Wahoos Finish Season with Flourish, Crush Clingstones 12-1
September 15, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos missed out on the playoffs this year, but still managed to end their season Sunday with a pair of impressive feats.
In a lineup full of recently-added players, many of whom are likely to return in 2026, the Blue Wahoos produced an emphatic 12-1 victory against the Columbus Clingstones in the season-finale at Blue Wahoos Stadium, thus extending an impressive streak of nine years without a losing season.
They did it by winning the final three games, taking the series (4-2) against Columbus and ending with a winning second-half record of 35-34 and 69-69 overall.
The significance gets ramped up when considering Pensacola has attained this many consecutive, non-losing seasons, across three different affiliations – the past five years with the Miami Marlins.
Also, the Blue Wahoos went through 66 different players this season. Only four players on Sunday’s roster began the season with the ballclub in April.
“We’ve been talking to the guys about playing for something every day,” said Blue Wahoos manager Nelson Prada, who completed his first year as a Double-A level manager. “I told the guys (earlier in week) we have goals to reach…200 stolen bases, play for .500 (overall record), win this series.
“For me, the whole year was great, because we’ve kept the guys ready to play every day.”
The Blue Wahoos also reached an ambitious goal of 200 stolen bases this season when shortstop Payton Green took second in the first inning. That mark blew past the team’s previous stolen base record of 168, set in 2022.
Green’s steal followed a 3-run homer by second baseman Jay Beshears in the first inning.
What a day this became for Beshears, who joined the team on Sept. 1 from the Beloit Sky Carp, the Marlins’ High-A affiliate in Beloit, Wisc.
He had his best game with the Blue Wahoos, going 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBI. He just missed hitting for the cycle when his deep drive in the left-center gap to lead off the seventh inning was snared on a terrific catch by the Clingstones’ centerfielder Patrick Clohisy.
After getting eliminated from playoff contention more than a week ago, the Blue Wahoos played their final series like a team on a mission.
They won the first game Tuesday, dropped the next two in one-run decisions, then swept the three weekend games against Columbus by a combined 22-4 score.
The Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves’ new affiliate, finished 58-77 overall. The Braves moved from being the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Miss., their location for the previous 20 years.
The Blue Wahoos blew open Sunday’s game by scoring three more runs in the fourth inning, then producing six runs in the seventh and eighth.
In the fourth, catcher Sam Praytor singled and later scored on a wild pitch. Eric Rataczak finished the rally with a 2-run single.
In the seventh, Emaarion Boyd hit a 2-run homer, his first with the Blue Wahoos. Beshears followed in the eighth inning with a 2-run double and Green capped off the day with a 2-run homer.
Most of the among the crowd of 3,200 stayed until the final out was recorded. A large group of children ran the bases as part of the customary Family Sunday promotion. Families then tossed soft baseballs in left field as Marcus Pointe Baptist Church held an open-to-all baptism ceremony behind home plate.
The Blue Wahoos used five pitchers in the finale, led by starter Alex Williams who earned the win and finished 5-4 this season. Following the game, many of the players loaded their cars and began to travel to their hometowns.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos 2026 Season Opener.
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: April 3, 2026, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Trimble, Wahoos Run Wild in 4-3 Win
September 14, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Back in spring training, the Blue Wahoos made stolen bases a point of emphasis in 2025, along with the entire Miami Marlins organization.
On a record setting night for steals, they got a signature season win because of it.
Led by outfielder Fenwick Trimble, who tied Billy Hamilton’s 2012 team record with four steals in a game, the Blue Wahoos set a team record with seven thefts in a single game, which became pivotal in a 4-3 victory Saturday against the Columbus Clingstones before a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“You gotta get on, first, so that was cool to get on (base) a couple times and our coaches do a great job teaching us fundamentals, so you try to stick with that,” said Trimble who reached on a walk and single, scoring both times.
Three of the four runs were delivered from stolen bases, including a double-steal that forced a throwing error to score a run.
