Pace Walks Off With With District Title 4-2 Over Tate
April 17, 2026
With a dramatic three-run homer, Pace walked off with the 6A District 1 championship 4-2 over Tate on Thursday night at Pace. It’s the sixth consecutive district title for the Patriots.
The Aggies outhit Pace six to five and held a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Pace’s Cheshire hit a home run to left field to score three runs.
Nathan Connors went 3-4 with one RBI to lead the Aggies at bat, while Kaden Posta was 1-3 with one RBI.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Lance Brady pitched six and two-thirds innings for Tate, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out one and walking none.
The Aggies are 20-7 overall, 2-2 in the district, and will have a likely slot in the regional quarterfinals. Pace is 23-4, 4-1 as they move into regionals with a guaranteed home field advantage.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Dominates Baker To Advance To District Final Against Jay
April 17, 2026
The Northview Chiefs dominated the Baker Gators 14-2 on Thursday afternoon in the Rural District 1 semifinals. Grayson Burns earned the win for the Northview Chiefs, surrendering three hits and two runs (zero earned) over five innings, striking out four and walking none.
Grayden Sheffield led the Chiefs at the plate, going 3-for-3. Cole Davis and Burns each had three RBIs for Northview.
No. 1 Northview will take on No. 2 Jay in the district final on Friday at 7 p.m. at Central High School. Jay held off Central 7-5 Thursday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Varsity And JV Defeat Jay (With Gallery)
April 17, 2026
Northview 7, Jay 2
Mikayla McAnally earned the win for Northview in seven innings, giving up three hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven and walking none. Samford took the loss for Jay in seven, surrendering six hits and seven runs (five earned), walking six and striking out two.
McAnally led at the plate, going 2-4. Burkette and Stuckey each had two RBIs.
Up next, Northview will host Niceville on Monday.
For JV action photos, click here.
Northview 15, Jay 6 (JV)
The Northview junior varsity defeated the Jay Royals 15-6 on Thursday afternoon in Jay.
Katie Jones went 3-3 for Northview at bat to lead the Chiefs. Brooklynn Allen, Natalia Morales, Kiley Webb, and Brooklynn Bowen each added one hit for Northview.
Allen was in the circle for two innings for Northview, giving up two hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out five and walking two. Sophia Ikner went for one inning, surrendering one hit and three runs (one earned), walking one and striking out three.
For Jay, Henie Macht took the loss in seven, allowing seven hits and 15 runs, striking out one and walking five.
Raegan Land, Macht, and Caroline McLellan each had one hit for the JV Royals.
Photos by Mary Land for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wildness Costs Wahoos in 10-9 Loss to Smokies
April 17, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw a big early lead slip away late on Thursday night, falling 10-9 to the Knoxville Smokies.
Protecting an 8-2 advantage, the Blue Wahoos surrendered six runs in the eighth inning on six walks, a catcher’s interference call, a sacrifice fly, and an infield single. After retaking the lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Pensacola bullpen again surrendered two runs with two outs in the ninth for a heartbreaking defeat.
Playing for the first time this season as the Pensacola Mullets, the Blue Wahoos got their longest start of the campaign from Orlando Ortiz-Mayr. The veteran righty became the first Pensacola pitcher to complete 5.0 innings in 2026, scattering four hits and striking out four.
Knoxville struck first in the second inning, as Edgar Alvarez launched a solo homer before Carter Trice and Andy Garriola hit back-to-back doubles.
The Blue Wahoos answered back in the bottom half of the inning, as Dylan Jasso lined an RBI single to center field off starter Nick Dean (L, 1-1) and Garret Forrester launched a two-run homer, his first at the Double-A level, to take a 3-2 lead.
The Blue Wahoos added on against reliever Erian Rodriguez in the fifth, racking up five runs thanks to three hits, two walks, and a throwing error. Fenwick Trimble hit an RBI single, Brendan Jones laced a two-run triple, and Cristian Hernández drove in a pair when his chopper back to Rodriguez was thrown away down the right field line.
Staked to an 8-2 lead, Blue Wahoos reliever Kade Bragg contributed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief before the wheels fell off in the eighth. Colby Martin struggled to find the strike zone in his season debut, issuing three walks and allowing a batter to reach on catcher’s interference before departing. Samuel Vásquez fared little better, walking two more batters before departing with an apparent injury. Justin King entered with the bases loaded and no outs protecting an 8-5 lead, surrendering a sacrifice fly, infield single and RBI groundout before escaping the nightmare inning with an 8-8 tie game.
The six walks issued in the inning marked a franchise record for the Blue Wahoos dating back to 2012.
Trimble and Jones hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the eighth against Tyler Ras (W, 1-0) to put Pensacola in front again 9-8. Nigel Belgrave (L, 0-2) came on for the save, but issued a pair of singles before Alex Ramirez laced a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to center field on the ninth pitch of his at-bat to put Knoxville ahead 10-9.
Michael Snyder drew a leadoff walk against Vince Reilly (S, 1), but pinch-runner Emaarion Boyd was caught stealing second and Forrester struck out swinging to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Friday.
written by Erik Bremer
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola ‘Sky Jockeys’ Stay Grounded In Loss To Smokies
April 16, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell behind early and couldn’t keep up on Wednesday night, falling 8-0 to the Knoxville Smokies.
Playing their first game as the Pensacola Sky Jockeys, their aviation-themed alternate identity, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t get off the ground. They managed just three hits, and left 10 men on base despite putting at least one on in every inning.
Pensacola starter Alex Williams (L, 0-2) breezed through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second. Ethan Hearn opened the scoring with a two-run double, and two more came in on an Alex Ramirez infield single compounded by a throwing error from shortstop Cristian Hernández.
