JV Football: Gulf Breeze Upends Northview (With Photo Gallery)
September 10, 2021
The Gulf Breeze Dolphins upended the Northview Chiefs 36-0 Thursday evening in junior varsity football.
Up next, the JV Chiefs will travel to T.R. Miller on September 13 before hosting Baker back in Bratt on September 20.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Burdick Homers Again In Blue Wahoos Loss
September 10, 2021
Behind strong starting pitching from Noah Zavolas (W, 5-7) the Biloxi Shuckers defeated the Blue Wahoos 5-2 despite another home run from Peyton Burdick on Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Zach McCambley (L, 1-6) took the hill for the Wahoos and pitched well despite taking his sixth loss of the season. The former third-round selection worked five innings and allowed three runs on four hits while striking out nine.
Biloxi scored their first two runs courtesy of a pair of solo home runs. The first came from Thomas Dillard in the second inning to put the Shuckers ahead 1-0. The second was from Korry Howell in the fourth inning, which at the time tied the game at 2-2.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Burdick hit a two-run homer off Zavolas to give Pensacola a 2-1 lead. One night after setting the single-season home run record for the Wahoos, Burdick has homered in back-to-back games for the third time this season.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the fifth McCambley had two-outs and nobody on base before the inning began to unravel. After a hit-by-pitch and a bloop single to right, McCambley walked David Hamilton before walking Howell, allowing Hayden Cantrelle to score and give the Shuckers a 3-2 lead. Howell finished the night with four RBIs.
The score remained at 3-2 until the ninth inning. In the ninth, Pensacola turned to the league leader in saves, Colton Hock, to attempt to keep the deficit at one. Unfortunately, Hock surrendered a solo homer to Cam Devanney and allowed a Howell two-out RBI single up the middle to give Biloxi a 5-2 lead.
Over the final six innings, the Blue Wahoos offense managed just two hits. The Wahoos only had one runner in scoring position on the night, which came with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. In their three losses to Biloxi this week, the Wahoos have struck out 41 times, including 14 times on Thursday.
Pensacola will try and get back in the win column on Friday night when LHP Will Stewart (5-7, 4.32) makes his team-leading 20th start of the year.
Burdick’s Bomb Sets HR Record, As Blue Wahoos Drop Another To Shuckers
September 9, 2021
Earlier in the game, Blue Wahoos outfielder Peyton Burdick had a moment to remember.
Leading off the third inning, he waited on a sinking pitch, timed and squared it perfectly, and launched the ball so deep over the wall that Biloxi’s left fielder did not move.
The moon shot homer Wednesday night became his 21st this season – his first since August 11 – and set the Blue Wahoos franchise record held for most homers (same team) in a single-season.
The homer mark was formerly held by Aristides Aquino, now with the Cincinnati Reds.
Unfortunately for Burdick and teammates, that highlight and its joy was followed by late inning frustration of missed opportunities in the Blue Wahoos 5-3 loss against the Biloxi Shuckers, which further hampered Pensacola’s playoff hopes.
After the Blue Wahoos exited the third inning with a 3-1 lead, Biloxi’s pitchers continued to step up and deliver scoreless innings the rest of the way.
The Shuckers (40-65), who have struggled in last place all season in the Double-A South, have won the first two games in the Blue Wahoos (54-51) final homestand.
Wednesday night, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases in the seventh and eighth innings, but came up empty.
In the seventh, Shuckers reliever Braden Webb struck out Riley Mahan to start inning, but the ball eluded catcher Brent Diaz, whose then committed a throwing error allowing Mahan to reach second. He broke a string of 11 consecutive Blue Wahoos hitters retired in order.
After Galli Cribbs Jr. followed with a single, then Burdick coaxed a one-out walk, Webb made big pitches to strike out J.J. Bleday and Griffin Conine.
In the eighth, Shuckers reliever Zach Vennaro plunked two Blue Wahoos batters to load the bases, but struck out Kameron Misner to end the threat.
It was this kind of tough night for the Blue Wahoos.
Starting pitcher Max Meyer worked five innings in his final regular-season home start, but was touched up for seven hits and four runs. It was the most runs he allowed at home since the May 11 home opener against Birmingham.
Bleday went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI, Burdick went 2-for-4, plus a walk and two runs scored. They accounted for more than half of the team’s nine hits.
