Pensacola’s Comeback Foiled In 13-6 Loss To Tennessee
May 21, 2023
The Blue Wahoos are now on the wrong kind of streak.
After this week started with a pair of wins and a club-record 10-game winning streak, the Tennessee Smokies won their third in a row Saturday by answering the Blue Wahoos’ comeback attempt with a pair of 3-run homers in the eighth inning of a 13-6 blowout win.
A sellout crowd of 5,038 became energized when the Blue Wahoos rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the fifth inning and had a tying run thrown out at the plate to end the sixth inning.
The intrigue continued into the eighth.
That’s when the Tennessee Smokies Haydn McGeary blasted a first-pitch fastball from reliever Austin Roberts into the right-center berm for a 3-run homer.
The ball’s flight immediately had reliever Roberts kicking the mound in disgust.
The decisive moment then got worse for the Blue Wahoos (24-14) when reliever Zach Willeman gave up a walk, a single and second 3-run homer of the inning, this one by Bradlee Beesley, who went 2-for-3 in the game and scored four runs. The Smokies (21-17), leaders in the Southern League North Division, had 11 hits as every batter reached base.
But most of the crowd stayed around for the attraction of post-game fireworks presented by Navy Federal Credit Union.
Following the show, more than 130 Scouts of America youths, along with parents and scouting leaders, were part of a sleepover night at the ballpark.
Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer sustained his worst outing this season. He did not make it out of the second inning. When he was lifted with two outs, the Smokies already had a 5-0 lead.
Fitterer threw 69 pitches, only half for strikes, as he struggled with location unlike any prior start. The righthander yielded a season-high five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
In four prior starts, the 22-year-old Fitterer had allowed just five runs combined and recorded three consecutive wins in joining the team from High-A Beloit Sky Carp. He gave up four hits or fewer in each of those Pensacola starts.
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth inning, the Blue Wahoos started their comeback with Griffin Conine’s RBI single.
Troy Johnston then smashed a 3-run homer in the fifth inning, part of a night when he went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.
Will Banfield homered to lead off the sixth inning. Nasim Nuñez drove home Bennett Hostetler with a RBI single. Nuñez was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on Dane Myers’ hit. Nuñez went 2-for-5 and was among seven Blue Wahoos batters with at least one hit.
All of that led into the eventual eighth inning when the Smokies blew open the game.
The Blue Wahoos will now hope to salvage a split in the 6-game series when closing the homestand Sunday afternoon against the Smokies.
M.D. Johnson (0-1, 3.67), who began the week Tuesday with a solid start (6 innings, 3 runs), returns to the mound for a repeat against the Smokies, who will throw Porter Hodge (0-3, 5.47) for a second time.
The game will also feature renowned baseball organist Nancy Faust, who performed 41 years for the Chicago White Sox beginning in 1970, and is considered a pioneer in game entertainment. She will be performing on the concourse behind home plate with the same kind of vintage organ she used at Comiskey Park.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate High’s Frankie Randall Signs With Coastal Alabama
May 20, 2023
Tate High School’s Frankie Randall has signed with Coastal Alabama South to continue his athletic and academic career.
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Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnston Homers As Blue Wahoos Fall 5-1 To Smokies
May 20, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Cubs prospect Jordan Wicks in a 5-1 loss to the Tennessee Smokies in front of a sellout crowd on Friday night.
Troy Johnston’s solo home run in the fifth inning was the lone bright spot for the Blue Wahoos, who have now lost back-to-back games for the first time in almost a month.
The Smokies took an early lead against Pensacola starter Luis Palacios (L, 1-1) with an RBI single from Pablo Aliendo in the second inning and a solo homer from Chase Strumpf in the third. Palacios allowed two runs in 5.0 innings, departing with a 2-1 deficit.
Nelson Maldonado added some insurance for Tennessee with a two-run double against Dylan Bice in the sixth inning, and BJ Murray closed out the scoring with a solo home run against Brady Puckett in the eighth.
Pensacola threatened in the eighth and ninth, but couldn’t chip away at the deficit. Ben Hecht (S, 2) wriggled out of a jam in the ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate Cheer’s Paige McKinney And Landry Bellard Sign With Troy University
May 19, 2023
Tate High School seniors Paige McKinney and Landry Bellard have signed to continue their cheerleading careers with Troy University.
