Rough Inning Sinks Wahoos In 7-4 Loss To Smokies
April 28, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
After four weeks and 20 previous games in April, the Blue Wahoos didn’t have one to forget.
That good fortune ran out Sunday.
In a rare defensive meltdown, the Blue Wahoos committed three errors and yielded seven runs in the third inning of an eventual 7-4 loss against the Knoxville Smokies, ending their homestand in a tough way at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Even trailing 7-0, however, the Blue Wahoos had the game-tying batter at the plate three times, including with two-on, no outs in the ninth inning. It also happened with less than two out in the sixth and eighth innings. But each time, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t get a game-changing hit.
Still, the week ended with the Pensacola (15-6) winning the series (4-2) and keeping their place with the best record across three Double-A leagues. The team will have an off-day Monday before embarking on consecutive road series in Birmingham and Biloxi.
A crowd of 4,011 watched a game unravel in one-half inning.
Blue Wahoos starter, lefthander Luis Palacios, had overcome two walks in the first inning and breezed through the second inning of a scoreless game.
He never lasted through another inning.
Palacios, who allowed just three earned runs in three previous starts, lost command of his five-pitch repertoire. He gave up a lead-off double to No. 9 hitter Corey Joyce. Pedro Ramirez singled and B.J. Murray Jr. walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly scored the first run, followed by Ethan Hearn’s RBI single.
An RBI ground out made it 3-0 with two out. And then it got worse for Palacios. Hits and three consecutive errors followed.
Another single and fielding error by left fielder Dalvy Rosario allowed two runners in scoring position. Jordan Nwogu’s two-run single included a fielding error by Shane Sasaki, to put Nwogu on second. A ground ball was misplayed by second baseman Josh Zamora to allow another run to score.
After a wild pitch and a walk, Blue Wahoos manager Nelson Prada pulled Palacios. With Zach McCambley in relief, the Blue Wahoos pulled off a double steal for the seventh run.
From that point, the Smokies did not have another hit until the ninth inning as the Blue Wahoos bullpen again put up zeroes.
That enabled a comeback to begin. Catcher Spencer Bramwell drove in the first run with his fifth inning single, scoring Josh Zamora who led off with a single. Dalvy Rosario followed with a sacrifice fly to score the second run.
In the sixth, Tony Bullard had a two-run single. But with two runners on, reliever Zac Leigh, who wound up winning his third game, got Bramwell to ground out and struck out Rosario.
In the eighth, the Blue Wahoos had two runners on, none out, but two pop outs and a flyout ended that inning.
In the ninth, Shane Sasaki led off with a single. Jake Thompson walked. Smokies reliever Mitchell Tyranski earned his second save by striking out Kemp Alderman, getting Nathan Martorella to pop out and ending the game when Josh Zamora flew out to right.
The Blue Wahoos will travel Tuesday to Birmingham to begin a six-game series against the Barons.
Tate Aggies Beat Fletcher, Advance To Regional Semifinals
April 27, 2025
The Tate Aggies beat the Fletcher Senators 8-3 on Saturday afternoon in game three of a best-of-three series in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals in Neptune Beach.
With the win, Tate took the series 3-0,0-8,8-3.
The No. 4 Tate Aggies (16-12) will travel to Gainesville on Wednesday, April 30 for the first game in a best-of-three regional semifinal series with the No. 1 Buchholz Bobcats (28-1). The third game, if necessary, will move back to Cantonment.
Lance Brady earned the win for Tate, giving up four hits and three runs in a full seven inning game, while striking out two and walking four.
Kaden Posta went 2-for-5 with three RBIs for the Aggies. Cal Foxworth went 2-3, and Tate also had one hit each from Kaleb Posta, Nathan Ozuna, Brayden Beck, Griffin Cook, and Connor Dethlefs.
In other regional semifinal action, No. 2 Pace will host No. 3 Tocoi Creek on April 30.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Historic Four-Homer Inning Lifts Wahoos To Fourth Straight Win
April 27, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
If you’re going to set franchise records for home runs in an inning, as the Blue Wahoos did in this game, doing it on Fireworks Saturday is perfection.
