Tate Girls Tennis Beats Pace 6-1
April 9, 2025
The Tate Aggies girls tennis team earned a 6-1 senior night win over Pace on Tuesday. Next up, the Aggies will be at Choctaw on Wednesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Softball Beats Gulf Breeze, Baseball Slips To TRM
April 9, 2025
SOFTBALL
Northview 7, Gulf Breeze 4
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat the Gulf Breeze Dolphins 7-4 in Gulf Breeze Tuesday night.
Jamison Gilman pitched six and one-third innings for the Chiefs, surrendering eight hits and four runs in six and one-third innings while walking four and striking out three. Mikayla McAnally faced five batters in relief over two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits while striking out two and walking one.
Bailey Burkette led NHS with three RBIs as she went 1-2. Mikayla McAnally, Daviona Randolph, and Avery Stuckey recorded two hits each for the Chiefs.
Northview will continue a three game road series Thursday at West Florida.
BASEBALL
T.R. Miller 3, Northview 2
The T.R. Miller Tigers slipped past the Northview Chiefs on Tuesday night in Brewton.
Jackson Bridges was on the mound for five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out seven. Braynt Mason pitched a one-hit inning with no runs, strikeouts or walks.
Jase Portwood led Northview with two RBIs as he went 1-3. Cole Davis, Dane King, Jase Portwood, and Grayden Sheffield each had one hit for the Chief.
Up next, Northview will host Baker in a district game Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Mack’s Homer Leads Wahoos To Win And Record-Tying Season Start
April 9, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack had a couple of hard-hit outs in his first two games to start this season. Fate changed his way Tuesday.
Mack blasted a two-run homer—part of a three-hit, three-RBI night—then got a birds-eye view behind the plate of reliever Josh Ekness’ clutch relief as the Blue Wahoos held on for a 5-4 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits, going 4-0 to start 2025 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game began a six-game series between the teams. The win enabled the Blue Wahoos to tie their best start in franchise history, matching the 2021 team, which was their first season as a Miami Marlins affiliate. They can set a record Wednesday in the second game of the series.
On the first “Doggone Tuesday,” where fans could bring their beloved dogs and tickets were all one price with a meal included, Mack provided another look at why he’s viewed as a rising talent. His two-run homer in the third inning gave the Blue Wahoos a lead they kept.
In addition to his homer, Mack doubled home another run, singled, scored two runs, and threw out a runner trying to steal. He also helped Ekness dial up brilliance as the Blue Wahoos’ closer.
The Biscuits cut a 5-1 deficit to a one-run game in the eighth inning. Blue Wahoos reliever Orlando Ortiz-Mayr struggled with location, yielding three hits and two walks after retiring the first batter.
Ekness entered with two on and one out. He struck out the first batter he faced, then got a deep flyout to end the inning. In the ninth, he struck out the side to end the game and record his first save.
This game also featured a memorable moment for Cody Morissette. A former multi-sport athlete and talented hockey player, Morissette scored three beers with one home run shot.
His line-drive rocket in the fourth inning sailed beyond the right field wall. The ball landed at a table of fans, part of a group outing A
The people were fine. The drinks were replaced. And Morissette had his first homer of the season to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 lead.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios worked four innings, giving up a run on four hits with three strikeouts.
In the third inning, Jared Serna led off and reached on a throwing error. Mack then blasted a fastball out of the ballpark. He came into the game with one hit in his first seven at-bats. Mack followed with a double that scored Serna in the seventh. Nathan Martorella then singled home Mack.
Shane Sasaki was robbed of a potential home run in the fourth inning when Biscuits centerfielder Colton Ledbetter leaped above the wall to snare the ball with his glove.
Jacob Miller will be the Blue Wahoos’ starter on Wednesday in the second game of the series.
GAME NOTABLES
- Blue Wahoos corporate sales executive Andie Masten and group sales executive Jessica Voigt together performed the National Anthem.
- Rachel Balkovec, the Marlins director of player development, watched Tuesday’s game from the Blue Wahoos dugout.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Wednesday thru Sunday
Free Mississippi State, Florida, LSU Women’s Soccer Games Saturday At Ashton Brosnaham
April 8, 2025
This Saturday, women’s teams from three top-ranked Southeastern Conference schools will compete in the Western Gate Soccer Showdown at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park. The event was first held at the Escambia County park last year.
The showdown will feature 45-minute matchups between the Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers, and autograph sessions will be held throughout the day with all of the teams. Admission is free.
