Alderman, Ortiz-Mayr Power Wahoos To Father’s Day Win
June 16, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (32-31) capped their road trip with a 5-2 series-finale victory over the Rocket City Trash Pandas (24-37) on Sunday.
After a scoreless first two frames, Pensacola struck first in the top of the third inning. Following a one-out hit by pitch and a walk, designated hitter Kemp Alderman hit a towering three-run home run to left field off lefthander Sam Aldegheri (L, 2-4) to put the Wahoos ahead 3-0. The blast traveled an estimated 471 feet and is the longest Pensacola home run of the season to date, beating out catcher Spencer Bramwell’s 469-foot homer hit just three days prior.
The early offense allowed righthander Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (W, 4-2) to cruise through five effective innings. Ortiz-Mayr did not allow a hit over his outing and struck out six Trash Pandas on the afternoon.
Rocket City’s offense awoke in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Blue Wahoos bullpen. Following a leadoff single by center fielder Nelson Rada against lefthander Justin King, Trash Panda shortstop Denzer Guzman hit a two-run home run to cut the Pensacola lead to 3-2.
Pensacola grabbed back momentum in the top of the seventh inning. The Wahoos brought seven men to the plate and tacked on two runs on RBI singles from right fielder Grant Richardson and first baseman Josh Zamora. After seven innings, Pensacola led 5-2.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rocket City rallied against righthander Alex Williams (S, 1). Back-to-back one-out singles brought the tying run to the plate, but Williams induced a pair of outs to finish off a 10-out save and a 5-2 Pensacola victory.
With the win, Pensacola split its road trip at Rocket City at three games apiece and concluded its regular-season series with the Trash Pandas. The Wahoos went 7-5 in two series against Rocket City.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday, June 17 when they begin a six-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits to close out the Southern League season’s first half. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Fulton Leads Wahoos To 4-2 Win In Rainy Rocket City
June 15, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got back in the win column and returned to the .500 mark on Saturday night, beating the Rocket City Trash Pandas 4-2.
After a 56-minute pregame rain delay, Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton (W, 3-4) kept the Trash Pandas off balance with 5.1 innings of two-run ball.
The Trash Pandas strung together three hits in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an Oscar Colas RBI single. The Blue Wahoos answered back right away in the second against Rocket City starter Joel Hurtado (L, 5-5), building a threat with a Johnny Olmstead single and Cody Morissette double before Mark Coley II’s two-out RBI infield single extended his hitting streak to 10 games and scored Olmstead to tie the game 1-1.
One batter later, Jared Serna laced the second of his three hits on the night to bring home Morissette and put Pensacola ahead 2-1. Rocket City second baseman Mitch Daly then misplayed a sharp Kemp Alderman grounder, allowing Coley to score for a 3-1 Blue Wahoos lead.
Fulton settled into a groove, pitching into the sixth inning before running into trouble and exhausting his pitch limit. The lefty departed with two runners on and one out leading 3-1, and though Nigel Belgrave allowed an inherited runner to score on a Joe Redfield RBI single the Trash Pandas were unable to do anything else against the Pensacola bullpen for the remainder of the night.
Shane Sasaki added insurance for the Blue Wahoos in the sixth, singling before stealing two bases and coming in to score on a throwing error. Armed with a 4-2 lead, Belgrave, Josh White and Josh Ekness (S, 7) shut the door on the Trash Pandas with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The series against the Trash Pandas wraps up on Sunday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 2:35 p.m
Tate Softball Alum Izzy Werdann Tapped As Mississippi Gulf Coast Head Softball Coach
June 14, 2025
Tate High School softball alum Izzy Werdann has been named head softball coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast community College.
As a catcher, Werdann helped lead the Tate Lady Aggie to the 2015 7A state championship when she was a senior.
Mississippi Gulf Coast softball fans remember a pair of home runs by Izzy Werdann. She hit remarkably similar homers to win postseason games, and now she’s coming back home to create more opportunities like that for the next generation.
