Northview Downs W.S. Neal 12-8 (With Gallery)
April 27, 2023
The Northview Chiefs beat the W.S. Neal Eagles 12-8 Wednesday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs took a commanding lead with a seven-run second inning.
Aubrey Stuckey went for four innings, striking out four while giving up six runs and seven hits. Emma Gilmore was in the circle for three, giving up two runs and four hits while striking out four.
Gilmore went 3-4 to lead Northview at the plate. Kendall Alvarée went 2-3 and Stuckey was 2-4. Jamison Gilman, Mary-Clayton Dawson, Allison Flowers and Makayla Golson added one hit each.
Northview will travel to Crestview Friday to end their regular season before the district tournament begins next week.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Johnston Has Two Homers, Six Runs As Wahoos Beat The Biscuits
April 27, 2023
Troy Johnston tied a Blue Wahoos franchise record with two homers and six runs batted in as Pensacola defeated the Montgomery Biscuits 9-2 on Wednesday afternoon.
In front of a lively Education Day crowd at Riverwalk Stadium, Johnston teed off for his first two homers of the year – a two-run blast in the third and a three-run shot in the fourth – to accomplish just the third six-RBI game in franchise history, and first since Brandon Dixon achieved the feat in 2016.
Eury Pérez (W, 2-1) took the run support and ran with it, cruising through 6.0 innings of two-hit, one-run ball. The 20-year-old top prospect fanned five, securing the third quality start of his professional career.
Cody Morissette went deep on the heels of Johnston’s third-inning homer, giving the infielder his first Double-A hit and homer in his second game with the Blue Wahoos. That marked the end of the day for Biscuits starter Anthony Molina (L, 0-2), who allowed six runs while recording only six outs.
Joe Rizzo was 3-for-5 with a two-run double to open the scoring in the first before Johnston and Morissette contributed the remainder of the run-scoring hits.
Austin Roberts and Sean Reynolds completed the game for the Pensacola bullpen.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Thursday evening in Montgomery.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, photo courtesy
Tate Gets Senior Night Shutout Of Escambia
April 26, 2023
The Tate High Aggies celebrated senior night Tuesday with an 8-0 shutout of Escambia.
Before the game, the Aggies honored seniors Cade Kelly, Ethan McAnally, Frank Randall, Jay Davis, Drew Reaves, Javin Floyd, Rilee Lowery, Michael Sardar, Aidan Byrd, Cam Patrick, Brayden Nobile, Tristin Lynn, and Jamil Sardar.
Complete game statistics were not available at publication time.
NorthEscambia.com game action photos by Brystal Rhodes, click to enlarge.
Walks Haunt Wahoos In 6-4 Loss At Montgomery
April 26, 2023
Dax Fulton and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone on Tuesday night, issuing a combined nine walks in a 6-4 defeat to the Montgomery Biscuits.
Fulton (L, 0-4) surrendered a career-high six walks, plus a two-run double to Evan Edwards and a two-run homer to Diego Infante, as the Biscuits built an early lead. The Blue Wahoos put up a fight, collecting RBI singles from Dane Myers and Will Banfield in the middle innings, but left the bases loaded in the sixth and two runners on in the eighth.
Biscuits starter Mason Montgomery was chased from the game in the fifth inning after a Griffin Conine double, but a bullpen effort from Michael Mercado, Enmanuel Mejia and Graeme Stinson (W, 1-0) kept the Blue Wahoos at bay.
Cristian Charle, Zack Leban and Jefry Yan combined to deliver 4.0 scoreless innings of relief for Pensacola in the defeat.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Wednesday morning at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Jefferson Homers, Pitches Complete Game As Northview Destroys Milton 17-3
April 25, 2023
With an 11-run fifth inning, the Northview Chiefs beat Milton 17-3 Monday night in Milton.
Jamarkus Jefferson pitched a complete run-ruled five inning game, allowing two hits and three runs while striking out four.
Jefferson had a homer in the fifth for the Chiefs and went 2-4. Josh Landis was also 2-4 on the night. Kaden Odom, Rustin Pope, Tyler Shaw, Ethan Collier, Trent Knighton and Cason Burkett had one hit each.
