Wahoos Edge Biscuits 5-4 In Series Opener
August 3, 2018
Pensacola earned their fourth straight win in Thursday’s series opener against the Montgomery Biscuits at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Seth Varner (W, 6-2) enjoyed a nice bounce-back start while earning his sixth win of the year. The southpaw pitched seven innings and punched out six and allowed one walk. His only mistake came in the top of the third inning when Jake Cronenworth hit a three-run homer to give the Biscuits a 3-0 lead.
Pensacola trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning and only had one hit against Montgomery’s starter Brock Burke (L 2-1). He struck out six of the first eight batters he faced. However, the Wahoos would find their luck in the fifth inning. With only one out, Luis Gonzalez hit an RBI ground-rule double to score Gavin LaValley to cut the deficit 3-1. Jose Siri followed with a two-run triple into the left corner that scored Chris Okey and Gonzalez to tie the game 3-3.
The Wahoos took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Mitch Nay crushed a two-run shot into the water past left field which made it 5-3.
The Biscuits attempted to steal the game in the final inning. With runners on the corner, Thomas Milone grounded out to Alex Powers (S, 13) that scored Dalton Kelly to make the score 5-4. With two outs, Powers struck out Nathan Lukes to get the save and secure the win for the Wahoos.
The series continues Friday night as right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (8-9, 4.33) takes the mound for Pensacola, and RHP Sam McWilliams (4-6, 4.87) will take the hill for Montgomery.
Molino Ballpark Hosting Softball Clinic
August 2, 2018
The Molino Ballpark hold a softball clinic August 3 and 4 at the Don Sutton Ballpark.
Clinic times are:
- 8U – Friday, August 3 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m.
- 10U – Saturday, August 4 from 9 a.m. until noon
- 12U & 16U – Saturday, August 4 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m.
The clinic will be limited to a maximum of 30 players per time slot.
The clinic will be led by trainer and coach Tim Dunsford. He is an ASA certified fast pitch coach, owner of a fast pitch training company, and has trained and coached over 50 players who have played or are currently playing in college.
For more information, contact Natalie Parsons at (850) 516-3821 or parsonsgn@gmail.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Register Today For Northview Baseball Coed Softball Tournament
August 2, 2018
The Northview High School baseball team will hold a coed softball tournament Saturday at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
Registration is $200 per team with a three girl minimum using modified USSSA rules.
For more information, call Coach Greenwell at (850) 712-6354 or Coach Lowery at (850) 232-3205.
The tournament was rescheduled from July 21.
File photo.
Molino 18U Lady Astros Wrap Up Season
August 1, 2018
The Molino 18U Lady Astros softball team has wrapped up a great summer after making the championship game in three state and local tournaments.
The Lady Astros took part in the USSSA Slike Into Summer, USSSA South State and Southern Nationals tournaments.
Pictured: (top, L-R) Coach Donnie Nicholson , Meredith Mogan, McKenzie Parker, Alyssa Baxley, Madison Nelson, Avery Jackson, Haylee Watson, Coach David Synder, Katie Synder, Christa Sanders, Sheridian Mauldin, Coach Kathy Blackmon and Coach Dana Blackman. (bottom, L-R) Haileigh Sutton, Kolby Bray, Kelsey Hodges, Katelyn Harrison, Madison Parker and Heather Knowles
High School Football Teams Open Practice
July 31, 2018
High school football practices got underway in Florida Monday. The practices are non-contact for the first five days. Pictured: The Northview Chiefs on the first day of practice Monday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Stop Skids With 6-3 Win Over The Shuckers
July 31, 2018
Tony Santillan (W, 4-0) struck out a season-high 11 over 5.2 shut-out innings, and the Wahoos rattled off 13 hits in their 6-3 win over the Shuckers Shuckers, Monday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Despite allowing baserunners in each of the first four innings, he held the Shuckers to three hits and racked up seven strikeouts as he entered the fifth. That is where he got his first 1-2-3 inning and finished off the frame by striking out Troy Stokes Jr. and Keston Hiura for his eighth and ninth of the game. After his 97th and final pitch, Santillan exited the game with 11 strikeouts and walked off the mound to a standing ovation. He retired the final six batters he faced, five on strikeouts.
The Wahoos struck quickly against Jon Perrin (L, 0-2) who was making a spot start for the Shuckers after Kodi Medeiros was traded to the White Sox last week. In the first inning, Aristides Aquino singled to right to score Jose Siri, giving the Wahoos a quick 1-0 lead. The Wahoos didn’t waste any time extending their lead adding four runs in the bottom of the second. Jose Siri and TJ Friedl both had RBI singles, pushing the lead to 3-0. Siri scored on a throwing error after swiping his third stolen base of the game. Taylor Featherston continued his hot start with the Wahoos with an RBI single in the inning to make it 5-0. Featherston and Siri led the way offensively for the Wahoos, combining for six hits and three runs driven in. Siri scored three runs of his own to go along with his three stolen bases.
The Wahoos will look to even up the series on Tuesday. RHP Daniel Wright (6-6, 3.70) will take the mound for the Wahoos against Shuckers starter, LHP Cameron Roegner (0-0, 0.00).