The schedule is as follows:
1 p.m. — LSU vs. MSU
2:30 p.m. — UF vs MSU
4 p.m. — LSU vs. UF
For more photos from last year, including the Mississippi State vs. LSU game, click here.
Ashton Brosnaham Park is located at 10370 Ashton Brosnaham Drive, just north of 10 Mile Road.
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 SE Cchampionship at the Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park.
Pictured: The 2024 Western Gate Soccer Showdown. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Praytor’s Homer In Debut Pushes Wahoos To Series Sweep
April 7, 2025
The Blue Wahoos have begun a new season in a most desired way.
After an early lead Sunday was erased in the middle innings, the Blue Wahoos’ bats reignited to power an 8-4 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers and complete a three-game sweep at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 4,004 on the first Military and Family Sunday watched a different kind of win. This time, the Blue Wahoos overcame four errors and used four pitchers to grind their way into a satisfying finish to their season-opening series.
“We’re relentless. We always feel like we’re in a good spot to win the game and think we showed that (Sunday),” said catcher Sam Praytor, a former Alabama Crimson Tide star, who smashed a game-changing two-run homer in the fourth inning to regain the lead.
All the better, it was Praytor’s first start in Double-A. In his second at-bat, his first hit was a towering blast over the left field wall off a 97-mph fastball.
“It was awesome,” said Praytor, who celebrated his 26th birthday Friday. “It is one of those things you think about it, and then once you get it out of the way, you’re like, oh thank God.
“Once I rounded first, I saw that it had cleared the wall,” he said. “It was a great feeling. I honestly wasn’t thinking that I had just put us ahead. I was just trying to have a good at-bat and something good happened.”
A lot of good things happened in Praytor’s collegiate career at Alabama. He led the team in home runs in his final two seasons and was first-team All-Southeastern Conference catcher in 2021. That season he played all 58 games.
It led to being a sixth-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2021. He climbed two levels last season and was elevated to Double-A following spring training.
Praytor understands his role to start this season as the Blue Wahoos’ No. 2 catcher behind returning Joe Mack, the Marlins’ Double-A Player of the Year in 2024.
“Joe is an absolute stud,” Praytor said. “He’s a great player and a great teammate, so I am glad I get to play with Joe, but also whenever I get the opportunity just make the most of it and something good will happen.”
The win Sunday matched how the Blue Wahoos started last season – sweeping the Mississippi Braves in what became their lone series sweep.
“It’s great. I think we have a special ballclub here,” Praytor said. “We have a great locker room and everybody loves to play with everybody, so I think it’s going to be a really fun year.”
The fun times continued following Sunday’s game. This was the first Family and Military Sunday game of the year. Children 12 and under were able to run the bases, and families tossed soft baseballs in the outfield for 30 minutes.
Each Sunday home game, the first 100 active or retired military members can receive a free general admission ticket by showing a military ID at the stadium box office.
The Blue Wahoos wasted little time jumping to a lead.
Jared Serna led off the first with a single. Jake Thompson walked. Kemp Alderman reached on an infield single to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Serna. Josh Zamora’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Thompson. Shane Sasaki had a two-out single to score Alderman for a 3-0 lead.
Sasaki had a big day. He went 2-for-3 at the plate, reached on a walk in another at-bat, drove in two runs, scored a run, and made a great catch of a deep fly ball.
Serna was the team’s other multiple-hit batter, beginning the season with a .333 average.
On the mound, Dax Fulton made his first start in nearly two years. He’s battled back from injury issues that began following his previous start way back on May 11, 2023.
After missing last season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, this was a moment Fulton had long awaited.
He got through the first inning while overcoming a walk and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. But in the second inning, a leadoff walk and two singles led to the Shuckers’ first run. In the third inning, he gave up a leadoff triple that led to a second run when outfielder Mark Coley II was unable to corral a fly ball.
The Shuckers got a third run on a base hit. Fulton was lifted by manager Nelson Prada after a leadoff single in the fourth inning that led to a go-ahead run at the time. He finished throwing 72 pitches, 45 for strikes, while giving up five hits, three walks, and striking out two.
But getting him back on the mound again became a big win.
“Dax is a great pitcher and he’s a great competitor, so it was a lot of fun to be able to catch him (Sunday),” Praytor said.
The Blue Wahoos quickly answered in their half of the fourth inning. Sasaki reached on a one-out walk, raced to third on an errant pickoff attempt, and scored on Harrison Spohn’s single. Then Praytor followed with his blast.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning on Sasaki’s RBI double and Johnny Olmstead’s sacrifice fly.