Northview will host Niceville Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in their final regular season game of the year.
Photos by Brystal Rhodes for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Late Wahoos Rally Falls Short In 3-2 Loss To Birmingham
April 23, 2023
he Blue Wahoos had set a ninth-inning stage Saturday to create their first walk-off win.
But they were unable to complete it.
Birmingham reliever Caleb Freeman threw a trio of wicked curve balls to strike out José Devers with the bases-loaded, preserving the Barons 3-2 victory before an overflow, sellout crowd on a fireworks night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Nearly all of the fans remained in the ninth when the Blue Wahoos got a one-out single by Dane Myers, then had Norel González reach on a walk. After J.D. Orr struck out, catcher José Estrada in his Blue Wahoos debut walked to load the bases and keep the crowd energized.
Devers, however, was unable to make contact with any of Freeman’s breaking pitches.
This night became the Blue Wahoos’ third consecutive capacity crowd on a perfectly clear night at the bayfront ballpark.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher M.D. Johnson had one blemish Saturday on his otherwise solid start. He did not allow a hit in the first four innings.
But the Barons (5-9) punched through against Johnson in the top of the fifth, after it looked like he might pitch out of a jam.
He gave up a lead-off single, then a walk, then a bunt single to load the bases. Duke Ellis hit a flyout to left, but not deep enough to score a run. Taylor Snyder hit a ground out that Blue Wahoos third baseman Myers turned into a force out at the plate.
Moises Castillo followed and delivered a bases-clearing double into the outfield gap for the 3-2 lead, which held up for the finish. From this point, both teams’ bullpens took over and did not allow another run.
The game began well for the Blue Wahoos (6-8).
Johnson issued four walks in the first four innings, but picked off one runner in the third inning, then Estrada threw out another runner on a steal attempt in the fourth inning.
Estrada produced the Blue Wahoos’ first run when hitting a one-out double in the third inning. He then scored on a two-out single by second baseman Nasim Nuñez.
In the fourth inning, Troy Johnston led off with a triple. Victor Mesa Jr. followed with an RBI single. Dane Myers then singled. But with none out, the Blue Wahoos missed the opportunity for a big inning and it proved costly.
Barons starter Christian Mena battled back to retire the next three batters without allowing a ball out of the infield. He struck out Norel Gonzalez and retired Orr and Estrada on ground outs.
Blue Wahoos relievers Brady Puckett and Austin Roberts each had two shutout innings to keep the game in reach. Barons relievers Gil Luna and Freeman combined to pitch three shutout innings.
The Blue Wahoos will close out the homestand with the Barons on Sunday with Zach King (0-1, 4.26) making his second start this week against the Barons’ Chase Solesky (0-0, 2.57) in the final meeting of these teams in Pensacola this season.
written by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Suffers 5-4 Senior Night Loss To Pensacola Catholic (With Gallery)
April 22, 2023
The Northview Chiefs fell short on a comeback attempt in a senior night 5-4 loss to Pensacola Catholic Friday night in Bratt.
Aubrey Stuckey went for a complete game, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out six.
Chloe Ragsdale went 2-3 at bat to lead the Chiefs. Emma Gilmore and Allison Flowers added one hit each.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Before the game, the Lady Chiefs honored two seniors — pitchers Emma Gilmore and Aubrey Stuckey. On the first play of the game, Gilmore started at catcher. During her high school career, she had played every position on the field during a game except catcher.
Northview will host W.S. Neal Thursday at 6 p.m. in their last home game of the regular season.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Monteverde Masterful In 12-1 Wahoos Win
April 22, 2023
Troy Johnston has described hot hitting like riding a wave.
He caught another one Friday in helping the Blue Wahoos to a 12-1 win against the Birmingham Barons before another sellout crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Johnston drove in three runs with a pair of doubles, as the Blue Wahoos batted around in back-to-back, explosive innings while rolling to an easy win.
Their 14-hit attack combined with another impressive performance from starting pitcher Patrick Monteverde, who earned his second win with a 10-strikeout, three-hit effort in six innings.
