ninth.
Hunter Davis entered the game to pitch the bottom of the ninth with the Pelicans leading 5-3. The very first batter he faced went yard to cut the lead to 5-4. After Nick Blasi’s fifth homerun of the year, Greg Porter singled, and Dustin Mohr followed up by hitting a comebacker to Davis. Davis turned and hurled the ball to second base, but a bad grip resulted in the ball sailing into centerfield. Porter moved up to third, and Mohr took second; the tying and winning runs were in scoring position with nobody out. Davis induced Hunt to line out to Rodriguez playing first, and the Pelicans elected to intentionally walk Steve Pearson to load the bases. The strategy worked, as Joseph Muich hit a grounder to Contreras, whom promptly hurled the ball home and cut down the lead runner. With two out, Michael Thompson grounded out to second base, Hunter Davis earned his seventeenth save, and the Pelicans won their eighth straight ballgame.
The Wingnuts scored the first run of the game, plating Josh Horn on a RBI single by Greg Porter in the bottom of the first.
Pensacola answered back with two runs in the top of the fourth. Francisco Leandro started the frame with a walk, and stole second base. Chase Burch singled and Leandro advanced to third. Marcos Rodriguez followed with a double that scored both runners and the Pelicans were up 2-1.
Wichita responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Blasi walked with two out, and scored when Greg Porter hit a two-run bomb. Wingnuts 3, Pelicans 2.
Pensacola took the lead for good in the top of the seventh. Kevin Reynolds led off with his second single of the night, and stole second base for the second time as well. Lester Contreras singled to centerfield, but Reynolds was initially held up at third. However, the centerfielder misplayed the ball, Reynolds came home, and Contreras went to second. On a groundout to the shortstop, Contreras took third, and an error on the catcher’s attempt to pick Contreras off third base sent the ball to left field and Contreras touched home. Antoin Gray hit a solo shot for his tenth round tripper of the year to give the Pelicans a 5-3 advantage.
The ninth inning went as described, and the Pelicans were victorious. Ron Hill, who pitched the seventh and eighth inning, earned the win, striking out three and allowing one hit. Aaron Jackson started the game and had his longest outing of the year: five innings with three earned runs on four hits and three walks. Jackson struck out three. Tyler Wilson pitched three outs in relief of Jackson and allowed four hits and a walk, but no runs as he struck out two batters. Hunter Davis finished it in the ninth.
Kevin Reynolds and Dallas Christison went 2-4, Gray went deep, and Rodriguez had the two-RBI double.
The second game of this three game series will take place Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Jason Navarro will start for the Pelicans against Will Savage for the Wingnuts. Every pitch can be heard on NewsRadio 1620, with an internet broadcast provided by SportsJuice.com.
Both North Escambia Teams Fall Short Of State Softball Championships
July 27, 2009
Both North Escambia teams playing in state softball tournament games fell short this weekend.
Both Tri-County and Northwest Escambia remained alive in their respective tournaments after Saturday play, but both suffered losses in Sunday semifinals.
Tri-County All Stars
The 10-11 year old Tri-County All-Stars won their first game in the state tournament Saturday morning near Orlando, but fell short in their second game in the afternoon.
Tri-County beat Mt. Dora 10-2 in a Saturday morning game. Saturday afternoon, Tri-County lost 9-4 to South Tampa.
Sunday morning, Tri-County lost a semifinal game to Land-o_Lakes, 10-0.
The tournament was in Windermere, Florida, just outside Orlando.
Northwest Escambia All Stars
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars have dropped two in the 11-12 Year Old State Tournament in Coconut Creek, Fla., just north of Fort Lauderdale.
NWE lost their first weekend game to Mims from Cape Canaveral 12-3 in six innings. Saturday morning, NWE lost to Windermere 10-3.
Northwest Escambia lost 8-0 to South Tampa on Sunday, ending their state championship hopes.
Pictured above: The NWE 10-11 Year Old All-Stars. Pictured below: The 10-11 Year Old Tri-County All-Stars. File photos, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Win Seventh Straight in Sweep of Sioux City
July 27, 2009
Pensacola extended their winning streak to seven straight games with a 14-5 clobbering of the Explorers Sunday night. Adam Brandenburg’s first victory sealed the four-game sweep, though the Explorers initially jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Derek Schermerhorn led off with a walk and moved to second when Nick McCoola grounded out to first. Alex Llanos drove in Schermerhorn with a base hit, and scored himself when Jason Colson hit safely.
The Pelicans went on a tirade in the second and third innings, scoring a total of seven runs. Lester Contreras and Chase Burch each had RBI singles, and Adam Darby had two RBI: one on a double, and one on a single. Antoin Gray capped it all off with a two-RBI base knock to score runs six and seven.
