Photos: Tate Meets Pace In Kickoff Classic
August 22, 2021
The Tate High School Aggies traveled to Pace to take on the Patriots in a Kickoff Classic Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Scores were as follows:
- Freshmen – Pace 8, Tate 6
- JV – Pace 7, Tate 0
- Varsity – Pace 17, Tate 0
The Tate Aggies will kick off their 2021 regular season Friday night, August 27 as they host Pensacola High School at 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get 3-2 Walk-off Win Over Shuckers
August 22, 2021
After Griffin Conine tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, Demetrius Sims blooped a game-winning single to right, giving the Blue Wahoos a walk-off 3-2 win over the Shuckers on Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Biloxi turned to reliever Braden Webb, (L, 4-7) despite his poor numbers against Pensacola this season (8.31 ERA in 9 prior appearances). Webb’s first pitch to Conine was belted out to left, skimming over the top of the left-field wall before skipping out into the bay for a solo home run, tying the game at 2-2. Two pitches later, Brian Navarreto smashed a double off the left-field wall. With nobody out, Zack Kone was brought in to pinch run at second, and after a fly out from Riley Mahan, Sims looped a single to right, giving the Blue Wahoos a much-needed win and a 3-2 series edge over the Shuckers heading into Sunday’s finale.
Jeff Lindgren—who did not factor into the decision—turned in another fine outing, throwing five innings of one-run ball. The right-hander allowed four hits and only walked one batter while striking out seven, which was one shy of tying his career high. The only run he allowed came on an RBI single from Gabe Holt in the second inning in which Korry Holt had been running on the pitch from first. Outside of the second, the Shuckers only had one runner in scoring position for the rest of his outing.
Offensively, Pensacola struggled to find an answer for Jesus Castillo. The former Mobile BayBear twirled six shutout innings and only allowed three hits while striking out two. Saturday was Castillo’s first quality start since July 29 against Montgomery.
Andrew McInvale was the first name called out of the bullpen for the Wahoos. After a perfect sixth inning, McInvale returned to the mound in the seventh but failed to retire a batter. After a walk, a two-base throwing error from the pitcher, and another walk, Jefry Yan was brought into the game with nobody out.
Holt dropped a safety-squeeze bunt right back to Yan, whose toss to home was too high as Korry Howell slid under the tag to make it 2-0 Biloxi. After that, Yan was lights out retiring five out the next six without giving up a run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Riley Mahan belted a solo home run off Cody Beckman to give the Wahoos momentum after stalling on offense for most of the game. For Mahan, it was his first home run since August 1 against the M-Braves.
Colton Hock (W, 2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Wahoos, keeping the score 2-1 and giving Pensacola a realistic chance to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth. Pensacola is now only three games back of Montgomery for the second and final playoff spot for the inaugural Double-A South Championship Series. Montgomery and Mississippi were rained out tonight, and a doubleheader has been scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Wahoos conclude their series against the Shuckers on Sunday.
Stewart’s No-Hitter Ends In Sixth As Shuckers Seize Miscues To Win
August 21, 2021
Will Stewart did not allow a hit in his first five innings Friday night against the Biloxi Shuckers.
Unfortunately for Stewart and the Blue Wahoos, the game unraveled in the sixth.
The lefthander lost his command, and the bullpen couldn’t limit the damage, as the Shuckers rallied for four runs which proved enough in a 4-1 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The result evened the series at two games apiece and continued the Blue Wahoos’ run-scoring struggles.
After Peyton Burdick reached on a throwing error and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning, that was all the production the Blue Wahoos managed.
Stewart was cruising through five innings. Suddenly, he crashed.
He plunked the leadoff batter in the sixth inning, then gave up his first base hit to the next batter. Stewart walked the bases loaded, then hit another batter to force in the game-tying run.
It forced a pitching changed. Andrew Nardi entered, but threw a wild pitch to score the second Shuckers run. He then gave up soft pop fly that eluded shortstop Galli Cribbs Jr., enabling the Shuckers to score two more runs.
The Blue Wahoos had baserunners in each of the last four innings, including a two-on, none-out situation in the ninth that mirrored the scenario in Thursday night’s 2-1 loss. Same thing occurred with no one able to deliver a big hit.