In an all-time memory, three consecutive Pensacola hitters blasted bombs, then a fourth homer followed two at-bats later in a five-run third inning that carried the Blue Wahoos to their 6-3 victory against the Knoxville Smokies, delighting a massive sellout crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the first time since the Blue Wahoos began in 2012 with a trifecta of back-to-back-to-back homers. The four homers in an inning were also a team record.
In five other games in their history, the Blue Wahoos had three homers in an inning, but none were in a trio succession and never were four homers hit in the same inning.
“As they say, hitting is contagious, and when you watch the guys go up there and do it in front of you, it makes you feel a little easier and you want to follow suit,” said Blue Wahoos second baseman Johnny Olmstead, whose 2-run homer completed the fab four of homers in the third inning. “So, I had to go up there and see a good pitch, and it went out.”
That inning further energized a Saturday crowd that watched the Blue Wahoos (15-5) clinch the series with their eighth win in the last 10 games. They have the best record to start the 2025 season among all 30 Double-A teams across three leagues in Minor League Baseball.
This game began with a festive scene. It featured nine ceremonial first pitches. Three different youth league teams with kids ran out with Blue Wahoos starters.
Most of the crowd remained when the post-game fireworks capped the evening.
“We got the best fan base in minor league baseball, so let’s keep it rolling,” said Olmstead in the post-game, on-field interview with the Blue Wahoos’ Carter Bainbridge.
The Blue Wahoos will get a chance to do just that in Sunday’s series finale. This will be the third of four 1:05 p.m. Sunday starts to begin the season.
Another fast start occurred Saturday. In the first inning, Jake Thompson walked and scored when Nathan Martorella’s hard single got under the glove of right fielder Parker Chavers for a two-base error that allowed Thompson to provide a 1-0 lead.
In the eventful third inning, it was bombs away.
Thompson started things off with a no-doubter off the scoreboard in right field that exited his bat at 107 mph. Alderman then clouted a pitch over the left-center wall for a 3-0 lead. Nathan Martorella then set the club record with his line drive into the right field berm.
All of these homers were off Smokies’ starter Grant Kipp, who had a 2-0 record and 0.60 earned run average entering the game. The Blue Wahoos’ Tony Bullard tripled with one out and Olmstead’s homer ended the outing for Kipp with his two-run blast.
That also got Olmstead doused with ice water, of course, as he was trying to explain his big night.
“Yes it does,” said Olmstead, laughing, when asked if the ice bath felt good. “Ice water is always good. That means we won, so can’t complain about anything. Feel good at the dish and I’m just trying to keep it going.”
The Blue Wahoos carried a 6-0 lead through five innings behind starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, who earned his second win with his best night.
But a defining part of Saturday’s game occurred in the sixth inning. The Smokies had scored two runs off reliever Justin King, who became injured, forcing Dale Stanavich to be summoned for the second time in three games.
After rapidly warming up from the mound, he faced a situation with two on and two out when he struck out Hayden Cantrelle on a sweeper to end that inning.
In the seventh inning, after the Smokies scored their third run, Stanavich faced another jam with two on, one out. He struck out Smokies touted prospect Pablo Aliendo on a 96 mph fastball and ended the threat by a strikeout of Corey Joyce on a 3-2 slider.
Jesse Bergin pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos will close out this homestand on Sunday with left-hander Luis Palacios (0-0, 2.45 ERA) on the mound against the Smokies’ right-hander Antonio Santos, who is scheduled to make his second start of the week.
Santos pitched 3.2 innings in Tuesday’s series opener, allowing three hits, one run, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Following Sunday’s game, the Blue Wahoos embark on a back-to-back set of six-game road trips. They will travel to face the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday through May 4. They will then return home for an off day, before traveling to face the Biloxi Shuckers in a six-game series starting May 6.
The next Blue Wahoos homestand begins on May 13 against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Homestand Finale
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Laskey Bears Down Against Former Team, Delivers Latest Wahoos Win
April 26, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
It didn’t take long for pitcher Adam Laskey to feel the ice water again dumped on his head, after once again being the Blue Wahoos’ latest star on the mound. “Just as cold,” he said, laughing.
