Wahoos Fall to Shuckers On The Fourth Of July
July 5, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t contain the Biloxi Shuckers or their sellout crowd on Friday night, falling 10-4 in front of a raucous Independence Day audience.
After overcoming an early 3-0 deficit, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t answer seven middle-inning Biloxi runs as the Shuckers racked up 10 total runs for the second time in four games.
Ike Buxton (L, 0-2) ran into trouble right away in the first inning, falling behind 2-0 on a bases-loaded walk to Zavier Warren and Ethan Murray double play grounder. The Shuckers added another in the second inning on a Jheremy Vargas run-scoring fielder’s choice, taking a 3-0 advantage.
The Blue Wahoos rallied back against Shuckers starter Tate Kuehner (W, 7-4), as Tony Bullard hit a solo homer in the third inning to get on the board. A Johnny Olmstead RBI double and Ryan Ignoffo RBI single in the fourth inning briefly tied the game 3-3.
The Shuckers quickly answered and took the lead for good, scoring three runs against Buxton in their half of the fourth inning. RBI singles from Vargas and Luis Lara marked the end of the night for the Pensacola starter, and reliever Alex Williams fared little better. The righty allowed three more runs in the fifth on RBI doubles from Murray and Matthew Wood, and another in the sixth on a Warren RBI single.
Ignoffo doubled in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch for the fourth Pensacola run, but the Biloxi bullpen effectively protected the lead to secure a 10-4 final in front of a sellout crowd of 6098 fans.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night. First pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Snelling Shines, Snyder Delivers In Festive Wahoos Win
July 4, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Robby Snelling had just allowed a solo homer, then a pair of singles in the second inning when Blue Wahoos pitching coach Jerad Eickhoff met on the mound.
The crossroads moment settled Snelling, who then produced another stellar outing that helped lead the Blue Wahoos to a 2-1 victory Thursday against the Biloxi Shuckers before a packed sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The win on Fourth of July eve was the Blue Wahoos’ sixth in eight games to start the second half.
This one came on a night when the Blue Wahoos wore specialty patriotic blue uniforms and hats with call signs – the U.S. Navy version of nicknames chosen among teammates.
The guy with call letters “Bush” was the Blue Wahoos’ beast Thursday.
Infielder Michael Snyder, who joined the team only last week in Chattanooga from the High-A Beloit Sky Carp, slashed a two-strike, two-run single in the sixth inning that became decisive.
“Down 0-2, just looking for something in the (strike) zone, just keep it simple, concise and put the bat on the ball,” he said during the on-field, post-game interview.
The game was followed by a fireworks show which ended with a grand finale that ignited more cheers from the capacity crowd.
“One-run games are great, it’s a good atmosphere, high intensity and lot of fun with the guys,” Snyder said. “It is a really good day for the boys, but for America and taking pride in what we do, supporting the troops, supporting America, so it’s a lovely evening.”
Snelling exited after five innings, allowing five hits, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts – his second-most punchouts this season.
Behind him was the Blue Wahoos’ stout bullpen. Nigel Belgrave and Josh Ekness combined to twirl four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
In the pivotal eighth inning, Ekness made a throwing error on his underhand toss to first base that would have ended the inning. But then he made a big pitch to get Shuckers catcher Darrien Miller on a swinging strikeout.
In the ninth, Ekness struck out the first two batters and ended the game on a groundout for his eighth save.
The Shuckers’ Zavier Warren opened the scoring with a one-out homer off Snelling in the second inning for the game’s first run.
Biloxi starter Brett Wichrowski, rated among the Milwaukee Brewers’ top 30 prospects, held the Blue Wahoos in check until the eventful sixth inning.
Cody Morissette led off the inning with a walk, then Kemp Alderman’s single and a fielding error from center fielder Luis Lara put runners at second and third before Snyder delivered the eventual game-winning hit.
The teams will now make the short trip to Biloxi where the series shifts for the holiday weekend with three games at Keesler Federal Park. The Blue Wahoos won’t return to play a homestand until July 18, following a road trip next week and the Major League Baseball All-Star break.
GAME NOTABLES
— Prior to the first pitch Thursday, the Blue Wahoos honored the memory of former Pensacola baseball star Hosken Powell with a moment of silence.
Powell, 70, was a Woodham High graduate, who became the No. 3 overall pick as an outfielder by the Minnesota Twins in the first round (secondary phase) of the 1975 MLB draft. He was drafted after a strong year at Chipola College where his teammate and roommate was Buck Showalter, who became a long-time decorated manager in Major League Baseball. Powell played six seasons in the major leagues – four with the Twins where he batted .293 in 1979 with 99 hits and 36 RBI – and his final two years with the Toronto Blue Jays.
