McIntosh’s Late Homer Lifts Blue Wahoos To Fourth Straight Win
August 25, 2023
Paul McIntosh broke a tie with a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning, giving the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a 4-3 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday night.
The catcher’s opposite field home run, his first since returning from Triple-A Jacksonville last week, gave the Blue Wahoos their fourth win in a row and secured at least a split in their road series in Biloxi.
The Blue Wahoos got another quality start from ace Patrick Monteverde, who allowed three runs over 6.0 innings, but it was Luarbert Arias (W, 2-1) and Jefry Yan (S, 13) who came up biggest out of the Pensacola bullpen to protect the one-run lead in the final innings.
Biloxi took a quick 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Wes Clarke homer, but the Blue Wahoos claimed a 3-1 lead of their own in the fifth inning with a two-out rally. McIntosh drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, and Norel González delivered a two-run single to give the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the night.
The Shuckers chipped away, scoring an Ethan Murray triple in the fifth on a Lamar Sparks fielder’s choice, before tying the game on a solo homer from Jackson Chourio in the sixth.
McIntosh led off the eighth with his go-ahead homer off Max Lazar (L, 0-2), and Arias stranded a runner at second in the bottom of the inning to preserve the lead. Yan walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, but coaxed a double play before striking out Murray to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Blue Wahoos Bash Biloxi In 11-2 Win
August 24, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos racked up 11 runs on 16 hits for their third straight win on Wednesday, beating the Biloxi Shuckers by a score of 11-2.
M.D. Johnson (W, 2-6) turned in a quality start, allowing only two runs on three hits over 6.0 innings, for his second win of the season.
The Blue Wahoos took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Cody Morissette hit a solo homer off the left field foul pole against Shuckers starter Tobias Myers (L, 7-5). Jackson Chourio briefly took the lead back for Biloxi with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, but Jacob Berry evened the score with a solo homer of his own in the fourth.
The game pivoted on a seven-hit, six-run fifth that saw seven consecutive Pensacola batters reach base. Berry broke the 2-2 tie with an RBI double, and Will Banfield, Victor Mesa Jr., Paul McIntosh and Morissette each added RBI singles to put Pensacola ahead 8-2.
The Blue Wahoos added three more in the seventh on a two-run single from Norel González and an RBI groundout from Nasim Nuñez.
Outfielder Kyler Castillo, added to the Blue Wahoos roster earlier in the day, beat out an infield single in the ninth in his first Double-A at-bat. Relievers Matt Pushard and Brady Puckett came out of the bullpen to record the final nine outs of the game for Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Thursday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Palacios Leads Pensacola To Series-Opening Win In Biloxi
August 23, 2023
Luis Palacios turned in another solid start as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos opened their six-game road series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a 10-3 win on Tuesday night.
Palacios (W, 8-3) became just the third Southern League pitcher to reach eight wins this season as the lefty turned in 6.0 innings with only an unearned run allowed.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead early on Carlos Rodriguez (L, 7-5), as Paul McIntosh laced an RBI single in the first and Victor Mesa Jr. followed with a solo homer in the third for a 2-0 lead.
Mesa added a two-out RBI single in the fifth, and scored on a wild pitch to take a 4-0 lead as Biloxi’s defense slipped in the middle innings. The Blue Wahoos scored three more in the sixth on two walks, an error and a Jacob Berry RBI double.
Bennett Hostetler hit a solo homer in the seventh and added an RBI double in the ninth for added insurance.
After Palacios departed, Pensacola relievers Chandler Jozwiak, Zach McCambley and Caleb Wurster combined to record the final nine outs.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Tate Aggies Debut New Video Scoreboard
August 22, 2023
Last Thursday night’s kickoff classic at Tate High School was the debut of the 2023 Aggies and their brand new video scoreboard.
The video screen with a scoreboard underneath was installed over the summer, thanks to private donations.
Tate head coach Rhett Summerford said community support has been big behind the Aggies football program.
“This is why I do this, and it’s really special,” he said.
The board is used for live play-by-play video, player spotlights and interviews, hype videos and advertisements. At the top of the board is a sign that proclaims “Madison Field”.
The field inside Pete Gindl Stadium is “Carl Madison Field” named in honor of the man that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
Carl Madison, who turned 92 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record and is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kickoff Classic Bonus Photos: Northview, Ernest Ward Cheerleaders
August 21, 2023
The Northview Chiefs and the Ernest Ward Middle Eagles took on Baker Friday night in a kickoff classic.
For a bonus photo gallery with the cheerleaders from NHS and EWMS, click here.
For a game action story and photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Berry, Blue Wahoos Hold On To Beat Biscuits In Finale
August 21, 2023
Luarbert Arias brought his hands together, signaled skyward from the mound and showed gratitude.
The crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium breathed the same sigh of relief.
Arias got the final two outs from a tenuous situation as the Blue Wahoos held on for an 8-7 victory Sunday against the Montgomery Biscuits to end the homestand and weekend with a good vibe.
What seemed a formality, having an 8-4 lead and top closer Jefry Yan pitching in the ninth, turned uneasy after Yan loaded the bases, then gave up a three-run double with one out that suddenly put the trying run a base hit away.
Arias entered, made big pitches, and recorded his first save.
That made for a happy finish on Family Sunday, where children followed by running the bases and playing catch in the outfield in a sponsorship from WKRG News5.
It was the Blue Wahoos’ second win in three games after dropping the first three games of the series against Montgomery, matching a team-record nine-game losing streak.
Sunday brought some good signs.