The teams will play the fifth game of the homestand on Saturday. The Blue Wahoos (47-47) are seeking their first series win since beating the Shuckers five times on Fourth of July weekend.
Blue Wahoos: Ninth Inning Rally Falls Just Short On Mullets Thursday
August 20, 2021
Trailing the Shuckers 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Pensacola stranded two runners in scoring position and lost on Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Entering the ninth, Biloxi brought in their closer Braden Webb (S, 3), who historically had troubles against the Wahoos this season. After walking JJ Bleday, Webb surrendered a base hit to Peyton Burdick, which set up first and second with nobody out. After a strikeout of Jerar Encarnacion, both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Unfortunately for the Wahoos, Griffin Conine followed with a groundout to first that failed to score Bleday from third. With two outs, Chris Chinea grounded out to third to end the game.
The Shuckers had taken the lead in the top of the ninth when Chad Spanberger hit a solo home run off Zack Leban (L, 1-1) to give the Shuckers the lead. Biloxi picked up their first run of the game in the top of the first when David Fry belted a solo homer off Pensacola’s starter Zach McCambley.
Thursday’s contest featured to phenomenal pitching performances from both starters. For the Shuckers, Carlos Luna pitched six innings allowed one run on four hits. McCambley—though he only pitched five innings—also allowed one run on four hits.
McCambley ran into trouble in the fifth when the Shuckers loaded the bases with nobody in the inning. However, the right-hander showed his moxie by retiring Gabe Holt with a force out at the plate. Then McCambley struck out David Hamilton before Garrett Mitchell grounded out to end the inning.
Pensacola’s series continues against Biloxi on Friday at 6:35 PM CT. Biloxi will send Lucas Erceg to the mound (0-5, 5.75) while Pensacola has yet to disclose their starter.
Game recap by Chris Garagiola
Bleday Drills Walk-Off Double In 13th Inning Marathon Victory
August 19, 2021
JJ Bleday lined an RBI double off the right-field wall in the bottom of the 13th off J.T. Hintzen (L, 4-2), which gave the Wahoos a 4-3 win on Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
After both teams scored in the 10th inning, both Biloxi and Pensacola squandered an abundance of chances before Bleday’s game-winning one-out double. In the 11th, the Blue Wahoos had runners and first and second with nobody out. However, Hintzen—who was in his first inning of work—struck out the following three batters in a row to end the inning.
After Alberto Guerrero pitched a scoreless 12th inning, the Blue Wahoos again failed to take advantage of the runner beginning on second. Pensacola had a failed bunt attempt before a line out and a ground ended their chances in the inning. Meanwhile, Biloxi quite literally ran themselves out of the inning in the top of the 13th. After a leadoff single from David Hamilton set up the Shuckers with runners on first and third and nobody out, the Shuckers ran into a bizarre double play.
With Hamilton running on the pitch, Mitch Longo hit a shallow fly to left field that was not deep enough to score Korry Howell from third base. Apparently, Hamilton on his was to second touched the bag, but failed to re-touch second base on his way to first. After an appeal, Hamilton was ruled out, which left only Howell at third with two outs. Guillen got a groundout to third on the next pitch, which set up the Wahoos for the walk-off in thr 13th.
None of the would have been possible had it not been for Brian Navarreto. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos were trailing 2-1 with Zack Brown on the mound for Biloxi. After a leadoff walk to Jerar Encarnacion, Pensacola had the winning run in Navarreto at the plate. Unfortunately, Encarnacion was thrown out trying to steal second just a few pitched prior to Navarreto belting a home run to left, which only tied the game at 2-2. Prior to the ninth, the Wahoos had only scored in the first after Bleday doubled, Peyton Burdick singled, and Griffin Conine hit into a double play, which brought home Bleday.
Max Meyer made his 17th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos and allowed two runs in six innings. Meyer walked only one batter and struck out four, and only required 58 pitches to get through six innings. His ERA in now down to 1.97, which is the lowest in all of professional baseball.
The bullpen was sensation again for Pensacola. Andrew McInvale continued to shine in his newly rediscovered form. The right-hander worked 1.1 innings and struck out four. Jefry Yan also pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball for Pensacola. Guerrero turned in a season-long three innings without allowing a hit and allowed only one unearned run in the top of the 10th inning while striking out five. Alexander Guillen (W, 1-1) pitched the thirteenth, earning his first win as a Blue Wahoo.