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Late Rally Falls Short As Pensacola’s Win Streak Snaps At 10
May 19, 2023
The Blue Wahoos had their franchise-record streak end Thursday, but not without suspense.
After trailing 5-0 into the fifth inning, Pensacola produced a 3-run rally in the seventh and had a chance for a walk-off rally in their final at-bat before the Tennessee Smokies held on for a 5-4 victory, halting a 10-game win streak that stretched into a third week.
Playing as the Pensacola Mullets and wearing their specialty uniforms on Mullet Thursday, the home team fell into an early hole, but rallied against the Smokies bullpen.
The game’s biggest moment was a near-miss shot by Victor Mesa Jr. With two outs and the tying run on third, Mesa Jr. launched a ball into the right-center gap that appeared to have a chance for a home run.
But Smokies right fielder Owen Caissie made a sensational catch against the wall to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, another chance ensued when Bennett Hostetler led off with a walk. J.D. Orr was unable to bunt him over and popped out. Smokies reliever Riley Martin then struck out Nasim Nuñez and Troy Johnston to end the game.
But the Blue Wahoos (24-12) had a memorable stretch of games where they swept a road series for only the second time in franchise history and eclipsed a win streak of eight games set three times in team history.
Blue Wahoos newcomer Jonathan Bermudez, making his first start this year since being signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26, struggled in his Pensacola debut.
Bermudez struck out the first two batters he faced, then allowed a walk before getting out of the first inning.
The second inning, however, wasn’t so clean. He walked two of the Smokies’ (19-17) first three batters. With two out Caleb Knight laced a pitch to right field. The Blue Wahoos’ Griffin Conine made a sliding attempt to keep the ball in front, but it bounced away allowing two runs to score.
The Smokies had their first two batters on second and third base in the fourth inning when Bermudez was lifted for reliever Josan Méndez. He gave up an RBI double to the next batter, but got out of the inning without worse damage.
The Smokies then took a 5-0 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth against Méndez.
Griffin Conine got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to begin the bottom of the fifth.
The Blue Wahoos began their seventh inning rally when Hostetler walked and Orr singled. Nuñez drove in a run and Johnston had a sacrifice fly RBI. Dane Myers then hit a shot back at the mound, off the pitcher’s leg and the errant throw allowed another run to score.
The fourth game of this series begins the weekend set on Friday.
The Blue Wahoos’ Luis Palacios (1-0, 9.00 ERA) will make his second start since joining the team a week ago from the Beloit Sky Carp, as part of the movement when Eury Pérez went to the Marlins. Palacios pitched twice last year for the Blue Wahoos.
The Smokies will start their top pitcher, lefthander Jordan Wicks (2-0, 2.67), rated the Chicago Cubs’ No. 5 overall prospect.
First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
North End Elite Wins 8U Tournament
May 18, 2023
The North End Elite won the recent USFA 8U Softball Tournament at Pace. The team includes players from the Molino Recreation Association and Northwest Escambia 8U softball. Pictured above: (front, L-R) Mailei Milner, Paycen Cutler, Madison Daniel, Issy Mills, Bryndle Moye, (middle L-R) Abby Weaver, Bayleigh Enfinger, June Kilgore, Hadley Cook, Peyton Roberts, Caroline Peters, Tatum Godwin. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get 10th Straight Win
May 18, 2023
The way Patrick Monteverde has produced superlatives in prior starts, it was fitting the team’s left-handed ace would deliver the Blue Wahoos a 10th consecutive win.
Monteverde, named the Southern League’s pitcher of April for his first four stellar outings, worked out of two innings Wednesday with baserunners, while upping his league-best record to 5-0 in the Blue Wahoos 7-4 victory against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3,678, which included middle school bands from Shoal River and Davidson schools in Crestview combining to perform the National Anthem, watched the Blue Wahoos catch a break from weather and power their way to a record-extending win total.
It was Pensacola’s 18th win in 19 games, continuing the best stretch of success in the team’s 11-year history.
One common element of the first two months this season has been Monteverde’s dominance on the mound.
The 25-year-old Pittsburgh native, who entered the 2023 season as the Miami Marlins’ No. 30 rated prospect, has now allowed just six runs in seven starts. His earned run average has dropped to 1.29. He allowed just one run on two hits and struck out eight in five innings. He’s now had 57 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 42 innings.