In reality, so far this season, nothing has chilled nor fazed his performance.
Laskey, 27, a former Duke University star lefthander, continued an eye-opening start to his season, earning his first win after working five strong innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 4-2 victory Friday against the Knoxville Smokies before a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The win gave Pensacola (14-5) a 3-1 lead in the series as it heads into the weekend. The players wore their Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms in an alternate identity night — the first of three this season as part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa La Diversión initiative to honor the game’s origins.
Laskey’s outing lowered his earned run average to 0.55 in four starts. This one came against the team he pitched for in 2023. The Chicago Cubs made him available in the Rule 5 Draft that December, and the Miami Marlins selected him.
It was his first start against the Smokies, though he worked 6.2 innings in two relief appearances against them last season without allowing an earned run. His focus Friday didn’t include thinking about his former organization.
“Honestly, just trying to stack good starts on top of each other,” said Laskey, who has done that this season. “Obviously, a lot of good friends over there, but once you’re on the mound, it’s time to attack and pitch as well as you can.”
When Laskey left — allowing one run on four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts — the Blue Wahoos bullpen took over. That group has been just as impressive through 19 games this season as the starters.
Relievers Josh White and Ricky DeVito were each credited with their second hold. Closer Lane Ramsey earned his first save by striking out all three Smokies batters in the ninth. His first strikeout pitch registered 97 mph. The last pitch to end the game was clocked at 99 mph.
After the Smokies took a 1-0 lead, Johnny Olmstead reversed that with one swing in the fourth inning. His two-run homer was a no-doubter over the left-field wall that exited his bat at 108 mph.
The Blue Wahoos added two more runs in the fifth inning on Jake Thompson’s RBI single and Nathan Martorella’s sacrifice fly to score Thompson, who had a big night. The Blue Wahoos left fielder reached base all four times with three hits and a walk. He led a lineup where seven players registered a hit.
The game’s most important sequence occurred in the eighth inning. The Smokies had scored a run and had runners on first and third with one out. DeVito made big pitches — a curveball to strike out Haydn McGeary, the Smokies’ No. 3 batter, and then got cleanup hitter B.J. Murray Jr., the team’s top slugger, to fly out to left.
The Blue Wahoos will have Dax Fulton on the mound Saturday to try to clinch the series against Knoxville on a Fireworks Saturday.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
GAME TIMES: Saturday at 6:05 p.m., Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Tate Falls To Fletcher In Game Two Of Regional Playoff Series
April 25, 2025
The Tate Aggies fell to the Fletcher Senators 8-0 in game two of a best-of-three series in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals.
Keelan Beasley opened on the mound for Tate. He gave up four this and four runs in two and-two thirds innings, striking out one and walking two. Kaleb Posta pitched two and one-third innings, surrendering three hits and two runs while recording one walking and four strikeouts. Sheppard Edgar pitches for two, allowing one hit, two runs, walking one and striking out one.
Brayden Beck went 1-3 for the Aggies at the plate. Game three of the series move to Fletcher in Neptune Beach, near Jacksonville, at noon Central.
Pictured: Tate beat Fletcher 3-0 in game one of the series on Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Softball District Playoff Brackets Set For Northview And Tate
April 25, 2025
FHSAA district softball tourament schedules have been released for Northview and Tate.
In Rural District 1, No. 1 Jay and No. 2 Northview both have a bye on Monday. On Tuesday, Jay will play the winner of No. 4 Baker and No. 5 Central, and Northview play the winner of Monday’s game between No. 3 Paxton and No. 6 Laurel Hill. The district championship will be May 1. All Rural District 1 games are set to be played at Laurel Hill.
In 6A District 1, No. 3 Tate (8-13) will travel to No. 2 Navarre (12-8) on Tuesday, and No. 4 Crestview will be at No. 1 Pace. The district championship will be May 1 at the higher seed.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Fitterer Fantastic As Blue Wahoos Pitch Shutout Against Smokies
April 25, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos broke out one-time uniforms Thursday night and a specialty theme.