The former All-American, who led the Bulldogs to an 85-21 record, returns to her stomping ground as the fifth head coach in program history, bringing a wealth of playing experience in the SEC and NCAA Division I coaching savvy to Perk.
“I’ve been here, and I’ve done it. I’ve lived it,” Werdann said. “I know what it took to be successful playing here as a player, and so I know what it’s going to take to be successful here as a coach. The landscape has changed, and there are some really good teams out there, but we’re going to be really good.”
“While we had some other very qualified candidates, Izzy’s experience as a successful player at MGCCC and coach in the state of Mississippi were two things that really stood out,” Gulf Coast Dean of Athletics Steven Campbell said. “We are excited for her to share her experience with current and future Bulldogs and look forward to her making an impact in the community she began her collegiate playing career.”
As a sophomore at Gulf Coast, Werdann led the team with 13 home runs, 47 RBI and a .513 on-base percentage while batting .384 in 2017. She was named MACJC Co-Player of the Year and earned her second All-MACJC selection on the way to All-Region 23 and NJCAA All-American honors.
The Bulldogs were conference regular-season and tournament runners-up, missing the national tournament by one game at the regional tourney. They were ranked seventh in the final NJCAA poll.
In her freshman season, she batted .323 with five homers and 41 RBI. Gulf Coast finished ranked third in the country after finishing as regular-season and tourney runners-up.
She’s remembered for hitting three-run homers with two outs in the sixth inning of conference tournament-opening games both years. She beat Itawamba both years, lifting the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win as a freshman and a 7-6 win the next season.
“It means everything to come back here,” Werdann said. “I cannot wait to come back to the school where I started my career and win here as a coach. I can’t wait.”
Werdann became the second Gulf Coast player to play in the SEC when she went to Ole Miss, batting .281 in 33 games over two seasons in Oxford, earning scholar-athlete awards along the way.
The Rebels made it to the championship round of the Tempe Regional in her junior year before winning the Oxford Regional the next year, losing to sixth-ranked Arizona in the Tucson Super Regional.
Werdann has an associate’s degree from Gulf Coast and a bachelor’s in general studies with minors in education, sports and recreation management and psychology from Ole Miss, graduating summa cum laude. She graduated with a master’s in sports management from USM while she started her coaching career.
“I thank God. He opened this door for me to get to walk through,” Werdann said. “And the door was opened through Dr. (Mary) Graham, Dean (Steven) Campbell. Dr. (Ladd) Taylor and Dr. (Brad) Bailey. I would like to thank them for this opportunity. It means everything to me, and I can’t wait to prove them right for hiring me.”
Coley’s Double Not Enough In 4-1 Wahoos Loss To Trash Pandas
June 14, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their third game in a row on Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Mark Coley II spared the Blue Wahoos from a shutout, lacing an RBI double in the eighth inning to bring home Cody Morissette and extending his hitting streak to a team-high nine games.
The Trash Pandas jumped ahead in the bottom of the second inning against Pensacola starter Adam Laskey (L, 2-5), capitalizing on a Morissette error at third base to score two unearned runs. David Calabrese brought home Travis Blankenhorn with a successful safety squeeze bunt, and Mac McCroskey followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 Rocket City lead.
Blankenhorn, a former Blue Wahoo as a Twins prospect in 2019, came up with the biggest hit of the night against his old club. With runners at the corners in the third inning, the Trash Pandas left fielder cracked a two-run double to right field to extend the Rocket City lead to 4-0.
Laskey completed 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs, but was outdueled by Trash Pandas righty George Klassen (W, 2-5). The top-ranked prospect on the Rocket City roster twirled 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing only a pair of harmless Jared Serna singles.
Coley’s double in the eighth inning was the best rally the Blue Wahoos could muster, as Jared Southard (S, 5) locked down the 4-1 final with a scoreless ninth.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos lost ground to the first-place Biloxi Shuckers in the first half division race. They are 6.5 games back with 8 to play before the standings reset in the second half of the season.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Saturday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Bramwell Homers In Back-And-Forth Wahoos Loss To Trash Pandas
June 13, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos twice took leads in Thursday night’s game against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, but were unable to hold either in a 5-4 loss.