Century Fire Softball Tourney Raises Money For Fire Victims
July 30, 2018
The First Annual Century Firefighter’s Coed Charity Softball Tournament was held Saturday at Showalter Park in Century. Proceeds will benefit fire victims in the Century and Byrneville areas. “Who’s Next” won the tourney, that also included (below, descending order), “The Red Team”, “Southern Hitters” and “Beulah Chapel”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Come Up Short, Fall 5-3
July 30, 2018
The Biloxi Shuckers topped the Wahoos 4-3 Sunday night at Blue Wahoos stadium, handing Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 8-9) his first loss since June 1. The Wahoos have now dropped three straight games for the first time in the second half and are at risk of losing their first series since May.
The Wahoos struggled to plate runs in the ballgame. They had a chance to break through in the seventh inning. Brad Kuntz walked the bases loaded with one out before giving way to Jon Olczak. He coaxed a double play ball out of the first guy he faced, Mitch Nay to end the threat. Pensacola chipped away in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jose Siri singled and then stole second which led to a pair of throwing errors that allowed him to score to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Pensacola attempted another late-game rally against Biloxi in the ninth inning. Olczack walked Aquino and Gonzalez before Chris Okey came through with a one-out RBI single to shrink the deficit to 4-3. Olzack gave way to Danny Reynolds (S, 2) who got pinch-hitter Narciso Crook to line into an unassisted double play at second base to end the game.
Gutierrez pitched 4.2 innings, his shortest outing since going 2.1 innings on June 1. The Cincinnati prospect surrendered three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Offensively the Wahoos were held to just four hits in the game. The second time in three games, Pensacola has had four hits or fewer.
The Wahoos will hope to bounce back Monday night. RHP Tony Santillan (3-0, 3.28) will get the start for the Wahoos, and the Shuckers have yet to name a starter.
Wahoos Drop Slugfest To Shuckers, 9-6
July 29, 2018
Pensacola dropped its series opener to the Biloxi Shuckers, 9-6, in front of a capacity crowd Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The two teams combined to hit seven home runs, with the Southern League leaders-Biloxi-belting four of them.
With the Shuckers already leading, 1-0, Aristides Aquino and Gavin LaValley each launched solo home runs in the bottom of the second to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 lead. Biloxi rallied over the fourth and fifth innings to score five runs, using a pair of home runs to do it. Luis Aviles Jr. belted his fourth with a man on in the fourth inning. Troy Stokes Jr. hit the first of his two solo home runs on the night to spark a three-run rally in the fifth.
Trailing 6-2 in the fifth, Taylor Featherston’s RBI single cut the deficit back to 6-3. It was his second of four hits in the game. The back and forth continued throughout the night. Despite opportunities to tie or take the lead, Pensacola couldn’t get over the hump. The Wahoos finished 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 runners on base.
Seth Varner (L, 5-2) started for the Wahoos. Since moving to the rotation on May 25th Varner has been dominant, but that was not the case on Saturday. Varner’s night ended early after four innings. The southpaw surrendered five earned runs on 10 hits, and three walks.
The Wahoos attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nate Griep (S, 27) walked Aristides Aquino, and Chris Okey delivered a pinch-hit single before a two-out walk to Mitch Nay loaded the bases. Griep struck out Jose Siri to end the threat and game.
The Wahoos will look to even the series Sunday evening. Vladimir Gutierrez (8-8 4.27) will start for the Wahoos and Luis Ortiz (2-4, 3.92) will take the hill for the Shucker
Wahoos Blanked In Series Finale
July 28, 2018
Chattanooga earned a consolation prize in the series finale with a 5-0 win Friday night at AT&T Field.
Rookie Davis’s (L, 1-1) fourth rehab start got off to a bumpy start when the second batter of the game, Brent Rooker, unloaded his 20th home run of the season to give the visitors a 1-0. Davis rebounded nicely, posting zeroes in the second and third inning. Trouble was lurking in the fourth when Chattanooga scored four runs in the fourth inning. With the Lookouts already up 2-0, Alex Perez’s two-run double was a hammer blow to the Wahoos.
After Davis, both Nick Howard and Wyatt Strahan had encouraging scoreless appearances for the Wahoos by keeping Chattanooga off the board for the rest of the night.
Australian-native Lewis Thorpe (W, 6-4) was brilliant in his second outing since participating in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures game. The southpaw dealt seven shutout innings and allowed two hits while striking out seven.
Pensacola’s offense—who had been on a tear over the past week—was held in check in the series finale. On a positive note, TJ Friedl extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the ninth inning. However, he was quickly erased on Mitch Nay’s double-play grounder.
Despite the loss, Pensacola won the series, winning three games against the Minnesota Twins Double-A affiliate. Pensacola remains undefeated in their last 10 series, having won eight and splitting two.
Pensacola will open their final 10-game homestand, beginning with five games against the Biloxi Shuckers. LHP Seth Varner (5-1, 2.40) will start the opener for the Wahoos and will be opposed by Biloxi’s RHP Trey Supak (1-6, 6.93).