His night Wednesday had two pivotal moments. After allowing a walk and double to start the second inning, he got a line-out double play on a spectacular catch from third baseman Cody Morissette. In the third inning, he again allowed a double and a walk, but retired the next three batters on a pair of strikeouts and flyout.
That all proved decisive.
After Victor Mesa Jr. manufactured a second-inning run with a walk, moving over on a ground out and scoring on a throwing error while stealing third, the Blue Wahoos slugged their way to the other six runs in the game.
The biggest smash was Morissette’s 2-run homer into the right field berm in the fourth inning. José Devers led off the inning with a double and scored on Will Banfield’s single.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning on Griffin Conine’s RBI sacrifice fly and Troy Johnston’s two-out single to make it 7-1.
The Smokies scored three runs in the ninth off reliever Austin Roberts before he ended the game on a force out.
Eight of the Blue Wahoos lineup reached base. Banfield had the team’s multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The game was delayed 27 minutes to get the field ready, following the off-and-on light rain all day. The Blue Wahoos kept the field tarp on from Tuesday night to ensure the game could get played.
Remarkably, the heavier rain which hit other parts of Pensacola, never materialized at the ballpark.
The series now heads into Thursday with Blue Wahoos newcomer Jonathan Bermudez, a lefthander, making his pitching debut with a new organization. He was released during spring training from the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.
He was signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26 and spent the past couple weeks with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Marlins, the rookie league team. Tennessee will throw right-hander Kohl Franklin (0-1, 13.50 ERA).
The game is part of “Mullet Thursday” with the Blue Wahoos wearing their Pensacola Mullets uniforms.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Defending State Champions Jay Defeat Northview For Regional Title (With Gallery)
May 17, 2023
The defending 1A state champion Jay Royals are headed back to the final four.
The Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 8-3 Tuesday night in Jay.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The Royals were first on the board with a solo homer from Ella Nelson, who went 3-3 to lead at bat.
Jenna Toups went seven innings for Jay, giving up three runs and nine hits while striking out three.
Jamison Gilman and Aubrey Stuckey threw three innings each for the Chiefs. Mary-Clayton Dawson went 3-4 to lead Northview at the plate.
Northview’s season (15-13) ended in the top eight in the state. The Royals ( 16-11) will move to the state semifinals at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont on May 22 against Liberty County (19-8).
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Myers, Mesa Pace Wahoos In Record Ninth Win In A Row
May 17, 2023
The most successful stretch in Blue Wahoos franchise history now has a special feat attached.
The Blue Wahoos blasted their way to a record ninth consecutive win, led by Victor Mesa Jr. hitting a three-run homer in the seventh inning to break a tie game in Pensacola’s eventual 9-3 victory Tuesday night against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3,337 on “Doggone Tuesday” where fans can bring their beloved dogs watched a continuation of the Blue Wahoos’ (23-11) scorching streak. This team has now won 17 of its last 18 games with possession of the best record in the Southern League.
“That’s the most impressive part,” said Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel on the three-week success. “I don’t think I’ve been a part of something like this, to be honest. We’ve had some good runs, but even last year, I don’t think we had anything close to this.”
The same components of the three-week stretch were on display. The Blue Wahoos got strong pitching, this time from M.D. Johnson’s longest start of the season, then Will Stewart and Sean Reynolds in scoreless relief. Reynolds struck out the game’s final batter with the bases loaded.
Johnson worked six complete innings, allowing three runs on a pair of homers, but also produced nine strikeouts and zero walks.
They peppered 14 hits against four Smokies pitchers. Dane Myers had five of those hits on a 5-for-5 night with two runs scored. Every Blue Wahoos batter reached base and eight had at least one hit.
And the Blue Wahoos played flawless defense.
“It’s a good core group of guys who are grinding every day. The lineup we roll out there is relentless,” Randel said. “If the pitching holds up we always have a chance. The guys did a great job with two strikes (Tuesday) and the goal is to just win every at-bat, win every pitch.
“We are on a nice little streak. The ‘Hoos are hot. But they’re fun to watch.”
After scoring their first two runs on errors, the Blue Wahoos tied the game on Will Banfield’s solo homer in the sixth inning.