— Pensacola Habitat For Humanity, part of the national organization, had its special outing Thursday at the ballpark. The organization set up an inflatable house outside the stadium to bring awareness to their cause. Rachel Gibson from Pensacola Habitat For Humanity performed the National Anthem.
In addition, Cecily Kopytchak from the local organization performed God Bless America in the seventh inning. A representative from the group did a pregame interview, bringing awareness to the Women Build program as part of the local chapter where all-female crews build a home. A 50-member group from the non-profit organization watched the game from the breezeway area.
— Capt. Chandra Newman, the new commanding officer of Naval Air Station-Pensacola, addressed the crowd before the game to recognize the partnership between the Blue Wahoos, the U.S. Navy and NAS-Pensacola.
— Thursday’s game completed a brief stopover by the Blue Wahoos. The team will travel early Friday afternoon on the Fourth of July to begin a three-game series in Biloxi.
Pitching Leads Wahoos To Twin Bill Split With Shuckers
July 3, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split a doubleheader Wednesday against the Biloxi Shuckers, powered by strong bullpen performances on each side as they strung together 16 innings of baseball at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos took game two in seven innings, beating the Shuckers 5-1 as excellent pitching paired with timely offense secured the win.
Pitchers Luis Palacios, Will Kempner (W, 1-1) and Evan Fitterer combined to allow only one run to a Shuckers offense that ranks towards the top of the Southern League in most categories.
“This group of pitchers is good,” Blue Wahoos catcher Spencer Bramwell said. “Working on attacking the zone, working on nasty pitches. The guys that came in tonight executed that well.”
Along with catching the dominant pitching performance in game two, Bramwell broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, sending a hanging breaking pitch from Biloxi’s Alexander Cornielle (L, 3-4) on a 429-foot ride over the left field wall for his third round-tripper of 2025.
“[I] was just looking for a pitch to drive and get things going,” Bramwell said. “Leading off the inning, with the score still zero, zero. I was looking for a good pitch to drive and I got it.”
The offense continued in the frame, as Nathan Martorella picked up his 33rd RBI of the year on a single to center that allowed Shane Sasaki to score.
Biloxi got on the board in the fourth, scoring a run via sacrifice fly off the bat of Spain, marking his fourth RBI on the day for the Shuckers. Shortstop Johnny Olmstead saved a run to end the inning, ranging over behind second base to scoop up a groundball from Jhremy Vargas and nailing Vargas at first, preventing Spain from tying the game from third base.
That ended Palacios’ night on the mound, and it was a good one for the Blue Wahoos’ all-time wins leader. Over 4.0 innings, the left-handed swingman struck out three and allowed only one run while lowering his ERA to 3.63.
From there, the Wahoos’ pen held steady. Kempner tossed an inning while picking up two strikeouts, and Fitterer shut things down with two shutout innings.
Martorella added an insurance run for the Blue Wahoos in the fifth, driving a double down the right field line to score Cody Morissette and forcing Biloxi manager Joe Ayrault to turn to his bullpen for the first time in game two.
After bringing in right-hander Ryan Middendorf to take over for Cornielle, the Blue Wahoos offense continued to produce. Grant Richardson laced a single past the right side of second base, allowing Morissette to score. Richardson then helped allow Josh Zamora to score from third after getting caught in a rundown stealing second, giving the Blue Wahoos a 5-1 cushion on the way to the win.
The Blue Wahoos fell 10-4 to the Shuckers earlier in the afternoon, completing Tuesday’s suspended game. Biloxi’s offense, which started out red-hot with two runs in the first inning prior to being suspended due to rain, was firing on all cylinders.
After resuming down 2-0 in the bottom of the first on Wednesday, the Pensacola offense found something early as Morissette drew a bases-loaded walk against Zach Peek in the second, forcing in Ryan Ignoffo to put the Blue Wahoos on the board.
The Shuckers extended their lead in the third, as Cooper Pratt came around to score on a wild pitch, tagging Wahoos pitcher Jacob Miller for his first run of the outing.
Zamora, who served as the designated hitter for the Blue Wahoos in game one, picked up his sixth home run of the year in the third inning after turning on a fastball from Biloxi’s Will Childers to send it 375 feet out to left for their second run of the game.
Biloxi added a solo home run of their own in the top of the fifth as leadoff man Ethan Murray hit a solo shot to extend their lead. The Shuckers’ offense continued its success in the eighth, picking up three runs. Mike Boeve picked up his second RBI of the game as he hit a triple to centerfield with a low line-drive getting by a diving Shane Sasaki. Boeve later came around to score, as Spain singled to center to drive in two, extending Biloxi’s lead to 7-2.
The Blue Wahoos picked up two runs in the bottom of the eighth, as Morissette and Sasaki both drove in a run with sacrifice flies, but it was not enough as the Shuckers picked up three more in the ninth to pair with a clean ninth inning from Justin Yeager.