They also got stellar relief efforts from Ricky DeVito and Dale Stanavich, with both throwing two scoreless innings to seal the win.
After having Monday off, the Blue Wahoos will remain at home to begin a six-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits on Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAME NOTABLES
Sunday’s game was the first of the season’s “Kazoo’s Reading Program” parades. Five different regional elementary schools, including one from Panama City, had children and parents attend and make a lap on the field during a pregame parade. It will be repeated throughout the early part of the season.
Blue Wahoos group sales executive Jessica Voigt performed the National Anthem.
On Sunday games, the Blue Wahoos storefronts offer a $6 value meal with a hot dog, chips, and soft drink.
The Elberta (Ala.) Youth Baseball organization attended the game with a group of 250.
Tate Softball’s Strike Out Cancer Games Approaches Quarter Million Dollars For Fight Against Cancer
April 6, 2025
Tate Aggie softball’s annual Strike Out Cancer Game is approaching an incredible quarter million dollars raised in the first against cancer.
Friday night’s game was the 15th annual. With $217,000 raised before Friday night, Friday night’s total at over $24,000 and counting early in the game — that’s over $241,000.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Coach Melinda Wyatt will quickly tell you it’s not about her, it’s not about her Tate Aggies, it’s not about the opposing team, and it’s not about anyone.
‘It’s not about y’all,” Wyatt said to the teams Friday night. “We are just providing some entertainment. It’s about all of these survivors that are courageous that have to deal with something that I never want to have to deal with.”
Everything about the game is donated to cancer research. Admission is by donations. There are raffles, concession sales and auctions. Friday night, a chocolate cake topped $200, and a one-of-kind handmade blanket made from 15 years of Aggie Classic t-shirts went for over $1,000. The Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies working the game donate their time.
The umpires not only donate their time — they also bring thousands of dollars in donations.
For several years, the West Florida Jaguars have been the opposing team. But they are always on the same team in the fight against cancer, and Tate is quick to acknowledge that they have been a crucial part of the Aggies’ efforts.
Friday night, the Lady Jags arrived with a check for $8,400.
“That’s why I bring you (WFHS) over here every year is because the other schools around here are cheap,” Wyatt joked.
In previous years, the funds have been donated to the American Cancer Society. Proceeds from Friday night’s game will benefit three local charities — Rally Gulf Coast, the Keeping Abreast Foundation, and the Baptist Healthcare Mammography Program.
“Personally, I believe it’s our obligation. Ours, not just to help one, but all. Not just breast cancer, ovarian cancer. There’re many different types. It’s our obligation,” Wyatt said. “Because cancer is going to find us, whether it’s a friend, neighbor, family member or coworker. Don’t think it’s not going to affect you, because it will.”
As for Friday’s night’s ceremonial opening pitch. It was a “triple” with Tate cancer survivors Kristen Maum, Janice Courson, Sue Hopkins stepping into the circle together.
In game action on Friday night, Tate junior varsity defeated West Florida 8-1, and Tate varsity enjoyed a 5-4 walk-off home run win. [Read more...]
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Sports Physicals Offered For High School Athletes
April 6, 2025
Free sports physicals will be offered for local high school student athletes ahead of summer sports.
The free physicals will be held April 10 and April 15 from 3-6 p.m. at Grace Care Medical at 4929 Mobile Highway in Pensacola. The physical is for high school athletes that need their FHSAA participation physical evaluation form completed.
To schedule the free physical, call (850) 960-7971.
Alderman’s Grand Slam Powers Blue Wahoos Past Biloxi
April 6, 2025
As the selected player of the game, Kemp Alderman received the customary water bucket dousing by his Blue Wahoos teammates. Two games into this season, it’s the only chill the former Ole Miss star has experienced.
Just as Alderman did in October at the Arizona Fall League, he’s stirred a buzz. After three hits on Friday, he delivered the big hit on Saturday with a grand slam into a forceful wind blowing in from left field off the water, powering the Blue Wahoos to a 7-1 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers before a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
How fitting, right?
The rapidly played game, completed in 2 hours, 13 minutes, led right into the first post-game fireworks show of the season.
Under these wind conditions, it was going to take a rocket to get a ball out of this ballpark the past two days. On a fastball he saw with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Alderman barreled it just right. The pitch exited at 104 mph – just enough to clear the left-center fence.
The home run turned the game from a 3-0 lead into a far more comfortable zip code. Alderman has now collected four hits, scored three runs, and stolen a base in two games while reaching base five times.