In the decisive seventh inning, Troy Johnson led off with a single and Dane Myers singled. Mesa Jr. following by hitting a 92-mph cutter from Ryan Jensen over the right field wall. The ball just cleared a leaping attempt by right fielder Owen Caissie as the crowd roared.
Jose Devers followed with a single and later scored on Barrett Hostetier’s two-out single, finishing a 4-run rally.
Banfield drove in two more runs in the eighth inning with his single.
The game marked the first time the Blue Wahoos faced the Smokies, the Chicago Cubs affiliate, since Pensacola won the Southern League title on September 28 with a decisive Game 3 win in Tennessee.
Johnson’s previous three starts in recent weeks were all affected by rain. The past two outings, he was unable to pitch past the second inning. His last start in Birmingham was halted after one complete inning.
But the weather held Tuesday for him to work through six innings.
The teams will continue the series Wednesday night with the Blue Wahoos’ top pitcher, lefthander Patrick Monteverde (4-0, 1.22 ERA) going against the Smokies’ Walker Powell (2-0, 3.22).
written by Bill Vilona
Mesa, Banfield Help Blue Wahoos Complete Birmingham Sweep
May 15, 2023
The Blue Wahoos again return from a road trip as one of the hottest teams in Minor League Baseball.
Outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. and catcher Will Banfield combined for seven RBI – each hitting home runs – as the Blue Wahoos rallied from an early deficit for a 9-7 victory to complete a six-game sweep against the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field.
It was Pensacola’s eighth consecutive win, matching a franchise record the Blue Wahoos also tied two weeks ago, and the team’s 16th win in their last 17 games. It also matches the longest streak of any team in MILB.
The win extended the Blue Wahoos’ (22-11) lead in the Southern League South Division to three games ahead of the Biloxi Shuckers.
Mesa Jr. had one of the game’s biggest hits with his 3-run, go-ahead homer in the fifth inning. He finished an outstanding week at the plate with two homers and 11 RBI in the series.
Closer Sean Reynolds recorded his sixth save in seven attempts with a scoreless ninth inning. He gave up a two-out walk, then got Chris Shaw, who had homered earlier, to fly out to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos Joe Rizzo provided a two-run cushion when he smashed a two-out, solo homer in the ninth.
Every Blue Wahoos hitter in the starting lineup reached base. Seven different batters scored runs.
The Barons (11-22), the Chicago White Sox affiliate, sustained their ninth consecutive defeat. They had not been swept at home since 2015 in any series longer than four games. They are now 4-18 at Regions Field this season.
The game started in Birmingham’s favor.
Making his second start of the week, the Blue Wahoos’ Evan Fitterer had his first rough inning in four outings.
The righthander gave up leadoff walk in the second inning that was followed by Adam Hackenberg’s 2-run homer. He then hit a batter with one out and Moises Castillo came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
Fitterer, who joined the Blue Wahoos in late April, won his first three starts, allowing just two runs on eight hits. But Sunday he had thrown 64 pitches with one out into the fourth inning and finished with 72 pitches, 40 for strikes.
He allowed just two hits, but one was the big homer. He walked three, struck out four and had two wild pitches.
But the Blue Wahoos answered with five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Mesa Jr. hitting a 3-run bomb over the right center wall that chased Barons starter Garrett Davila. On the first pitch from reliever Yoelvin Silven, Blue Wahoos catcher Will Banfield hit a fastball over the left wall.
Dane Myers drove in the first run with a single.
The Barons came back to tie the game in the sixth on a solo homer by Chris Shaw off Christen Charle, followed by Moises Castillo to score Ben Norman, who singled, moved to third on a stolen base and wild pitch.
In the seventh, Nasim Nuñez led off with a single, Troy Johnston was hit by a pitch and Myers walked to load the bases. Mesa followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Nunez. Banfield then hit a two-run double off the right-center wall.
Blue Wahoos reliever Dylan Bice pitched out of jams to keep a one-run lead.
The Blue Wahoos return home Sunday night following the game in Birmingham and will have Monday off before beginning a six-game homestand on Tuesday against the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate. It will be the teams’ first meeting since the 2022 Southern League Championship Series.
The Blue Wahoos captured their first outright league title on Sept. 28 against the Smokies in Kodak, Tennessee with consecutive road playoff wins.