What didn’t change was the outstanding pitching and defense which has been the hallmark of this team’s fast start.
With Evan Fitterer continuing superlative ways, some new players in pressure roles also shined as the Blue Wahoos blanked the Knoxville Smokies 3-0 on Pensacola Navy Days Night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game took only 2 hours and 11 minutes to complete, delighting a crowd of 4,023 on a Thursday normally reserved for the alternate identity as Pensacola Mullets.
In this case, the Blue Wahoos (13-5) wore brown, bomber-jacket design jerseys indicative of U.S. Navy pilots with a Navy Days logo on one sleeve, and commemorative patch on the other. The actual Navy Days in Pensacola will be May 9-11 when the team is on an extended road trip.
In his fourth start, the 24-year-old Fitterer set the narrative by going six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. In 86 pitches, an array of array of fastballs, sinkers, sliders and changeup, he threw 55 pitches for strikes.
“It was great,” said Blue Wahoos catcher Spencer Bramwell, who made his first start and produced in a big way. “(Fitterer) was around the (strike) zone, he was attacking the plan, he was executing everything. He’s a fun guy to catch, so it was a good time.”
Bramwell, a California native like Fitterer, had a good time in his first start of the season. In the second inning, he blasted an opposite-field homer into the right field grass area. First at-bat, home run, which also became the only run the team needed.
“It felt great,” he said, speaking to Blue Wahoos broadcaster Carter Bainbridge in the on-field interview. “I have been waiting for an opportunity to play, so I had to come out and show out. I got the pitch I was looking for and glad it worked out.”
Beside that swing, Bramwell made a statement by throwing out two Smokies runners on back to back steal attempts in the second inning. The Smokies (9-8) didn’t attempt another steal in the few other times they had a baserunner.
Fitterer faced just 21 batters – three above the minimum in his six innings of work. When he exited, relievers Nigel Belgrave and newcomer Jesse Bergin were equally impressive.
Belgrave pitched two flawless innings with two strikeouts and no hits. In the ninth, Bergin made his Double-A debut after joining the team Monday from the Beloit (Wisc.) Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins High-A affiliate.
Bergin topped 98 mph with his fastball, striking out two batters around a walk to end the game. He painted a fastball to cleanup hitter Haydn McGeary to end the game.
Josh Zamora, the Blue Wahoos star in Wednesday’s walk-off win, drove in the second run Thursday with his one-out single that scored Kemp Alderman, who led off with a double.
Alderman followed in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly to score Jared Serna, who walked, stole second, then stole third to continue the Blue Wahoos baserunning prowess. They lead the Southern League with 44 stolen bases.
The win was Pensacola’s fourth in the last five games and provided a 2-1 series lead as the weekend trio of games await. Adam Laskey, who has an 0.79 earned run average, takes the mound Friday for the Blue Wahoos.
“We are close knit group,” Bramwell said. “We’re having fun, so as long as we keep having fun and doing the small things right, we’re going to be successful.”
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos had a live auction Thursday for the game-worn jerseys. Team president Jonathan Griffith was the auctioneer.
— A color guard from Naval Air Station-Pensacola presented the flags for the National Anthem. The singer was Sierra Brown, the chief air traffic controller on the base.
— The Navy Days weekend (May 9-11) will take place outside Blue Wahoos Stadium at the Community Maritime Park and will be an open public festival to help honor the community’s vast military connections will all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Friday Thru Sunday.
GAME TIMES: Friday and Saturday games all start at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 1:05 p.m.
Tate Aggies Shut Out Fletcher 3-0 In Regional Playoff Opener (With Gallery)
April 24, 2025
The Tate Aggies shut out the Fletcher Senators 3-0 Wednesday night in game one of a best-of-three series in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals.
Zane Warrington earned the home win for Tate. In seven innings, he allowed three hits and no runs, walking three and striking out six.