Blue Wahoos Get Series Opening Win Over Shuckers
August 18, 2021
The Wahoos fended off a late comeback-bid from the Biloxi Shuckers to win Tuesday’s series opener 2-1 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Leading 2-0 in the top of the eighth, turned a two-out error into a potential game-tying rally. After Galli Cribbs mishandled Alexander Palma’s groundball, Andrew Nardi walked back-to-back batters, which loaded the bases for Biloxi. That forced the Wahoos to bring in their closer, Colton Hock (S, 14), for a four-out save. The Shuckers brought in Chad Spanberger to pinch-hit (creating a right-on-left matchup), and he was able to draw a walk, which brought home Hayden Cantrelle (pinch-ran for Palma).
Fortunately for the Wahoos, Hock induced an inning-ending groundout from Gabe Holt to end the threat for the Shuckers. In the top of the ninth, Hock worked around a two-out single from Mitch Longo to close out the game and his 14th save of the year.
Kyle Nicolas (W, 2-0) did much of the heavy lifting for Pensacola to begin the game. The right-hander pitched five shutout innings and allowed three hits and four walks while striking out seven. In three starts at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Nicolas has pitched 15 shutout innings and has allowed a total of five hits, 11 walks, and has struck out 23.
Offensively, Pensacola took the lead in the third inning after Cribbs doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Peyton Burdick. The Wahoos doubled their edge in the fifth inning, when Burdick reached on an error and scored on JJ Bleday’s team-leading 17th double of the year. Chris Chinea also turned in a multi-hit performance with his 2-for-2 night that included a walk.
The home stand continues tomorrow night with RHP Max Meyer (6-1, 2.00) toeing the slab for Pensacola. Biloxi will send RHP Noah Zavolas (4-6, 5.01) to oppose him. Meyer in five previous starts against the Shuckers 3-0 with a 0.37 ERA (1 ER / 24.1 IP).
Conine Hits MiLB Leading 31st Home Run, But Wahoos Fall 7-2 To Montgomery
August 15, 2021
Montgomery scored five times in the top of the first inning against Will Stewart (L, 5-6) and Pensacola never recovered as the Biscuits won 7-2 Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was a nightmarish beginning to the ball game as the first five Biscuits all reached safely to open the game. After back-to-back singles, Ruben Cardenas belted a three-run homer to put the Biscuits ahead 3-0. After a walk and a double, Montgomery used a pair of economical groundouts to score two more, which made it 5-0 before the Wahoos took their first swing of the night.
Peyton Burdick delivered Pensacola’s first hit in the top of the fourth inning against Easton McGee (W, 4-0) with a line drive to left field. Unfortunately, after a fielder’s choice, the Blue Wahoos hit into a double play to end the inning. In the fifth, Griffin Conine got Pensacola on the board with a no-doubter to right field, which at the time made it a 6-1 game. In the following inning, JJ Bleday clubbed an RBI triple off the right field wall that scored Galli Cribbs, who doubled earlier in the inning.
Because of the turbulent first inning, Stewart only pitched 3.2 innings. Jackson Rose replaced him in the fourth and was impressive in his 2.1 relief innings. Alexander Guillen also made his return to the Blue Wahoos after being activated prior to the game as the right-hander pitched a scoreless seventh inning before Dylan Bice hurled two hitless innings to close out the game.
Pensacola will look for a series split in the finale on Sunday, with the game now starting a 1:05 p.m. due to the possibility of weather later in the evening.
Blue Wahoos Strike Out 17 Biscuits But Fall 3-1
August 14, 2021
Seaver Whalen hit a go-ahead three-run home run against CJ Carter as the Wahoos fell to the Biscuits 3-1 Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In another abbreviated outing for the Wahoos, Jake Eder pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in which the left-hander surrendered only one hit. He walked two and struck out three while throwing a total of 56 pitches on the night.
Once Eder departed, the bullpen shouldered most of the game and pitched remarkably well. Andrew McInvale was the first name out of the bullpen and turned in his best outing as a professional. He pitched 2.1 perfect innings, including an immaculate fifth inning when he struck out the side in nine pitches.