Alderman, 22, a Mississippi native, helped the Ole Miss Rebels to their dramatic triumph in the 2022 College World Series championship series. He was chosen in the second round by the Miami Marlins in the 2023 Draft and has risen to be ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect in the organization.
Once again, the Blue Wahoos’ pitching was the main narrative. Starter Evan Fitterer carried a strong spring training into his first season start. With his breaking pitches on point and his fastball well-located, Fitterer faced just one batter above the minimum in his five innings.
He allowed one hit, one walk, struck out six, and yielded only two fly-ball outs. Of his 64 pitches, 44 were strikes.
The two relievers who followed, Adam Laskey and Tristian Stevens, were sharp as well. Laskey worked three innings, allowing two hits and the lone Biloxi run, but did not allow a walk and struck out three batters. Stevens finished the game in the ninth.
These teams will finish their three-game series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. – the first of four early Sunday starts on the home schedule – with the Blue Wahoos sending Dax Fulton to the mound to make his first start since 2023. He missed last season recovering from elbow surgery.
The Blue Wahoos had runners on base in each of the first five innings. They got a pair of runs in the second inning off Biloxi starter Nate Peterson. Dalvy Rosario doubled with one out. Johnny Olmstead reached on an error. Cody Morissette’s hard groundout enabled Rosario to score. Harrison Spohn then hit a two-out RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos blew open the game in the fifth when Olmstead led off with a single, Morissette followed with a walk, and Spohn singled. Jared Serna’s RBI single made it 3-0. With one out, Alderman connected in a big way for Pensacola’s first home run of the season and first grand slam since last July.
Olmstead then made a season-highlight defensive play in this second game of the year. He made a full-extension leaping dive in the seventh inning to rob Biloxi’s Eric Brown Jr. of a hit with a runner on base. It elicited a standing ovation.
GAME NOTABLES
- Home games have produced a winning tradition in Blue Wahoos history. Last season their home record of 35-34 marked their eighth consecutive season with a winning home record.
- Emerald Coast Okinawa Drum Group, based in Niceville, which promotes Okinawan culture, performed outside the main gate prior to Saturday’s game.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Weekend Series
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Tate Lady Aggies Get Walk-Off Win Over West Florida
April 5, 2025
The Tate Lady Aggies secured a 5-4 walk-off home run win over the West Florida Jaguars Friday night in the annual Strike Out Cancer game at Tate.
(We will have complete coverage and photos of the Strike Out Cancer events and game action coming up on Sunday morning.)
The Lady Aggies were down 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Kara Wine slammed a homer to center field to score two runs.
Tate’s scoring also began with a home run — a solo homer from Kaylie Mitchell to center field.
Jordan Smith earned the win for Tate as she surrendered six hits and three runs (two earned) in a complete game eight innings while walking two and striking out four.
Kara Wine recorded two RBIs, and she went 2-3 on the night. Peyton Womack went 2-4.
In junior varsity action, Tate beat West Florida 8-1.
Up next for the Aggies is a home game ast South Warren on Monday and Gulf Breeze on Thursday. First pitch is 6:30 p.m. for both games.
(We will have complete coverage and photos of the Strike Out Cancer portion of the game coming up on Sunday morning.)
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navarre Falls To Northview Softball, Tate Baseball On Friday Night
April 5, 2025
SOFTBALL
Northview 3, Navarre 2
Coming off a big district win 9-4 over Jay Thursday night, the Northview Lady Chiefs added another one to the win column with a 3-2 defeat of the 1A Navarre Friday night in Bratt.
Mikayla McAnally earned the win for Northview, surrendering five hits and two runs (one earneed) in seven innings, walking three and striking out three.
Aubrey Hadley, Addysen Bolen, and Daviona Randolph each had two hits for the Chiefs. Riley Brooks, Aubrey Hadley, and Addysen Bolen each had one RBI for Northview.
The Lady Chiefs will have two road games next week — Tuesday at Gulf Breeze and Thursday at West Florida.
BASEBALL
Tate 5, Navarre 1
The Tate Aggies beat Navarre 5-1 Friday night at Navarre.
Tatite Davis hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth for the Aggies to led Tate with two RBIs as he went 2-4 for the night. Nathan Ozuna and Cal Foxworth also had two hits each for the Aggies.
Keelan Beasley earned the win for the Aggies. he allowed four hits and one unearned run while striking out five and walking two over six innings. Nathan Connors threw one no-hit, no run inning for Tate in relief.