Taite Davis went 3-3 for the Aggies, while Nathan Ozuna and Kaden Posta each had multiple hits for Tate.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In game two, Tate will host Fletcher on Thursday at 7 p.m. If a third game in necessary, Tate will travel to Neptune Beach near Jacksonville to face the Senators on Saturday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Finish Regular Season Strong with 9-2 Win Over Escambia (With Gallery)
April 24, 2025
The Tate Lady Aggies closed their regular season with a solid 9-2 win over the Escambia Gators Tuesday night.
Kara Wine homered to center field to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth for Tate. It was a literal dinger that “dinged” off the scoreboard at Charlene Varnell Field in Cantonment. Wine went for 2-4 at bat for the Aggies. Peyton Womack and Kaylie Mitchell each added two RBIs.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
For a youth night photo gallery, click here.
Mykamia Padgett earned the win for Tate with three innings of no run, no hit softball as she recorded six strikeouts and no walks. Peyton Womack was in the circle for four innings in relief, surrendering two hits and two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out four.
Up next for the Tate is the district tournament with a schedule that is to be announced.
Wednesday night was Youth Night for the Lady Aggies as they hosted and recognized area youth softball teams including the Diamond Krushers, Lady Rockies Kids wearing jerseys were admitted at no charge and received a free hot dogs, chips and a drink.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Zamora’s Clutch Swing Gives Wahoos Walk-Off Win
April 24, 2025
by Bill Vilona
Josh Zamora guessed right on the first pitch and connected well.
It turned a game that went from deflating an inning earlier for the Blue Wahoos into a walk-off, 10th inning celebration, after Zamora’s run-scoring hit and 4-3 win against the Knoxville Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Smokies trailed 3-0 and were down to their final out when Pablo Aliendo blasted a game-tying homer deep over the left field wall off reliever Zach McCambley.
But the Blue Wahoos got a terrific relief performance in the 10th inning from Dale Stanavich, who stranded runners in scoring position with one out, by striking out the next two batters to keep the game tied.
“It says a lot,” said Zamora, after being twice doused with ice bucket water moments after his big hit. “Our clubhouse, from top to bottom, the word is resilient.”
The Blue Wahoos rallied with textbook execution to get the run.
In the bottom of the 10th, Mark Coley II was the placement runner on second. Jared Serna was intentionally walked.
Shane Sasaki followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt that forced the only play to first base.
With runners on second and third, Nathan Martorella was intentionally walked and the Smokies chose to bring in an outfielder to have five infielders between bases.
On the first pitch he saw from Smokies reliever AJ Puckett — a fastball — Zamora sent it sailing into left field and the game was over.
“Honestly, I was trying to see a ball up at the plate and put a good swing on it.”
He did. And the Blue Wahoos won a game that seemed headed their way after eight innings.
Starting pitching Robby Snelling was brilliant again in his fourth start. The lefthander pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, struck out nine batters and gave up just one walk.
Snelling, the Blue Wahoos highest-rated prospect, has allowed just one run in three of his four starts and just five runs this season in 21 innings pitched.
But when he exited after throwing 84 pitches, the game was still scoreless.
The Blue Wahoos broke through in the seventh inning. Jake Thompson and Johnny Olmstead hit back-to-back doubles. Thompson had to wait on the ball hit by Olmstead and stayed at third base. With one out, Dalvy Rosario had an RBI single. Coley II hit a grounder that deflected off the third baseman’s glove for an RBI and 2-0 lead.
Sasaki scored after a leadoff walk in the eighth and stolen base, then an errant pickoff attempt to make it 3-0.
But in the top of the ninth, the Smokies got a one-out single, then a walk. McCambley struck out the next batter, Hayden McGeary.
But he left a one-strike pitch against Aliendo, one of the Chicago Cubs top 30 prospects, up in the strike zone and he walloped a no-doubter to tie the game. It was the only mistake McCambley made in three solid innings of relief.
Stanavich’s clutch relief and then Zamora’s heroics produced a good end for the Blue Wahoos to even the series.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos entered the game as the Southern League leader in stolen bases with 40.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Thursday thru Sunday
GAME TIMES: Thursday through Saturday games all start at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 1:05 p.m.