Wahoos Shut Out Jacksonville
April 13, 2019
Devin Smeltzer’s first start of the year in Mobile was going to be hard to top. After taking a perfect game into the 5th inning on the road and striking out 9 in Pensacola’s 5-0 win over Mobile on April 6th, the bar was high for his first home start of 2019 on Friday evening.
Consider the bar raised.
Smeltzer shined in his Blue Wahoos Stadium debut, working into the ninth in shutout fashion. He exited with one out in the game’s final inning to a rousing ovation from the Pensacola crowd, having thrown 8.1 scoreless innings without allowing a run on just three hits while striking out eight. Reliever Cody Stashak recorded the final two outs to earn his first save of the year and preserve Pensacola’s 2-0 victory, their third straight over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
With tonight’s win, Smeltzer now holds a ridiculous stat line on the season: two wins, 14.0 innings pitched, just five hits allowed, and 17 strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos, who have scored first in all eight games this season, continued their trend of taking an early lead. Jordan Gore led off the home half of the first with a single, just as he did last night, and came around to score following a Luis Arraez single and an RBI groundout by Taylor Grzelakowski.
In the second, Jimmy Kerrigan was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on an infield single by Tanner English. The hit was English’s first with Pensacola after being activated from the injured list earlier today. English also made a large impact in the field, making a pair of diving catches in center field.
With the 2-0, Smeltzer cruised, scattering three hits and needing just 85 pitches to work into the ninth. Stashak needed just seven pitches to record the games final out, sending the fans home happy in the fastest Wahoos game of the year: one hour and 57 minutes.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 6-2 on the season, best in the Southern League. Jacksonville falls to 3-5 with the loss. The two team’s will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
Baseball Wins For Tate, Northview, Pine Forest; Softball Wins For Tate, Northview
April 12, 2019
Tate 6, Pace 2
The Tate Aggies defeated Pace 6-2 Thursday night.
Darrien McDowell pitched three and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit, one run and striking out six. Jace Dunsford went for one and one-third inning allowing one hit, one run and striking out one. Brantley Culbertson went two innings with one hit and striking out one.
Mason Land, Jadon Fryman and Sam Shackle had one hit each for the Aggies.
The teams will face each other again Friday night at Tate.
Northview 13, Chipley 3
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 13-3 Thursday night in Chipley.
Tanner Levins earned the win for the Chiefs in six innings, surrendering seven hits and three hits while striking out one.
Seth Killam went 4-4 for the Chiefs. Nick Venable, Jacob Bryant, Adam Aliff, Ben Wilson and Levins each had two hits for Northview.
Pine Forest 5, Washington 0
The Pine Forest Eagles flew past Washington 5-0 Thursday night.
Tekoah Roby pitched the win for Pine Forest, going seven innings with two hits, no runs, one walking and nine strikeouts.
Timmy Williams led the Eagles at the plate going 2-3.
SOFTBALL
Tate 6, Escambia 3
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Escambia 6-3 Thursday night.
Abbie Burks pitched the win for the Aggies, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out three over seven innings.
Avery Beauchanie went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Aggies.
Northview 1, Paxton 0
The Northview Chiefs beat Paxton 1-0 in Paxton Thursday night.
Tori Herrington pitched the win with nine strikeouts. She also went 1-4 with a homerun.
Also for Northview: Makayla Jeneske 2-2, Aubree Love 1-3, Ashley Ragsdale 1-4.
Pictured: Tate beat Pace 6-2 Thursday night. Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat The Jumbo Shrimp
April 12, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos used more excellent starting pitching and late timely hitting on their way to a 4-3 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Thursday evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Brusdar Graterol, the top pitching prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization, showed off his 100-mile-per-hour heat while earning his first Double-A win, throwing 5.2 shutout innings and allowing just three hits while striking out four.
In their first six games of the season prior to tonight, Pensacola’s offense has scored first in each contest. Tonight was no exception, as Jordan Gore led off the home half of the first with a single and came around to score following a single by Luis Arraez, a walk to Jaylin Davis, and an RBI base hit by Mitchell Kranson.
With a one-run lead, Graterol locked into a pitching duel with the Jacksonville staff. Jumbo Shrimp starting pitcher Robert Dugger was knocked out of the game in the first inning when Arraez’s single up the middle deflected off his shoulder. Called into early relief, Kolton Mahoney and Parker Bugg combined to throw 5.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen, allowing just three hits while striking out four.
After cruising through five innings, Graterol allowed a base hit to lead off the sixth. He bounced back by striking out the next two hitters, ending his outing with a 99-mile-per-hour fastball past John Silviano for strike three. As reliever Tyler Jay entered the game, Graterol left to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Jay stranded the runner in the sixth before allowing two runs in the seventh (only one earned).
Clinging to a one-run lead, the Blue Wahoos pushed across an important insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. With Davis at first base and Gore at third and two outs in the inning, Jacksonville reliever Jeff Kinley attempted a pick off throw to first base. The throw drilled Davis in the shoulder as he returned to the bag and caromed away, allowing Gore to score from third and putting the Wahoos up 4-2.