After McInvale, CJ Carter (L, 0-1) made his long-awaited Blue Wahoos debut and recorded three strike outs in his only inning of work. Unfortunately, he also allowed a walk and three hits, one of which was a two-out, three-run homer to Whale to erase what was a 1-0 lead. After Carter’s lone inning, Jefry Yan pitched two perfect innings and struck out five. In total, the Wahoos struck out 17 Montgomery Biscuits, which ties a Biscuit season-high for most strike outs in a game.
Offensively, Pensacola was held to a total of two hits on the night, both off starter Jayden Murray. The first hit was a J.D. Orr double with two outs in the third. The second hit was a solo home run from Brian Navarreto in the fifth, which put Pensacola ahead 1-0 at the time.
The nwzrof the series is Saturday at 6:00 PM CT at Blue Wahoos Stadium. LHP Will Stewart (5-5, 3.90) will start for Pensacola and he will be opposed by RHP Easton McGee (3-0, 4.44).
Bleday And Encarnacion Homer, McCambley Shines In Wahoos Win
August 13, 2021
Zach McCambley (W, 1-4) threw five no-hit innings against the Montgomery Biscuits while JJ Bleday and Jerar Encarnacion each homered in Pensacola’s 5-2 win.
McCambley—who had been struggling through most of July—turned his best performance in Double-A. The right-hander allowed only two baserunners and recorded a season-high eight strikeouts. McCambley retired 11 of 12 to open his start and struck out seven of those eleven. At no point throughout his outing did the Biscuits have a runner in scoring position.
Offensively, the Blue Wahoos got started right from the get-go. Bleday opened the first with a double off the top of the right field wall before Encarnacion crushed a two-run homer off Jack Labosky (L, 0-3) over the batter’s eye in center.
The Wahoos added to their 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, when it was Bleday’s turn to unleash his 11th home run of the season. After Connor Justus doubled, Bleday sent Labsoky’s 1-0 offering well over the right field wall to put Pensacola ahead 4-0. Bleday finished the night 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI. Both home runs for the Wahoos came with two outs in the inning.
Pensacola’s bullpen had only one blemish. Alberto Guerrero surrendered a two-run home run to Ford Proctor, which cut into the Wahoos lead, 5-2. Outside of the night, the pitching was flawless. Colton Hock recorded his league-leading 13th save of the year with a perfect top of the ninth inning.
LHP Jake Eder (3-5, 1.86) will get the Friday night start for the Blue Wahoos. He will be opposed by RHP Jayden Murray (1-1, 3.12)
Wahoos Hit Five Homers; Trounce Biscuits 7-2
August 12, 2021
On a record setting night in more ways than one, the Blue Wahoos clubbed five home runs against the Biscuits while donning their much-anticipated “Crabzilla” uniforms in their 7-2 win on Wednesday.
The game was meant to be a pitching showcase as Max Meyer (W, 6-1), one of the Marlins top pitching prospects, went head-to-head with Brendan McKay (L, 0-2), a former first-round pick who is working himself back to full strength after tearing his labrum in 2020.
Instead, Meyer shined while McKay struggled.
Pensacola’s starter went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. What stood out from his performance, however, was his command. The right-hander struck out nine Biscuits while issuing zero walks. It’s the first time in his career he did not issue a walk. His nine strikeouts tie his career high, which he has achieved for the third time this year.
McKay was ambushed in his second rehab outing with Montgomery. The Blue Wahoos smashed three home runs in the bottom of the first, one from Griffin Conine, another from Lazaro Alonso, and a third from Peyton Burdick, which tied Aristides Aquino’s 20 homers back in 2018. Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the third, JJ Bleday crushed his 10th home run of the season to make it 4-0.
Mckay finished his night having allowed four runs (all earned) in 2.2 innings. He finished his outing having thrown 44 pitches (22 strikes).
Pensacola erupted for another big inning in the bottom of the sixth. Jerar Encarnacion led off the frame with a solo home run off Mikey York to make it 5-2. It was Encarnacion’s first since returning to the lineup after sustaining an injury on July 7th and his eighth of the season. After another single from Alonso, Brian Navarreto and Demetrius Sims hit back-to-back RBI doubles to put the Wahoos ahead 7-2.
The bullpen responded admirably after a difficult showing yesterday. Two Wahoo relievers pitched the final three innings in scoreless fashion, including a perfect ninth inning from Dylan Bice to close out the game.