Photos: SEC Western Gate Soccer Showdown At Ashton Brosnaham Park
April 13, 2025
The top-ranked Southeastern Conference women’s soccer teams competed in the Western Gate Soccer Showdown at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park off 10 Mile Road. It was the second year for the free event at the Escambia County Park.
The showdown will feature 45-minute matchups between the Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers, and autograph sessions. Admission was free.
For a photo gallery from LSU vs. Mississippi State, click here.
The 2025 SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament will return to Escambia County November 2-9. The top 12 SEC women’s soccer teams will compete for the SEC Championship at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park.
Pictured: LSU takes on Mississippi State Saturday afternoon at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay High’s Chase Dooley Wins Historic State Weightlifting Title
April 13, 2025
Jay High School’s Chase Dooley is now a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 1A state weightlifting champion. He claimed state titles in both the Traditional division with a total lift of 710 pounds and the Olympic division with 585 pounds.
Dooley’s victory Saturday in Lakeland marks the first state weightlifting championship in Jay High School history.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alderman’s Bombs Power Wahoos To 10-5 Win
April 13, 2025
This week for the Blue Wahoos outfielder Kemp Alderman had not gone so well.
He changed that Saturday in a huge way.
Alderman clouted two home runs, part of a four-hit night with five RBI, as the Blue Wahoos blasted the Montgomery Biscuits 10-5 on a fitting Fireworks Night for the home team that delighted a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“I was just trying to help the team win,” said Alderman, who entered the game with just two hits in 12 at-bats in this series. “Get pitches to hit and then just going out there, having fun, and play the game.”
Alderman, a former Ole Miss star who played a big role in the team’s 2022 College World Series championship, spent time Saturday working on a couple mechanical elements, trying to drive more pitches to the opposite field.
The extra work resulted in his first multi-homer game as a pro, both over the right field wall. It led to the Blue Wahoos scoring the most runs of their first eight games.
“It means a lot,” said Alderman, the Miami Marlins’ second round draft pick in 2023, who has risen to the No. 11 prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline. “Working on it (Saturday), I had been pulling off the ball, so I tried to make an adjustment and it worked for me.”
His homers were among a combined six clubbed by the teams Saturday. That was a prelude to the post-game fireworks.
The win improved the Blue Wahoos to 6-2 and provided a chance to win the series against the Biscuits (4-3) in Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. finale that wraps up a nine-game, two team homestand to start the season.
The Blue Wahoos started Saturday in a big way.
The scored five runs in their first at-bat, highlighted by Alderman’s 3-run homer that landed just over the right field wall into the grass berm area. Jared Serna had led off the game by reaching on a strikeout that got past Biscuits catcher Ricardo Genoves. The second batter in the first inning, Joe Mack, was hit by a pitch.
Alderman then delivered the first of his two bombs. Later in the inning, third baseman Josh Zamora hit a two out homer over the left-center wall.
In the third inning, Alderman led off with another right field shot, this one high and inside the foul pole that left the ballpark. He then had a broken bat single in the fifth inning and followed with a run-scoring single in the seventh.
The Blue Wahoos then sent eight batters at the plate in the eighth inning, scoring three runs to blow open the game.
On the mound, starter Dax Fulton had his most successful outing since May 2023, before an elbow injury led to missing the rest of the that season and the entire 2024 season.
Fulton, a lefthander ranked as the Marlins’ No. 14 prospect, finished 5.1 innings, throwing 84 pitches to earn his first win in two years. He allowed just two walks, four strikeouts in a solid performance. Three relievers followed with closer Josh Ekness finishing the game with a strikeout on a 97 mph fastball.
Every Blue Wahoos batter reached base in this game. Zamora and Nathan Martorella both had two-hit games.
GAME NOTABLES
— With three more stolen bases, the Blue Wahoos now have swiped 16 bags. They entered the game second in the Southern League in that category.
— The National Anthem was performed by Brooke Woods.
— There were three Pensacola area youth baseball teams participating in on-field recognition and team members running onto the field with Blue Wahoos players for the starting line. The teams were the Cantonment Reds with 124 total guests, Perdido Baseball and the Bill Bond Warriors.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Homestand Finale
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Tate Lady Aggies Celebrate Senior Night (With Photo Gallery)
April 12, 2025
The Tate Aggies softball celebrated senior night on Friday night, honoring eight members of the team from the Class of 2005.
The seniors are Blakely Campbell, Carlyn Ham, Aubree Jordan, Ambuerleigh Laird, Tristen Showalter, Jordan Smith, Lacy Wilson, and Kara Wine.
For a photo gallery click here (game action is first, followed by senior night photos).
After being tied at four in the bottom of the eighth, the Navarre Raiders pulled out a 7-4 win over the Lady Aggies in nine-inning game on Charlene Varnell Field in Cantonment.