Game 3 of the six-game series is Thursday with the Blue Wahoos’ Zach McCambley on the mound.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Sims Shines In Wahoos Series Opening Loss
September 8, 2021
Alexander Palma’s three-run third inning home run off Kyle Nicolas (3-2) proved enough for the Shuckers as they hung on for a 4-2 series opening win against Pensacola on Tuesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
For Nicolas, Tuesday was his second-consecutive outing in which he failed to pitch more than four innings. The right-hander allowed eight hits in 3.2 innings and was grinding for the entirety of his outing. The Shuckers loaded the bases in the first before Nicolas was able to escape trouble. In the third, after the first two Shuckers reached base to lead off the inning, Palma sent a drive to deep left, which made it 3-0.
The Wahoos had a response in the fifth when they scored twice against Biloxi starter Jesus Castillo (W, 4-8). After a leadoff double from Demetrius Sims, the next batter, Riley Mahan, lined a single into right to set up first and third with nobody out. Up next was Connor Justus, who drove in Sims with an infield single to make it 3-1. After a strikeout and a walk, JJ Bleday hit a sac fly, scoring Mahan and bringing the Wahoos within one.
However, the Wahoos would get no closer on Tuesday. After the one-out single from Sims, the Shuckers bullpen retired the final 11 Wahoos to close out the game. Biloxi added to their lead in the top of the ninth, courtesy of a throwing error from Brian Navarreto.
The loss drops Pensacola from second to third place in the Double-A South standings behind the Mississippi Braves and Birmingham Barons with 11 games to play. Tomorow, the Wahoos will send RHP Max Meyer (6-1, 2.30) to the mound to try and even the series. He will be opposed by LHP Andy Otero (4-0, 1.96).
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
September 7, 2021
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in March. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The locations and times of the remaining online completion courses this month are listed below. The range portion for all classes below will be held on September 25 from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Escambia County
September 15, 6 -10 p.m.
Molino Community Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
September 22, 6 -10 p.m.
Langley Bell 4-H Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
Santa Rosa County
September 8, 6 to 10 p.m.
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
March 25, 6-10 p.m.
Santa Rosa County Extension Services
6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676.
Bonus Photos: Tate High Cheerleaders, Band And Student Section
September 7, 2021
Here is a bonus photo gallery of the Tate High School cheerleaders, band, student section and more from last Friday night.
For the photo gallery, click or tap here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Bonus Photos: Northview Cheerleaders And Band
September 6, 2021
Here are bonus photos of the cheerleaders and band from Friday night’s Lighthouse at Northview game.
For the photo gallery, click here.
For action photos and a game recap, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Series With Biscuits; Pensacola Moves Into Second Place
September 6, 2021
The Blue Wahoos used a pair of home runs from Demetrius Sims and Griffin Conine to edge past the Biscuits 3-1 on Sunday at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
With the win, Pensacola at 53-49 sits .001 percentage point ahead of Montgomery for the second and final Double-A South postseason spot with 12 games remaining in the season.
The game was tied at 1-1 going into the ninth inning. With one out, Riley Mahan hit an opposite field double off the top of the outfield wall. The next batter, Sims, belted a two-run homer to right-field, giving the Wahoos a 3-1 lead. For Sims, it was his first home run in his last 39 games (June 29th).
On the mound, Antonio Velez got the start for the Wahoos in the finale, and just like his debut against Biloxi, the left-hander finished the night with a quality start. He allowed one unearned run in six innings while striking out six. Over his past seven outings between High-A Beloit and Pensacola, Velez holds a 0.80 ERA and has tossed six quality starts.
Velez exited after six with the game tied 1-1. Zack Leban and Andrew McInvale combined to pitch two scoreless innings in relief for Pensacola, with McInvale earning the win in relief.
Following Sims’ home run, the Wahoos brought in Dylan Bice to close, and the right-hander picked up his second career Double-A save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Throughout the six-game series in Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos bullpen tossed 25.0 strong innings, striking out 38 batters and holding a 2.52 ERA while registering three wins and three saves.
Over the weekend, Pensacola’s pitching held the Biscuits to a total of two runs over the final 29 innings of the series. With a slim lead on the second playoff spot, the Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday for a six-game series against the last-place Biloxi Shuckers.
RHP Kyle Nicolas (3-1, 1.76 ERA) projects to start in the series-opener for Pensacola against Biloxi’s Jesus Castillo (0-0, 6.75 ERA).
UWF Football Gets Season Opening D1 Win over McNeese State (With Photo Gallery)
September 5, 2021
Austin Reed threw for 380 yards and the Argonaut offensive and defensive lines were as battle-tested in the trenches as ever before to lift top-ranked UWF past Division I FCS McNeese State, 42-36, at a sweltering Cowboy Stadium Saturday in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
UWF (1-0) won its season opener for the fourth time in five seasons and improved to 2-0 against Division I programs. McNeese (0-1) lost for the first time in seven seasons when opening up at home and dropped its first game to a non-Division I opponent for the first time in its last 22 meetings dating back to 1990.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The game was played in temperatures in the low 90s with heat index of low 100s.
