Molino 6U All-Stars Win Gospel Projects World Series
June 21, 2024
The Molino 6U All-Stars won the Gospel Projects World Series this week.
The Gospel Projects World Series started in 1970 and Molino has never finished better in 6Uthan second back in 2019.
These are the same boys that won 5U last year, which also was a first for Molino at the 5U at Gospel Projects.
Molino defeated NEP Gold 31-22 for the championship.
Molino 6U All-Stars head coach is Tanner Brooks. Assistant coaches are Jason Chaney, Mark Cutler, Wesley Summerford, Brad Brooks, and Blake Schnyder.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Doc’ Johnson Just What Blue Wahoos Ordered in 2-0 Win
June 21, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos resummoned their winning formula on Thursday night.
It was enough to keep them in a divisional playoff race.
As he’s so often done at home this year, righthander M.D. Johnson gave his teammates a big lift with five shutout innings prior to a brief rain delay, then the bullpen took over on Mullet Thursday for Pensacola’s 2-0 win against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Taking on their alternate identity as the Mullets, the Blue Wahoos rebounded from two series-opening losses, including a 9-1 setback Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium, to stay in contention in the Southern League South Division first half chase.
The win was vital, considering the Montgomery Biscuits won their second game this week against the Birmingham Barons – the North Division leader – to maintain a 1.5 game lead with three weekend games remaining.
“(Thursday) we played more like Blue Wahoos baseball,” said Johnson, who improved to 3-4 on the season and lowered his earned run average to 3.11. “We weren’t super tight. We weren’t trying to do everything so perfectly, because of what’s at stake. We just played the game that we’re all here trying to play.
“I think that, going forward, is what we need to carry on doing.”
All three of Johnson’s wins have come at home. He carried a mindset of blocking any thoughts of needing to carry the team in a must-win type of scenario.
“I didn’t think of it along the lines of that,” said Johnson, who allowed just three hits – matching his fewest this season – along with two walks and four strikeouts.
““Because as soon as you try to add that little bit of extra pressure, then you are going to try and nitpick things,” he said. “I went more along the lines of… we lost the first two games of the series, and it’s opening weekend. We are trying to get a win here to jump start the week, versus, ‘Oh we have to try and stay in the hunt.’ I don’t have to think about that.
“(Playoffs) will take of itself with us winning baseball games. I treated it like a normal start. We just lost two, I need to come in here and set the tone for the week. And I think I accomplished that.”
The Blue Wahoos scored both runs on home runs.
Catcher Joe Mack did it again, leading off the fourth inning with a solo shot over the right center berm. It was his team-high 11th homer of the season, his ninth in the past 20 games.
Cody Morissette followed a 21-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fifth inning by connecting on a 1-1 pitch for his fifth homer this season.
Those two swings became enough. The Blue Wahoos had just four hits. Mack had one of those with a first-inning single and Zach Zubia had the other.
That was enough offense for the Blue Wahoos bullpen to take over. Austin Roberts, the team’s saves leader, who was used Thursday as a middle reliever, worked the sixth and seventh in flawless fashion with four strikeouts to get his first hold of the season.
Raffi Vizcaíno earned his seventh save by working two scoreless innings. When he recorded his fourth strikeout to end the game, Vizcaíno leaped off the mound and showed joyous emotion after sealing a much needed win.
The Lookouts (19-47), who have the fewest wins in all levels of Minor League Baseball, have played solid baseball so far this week against the Blue Wahoos.
“The bullpen has been nails all year,” Johnson said. “They have been fantastic. If I can give us five to six innings… not just myself but the whole starting staff… if we can give them the lead after five to six innings of good quality baseball, it’s lights out.”
The series will continue on Friday with Cade Gibson making his first home start for the Blue Wahoos against Rhett Lowder, the Cincinnati Reds’ No. 1 prospect, who will entered with a 0-3 record Friday but is coming off a scoreless five innings in his last start.