Smith took the loss for Tate, going nine innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on 11 hits while walking two and striking out five.
Peyton Womack, Madison Smillie, Campbell, Laird, and Smith each had one hit for the Aggies. Smith led with two RBIs, while Campbell also had a run batted in.
Up next, the Aggies will be at the Escambia Gators on Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chiefs End Regular Season With 12-5 Win Over W.S. Neal (With Gallery)
April 12, 2025
The Northview Chiefs closed their regular season with a 12-5 win over the W.S. Neal Eagles 12-5 Friday night in Bratt.
Jase Portwood earned the win for the Chiefs. He gave up one hit and one unearned run in three innings, striking out four and walking none. Grayden Sheffield pitched three innings, allowing three hits and our runs while striking out two and walking three. Jayden White threw one inning of no-hit, no-run ball.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Sheffield went 3-3 at bat, while Braynt Mason had four RBIs as he went 2-3, and Luke Chavers went 2-3.
Up next, Northview will host Laurel Hill in the Rural District 1 quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Monday. The winner will head to the semis against the Royals on Tuesday afternoon in Jay.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Laskey Wows In Start, But Blue Wahoos Fall In 3-2 Loss
April 12, 2025
The Blue Wahoos have a promotional ice cream giveaway whenever a Pensacola pitcher first records three strikeouts in an inning.
Adam Laskey caused a reorder. Laskey struck out the first six batters he faced, and nine total over 4.0 innings, but the Montgomery Biscuits got enough big hits later for a 3-2 victory Friday night against the Blue Wahoos to even the week-long series.
A capacity crowd of 5,038 on watched an arms duel in this game, which was completed in just 2 hours, 14 minutes. The Blue Wahoos lost this game despite their pitchers racking up 14 strikeouts. The Biscuits countered with 11 punchouts and held the Blue Wahoos to six hits and few opportunities.
Laskey delivered near-perfection in the four innings he worked as a spot starter. The first Biscuits batter to put the ball in play was second baseman Willy Vasquez with a leadoff single in the third inning, but he was thrown out by Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack trying to steal second. That proved to be the only time a Laskey pitch left the infield in his four innings. A former mid-draft (19th round) pick out of Duke University in 2019, Laskey was acquired by the Miami Marlins from the Chicago Cubs organization in December 2023. He appeared in 31 games for the Blue Wahoos last season, including six starts. He pitched in relief last Saturday in the Blue Wahoos sweep of the Biloxi Shuckers, allowing a run in three innings. His four-pitch arsenal – fastball, change-up, curve ball, slider – was on point in a noteworthy way Friday. He threw just 47 pitches in the specified four-inning start with 35 for strikes. He allowed no walks and faced just 12 batters.
When he exited, the Blue Wahoos had a 1-0 lead after Mack blasted a solo home run that hit the sidewalk behind the right-center berm area and bounced out of the ballpark. The cutter pitch exited Mack’s bat at 106 mph and traveled 437 feet.
The Biscuits got a tying run in the fifth off reliever Nigel Belgrave on a double by Brayden Taylor, one of the Tampa Bay Rays’ highest-rated prospects. By design, the Blue Wahoos had Evan Fitterer pitch the final four innings. After his strong performance as a starter last Saturday, Fitterer was touched up for two runs in the sixth inning on a RBI double by Homer Bush Jr. and Colton Ledbetter’s run-scoring single that proved decisive.
The Blue Wahoos attempted an eighth-inning rally when Jared Serna homered over the left field wall, followed by a Kemp Alderman single and Nathan Martorella walk. But reliever Alfredo Zarraga induced a hard grounder by Shane Sasaki that became an inning-ending double play. Zarraga then set the Blue Wahoos down in order in the ninth.
The teams will play their fifth game of the series on Saturday, a Fireworks Saturday, featuring the Blue Wahoos’ Dax Fulton making his second start of the season.
GAME NOTABLES
— — Escambia County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Kelly Reed, a kindergarten teacher at Global Learning Academy, was honored during pregame activities. She led a parade of ECPS teachers in a lap around the field. Reed also threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
— Also part of the pregame activities were Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, who had five ceremonial first pitches and brought awareness to the local chapter of the national organization.
—— Bubba Watson, a co-investor in the Blue Wahoos and big supporter, posted an even-par round Friday at The Masters and is 1-under for the tournament. The two-time Masters champion made the cut for the first time in three years.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
GAME TIMES: Saturday’s games starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 1:05 p.m.
Tate Aggies Honored As Blue Wahoos Beat The Biscuits (With Gallery)
April 11, 2025
Thursday night was a big night for the Tate Aggies as they watched the Blue Wahoos beat the Blue Wahoos 8-5 in Pensacola.