The Argos finished with 466 yards of total offense on 56 plays for a school-record 8.3 yards per play. The previous mark was 8.2 ypp against West Alabama in 2019.
Reed completed 19-of-36 passes to seven players and four touchdowns. His 380 passing yards are tied for the sixth-most in program history.
His favorite target was junior David Durden, who totaled 172 yards on six catches, which included a 44-yard scoring strike that got the Argos on the board and a 74-yard play that marked the second-longest play from scrimmage in UWF annals. His 28.67 yards per reception average ranks sixth at UWF. Durden also took a direct snap and scored on a 6-yard run that put UWF ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter as they never trailed the rest of the contest.
But it was still a back-and-forth game with each team answering the other drive after drive.
Cody Orgeron tossed the first of his two passing TDs but the Cowboys missed the first of three extra points to keep UWF ahead at 14-13.
UWF scored on its third-consecutive possession midway through the second quarter when Reed found senior Ka’Ron Ashley on a 26-yard hookup. After the Argos missed a field goal, the Cowboys got one of their own to pull within 21-16 going in to halftime.
The teams each had a non-scoring possession to start the third before UWF extended the lead to 28-16 on a Reed to senior Rodney Coates 4-yard pass. Orgeron scored on a fourth down run from the one to answer the Argo score.
The teams had two touchdowns apiece in the fourth quarter. The running game came alive on each drive for UWF, with sophomore Shomari Mason scoring on a 17-yard rush to stretch the margin to 35-22. After a Cowboy score, it was sophomore Ra’veon Hargove’s turn to stuff the stat sheet. He opened the Argonauts’ final scoring drive with a 22-yard run and ended it with a 9-yard catch out of the backfield for a 42-28 lead.
McNeese scored with 2:44 left and got within six points after a 2-point conversion but was unable to execute the onside kick. UWF rushed three times for a first down and was able to take a knee for the victory.
Four of UWF’s six scoring drives were at least 75 yards long and four were between four and six plays long.
Orgeron threw for a career-high 367 yards on 31-of-47 with two touchdowns.
UWF sacked Orgeron four times and hurried him four times. Senior safety D’Anthony Bell led the Argos with six tackles, one for a loss and two pass break-ups. Grad transfer Stephon Williams had five stops, a hurry and a tackle for loss in his first game at UWF.
UWF will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 11 when it plays host to Southwest Baptist (0-1) at Pen Air Field on-campus. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. and be the first on-campus game in UWF history.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos: Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Pitching Critical in 2-0 Win Over The Biscuits
September 5, 2021
One batter in, Pensacola has a 1-0 lead. Nine innings later, the Blue Wahoos had their fourth shutout of the season.
Pensacola’s pitching had all they needed thanks to Kameron Misner’s leadoff homer as the Wahoos shutout the Montgomery Biscuits 2-0 on Saturday night at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
Jeff Lindgren (W, 5-8) continued to dominant run of form with five shutout innings in his 18th start of the season. After the Biscuits had runners in scoring position in the first three innings, Lindgren wriggled out of trouble and ultimately stranded seven batters throughout the course of his start.
Offensively, the Blue Wahoos needed two pitches to take the lead. Alex Valverde (L, 2-4) surrendered a no-doubter to right off the bat of Misner for his first career Double-A home run. It was the first leadoff home run since former Wahoos and current Minnesota Twin Alex Kirilloff homered to begin the 2019 Southern League South Division Championship Series against Biloxi on September 7th, 2019.
In the top of third J.D. roped a one-out single, which extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Misner reached later on an error from Xavier Edwards before both runners advanced on a groundout from JJ Bleday. Orr doubled the Wahoos lead when he scored on a wild pitch, winning the footrace to the plate over Valverde.
With Pensacola leading 2-0 after Lindgren’s five innings, the bullpen dominated the rest of the way. Cody Carroll fired two more shutout innings and struck out three along the way. Matt Pobereyko pitched a scoreless eighth inning. In the ninth, the Blue Wahoos brought in Colton Hock (S, 17) for the second night in a row. After yielding a leadoff single, Hock retired the next three, including the final two batters via the strikeout.
Pensacola now leads the series 3-2, and trails Montgomery by 1.0 game for the second and final playoff spot. LHP Antonio Velez (1-0, 1.50) will get the start in the finale for the Blue Wahoos. He will be opposed by RHP Jack Labosky (0-4, 4.76).