GAME NOTABLES
— The rain delay began at 7:20 p.m. after the umpires called for the tarp to be put on the field. It was the first time in the Blue Wahoos’ 36 home games that weather has affected a game.
— The University of West Florida had a group outing on the Winn-Dixie party deck with 200-plus guests.
— The win pushed the team’s record to 5-2 wearing the Mullet uniforms and 27-1 when leading after seven innings.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Friday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Molino 12U All-Star Softball Wins Area Tournament
June 20, 2024
The Molino 12U softball team won the area all-star tournament recently in Semmes, Alabama. Up next, they will be playing in the state all-start tournament in Alexander City, Alabama. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall In Lopsided Loss To Chattanooga
June 20, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The fireworks and capacity crowd easily won the night for the Blue Wahoos.
As for the game, well, it quickly became a forgettable experience in the home dugout.
Chattanooga pounded its way to seven runs in the first three innings en route to a 9-1 victory Wednesday on a specially-crafted Juneteenth recognition night before 5,038 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game ended with the Blue Wahoos’ Harrison Spohn being robbed of extra bases on a sensational leaping catch by Lookouts left fielder Quincy McAfee.
A variety of pregame activities outside and inside the ballpark created a festive atmosphere, presented by Escambia County commissioner Lumon May, which included 1,000 fans being provided free tickets, courtesy of various entities.
It was capped by a massive fireworks show – double the number of fireworks shells – lighting up the sky above the bay and downtown Pensacola.
The City of Pensacola, Escambia County, the Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission and Community Relations Equal Employment Fair Housing all joined together for the ticket giveaway and unique event wrapped around the game.
The Blue Wahoos wore uniforms of the Pensacola Seagulls, members of the Negro Southern League, originally formed during segregated times.
It was the first time the Blue Wahoos hosted a Juneteenth celebration night event during a game.
Most of the crowd remained for the fireworks show that followed the game. The start of the display initiated the biggest cheers of the night.
There were few opportunities in the game.
The loss further hindered the Blue Wahoos’ (35-29) hopes of winning the first half South Division in the Southern League. They caught a break when the Birmingham Barons held on to beat the Montgomery Biscuits 4-3, keeping the Biscuits lead to 1.5 games with four games remaining in the first half schedule.
Blue Wahoos lefthander Adam Laskey, making only his second start, had his roughest outing of the season. He allowed seven runs on seven hits to absorb his first loss. He entered the game 3-0 with a 2.61 earned run average.
But on this night, the Lookouts were lights out with clutch hits. They scored their first eight runs with two outs.
The Lookouts (19-46), the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A affiliate, entered this week’s series with by far the worst record across all levels of Minor League Baseball. They were 2-8 in their previous 10 games. They now have won the first two games of this final week of the first half.
Just like Tuesday’s series-opening win, Chattanooga blasted big hits. A two-run double from Francisco Urbaez was the big one in the second inning. There were two out, none on when the Lookouts rallied with three hits and a walk.
In the third, Justice Thompson, who had not homered this season, launched a three-run bomb as part of a four-run inning.
The Blue Wahoos meanwhile were issued eight walks in six innings from Lookouts starter Kevin Abel. But they were unable to score a run until pushing across an eighth inning run on an error.
GAME NOTABLES
— The game’s pregame activities began with youth football players from the Southern Youth Sports Association Tigers and the East Pensacola Tigers playing a 15-minute scrimmage in shorts out in centerfield. The idea was to help promote the Soul Bowl in October – a series of age division games between the teams at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
— The Brownsville Silver Seniors performed several songs prior to ceremonial first pitches.
— Blue Wahoos team owner Quint Studer and Escambia County commissioner Lumon May addressed the stadium crowd before the National Anthem. May led efforts to give 1,000 free tickets to fans visiting an information booth. The tickets came with a food voucher at the stadium concessions, along with a Blue Wahoos hat.