Miller provided length for the Blue Wahoos in his first relief appearance of the year, tossing 6.1 innings of five-run ball while striking out seven Shuckers. The right-hander took over for Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (L, 4-3), who started the game on Tuesday night and threw the first inning while being tagged for two runs.
Right-hander Gabe Bierman made his Double-A debut in the ninth inning of game one, picking up two strikeouts in his first appearance at the level.
Zach Peek replaced Biloxi starter K.C. Hunt in the first inning to start the afternoon, beginning what turned into a bullpen game that saw six different pitchers throw for the Shuckers. Nate Peterson (W, 6-4) carried the bulk of the innings for Biloxi, with four innings of shutout ball while allowing only three baserunners.
The Blue Wahoos and Shuckers will square off for a game three rubber match of this mini-series on Thursday, as Pensacola will send out Robby Snelling (3-5, 3.74 ERA) to take on Brett Wichrowski (1-2, 2.45 ERA) for Biloxi. Thursday’s game will serve as the Wahoos’ warmup to the Fourth of July, with special jerseys and an Independence Day-themed post-game fireworks show.
GAME NOTABLES
— Wednesday featured the brief return of “Downtown Dave” Presnell, the ultra-popular in-game emcee who has not worked a game this year due to his job requirements. He will also be working on Thursday’s game, and is hoping to return in either late July or August.
— The Blue Wahoos have enjoyed good luck with weather, aside from Tuesday’s weather issues. The Blue Wahoos made it to the last homestand of 2024 on September 11, before a game was either suspended in play or postponed.
— Prior to the rain stoppage, Tuesday’s pregame activities featured 85 teams competing in this week’s USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) tournament in Pensacola. One of the teams was from Puerto Rico, and that team carried miniature flags from their country. Players from several different teams returned on their rain check ticket to attend Wednesday’s games.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Thursday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Northview Softball Wraps Historic Season With Banquet, Awards
July 2, 2025
The state runner-up Northview Chiefs held their annual banquet this week to wrap-up their historic season.
The Chiefs ended their season at 22-7, but what it season it was.
The Lady Chiefs had plenty of reasons to celebrate, including wins over Jay, their biggest rival. The Chiefs beat Jay 9-5 on April 3 in Bratt. And on a field in Jay that has seen more than its share of tears as seasons ended for the Lady Chiefs over the years. Northview claimed the district championship 9-1 over the Royals.
Then, for the first time ever, Northview earned a regional title with a 4-1 win over Jay.
Northview beat Branford 14-6 in their first ever trip to the Final Four, leading to the school’s first ever appearance in a state championship softball game where they fell 11-1 to Trenton.
This week, the Lady Chiefs honored the following players:
VARSITY AWARD
Rookie of the Year – Aubrey Hadley
Best Bat – Avery Stuckey
Best All Around – Day Randolph
Leadership Award – Riley Brooks
Best Hustle – Riley Brooks
Best Defense – Kylee Langham
MVP – Mikayla McAnally
JV AWARDS
Best Bat – Julianna Tidwell
Sportsmanship- Amanda Fernandez
Best Defensive Player -Bella Sanspree
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos, Shuckers Suspended By Rain; Game Will Resume Wednesday
July 2, 2025
Tuesday’s series opener between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers was suspended due to rain with the Shuckers leading 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
The Shuckers scored a pair of runs in the first inning on a Cooper Pratt sacrifice fly and Mike Boeve RBI single, and the Blue Wahoos built a two-out rally in their half of the frame with a Kemp Alderman single and Nathan Martorella walk before a light rain turned steady and forced a weather delay.
After waiting approximately an hour, the game was suspended. It will be picked up Wednesday at 4:05 p.m. CT, and the regularly scheduled game will follow approximately 30 minutes after its conclusion. In accordance with MLB’s rules and regulations, the second game will be shortened to seven innings.
Fans with tickets to Wednesday’s game will have admittance to both games in the seat listed on their ticket. Fans with tickets to Tuesday’s suspended game can exchange them for any remaining regular season game, subject to availability. Each ticket must be exchanged at least 24 hours in advance of the desired game at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Ticket Office for a ticket of equal or lesser value. Exchanges must be made in person.
Former Tate Aggies Coach Named Defensive Coordinator For The Flomaton Hurricanes
July 1, 2025
Former Tate Aggies coach Josh Hardy has been named the defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach for the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Hardy has been at Tate High School for the last five years, coaching inside linebackers, outside backers, and safeties, and he served as defensive coordinator for the Aggies for one season. He was also an assistant freshman baseball coach for two years and head girls flag football coach for two years for the Aggies.