With Monteverde, this is now a trifecta of exceptional.
In his three starts, Monteverde, 25, has been one of the best pitchers in the Miami Marlins minor league system with just five hits and one run allowed in 19 innings with 29 strikeouts. The Pittsburgh native began the year as the Marlins’ No. 30 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
“It’s incredible,” said Johnston. “When I was facing him in spring training – whenever I would see I was facing him – I almost would give my at-bat up, because I did not want to face him. That is how good he is. He is showing what he is capable of and he is an absolute bulldog on the mound.”
Monteverde faced the minimum nine batters the first three innings before allowing a one-out double to Moises Castillo, one of the Barons’ top prospects, who later scored their only run on a double steal.
The Blue Wahoos answered with a thunderclap of runs.
After coaxing five walks and two hits, but zero runs after three innings, against Birmingham starter Hunter Dollander (0-3), the Blue Wahoos exploded in their next at-bat.
Seven of the first eight batters reached in a six-run, fourth inning. Jose Devers tripled home two runs. Johnston later followed with a bases-clearing double.
“I hope I can ride the wave, but it’s a long season and I’m just going to try to do the best I can every day.”
In the fifth, nine Blue Wahoos batted, including Johnson’s second double, in a five-run inning. In all, every Blue Wahoos batter reached base. Eight scored runs. Seven of the nine batters had multiple hits.
Devers, Nasim Nunez and Victor Mesa Jr. all had two RBI apiece.
“It is a testament to what we have been doing. We have been working really hard,” Johnston said. “I know things haven’t been clicking all the time, but as you can see in the fourth and fifth inning, it clicked. Hopefully we can run with it.”
Jefry Yan pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to follow Monteverde and Sean Reynolds pitched the ninth as Blue Wahoos pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts Friday.
Game five of this homestand is set for Saturday, with the Blue Wahoos’ M.D. Johnson (0-0, 3.38 ERA) going against Birmingham’s Christian Mena (0-1, 6.43).
written by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Northview Gets Senior Night 14-4 Win Over Central (With Gallery)
April 21, 2023
The No. 4 state ranked Northview Chiefs celebrated senior night with a run-ruled 14-4 win over Central Thursday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first inning.
Northview had one hit each from Kaden Odom, Luke Bridges, Josh Landis, Jamarkus Jefferson and Rustin Pope.
Odom earned the win on the mound for the Chief. In three innings, he allowed one hit and three runs while striking out five. Grayden Sheffield threw two innings in relief, allowing one hit and one run while striking out seven.
For game action photos, click or tap here.
Before the game, Northview honored 10 seniors — Rustin Pope, Cason Burkett, Kaden Odom, Josh Landis, Trent Knighten, Ethan Collier, Jamarkus Jefferson, Luke Bridges, Aron Chavira, and Tyler Shaw.
For senior night photos, click or tap here.
Northview will travel to Milton on Monday before hosting Niceville in the final game of the regular season on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McAnally Gets Third Grand Slam Of The Week As Tate Shuts Out West Florida
April 21, 2023
Ethan McAnally had his third grand slam in two games Thursday night as the No. 9 Tate Aggies shut out West Florida 11-0.
McAnally’s long ball came in the second inning, and Bray Touchstone had a homer in the third.
Three Aggie pitchers combined for the shutout.
Gabriel Patterson three two innings for Tate, giving up one hit, no runs and striking out one. Rilee Lowery was on the mound for two innings, surrendering three hits and no runs while striking out four. Aiden Byrd tossed one inning, allowing no runs, not hits and striking out one.
James Davis went 3-3 for the Aggies, and Frank Randall was 2-3 to lead the Aggies at bat.
Tate’s Friday night varsity game against Pensacola High School has been canceled. Senior night has been moved to Tuesday as Tate hosts Escambia at 6:30 p.m. with senior night festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday night, McAnally had two grand slams and pitched a complete game as Tate beat Washington.
Pictured: Tate senior Ethan McAnally. NorthEscambia.com file photo.