— A moment of silence was held prior to the National Anthem and tribute was read for Willie Mays, one of the game’s greatest players and a Birmingham, Alabama native, who died Tuesday at age 93. The crowd produced a loud applause in tribute.
— The National Anthem was performed by Marilyn Franklin.
— Prior to the start of the fireworks show, Pensacola mayor D.C. Reeves and May addressed the crowd, along with a video tribute to Juneteenth and various officials and community leaders gathered at home plate before the fireworks.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Tri-County Junior League All-Star Team Wins Section Championship
June 19, 2024
The Tri-County Junior League All-Star team won the Florida Section 1 Championship Tuesday evening.
With the win, Tri-County advances to state beginning July 5 in Melbourne, Florida. The team is organizing fundraisers for the trip, and the Jay Recreation Association already accepting donations via Paypal.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Sunk By Pair Of Two-Run Homers In Series-Opening Loss To Lookouts
June 19, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
If there’s one element in which the Chattanooga Lookouts have excelled amid a dismal record, it’s hitting home runs.
They did again Tuesday night, putting a damaging dent into the Blue Wahoos’ hopes for another first half divisional win.
A pair of two-run homers in consecutive innings were decisive in Chattanooga’s 4-2 victory, beginning the final week of the first half schedule in a glum way for the Blue Wahoos.
A crowd of 4,034 on a Doggone Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium, which included the Pace High School state champion softball team, watched the Blue Wahoos (35-28) get few scoring chances against the Lookouts (18-47), who by far have the worst record in the Southern League.
The Blue Wahoos’ loss, coupled by the Montgomery Biscuits’ 6-5 win Tuesday against the Birmingham Barons, dropped the Blue Wahoos 1.5 games behind in the South Division race with just five games left. The Barons hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in their game.
This all followed, of course, the Blue Wahoos winning four of six games last week in Birmingham to get into contention for a third consecutive first half divisional win and automatic playoff berth.
Tuesday’s game started well for Pensacola. Joe Mack homered just inside the right field foul pole for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The lead was flipped by one swing in the fourth inning. Lookouts third base Nick Northcut, a Cincinnati native playing for the Reds’ Double-A affiliate, hit a two-run homer on a two-out pitch by Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer.
A repeat scenario happened in the sixth inning when Quincy McAfee had a two-run homer, ending Fitterer’s night. The Lookouts tagged him for seven hits in the game.
It gave the Lookouts a total of 51 homers – second-most in the league behind the Tennessee Smokies.
The Blue Wahoos missed chances with two runners on base in the fifth and sixth inning, then had Paul McIntosh thrown out on a double-steal attempt in the eighth. A wild pitch led to a run, but the Lookouts’ Braxton Roxby earned his first save with a clean ninth inning.
The series continues Wednesday.
The game will start at 6:05 p.m. and will be followed by the largest fireworks show of the season.
GAME NOTABLES
Pace High’s prep All-American third baseman Shelby McKenzie, who is heading to join Florida State’s softball team, threw out a first pitch, along with senior teammate Mallory Baker, who was the Patriots’ No. 2 pitcher and outfielder. Baker threw a baseball, then went underhand with the softball in a double first pitch to the Blue Wahoos’ Tanner Allen in pregame ceremonies.
The Patriots finished ranked No. 4 nationally by MaxPreps – the highest ranked softball team in Florida – following their 2-0 win against Bartow in the Class 6A state title game on May 23.
It was a special moment for the Patriots who went to the state final four in all four seasons for the seniors, led by pitching star Jayden Heavener, who was attending an orientation session at LSU, where she will play next season.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday, 6:05 p.m.
The Chosen 12U Wins Montgomery Tournament
June 18, 2024
The Chosen 12U softball team went undefeated to take first place in a weekend tournament in Montgomery. The victories included a nail-biting squeeze bunt in extra innings for the semi-final victory and a 3-2 thriller in the championship game. The Chosen 12U softball team is home-based in Century with players from Century and the surrounding area. The Chosen team was founded last year in support of one of the player’s mother battling breast cancer. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Coast Recreation Classic Is This Week At John R. Jones Ballpark
June 17, 2024
Escambia County Parks and Recreation is hosting the 2024 Gulf Coast Recreation Classic this week at the John R. Jones Ballpark on Nine Mile Road.