After a scoreless first three innings, the Blue Wahoos took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a line drive RBI single from Kemp Alderman against Rocket City starter Mitch Farris.
Spencer Bramwell extended the lead in the fifth inning, launching a 469-foot home run to left-center field with Shane Sasaki aboard for a 3-0 lead. Bramwell’s second homer of the season and third as a professional marked the longest documented homer for the Blue Wahoos since a 473-foot Jerar Encarnacion blast in May 2022.
Farris settled back into a groove after the long ball, ultimately delivering 6.1 innings and striking out a season-high 10 batters. The Trash Pandas charged back against Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer, getting on the board with a solo home run from Josh Crouch in the fifth and tying the game 3-3 in the sixth on a Sam Brown RBI single and Evan Edwards sacrifice fly.
The Blue Wahoos reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning without a hit, turning two walks and a Cole Fontenelle error at third base into another run against reliever Brady Choban (W, 1-2). But once again the Trash Pandas countered, tying the game in the bottom of the frame with a David Calabrese solo homer against Jesse Bergin (L, 1-1). A two-out walk to Mac McCroskey extended the inning for Nelson Rada, who delivered the go-ahead RBI double to give the Trash Pandas a 5-4 lead.
Grant Richardson drew a leadoff walk in the ninth against Rocket City closer Sammy Natera Jr. (S, 5), but was stranded at second base to end the game. The Blue Wahoos managed only four hits on the night, and none after Bramwell’s fifth-inning homer.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos failed to gain ground on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers in the first half division race. They remain 5.0 games back with 9 to play before the standings reset in the second half of the season.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Friday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Bullpen Brilliant, But Wahoos Walked Off In 10-Inning Defeat To Trash Pandas
June 12, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got excellent bullpen work from four different relievers, but were walked off by the Rocket City Trash Pandas 5-4 in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Cole Fontenelle looped an RBI single to shallow right field that scored Nelson Rada from third for the winning run. With their second walk-off loss of the season, Pensacola’s winning streak ended at five games.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the third inning with back-to-back RBI singles from Kemp Alderman and Nathan Martorella against Rocket City starter Walbert Ureña. The Trash Pandas would counter with a two-run homer from Oscar Colas in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 2-2.
Johnny Olmstead doubled in the fourth inning and scored on a wild pitch to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 3-2, but the Trash Pandas once again answered back in the bottom of the fifth against Pensacola starter Robby Snelling. Four straight hits, including RBI singles from Sam Brown and Colas, put Rocket City up 4-3.
Josh White, who had recorded 19 consecutive outs since his last hit allowed, wriggled out of the jam and prevented further damage. Denzer Guzman was thrown out trying to swipe home on a double steal attempt, and Cole Fontenelle struck out to keep the score 4-3 to the sixth inning.
White ultimately recorded four outs before snapping his hitless streak, contributing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Luis Palacios worked a 1-2-3 seventh, and the Blue Wahoos rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the eighth with three singles. Ryan Ignoffo brought home Alderman with a two-out RBI single to right field, but Caleb Ketchup threw out Martorella trying to score from second to keep the game tied.
Dale Stanavich worked 2.0 hitless innings for the Blue Wahoos to force extras, but Jared Southard (W, 2-2) retired the Blue Wahoos in order in the top of the 10th without allowing their placed runner to score. Josh Ekness (L, 2-1) got the first two outs of the bottom of the 10th before Fontenelle’s bloop single scored Rada and sent the Blue Wahoos to a 5-4 defeat.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos failed to gain ground on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers in the first half division race. They remain 5.0 games back with 10 to play before the standings reset in the second half of the season.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Thursday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Tate High School Names Paul Bryan As New Head Coach Of Girls Track And Field
June 11, 2025
Tate High School has named Paul Bryan as the new head coach of the Aggies Girls Track and Field Team. Bryan brings with him an impressive legacy of district, regional, and state championship success.