Jacksonville took a run back in the eighth, using a lead-off triple by Justin Twine and an RBI groundout to pull within one run. With the tight lead, reliever Dusten Knight recorded the final six outs to earn his second save of the year, preserving the win for the Blue Wahoos, and capping the night by doing his signature back flip on the mound.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 5-2 on the year, while Jacksonville falls to 3-4. The two teams will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Friday.
Tate Freshmen Beat Gulf Breeze; Northview Baseball, Softball Reschedule Games
April 11, 2019
Tate 7, Gulf Breeze 3 (Freshmen)
The Tate High Freshmen beat Gulf Breeze 7-3 Wednesday night to improvie to 9-0-1 on the season.
Conner Wright pitched the win, going four innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out five. Chase Lombardo came in for the save.
Tucker Griffin, Dagan Guy and Warren Henke each had a couple of hits to lead Tate at bat.
The Tate Freshmen will be in action next Monday in a home game against Navarre.
NORTHVIEW SCHEDULE CHANGES
Northview Softball
Thursday, April 11 – Away at Paxton 4pm JV, 6 pm Varsity
Friday, April 12 – Home vs. Jay 4pm JV, 6 pm Varsity
April 22 — Home vs. Paxton 4pm JV, 6 pm Varsity (senior night)
Northview Baseball
Northview will play at Baker on Tuesday, April 23, and Baker will be a Northview on Thursday, April 25. Both games are at 6 p.m. and are varsity only.
Wahoos Homer Their Way To A Home Opener Win
April 11, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos picked up a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Wednesday evening, using three home runs and seven extra-base hits in the opening game of the newly-announced Seafood Buffet Series.
Jorge Alcala started on the mound for Pensacola and provided a strong outing, going 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four.
The Blue Wahoos took an early lead on a towering home run by Drew Maggi to left leading off the second inning. Following the homer, the next two hitters, Brian Schales and Jimmy Kerrigan, each doubled to put Pensacola up 2-0.
The Wahoos extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a solo shot by Schales to left.
Jacksonville battled back into the game in the fifth, using a double, sacrifice, hit by pitch, RBI groundout, and RBI single to score twice and cut Pensacola’s lead to 3-2.
The Blue Wahoos answered in the bottom half of the inning with their third home run of the game, a solo shot to left by Jaylin Davis.
The two teams traded runs in the seventh. Jacksonville loaded the bases against reliever Jovani Moran, who then hit a batter to plate a run and pull the Shrimp within one. With the bases still loaded and just one out, manager Ramon Borrego turned to Jeff Ames out of the pen, who proceeded to strike out the next two hitters to escape the jam.
It was Schales again in the bottom of the seventh helping Pensacola to answer, drilling a two-out double to score Davis from first and put the Wahoos up 5-3.
With one out in the eighth, Jacksonville put runners on the corner with just one out against Ames. The Wahoos turned to Ryan Mason, who retired the first batter he faced on a ground out while a run scored, making it 5-4.
With a runner on second, the following batter Bryson Brigman knocked a single to left that looked like it would tie the game, but Pensacola leftfielder Ernie De La Trinidad made a perfect throw home from the outfield to gun out the runner at the plate and save Pensacola’s lead.
Mason set the side down in order in the ninth, striking out a pair, to earn his first save of the year and give Pensacola a 5-4 win in their home opener. Alcala (2-0, 1.80 ERA) earned the win while McKenzie Mills (0-1, 7.20 ERA) was saddled with the loss.
The two team’s will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Thursday.
T.C. Venom, Pensacola Jets Suspended By League After Century Shooting
April 10, 2019
As the investigation continues into shots fired following an adult football game in Century, both teams have been suspended by their league.
The suspension for the T.C. Venom, which plays in Century, and the Greater Pensacola Jets, is “until further notice,” the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday night.
After the Pensacola Jets beat the host team T.C. Venom at Anthony Pleasant Park, a brawl broke out and at least three shots were fired by someone on the field Saturday night at Anthony Pleasant Park in Century. There were no injuries. [Click here for more details, shooting video ...]
“The Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any and all types of violence no matter how big or small it may be. This is and has always been reflected in our leagues rules and bylaws,” APDFL President Anastasia Hunt and Commissioner Bernard Hunt said in a statement. “As this most recent event has been brought to our attention, we feel it necessary to acknowledge that neither the Greater Pensacola Jets nor TC Venom, are present active members of the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League.”
“We expect more of ourselves and I demand more than that from TC Venom. We are not done. We will be back sooner than many expect,” Venom head coach and owner Luis Waters said after the suspension announcement. ” … my guys deserve to play football. And we will. I stick to my word about more security at our home games. It’s my duty to assure that our fans are protected and I will do that from now on. That’s a promise.”
If the suspension is lifted, the Venom’s next scheduled game is April 27 at the South Alabama Dolphins in Mobile.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Baseball Wins For Northview, Tate; Tate Softball Takes Two From Pace
April 10, 2019
BASEBALL
Northview 10, Central 3
The Northview Chiefs beat Central 10-3 on the road Tuesday night.