The Blue Wahoos have now stolen 199 bases this season, blowing past the previous team record of 168 set In 2022. An ambitious preseason goal of 200 steals can be attained in Sunday’s season-finale against Columbus.
This year-ender game also presents opportunity for the Blue Wahoos (68-79 overall, 34-34 second half) to produce a winning second-half mark and extend a streak of non-losing season records to nine consecutive years.
“Finish strong, have fun and play all the way to the end,” said Trimble on the team’s approach to wrapping up six months and 138 baseball games.
Saturday’s performance led into the final fireworks show of the season and kept the crowd at the ballpark roaring with approval after the show’s grand finale in the sky ended.
The night also featured the famed Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s world renowned Flight Demonstration Squadron, attending a game in their hometown community on a rare weekend off.
All of this led to a crowd-pleasing night as the Blue Wahoos wrap up their 13th season as a franchise.
The Clingstones starting pitcher was Ian Anderson, a star of the Atlanta Braves 2021 World Series run, when he won two games in postseason, including Game 3 of the World Series against Houston.
Anderson is now trying to make another run toward being part of the Braves again. He was solid on Saturday, going 5.2 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, one walk and five strikeouts. But he absorbed the loss after exiting in the sixth inning when the Blue Wahoos took a 2-1 lead.
Trimble got a two-out single off Anderson before he was replaced. Trimble then stole second. After Tony Bullard walked, the Blue Wahoos pulled off a double-steal that led to Trimble scoring on a throwing error by Columbus catcher Adam Zebrowski.
In the eighth inning, the Blue Wahoos extended the lead, scoring two runs on one hit. Gage Miller led off with a walk, then went to third on Emaarion Boyd’s single and scored on Cam Clayton’s sacrifice fly. Boyd had stolen second, advanced to third on that play and throw home, then Boyd scored on a two-out wild pitch.
Columbus loaded the bases and scored a pair of runs in the eighth against reliever Jack Sellinger, but Jesse Bergin followed and thwarted the tying run from scoring.
Bergin then retired the Clingstones in order in the ninth, striking out the final two batters.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos 2025 Final Game
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
WHEN Sunday, 1:05 p.m. (Special start time as final game).
Northview Beats Central 46-8 (With Gallery)
September 13, 2025
Northview brought home a big win from Santa Rosa County on Friday night as the Chiefs beat Central 46-8.
Northview was first on the board with a Nate Duffy touchdown and a good two-point conversion to make it 8-0. In the second quarter, Easten Odom added another TD for the Chiefs as they rolled on to spoil senior night for the Jaguars.
It was the first win for Doug Vickery as Northview’s head coach as they improved to 1-3; Central fell to 0-4.
Click here for more photos.
*Look for fan, cheerleaders, and other bonus photos by Monday.
Next week, Central will look for their first “W” as they host Rocky Bayou. Northview will welcome Holmes County to Bratt for homecoming.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Milton Slips Past Tate 3-0 (With Gallery)
September 13, 2025
The Tate Aggies and Milton Panthers were the only two unbeaten teams in the two-county area heading into Friday night’s showdown in Milton.
The night was a defensive battle, with the Panthers, under former Tate head coach Ronnie Douglas, pulling out a 3-0 win with a late field goal in the fourth quarter.
Click here for more photos.
*Look for cheerleaders, band and fan photos by Monday.
Milton (4-0) will travel to Navarre (0-3) next Friday night, while the Aggies (3-1) will host West Florida (3-1) for homecoming at Pete Gindl Stadium.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 13, 2025
Here are high school football scorers from across the North Escambia area.
Florida
- Milton 3, Tate 0 [Story, photos...]
- Northview 46, Central 8 [Story, photos...]