After Williams departed, the Smokies capitalized on command issues from the Pensacola bullpen. Edgar Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk facing Livan Reinoso in the fifth inning, extending the Knoxville lead to 5-0. Jake Smith issued a walk and three hit batsmen in the seventh, stretching the margin to 7-0.
Miguel Useche, a little-used catcher in the Cubs organization, had an opportunity to pinch-hit in the ninth inning and launched a solo homer, the first of his professional career, to bring the score to its 8-0 final.
Jace Beck (W, 2-0) earned the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for the Smokies, entering in the fourth when starting pitcher Yenrri Rojas departed with an apparent injury.
Dillon Lewis was a bright spot for the Blue Wahoos, reaching three times with a single, a pair of walks and two stolen bases.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer
Tate Aggies Shut Down Crestview In Semis, Head To District Championship
April 15, 2026
The Tate Aggies are headed to the 6A District 1 championship game on Thursday after a decisive 12-1 semifinal win over No. 3 Crestview on Tuesday afternoon.
Griffin Cook went 3-4 with three RBIs for the Aggies, including a sixth-inning home run to left field. Evan Taylor and Connor Dethlefs had two hits each.
Bryton McLellan earned the win for the Aggies in six innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run, striking out seven and walking none.
On Tuesday, Pace got past No. 4 Navarre 6-3.
No. 1 Pace (22-4, 4-1) will host No. 2 Tate (20-6, 2-2) at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The teams split their two regular season meetings.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wallop Smokies With Three Homers In 5-1 Win
April 15, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned their first home win of the season on Tuesday night, beating the Knoxville Smokies 5-1 on the strength of a season-high three home runs.
Dillon Lewis opened up the scoring in the first inning, following a pair of walks with a three-run homer to center field off Knoxville starter Tyler Schlaffer (L, 0-1). Payton Green added on in the second inning, hitting a solo homer.
Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller turned in a solid performance, allowing only one run on three hits over 4.0 innings. A Jordan Nwogu RBI single in the third inning got Knoxville on the board, but Miller struck out Haydn McGeary to strand two in scoring position and end the threat.
Dylan Jasso tacked on a run for the Blue Wahoos in the fourth inning with a solo homer, his first in the Marlins organization after being acquired via trade from the Yankees in January.
Green, a triple shy of the cycle entering his eighth-inning at-bat, sent a liner into the left field corner but had to settle for a stand-up double and a 4-for-4 night as Nwogu quickly played the carom off the wall.
Stephen Jones, Brandon White, Nigel Belgrave and Justin King combined for 5.0 scoreless innings of relief to lock down the 5-1 win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Wednesday.
written by Erik Bremer
District Baseball Playoffs Begin Tonight
April 14, 2026
High school baseball district tournaments are underway this week, with both Northview and Tate in action.
6A District 1
Location: Pace High School
In the semifinals on Tuesday, No. 2 Tate will play No. 3 Crestview at 4 p.m., and No. 1 Pace will take on No 4 Navarre at 7 p.m**.**
The district championship game will be played on Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m.
Rural District 1
Location: Central School
No. 1 Northview has a bye on Tuesday, as does No. 2 Jay.
In Tuesday’s quarterfinals, No. 4 Baker will play No. 5 Paxton, and No. 3 Central will play No. 6 Laurel Hill.
On Thursday, Northview will face either Baker or Paxton, and Jay will face either Central or Laurel Hill in the semifinals. Thursday’s game times are to be determined after Tuesday’s play.
Pictured: In early March, the Tate Aggies walked off with a home run over Crestview. The two teams meet again Tuesday night in the district semifinals at Pace. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flag Football: Gulf Breeze Defeats Northview Chiefs (With Gallery)
April 14, 2026
The Gulf Breeze Dolphins defeated the Northview Chiefs 19-0 on Monday evening in Bratt.
Northview, now 4-5, will travel to Pensacola on Tuesday for the final game of the season against the Escambia Gators.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Piece Together 4-2 Biloxi Win, Start Six-Game Home Series Tuesday
April 14, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were off on Monday ahead of a six-game series against the Knoxville Smokies, Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, that beings on Tuesday.
The Wahoos salvaged the finale of their weeklong road series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday afternoon, using six different pitchers in a 4-2 victory.
After starting pitcher Will Schomberg departed in the third with an apparent injury, Kade Bragg (W, 1-0) entered in relief and twirled 3.0 hitless innings. Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, Logan Whitaker, Luis Palacios and Samuel Vásquez (S, 2) finished off an impressive effort for the Pensacola pitching staff.
The Blue Wahoos scored their first first-inning run of the season, turning a leadoff single from Ian Lewis Jr. into a 1-0 lead with a Dillon Lewis RBI single. That lead would be short-lived, as Schomberg hit two batters and walked one before a Mike Boeve RBI fielder’s choice tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning.
Shuckers starter Jaron DeBerry (L, 1-1) surrendered a leadoff walk to Emaarion Boyd in the fifth inning, and committed a balk allowing the speedy center fielder to reach second base. A single from Lewis Jr. advanced Boyd to third before a Cristian Hernández double play grounder brought him home for a 2-1 Pensacola advantage.
In the sixth, Gage Miller floated a two-out, two-run single to center field to give the Blue Wahoos a 4-1 lead.
The Shuckers chipped away in the seventh, as Jesús Made singled home Kay-Lan Nicasia to bring the score to 4-2, but made three baserunning blunders to run themselves out of a bigger inning. Dasan Brown was caught stealing third base for the first out, Dylan O’Rae was picked off and caught stealing third base for the second out, and Made was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a throwing error from Hernández at shortstop.
After escaping trouble in the seventh, Palacios returned for a 1-2-3 eighth and Vásquez worked around a one-out single to work a scoreless ninth for a 4-2 final.