Bryan is no stranger to high expectations. Known across the Pensacola area for his ability to build competitive, high-character teams, he brings both a winning tradition and a coaching style rooted in discipline, respect, and student growth.
“Coach Bryan has earned deep respect in the local athletic community, not just for the banners his teams have brought home, but for how he leads,” said Tate Principal Laura Touchstone. “He develops athletes who work hard, support one another, and carry themselves with pride. We’re thrilled to bring that level of leadership to Tate.”
Bryan’s coaching career started at Woodham High School in 1996, and he later moved on to Pine Forest High School. In almost three decades as a track head coach, he won state championships at Pine Forest and 2010 and 2011 and finishes as state runners-up at Pine Forest in 2009 and Woodham. He also earned half dozen state top 10 finishes.
He has won eight regional championships and 20 district titles, and he was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Girls 3A Coach of the Year three times.
“With a track record of excellence and a clear vision for success, Coach Bryan is set to take the Aggies to new heights. The entire Tate community looks forward to the impact he will have on and off the track,” Touchstone added.
Miller Leads One-Hit Shutout, Wahoos Beat Rocket City For Fifth Consecutive Win
June 11, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fifth game in a row on Tuesday night, collecting a season-high 13 hits and holding the Rocket City Trash Pandas to only one in a 6-0 victory.
Jacob Miller (W, 2-4) turned in the best start of his Double-A career, striking out seven Rocket City batters over 6.0 scoreless innings. Only a fourth-inning double from Denzer Guzman kept the Blue Wahoos from a combined no-hitter, instead settling for the 13th one-hitter in team history and the club’s first since April 2023.
Johnny Olmstead broke a scoreless tie with his team-leading eighth home run, a two-run shot in the fourth inning, to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 lead. Josh Zamora added an RBI single in the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0 against Trash Pandas starter Sam Aldegheri (L, 2-4), who contributed a quality start but was handed a tough-luck loss.
The Blue Wahoos added three more runs in the ninth, loading the bases with singles before Mark Coley II delivered a sacrifice fly and two more runners scored on a Guzman fielding error at shortstop to extend the lead to 6-0.
Nigel Belgrave struck out five batters over 2.0 perfect innings of relief, and Justin King worked around a hit batsman and a walk to pitch a hitless ninth and secure the shutout victory.
The Blue Wahoos won comfortably despite making eight outs on the basepaths and going 2-for-11 in scoring position. Their five-game winning streak is a season high, and draws them within 5.0 games of first-place Biloxi with 11 games remaining in the first half.
The series against the Trash Pandas continues on Wednesday, with a first pitch from Toyota Field scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Pensacola Ice Flyers Announce Season Home Schedule With 29 Games
June 10, 2025
The Pensacola Ice Flyers will play 29 home games at the Pensacola Bay Center during the 202526 season.
The season kicks off with opening night on Saturday, October 18, 2025, setting the stage for the year.
The 2025-26 Ice Flyers home schedule is:
- Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025
- Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
- Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
- Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
- Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025
- Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025
- Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
- Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
- Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025
- Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025
- Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025
- Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025
- Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025
- Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
- Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
- Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
- Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026
- Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026
- Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
- Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026
- Friday, Feb. 6, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026
- Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
- Friday, March 13, 2026
- Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Friday, March 27, 2026
- Saturday, March 28, 2026
FWC Hunter Safety Courses This Month In Molino, Cantonment, Jay, Milton
June 9, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Molino, Cantonment, Jay and Milton. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Participants must take the online course before attending a class.
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 two-day events will be held as follows, and you must have completed an online hunter safety course and have a copy of the completion certificate or field day voucher prior to taking a Field Day.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- June 9, 6 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
- July 7, 6 p.m. and August 2, 9 a.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- July 14, 6 p.m. and August 2, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- June 16, 6 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- June 22, 6 p.m. and June 28, 9 a.m. — Santa Rosa Extension, Milton
- July 21 6 p.m., and August 2, 8 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes or by calling FWC safety coordinator Jeff Schumacher at (850) 767-3612 for more information or email.