Before Tate, the Philadelphia, Mississippi native coached football at Philadelphia High School, along with being the head baseball and soccer coach. He also coached at Calhoun (GA) High School where he won a state championship as an assistant varsity baseball coach
Hardy joins the staff of first-season Flomaton Hurricane head football coach Jace Gandy. Gandy was previously the co-defensive coordinator for Spanish Fort, defensive coordinator for Northview, and had coaching stints at Tate, Jay, and W.S. Neal.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Camp Standouts: Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Shine At 2025 UCA Masters Camp
June 30, 2025
The Tate High School cheerleaders took part in the 2025 UCA Masters Camp in Orlando, their first trip to Masters Camp in five years.
- The Aggies were awarded:
- Superior Squad
- Max Crowd Effective Cheer
- Camp Standout
The Camp Standout was only awarded to two teams from the entire camp.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
White Dominates, Wahoos Hit Team-Record Six Homers To Split Wild Chattanooga Doubleheader
June 30, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split a Sunday twin bill against the Chattanooga Lookouts to finish what is possibly their last trip to AT&T Field, falling 4-1 in game one before finishing things out with a team-record six home runs and a thrilling 10-5, eight-inning win in game two.
After a rare blown save opportunity from the Pensacola bullpen, the Blue Wahoos and Lookouts headed to extra innings in game two tied 3-3.
An eighth inning was all that was needed, as the Blue Wahoos clubbed four home runs in the inning. Cody Morrissette, Michael Snyder, Josh Zamora and Tony Bullard all went yard in the frame, combining for seven runs in the frame to make it 10-3. The damage was done against Simon Miller (L, 1-3) who was charged for six earned runs (seven total).
The four home runs in a single inning tied a mark that was previously set by the Blue Wahoos in April, and the six total homers in the game established a new team record dating back to 2012.
The Blue Wahoos offense got off to a hot start in the first inning of game two. Morrissette hit his first homer of the game while Kemp Alderman followed up with a solo home run of his own off TJ Sikkema to give Pensacola an early 2-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos added a run in the fifth, as Morrissette picked up his second of four RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to left to score Johnny Olmstead.
On 84 pitches, Thomas White strung together five innings of two-hit, shutout baseball with five strikeouts and one walk on Sunday. He left with a 3-0 lead and in line for his first Double-A win, but will have to wait another turn around the rotation before a winning decision as a member of the Blue Wahoos.
White handed it off to the Pensacola bullpen that was up-and-down Sunday afternoon. Nigel Belgrave threw a clean sixth inning, but Josh Ekness struggled in the save opportunity and left with two runners on base in a 3-2 game. Jesse Bergin (W, 2-1) got the Wahoos out of the seventh, but not before giving up a two-out, game-tying RBI single to Reds rehabber Noelvi Marte. After the seven-run explosion in the top of the eighth, Bergin came back out to finish off the win despite allowing a Stewart two-run homer.
Game one was not as offensive focused for the Blue Wahoos, as they were held to one run in a 4-1 loss.
With a seven inning affair lasting only one hour and 27 minutes tying for the quickest game in franchise history, Dax Fulton (L, 3-6) provided six innings of four-run ball on the way to the first complete game by a Blue Wahoos pitcher since Jeff Lindgren in 2022.
After a quick and quiet three innings to begin game one in Chattanooga, the Lookouts bats found the first jolt of offense on the day as they put up two in the fourth. Edwin Arroyo picked up an RBI single and Ethan O’Donnell drove one in after grounding into a double play with the bases loaded.
The Lookouts added some insurance against Fulton in the fifth, courtesy of a Marte RBI triple and a sacrifice fly from Hector Rodriguez that sent Marte home.
The Blue Wahoos offense got on the board in the fifth as catcher Ryan Ignoffo sent a single up the middle that allowed Olmstead to score from second. Ignoffo’s run-scoring single was the extent of the damage Chattanooga’s Kevin Abel (W, 2-5) allowed across six innings, as the Blue Wahoos mustered only three hits and two walks against the right-hander. Right-hander Trevor Kuncl (S, 9) tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning to finish off game one and hand the Blue Wahoos their only loss of the trip to Chattanooga.
The Blue Wahoos say goodbye to AT&T Field in Chattanooga, which will be replaced by Erlanger Park as the new home of the Lookouts in 2026. Barring a postseason matchup between the two clubs, this will mark Pensacola’s final trip to the oldest active ballpark in the Southern League.
The Blue Wahoos will return to Pensacola to begin next week, as they take on the Biloxi Shuckers for a three-game homestand from July 1-3.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Postponed Again In Chattanooga
June 29, 2025
Saturday’s doubleheader between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field was postponed due to wet grounds.
The twin bill was intended to make up Friday’s game, which was postponed due to rain.
One of the games will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 12:15 p.m. EDT/11:15 a.m. CDT. The doubleheader will consist of two seven-inning games, with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. The final game of the series will be made up at a later date.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Postponed By Rain In Chattanooga
June 28, 2025
Friday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field in Chattanooga was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 5:15 p.m. EDT/4:15 p.m. CDT.