The Aggies baseball team had their season awards dinner on the party porch with a group of 160 people that was a combination of team members, parents and friends. All six Tate seniors on the team — Kaleb Posta, Brayden Beck, Tate Davis, Nate Ozuna, Zane Warrington and Sheppard Edgar — were all honored by throwing out ceremonial first pitches to Blue Wahoos outfielder Dalvy Rosario.
For a photo gallery of the Aggies at the Blue Wahoos, click here.
Tate head coach Brett McCullough said he thought a team outing at Blue Wahoos Stadium was the perfect setting for a season team event. The Aggies will be in the district post-season playoffs beginning next week.
Spohn, Sasaki Lead Two-Out Attack in 8-5 Wahoos Win
Harrison Spohn ignores any scenario with each at-bat to ensure a consistent approach.
“Just keeping things simple,” he said. “Pretending there’s no one on base, just so my brain doesn’t go crazy.”
He was perfectly focused Thursday, driving in three runs on three hits, including a go-ahead triple, as the Blue Wahoos used two-out magic for all their runs in an 8-5 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits on Pensacola Mullets Night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The team took on its alternate identity wearing Pensacola Mullets uniforms – a tradition that began years ago on each Thursday home game.
Spohn’s night was one half of the huge production from the bottom of the batting order. Centerfielder Shane Sasaki, robbed of a home run Wednesday night, had fate on his side this time, driving in four runs with two big swings. He doubled off the wall in left center in the second inning, then blasted a two-run homer that scored Spohn in the sixth inning.
Spohn also came up with the game’s biggest defensive play. The Biscuits were in position in the eighth inning with runners on second and third to again erase a Blue Wahoos lead. Matthew Etzel, who had driven in two runs earlier, scorched a line drive off reliever Ricky DeVito. But Spohn was in the right position for a big catch that resulted in an inning-ending double play. In the ninth, Dale Stanavich earned his first save by striking out Brock Jones with a sweeper pitch and two runners on base.
The Blue Wahoos (5-1) got eight runs on eight hits. That kind of offense was needed on this night.
“It’s always nice to get the season on the right start, but it’s a long season. We gotta keep it going,” said Spohn on the post-game stadium interview with the Blue Wahoos’ Carter Bainbridge.
Blue Wahoos starter Robby Snelling, the team’s highest-rated prospect, encountered difficulty but struck out a season-high nine batters. He gave up a pair of homers and four runs, while becoming the first Blue Wahoos starter to work into the sixth inning. Snelling seemed in command with a 4-1 lead through four innings. But a leadoff homer by Willy Vasquez in the fifth inning was followed by a pair of singles, then runners advancing into scoring position, when Mathew Etzel delivered a two-out, two-run single.
In the game-deciding sixth inning, Cody Morissette had a one-out single, then stole second. Spohn followed with his RBI triple.
“Just (looking for) something in the zone, right?” Spohn said of his approach. “That’s all you got to do in this game in Double-A.”
Sasaki then blasted a slider over the left center wall with a 106 mph exit speed to make it 7-4. In the eighth inning, Spohn’s RBI single with two outs scored Johnny Olmstead, who had reached on a two-base error.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits 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.
Game action written by Bill Vilona.
Sappington’s Hat Trick, Helmig’s Saves Power Tate Girls Lacrosse To 7-3 Playoff Win
April 11, 2025
submitted for NorthEscambia.com
Junior standout Tori Sappington recorded a hat trick and sophomore goalie Carly Helmig anchored a stout defense as the Tate Aggies girls lacrosse team defeated Milton in the first round of the 2A District 1Girls Lacrosse tournament at Tate High School.
Sappington was the offensive engine for Tate, finding the net three times on nine shots on goal. Her scoring prowess set the tone, but the offense featured contributions across multiple classes. Junior Taelyn Hubbard added a goal and the team’s lone assist, while sophomore Abigayle Keever, freshman Ashlee Edgar, and senior Hannah Keeler each chipped in with a goal apiece. Edgar and Keeler were notably efficient, converting their only shots of the game into goals. As a team, Tate registered 17 shots on target.
While the offense put up seven goals, the defense and goaltending were equally impressive. Helmig played the entire game in cage, turning aside 9 of the 12 shots she faced for a strong .750 save percentage. Her performance kept the opposition largely in check, allowing just three goals against.
The defensive effort extended to controlling loose balls, as Tate collected 26 ground balls throughout the match. Sappington led the way here as well, scooping up a team-high 5 ground balls. Sophomore Lily Meteiver contributed 4, while Hubbard and freshman Brooke Odom added 3 each.
Tate also found success on the draw, winning 7 draw controls, with Sappington again playing a central role in gaining possession for her team.