The Explorers scored another run in the bottom of the fifth, plating McCoola on a Justin Nelson single, but the Pelicans responded with six more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. RBI singles were hit by Rodriguez and Deleo, and Chase Burch added two more RBI with a double. Contreras hit a sac fly and Guance grounded out but drove in a run.
The Pelicans added their fourteenth run of the game in the top of the ninth. Francisco Leandro led off the frame with a double and moved to third when Chase Burch singled. Marcos Rodriguez reached on a fielder’s choice and Leandro scored to put the Pelicans up 14-3.
After Adam Brandenburg finished the sixth inning, Ulysses Roque retired the next six Sioux City batters in order, striking out two. Joey Wedner pitched the ninth and allowed two runs on one hit and two walks, striking out one. The Pelicans won their seventh straight and swept the Explorers, but the win came at a price.
Four Pelicans were hit by Sioux City pitches: Antoin Gray, Luis Guance, and Kevin Reynolds twice. Despite the pummeling, no Pelican was hurt, and three of the four beanings resulted in a run.
Pensacola scored more runs in this game than they have in any other this year, exceeding the 12 they had on June 22 against Grand Prairie.
The Pelicans will carry their seven-game winning streak into a three game road series against the Wichita Wingnuts. The first-half North Division winners will throw Adam Cowart on Monday, a right hander with the lowest ERA in the league at 2.66. Pensacola will counter with righty Aaron Jackson. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and every pitch can be heard on NewsRadio 1620, with an internet broadcast provided by SportsJuice.com.
Mixed Day For Two Local Softball Teams In State Tournaments
July 26, 2009
Saturday was a mixed day for two local teams competing for state softball championships. Both Tri-County and Northwest Escambia remained alive in their respective tournaments after Saturday play, but both has losses.
Going into Sunday games, Tri-County is 1-1 in state tournament play, and Northwest Escambia is 0-2.
Tri-County All Stars
The 10-11 year old Tri-County All-Stars won their first game in the state tournament Saturday morning near Orlando, but fell short in their second game in the afternoon.
Tri-County beat Mt. Dora 10-2 in a Saturday morning game. Saturday afternoon, Tri-County lost to South Tampa 9-4.
They will play Sunday in a semifinal game as second seed in their pool. Tri-County will take on Land-o-Lakes at 10 (EDT) Sunday morning.
The tournament is in Windermere, Florida, just outside Orlando.
Northwest Escambia All Stars
The Northwest Escambia All-Stars have dropped two in the 11-12 Year Old State Tournament in Coconut Creek, Fla., just north of Fort Lauderdale.
NWE lost their first weekend game to Mims from Cape Canaveral 12-3 in six innings. Saturday morning, NWE lost to Windermere 10-3.
Northwest Escambia will take the field again Sunday against South Tampa.
Pictured above: The NWE 10-11 Year Old All-Stars. Pictured below: The 10-11 Year Old Tri-County All-Stars. File photos, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Win Sixth In A Row
July 26, 2009
Dane DeValk was the best he’s been in Pensacola’s 6-0 win, keeping the Explorers scoreless in a complete game. With the win, Pensacola has claimed victory in their last six straight games.
Pensacola wasted no time jumping out to a healthy lead. In the top of the second, Marcos Rodriguez started off with a single and advanced to second when Lou Palmisano walked. Kevin Reynolds followed with a RBI single that scored Rodriguez from second, and Palmisano moved up to third. Dallas Christison batted next and lifted a fly ball to right field. The sacrifice fly scored Palmisano and the Pels led by two. Another run scored when Adam Darby hit a groundball that the second baseman booted into right field. Reynolds scored on the play and Darby reached first on the error. Antoin Gray followed with a single that pushed Darby to second, and Darby scored when Francisco Leandro picked up his second hit of the night to give the Pelicans’ a 4-0 advantage.
Adam Deleo replaced Lou Palmisano at catcher in the bottom of the second, and Dane DeValk continued to rack up strikeouts. DeValk had five when the Pelicans came to bat in the top of the seventh and added two more runs to the scoreboard. Leandro led off with his third hit of the night, and advanced to second when Burch knocked a base hit. Marcos Rodriguez grounded out to first base unassisted, but as the first baseman tried to complete the double play by throwing to second, the throw went wide. Burch advanced to third on the play, and Leandro came in to score. Adam Deleo followed by lifting a sacrifice fly that brought Burch home and the Pelicans were up by six.
Dane DeValk finished the evening by striking out eight batters and allowing just four hits and a walk. Only one Explorer ventured as far as third base on the night, as Dane DeValk improved to 4-2 on the year.
The Pelicans will look for the sweep on Sunday, as Pensacola throws Adam Brandenburg against the Explorer’s Steve Spurgeon. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and can be heard on NewsRadio 1620, or online via SportsJuice.com.