Tanner Levins went three innings for Northview, allowing one hit with no runs, striking out four and walking one.
The Chiefs had 15 stolen bases during the game, including five by Nick Venable, who went 3-5 with two runs at the plate.
Also for Northview: Seth Killam 2-4, 2RBI, R, 2B, 3B; Adam Aliff 3-5, 3R, RBI, 2B; Jacob Bryant 1-4; Jackson Moore 2-4, 2R, RBI; Taylor Wilson 1-2, R; Ben Wilson R, 2RBI; Bricen Love 1-4.
Tate 8, West Florida 3 (Freshmen)
The Tate Aggies Freshman team beat west Florida 8-3 Tuesday night after a strong six run sixth inning.
Josiah Glodfelter earned the victory for the Aggies, lasting five and a third innings, allowing two hits and three runs while striking out 10 and walking one. Chase Lombardo threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Saxon Hill Hill, Warren Henke and Jaxson Stafford collected two hits each to lead Tate. Tucker Griffin, Wiley Griffin, Dagan Guy, Henke, Hill, Kirk Mosley, Stafford and Paul Whitson all had an RBI.
SOFTBALL
Tate 7, Pace 3
Tate defeated Pace 7-3 Tuesday night.
Avery Beauchanie pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out one.
Hannah Halfacre led the Aggies at the plate, going 4-4 with two runs.
Tate 14, Pace 7 (JV)
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Pace 14-7 Tuesday.
Courtney Lundquist went one inning on the mound giving up no, no runs, committing no errors and walking three. Aaliyah Jordan pitched one and a third innings allowing no hits, and six runs while walking nine and striking out one. Ella Little pitched one and two-thirds innings giving up one hit and one run.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Tennis Defeats Gulf Breeze
April 10, 2019
The Tate Aggies girls tennis team defeated Gulf Breeze 4-3 in a hard fought match Tuesday.
Several players overcame early deficits to win their matches and maintain their seeding into the district tournament on April 15.
Their next match is at Pace on Wednesday, and the Aggies will finish their regular season Friday at Milton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Senior Bryant Offered Troy University Fishing Scholarship
April 9, 2019
Northview High School senior Jacob Bryant has been offered a fishing scholarship by Troy University. He is currently a member of the Panhandle Youth Anglers and plays varsity baseball for the Chiefs. . He recently won “biggest fish” at a state qualifier at Lake Talquin. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To BayBears 2-1 In Extra Innings
April 8, 2019
Griffin Jax continued the season-opening mastery by Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitchers, but Sunday became the first without a desired ending.
The Mobile BayBears got a walk-off hit from Roberto Pena in the 11th inning for a 2-1 victory to end the Blue Wahoos (3-1) perfect start at Mobile’s Hank Aaron Stadium.
The final score was Mobile’s first time in the lead the entire weekend.
“The offense unfortunately was not good,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego after the game. “We had a couple chances with runners in scoring position, but didn’t do any damage. But you know, that’s baseball. We have been playing really good.”
This was the second extra-inning game of the series. Under the minor league rules adopted before the 2018 season, all extra inning, regular-season games begin with a runner on second base. The Blue Wahoos twice stranded their runner on third in the 10th and 11th.
Well before the game reached that point, Jax, an Air Force Academy graduate, had kept the BayBears in check with his array of breaking stuff and grit. He stranded baserunners in all five innings he worked, before exiting with a 1-0 lead.
It’s been four games with four terrific lines for the Blue Wahoos’ starters. They have combined for a 0.45 earned run average, allowing just one run in 20.0 innings. The foursome recorded 26 strikeouts. They’ve allowed just one run and 12 hits in four games.
“I’m just so happy right now with the pitching staff, especially the starters,” Borrego said. “Griffin was great. He gave us a really solid outing, but unfortunately we didn’t back it up with offense.”
After the Blue Wahoos missed a scoring chance in the ninth, reliever Dusten Knight, who got the extra-inning save Friday night, returned to throw a pair of scoreless innings. He retired Mobile in order in the ninth, then worked out of a bases-loaded, one out situation in the 10th with a strikeout and a ground out to force another inning.
The Blue Wahoos scratched across their only run in the fifth after an infield single from Drew Maggi, who went to second on an error, moved to third on a ground out, and beat a throw to the plate on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Unlike the past four games, the Blue Wahoos did not manage an extra base hit and finished with only four hits in the game.
Even after the loss, Borrego was positive about the team’s outlook and 3-1 start.
“This weekend has been fantastic for us,” Borrego said. “It is our first year in Pensacola and so far I like how our guys compete…pitching, offense, defense. When we match all that together you will have a really good game.”
Right hander Sean Poppen will try to complete the trend in the series finale Monday night at 6:35 PM in Mobile. After that, the focus will turn to Wednesday’s highly anticipated home opener against Jacksonville at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Looking ahead for the Blue Wahoos, they will have an off day on Tuesday before their home-opening debut Wednesday at 6:35 PM in Blue Wahoos Stadium against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. It will begin a new era in Hoosville as the Minnesota Twins affiliate.
Pictured: Griffin Jax on the mound for the Wahoos. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.