No. 4 Tate advances to the semifinals at 6 p.m.on Monday, April 14 at No. 1 Gulf Breeze.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Softball And Baseball, Tate Softball Earn Wins Thursday Night
April 11, 2025
SOFTBALL
Northview 11, West Florida 1
The Northview Lady Chiefs dominated the West Florida Jaguars 11-1 on Thursday night in Pensacola.
In a complete game, Mikayla McAnally gave up two hits and one run while walking none and striking out 10 in a seven innings.
Avery Stuckey went 3-4 for the Chiefs, while Addysen Bolen and Jamison Gilman each had three RBIs. Bailey Burkette, Aubrey Hadley, and Daviona Randolph each had multiple hits.
Up next for the Chiefs is a trip to rival Jay on Tuesday, April 15.
Tate 4, Gulf Breeze 3
The Tate Aggies beat Gulf Breeze 4-3 Thursday night in Cantonment.
Peyton Womack earned the win for the Lady Aggies, surrendering eight hits and three runs in seven innings, walking four and striking out five.
Mykamia Padgett recorded two RBIs, going 2-3 for the night. Peyton Womack also had two hits for Tate. Kinzlee Biggs, Aubrey Jordan, Taylor Robinson and Carlyn Ham each added one hit.
Tate will host Navarre Friday at 6:30 for senior night.
BASEBALL
Northview 4, Baker 2
The Northview Chiefs earned a big 4-2 district win over Baker Thursday night in Bratt.
Braynt Mason earned the win for Northview, surrendering just one hit and no runs in five innings, walking one and striking out five. Jase Portwood and Grayden Sheffield pitched in relief for Northview. Sheffield allowed two hits and two runs while walking one and striking out two in one and two-thirds innings, while Portwood allowed no hits and no runs in the final third of an inning.
Northview will host W.S. Neal at 6:30 in their final regular season game of the season.
Northview 10, Baker 0 (JV)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Fall Behind Early, Sustain First Loss of Season
April 10, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
For the first time in five games, the Blue Wahoos were in a mid-game hole. They weren’t able to climb out.
The Montgomery Biscuits jumped to an early lead, extended it to 5-1 in the sixth inning and went on to a 6-3 victory that ended the Blue Wahoos’ unbeaten start to the season at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Biscuits (3-1) produced 10 hits against Pensacola pitching, the most allowed in the Blue Wahoos’ (4-1) first five games.
Even so, the game still had some final at-bat intrigue. Blue Wahoos third baseman Johnny Olmstead caused a crowd reaction by driving a pitch deep to centerfield with Josh Zamora on second base. The ball was caught by the Biscuits’ Homer Bush Jr. near the base of the wall to end the game.
Zamora and catcher Sam Praytor both had two hits, accounting for the bulk of the team’s seven hits. Praytor reached base three times, scored a run and threw out two runners trying to steal.
It became a tough start for Blue Wahoos righthander Jacob Miller. In the second inning, he allowed three hits as the Biscuits scored three runs.
Left fielder Matthew Etzel led off with a bunt single. Cooper Kinney then doubled. Tatem Levins followed with an RBI single. The Blue Wahoos just missed turning a double play to end the inning, but instead a second run scored. The Biscuits then pulled off a double steal to plate the third run.
Miller pitched four innings, allowing six hits, but did record seven strikeouts in his first start of the season.
The Blue Wahoos’ Mark Coley II homered with two outs in the bottom of the second—his first Double-A level homer.
Etzel gave the Biscuits a 4-1 lead with a fifth-inning homer off Tristan Stevens.
Kemp Alderman’s sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Jake Thompson, who had led off with a triple, and Praytor scored the Blue Wahoos’ final run in the eighth after leading off with a single.
The Biscuits win evened the series. The two teams will play the third game on the first “Mullet Thursday” when the Blue Wahoos will take on their alternate identity and wear Pensacola Mullets uniforms. There will be beverage specials throughout the game for those of legal age.
Robby Snelling, one of the Blue Wahoos’ Top 10 rated prospects in the Miami Marlins organization, will make his second start after a sharp opening night last Friday.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Navarre Youth Sports Association softball teams attended Wednesday’s game and participated in a pregame parade on the field. The group had 250 members attending the game.
— The Blue Wahoos honored Travis (TJ) Presley on his birthday Wednesday. Known as TJ, he greets fans as they arrived at the top of the main entrance staircase each game. He’s the guy you can hear say, “Welcome To the Wahoos Life” as people come into the ballpark.
— On Tuesday, the Blue Wahoos honored a 98-year-old resident “Miss Bobbie” who sat above the home team dugout and had the entire stadium singing “Happy Birthday” wishes to her on her 98th birthday.
WANT TO GO?
- WHO: Montgomery Biscuits 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.