- Baker 29, Jay 20
- Choctaw 28, Pine Forest 0
- West Florida 35, Walton 5
- Bay 28, Escambia 14
- Pensacola Catholic 17, Montgomery Catholic 6
- Pensacola High 49, Destin 9
- Panama City Mosley 36, Navarre 16
- Washington 14, Fort Walton Beach 7 (Thursday)
- Pace (Bye)
- Gulf Breeze (Bye)
ALABAMA
- T.R. Miller 27, Flomaton 10
- Mobile Christian 29, Escambia County (Atmore) 18
- W.S. Neal 44, Orange Beach 15
- Escambia Academy 44, Southern Prep Academy 12 (Thursday)
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat Central 46-8 Friday night at Central. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Blank Clingstones
September 13, 2025
witten by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos on Friday attracted their most energized crowd of recent homestands. The ballclub produced a performance to match.
Excelling on the mound, at the plate and turning four double plays, the Blue Wahoos cruised to 6-0 victory against the Columbus Clingstones to even the series and delight a near capacity crowd of 5,037 at the bayfront stadium.
With a roster of mostly newcomers, it was a game which resembled wins in the first month of the season. This one evened the series at 2-2 and gave the Blue Wahoos (67-69) a chance to extend a streak of non-losing seasons to nine consecutive years.
On a night when the Blue Wahoos honored the legacy of military legend Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., a Pensacola native who grew up in the community and rose to become the first African-American four-star general in the U.S. Armed Forces, the game was a crisp 2 hours and 25 minutes.
Fans were provided a Chappie James bobblehead designed with his combat flight uniform with the U.S. Air Force. His grandchildren were part of a contingent of connections attending the game.
Like they’ve done so often in the past couple weeks, the Blue Wahoos scored the game’s first runs. With two out, Michael Snyder reached on a fielding error, Dub Gleed singled and Fenwick Trimble drove both runners home with a double.
In the fourth inning, Payton Green singled, then Gage Miller blasted a line drive over the left field wall for a 4-0 lead.
Meanwhile, on the mound, starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr delivered his fourth-consecutive strong outing. He worked four innings, allowed three hits, two walks and struck out four batters. Luis Palacios followed with three hitless innings and four strikeouts to earn his fourth win.
Newcomer reliever Chase Centala pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit.
The Blue Wahoos added more cushion in the seventh inning on run-scoring singles by Snyder and Trimble.
On Saturday, former Atlanta Braves starter Ian Anderson is scheduled to start for Columbus against the Blue Wahoos’ Jacob Miller on the final fireworks night of the season.
GAME NOTABLES
— The first 1,000 people through the gates Friday received the Chappie James Bobblehead. Three members of the James’ extended family, grandson Frank Berry, great-granddaughter Avalon James, along with a great-nephew, threw out ceremonial first pitches. A video on the Chappie James Flight Academy was shown on the stadium videoboard.
— There were a total of 13 ceremonial first pitches on Friday night.
— In a fitting, decorative touch, Blue Wahoos head groundskeeper Willie Lawrence painted four stars with a blue background behind home plate to symbolize the night honoring Chappie James.
— Only five players on Friday night’s roster, pitchers Evan Fitterer, Jacob Millier, Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and Luis Palacios, along with catcher Sam Praytor, remain from the opening-night roster on April 4. So far, 66 different players have worn Blue Wahoos uniforms this season. The club record is 67, set in 2019 – the only season as a Minnesota Twins affiliate – but that year included five players on injury rehab assignments from the Twins.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Final Weekend Of 2025
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. Game times are at 6:05 p.m on Saturday; a special 1:05 p.m. start for Sunday’s final game of the season.
Freshman And JV Triumph As Tate Volleyball Takes On Pace
September 12, 2025
The Tate Aggies volleyball program had a fantastic night against the Pace Patriots, with the freshmen and JV squads securing impressive victories, while the varsity team fought an epic five-set battle.
Pace 3, Tate 2
The Tate Aggies dropped five-set volleyball thriller 3-2 Thursday night at Pace.
The Patriots got off to a quick start, taking the first set with a score of 25-20.
However, the Aggies responded battling back to win the second set, 25-21. After dropping the third set 25-21, Tate responded with a dominant fourth set victory of 25-19 to force a decisive fifth set. Pace took the final set 15-10.
Tate 2, Pace 0 (JV)
The Tate Aggies junior varsity volleyball team made a statement with a decisive two-set victory against the Pace Patriots.