The first games are on Monday and will continue through Saturday.
Game times Monday through Friday are 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. Saturday games will begin at 9:30 a.m. Roger Scott Athletic Complex will host the 10U division games June 17-18 at 5:30 and 7:15 p.
There will 67 recreation-based all-star teams participating in the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Teams consist of youth baseball players ages 7-15. The tournament is open to the public at no charge. All spectators are welcome support the recreation all-stars.
Escambia County teams include players from Northwest Escambia Baseball, NEP Baseball, the Molino Recreation Association, and Perdido Baseball.
“We’re excited to host the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic for the third year in a row,” Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said. “I’m really proud of our staff for their hard work to make this event happen for our teams. I’d also like to thank our players and their families for their dedication to youth sports. This is a wonderful event for our community, and we look forward to welcoming everyone.”
Pictured: Northwest Escambia won the 10U 2023 championship the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic All-Star Tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Outlast Barons For Doubleheader Sweep, Series Win
June 17, 2024
written by Carter Bainbridge
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (35-27) swept a doubleheader from the Birmingham Barons (39-24) on Sunday and kept pace in the South Division with one week remaining in the Southern League’s first half.
In Game One, the Wahoos jumped out to a first-inning lead against Birmingham starter Noah Schultz (L, 0-1). Center fielder Jakob Marsee was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before a single from catcher Paul McIntosh placed two runners in scoring position. With two outs in the inning, right fielder Jacob Berry singled to left to score both runners and give the Wahoos a 2-0 lead.
Blue Wahoos lefthander Luis Palacios (W, 4-4) made the early pair of runs stand up with another sparkling performance. Palacios tossed his second quality start of the week against the Barons with a 6.0-inning, one-run outing. Birmingham did not log a hit until left fielder Terrell Tatum singled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Barons eventually scored their lone run of the game in the sixth, but Pensacola righthander Austin Roberts (S, 10) locked down the seventh inning to preserve a 2-1 Blue Wahoos win.
After a low-scoring victory, the Wahoos’ pitching showed out again in Game Two. Pensacola used five different pitchers to get through seven innings, including left-handed starter Cade Gibson, who tossed three shutout innings in his Double-A debut. On the other side, Birmingham starter Ky Bush proved overpowering across seven shutout innings. At the end of seven, Pensacola and Birmingham headed to extra innings tied 0-0.
In the eighth, Pensacola finally broke through for its first run of the game. Right fielder Jacob Berry began the inning at second as the ‘ghost runner’, but promptly stole third base with nobody out. Third baseman Sean Roby then drove home Berry with a sacrifice fly to right field off Birmingham righthander Eric Adler (L, 0-1).
The Blue Wahoos did not score again, but righthander Raffi Vizcaíno (S, 6) handled a turbulent bottom of the eighth. After a strikeout to begin the frame, Birmingham second baseman Jacob Gonzalez hit a deep drive to left-center field. Pensacola left fielder Tanner Allen ran down the ball to make an impressive catch, then watched as the Blue Wahoos infield doubled up Birmingham third baseman Cristopher De Guzman, who was ruled to have tagged from second base too early on the flyout. The unusual 7-6-4 double play closed out the series and a 1-0 Pensacola victory. Lefthander Patrick Murphy (W, 1-2) received the win after pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
With the win, the Wahoos secured their ninth win in 12 games versus Birmingham on the season and return to Pensacola just 0.5 games behind the first-place Montgomery Biscuits in the first half South Division race.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday, June 18 to face the Chattanooga Lookouts. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
NWE 8U All-Stars Win District Tournament
June 16, 2024
The Northwest Escambia 8U All-Stars won the District 7 tournament on Saturday for the second straight year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