The Blue Wahoos racked up 14 hits, including a 3-for-4 day from centerfielder Victor Mesa Jr., who had recently been struggling at the plate.
The biggest production again belonged to Jacob Berry. The Miami Marlins’ top pick in 2022 has enjoyed hitting in Blue Wahoos Stadium. Further evidence was shown Sunday by his 3-for-4 day with three RBI. The former LSU star drove in the Blue Wahoos’ first run with a first-inning single, then followed with a two-run single for a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
The Biscuits twice tied the game in the fourth and fifth innings.
Berry was then part of a pivotal seventh inning rally where the Blue Wahoos got creative and got some help.
With the game tied 4-4, Dalvy Rosario led off win a single. Nasim Nuñez then popped a bunt over the head of Biscuits charging third baseman Junior Caminero, the team’s top player. Berry followed with a perfect bunt single to load the bases.
The Blue Wahoos then benefitted from a pair of run-scoring wild pitches uncorked by reliever Nelson Alvarez. Paul McIntosh then provided a 7-4 lead with an RBI single.
In the eighth inning, Cody Morissette led off with a home run blast into the right field berm. That bomb became the game-winning hit. Morrisette was among five Blue Wahoos players with multiple hits. Nuñez and Rosario were the other two.
Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermúdez worked five innings and yielded four runs. Josan Méndez and Matt Pushard followed with three scoreless innings that became pivotal. Pushard was one of three Blue Wahoos players who participated Saturday in a community service project with Feeding the Gulf Coast, helping pack food box and the non-profit organization’s location in Milton.
There are now 24 games left in the regular season, including two more six-game homestands. They will get a respite Monday before a short road trip to Biloxi, Mississippi for a six-game series against the Shuckers on Tuesday. The Shuckers hold a two-game lead on Montgomery in the second half Southern League South Division race.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate And Washington To Play In Wahoos Stadium’s First Ever Regular Season Prep Football Game
August 20, 2023
The Tate Aggies and Washington Wildcats have inked a deal to face off in the first-ever regular season high school football game to be played at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The inaugural First City Bowl prep football game will be played Friday night November 3.
During the second inning of Saturday’s Wahoo game, Tate head coach Rhett Summerford and Washington head coach Ryan Onkka participated in a short signing ceremony on the field.
“What a great environment it’s going to be,” Summerford said about playing on the waterfront in Wahoos Stadium.
The Wahoos plan to make the First City Bowl and annual event.
Photos by Maryjane Gardner for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berry Homers, But Wahoos Fall 4-3 Saturday
August 20, 2023
After taking an early-inning lead, the Montgomery Biscuits held on behind lefty reliever Antonio Jimenez and his dominating performance for a 4-3 victory to clinch the series against Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos had nine hits and baserunners in seven innings, including two on in the ninth, but were unable to get a big hit. In the ninth, Norel González hit a one-out double and Cobie Fletcher-Vance reached on a two-out walk.
Newcomer Tanner Allen, a Mobile native, worked a 3-2 count, but couldn’t connect on another slider from Jimenez for a game-ending strikeout. The sliders Jimenez threw in four innings of work were often swing-and-misses. He struck out five of the 14 batters he faced.
Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer overcame a tough start. He gave up four runs, but only one was earned. The fielding mistakes continued Saturday and they were decisive.
A fielding error by Dalvy Rosario, playing third base Saturday, resulted in one run, then Mason Auer followed with a 2-run homer.
The Blue Wahoos got a run back on Jacob Berry’s solo blast in the first. They loaded the bases with none out in the third – a pivotal moment – when Berry grounded into a double play, scoring a second run. Rosario’s RBI single in the fifth inning trimmed the deficit to one run, but that was it for scoring.
The final game of the homestand is set on Sunday.
The Blue Wahoos will have Jonathan Bermúdez (3-4, 5.02 ERA) making his second start this week against the Biscuits’ Patrick Wicklander (3-2, 4.58).
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
The Battle Begins Now: Northview Tops Baker In Kickoff Classic (With Photo Gallery)
August 19, 2023
“The battle begins now.”
That was Northview head coach Wes Summerford’s message in the huddle following a kickoff classic against Baker on a hot, hot Friday evening in Bratt.
In a one-quarter scrimmage, Northview’s varsity beat Baker 7-0.
For a photo gallery from the Northview varsity, junior varsity and Ernest Ward Middle scrimmages, click or tap here. Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, fans and more on Sunday or Monday.
“It’s real now, and it’s here,” Summerford said of the season. “I can’t wait to see what these guys can do. I know they’re excited. Fall camp was tough; it was hot. These guys accepted the challenge they got after. I can honestly say we got after it for two weeks…got after each other really hard. And now I know they’re excited to put their eyes on a different team and start the schedule.”
“Our defense played really well. I think our offense played really well late, and that’s what I told the kids. I just didn’t think that we came out of the locker room with the firepower that we needed. That’s something that we’ll talk about this week, how to get a quick start. I think that’s pivotal to Northview football playing our style football.”
The Northview junior varsity took to the field for one scoreless quarter against Baker. It was all defense; the offense never had an opportunity to make a play.
“I thought they did a terrific job,” Summerford said about the JV defense. “It was good to see our young guys do that…to see our young guys represent our program well.”
In the first half, the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles fell 12-0 to Baker’s middle school team.
Northview opens the regular season next Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Flomaton Hurricanes.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kickoff Classic Bonus Photos: Tate Cheerleaders, Fans, Students And More
August 19, 2023
The Tate Aggies took on Washington Thursday night in a kickoff classic.
For a gallery with cheerleaders, fans, student life and more click or tap here.
For a game action story and photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