The Aggies came out strong in the first set, showcasing their skill and teamwork to win with a score of 25-19.
Maintaining their momentum and control of the match, Tate dominated the second set. The JV team closed out the match with a convincing 25-8 victory.
Tate 2, Pace 1 (Freshmen)
The Tate Aggies freshman volleyball team secured a hard-fought 3-0 victory against the Pace Patriots in a three-set match.
The first set was a nail-biter, with both teams trading points. Pace ultimately edged out the Aggies, winning a close one with a score of 27-25.
The Aggies came back strong in the second set, dominating with a score of 25-21 to even the match.
In the third and final set saw Tate won decisively with a score of 15-7, securing the match victory.
Wahoos Miss Chances In Extra-Inning Loss (With Gallery)
September 12, 2025
Wahoos Let Late Lead Steal Away In Loss To Clingstones
September 11, 2025
Columbus stole seven bases Wednesday night against the Blue Wahoos. The last two proved decisive.
The Clingstones rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the sixth inning, scoring two ninth-inning runs set up by stolen bases, for a 6-5 victory against Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The loss spoiled a strong start by Blue Wahoos righthander Jake Brooks, part of a revamped pitching staff of prospects elevated the past six weeks from the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate.
Brooks completed six innings, allowing four hits and two runs, struck out six batters and did not allow a walk. He left with a 5-2 lead. It’s been the kind of advantage the Blue Wahoos this season have normally turned into wins.
That changed when Columbus got its third run on an errant throw to second base by Blue Wahoos catcher Connor Caskenette on a steal attempt. The Clingstones’ Ambioris Tavarez then followed with an RBI double to cut the lead to 5-4.
In the ninth, Tavarez reached on a single, stole second and scored on John Gil’s RBI single. Gill then stole second and scored the go-ahead run on Ethan Workinger’s two-out RBI single off Blue Wahoos reliever Xavier Meachem, who had joined the team a day earlier from Beloit.
The Blue Wahoos were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth. They had staked a lead in the second inning when Emaarion Boyd singled and Caskenette doubled him home. Another newcomer, shortstop Cam Clayton, followed with an RBI single.
Clayton’s sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Payton Green for a 3-1 lead. In the fifth, Fenwick Trimble smashed a line drive, 2-run homer over the left field wall for the 5-1 lead.
The Blue Wahoos fell to 66-68 overall. and will need to win the remaining four games to extend their streak of eight straight winning seasons. Columbus improved to 57-74 overall.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Final Series Of 2025 Season
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Thursday Through Sunday. Gametimes are at 6:05 p.m. through Saturday; a special
Tate Volleyball Sweeps Choctaw in Road Victories
September 10, 2025
In a clean sweep Tuesday night for Tate volleyball, all three Aggies teams came away with victories on the road against Choctaw.
Tate 3, Choctaw 1
The Tate High Aggies varsity volleyball team mounted a spirited comeback to defeat Choctaw in four sets on Tuesday night.
After dropping the second set, the Aggies responded with tenacity, taking the third and fourth sets to seal the victory. The final scores were 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, and 25-23.
Up next, the Tate Aggies will travel to Pace on Thursday night.
Tate 2, Choctaw 1 (JV)
The Tate High Aggies JV volleyball team showcased their determination in a three-set victory over Choctaw on Tuesday night.
After a strong start, the Aggies took the first set with a score of 25-21. Choctaw fought back fiercely in the second set, evening the match with a 25-18 win. In the deciding third set, Tate’s players rallied and dominated the court, securing a decisive 15-12 victory to clinch the match.
Tate 2, Choctaw 1 (Freshmen)
The Tate High Aggies freshmen volleyball team overcame an early deficit to defeat Choctaw in a hard-fought, three-set match on Tuesday night.
After dropping the first set in a nail-biter, 25-23, the Aggies rallied with strong play in the second, winning 25-21. The momentum carried into the final and decisive set, ultimately taking the set 18-16 to win the match.