Blue Wahoos Win Season Opener 4-0 Over Biloxi
April 5, 2025
Robby Snelling made his prior Opening Day start a couple years ago, but not in a packed stadium or this kind of level.
“I’m looking forward to being in a great atmosphere,” said Snelling, earlier in the week before the Blue Wahoos’ first practice.
Friday night, he delivered a memorable impression.
Snelling, only 21 years old but already one of the Miami Marlins’ top-rated prospects, tossed a five-inning, two-hit gem to set a tone that was followed by the Pensacola bullpen in a 4-0 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers that delighted a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The season-opening win, crisply played in 2 hours and 35 minutes, gave Blue Wahoos new manager Nelson Prada a win in his Double-A managerial debut. Prada is coming off a special time in guiding Spain to the championship round of the World Baseball Classic in February.
Snelling, a 6-foot-3 lefthander from Reno, Nevada, who pitched in several Major League spring training games for the Marlins, flashed the same kind of quality stuff he’s showed since being acquired by the Marlins in a trade last July. He was drafted in 2022 by the San Diego Padres in the competitive balance portion of the first round.
After giving up a first-inning single to the second batter he faced – Biloxi’s star prospect Cooper Pratt — Snelling faced just two more batters above the minimum in his five-inning quality start. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
Pratt, rated No. 2 in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, was thrown out on a terrific play by Blue Wahoos centerfielder Shane Saski, as Pratt tried to stretch the hit into a double.
From that point, the Shuckers got only two more baserunners against Snelling. Three relievers followed Snelling and they were all outstanding.
Zach McCambley, one of the veteran returnees, tossed 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Newcomer Lane Ramsey pitched a scoreless eighth inning and closer Josh Ekness finished the game with a 97-mph fastball for a game-ending strikeout.
The game featured outstanding defense on both sides. The Shuckers threw two Blue Wahoos runners out at the plate, including a terrific relay throw that got catcher Joe Mack out on a diving slide attempting to score on a Kemp Alderman double.
It was a big night at the plate for Alderman, a former Ole Miss star, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. The same for Nathan Martorella, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. This duo accounted for six of the Blue Wahoos’ eight hits.
The Blue Wahoos broke through with three runs in the fourth inning. After Martorella drove home Alderman with the game’s first run, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases and drew back-to-back RBI walks from Cody Morissette and Sasaki. Morissette walked three times in the game.
After Mack was thrown out at the plate in the seventh inning, Martorella drove home Alderman a second time to make it 4-0.
The teams will continue the three-game season opening series on Saturday night, the first post-game fireworks night of the season, in a 6:05 game featuring Blue Wahoos returning pitcher Evan Fitterer on the mound against the Shuckers Nate Peterson.
GAME NOTABLES
In starting their 13th season in club history, the Blue Wahoos are now 9-4 in openers. This was their sixth Opening Night win in the nine years they’ve started the season at home.
These teams will play 27 times this season, the most meetings of any Blue Wahoos opponent.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Series
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Northview Lady Chiefs Knock Off Undefeated Jay (With Gallery)
April 4, 2025
The Northview Lady Chiefs handed the top-ranking Jay Royals their first loss of the season 9-5 on a misty Thursday night in Bratt.
Jamison Gilman opened in the circle for the Chiefs. The senior allowed four hits and two runs (one earned) in three innings, walking two and striking out none. Mikayla McAnally pitched four innings in relief, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out five and walking two.
“We just fought hard tonight. We made some errors; we are still working on mental errors,” Northview coach Amy Holland said after the big win. “More than anything, this team here is not laying down. They are fighting out and they’re finding ways to win. We scored a lot of points on two outs tonight, and that just tells you right they are not laying down, they’re not going to give up, and we’ve got a long way to go.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Layna Lowry pitched five and two-third innings for the Royals, surrendering 10 hits and nine runs with three strikeouts and one walk.
Bailey Burkette led the Lady Chiefs with three RBIs as she went 2-4. Riley Brooks, Aubrey Hadley, and Avery Stuckey each added two hits.
Kiley Samford and Lowry had two hits each for Jay, while Kaylee Gilbreath recorded two RBIs.
The Lady Chiefs will host Navarre at 5:30 p.m. Friday, while Jay’s next game will be against West Florida on April 8.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Padgett Homers As Tate Softball Shuts Out Niceville; Tate Baseball Falls
April 4, 2025
SOFTBALL
Tate 3, Niceville 0
Jordan Smith recorded 21 outs as the Tate Lady Aggies shut out Niceville 3-0 Thursday night in Cantonment. She gave up three hits and no runs in seven innings while striking out none and walking none.
Mykamia Padgett has one RBI for Tate as she went 1-3 with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to center field. Kara Wine went 2-3. Kaylie Mitchell and Kinzlee Biggs each added one hit.
Friday night, the Tate Lady Aggies will host the West Florida Jags in the annual Strike Out Cancer game at 7:00.
BASEBALL
West Florida 5, Tate 2
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Tate Aggies 5-2 Thursday night in Cantonment.
Zane Warrington took the loss for Tate in six innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on five hits, walking four and striking out four. Nate Connors was on the mound for one inning, striking out two while allowing no hits and no runs.
Up next, Tate will travel to Navarre on Friday for a 7:00 game.
Pictured: Mykamia Padgett homered Thursday night for the Tate Lady Aggies. Photo for NorthEscambia.com , click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Lacrosse Defeats Milton 6-2
April 4, 2025
Tate Girls Lacrosse earned a district win 6-2 over Milton Panthers Thursday night in Milton. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys Tennis Defeats Navarre
April 4, 2025
The Tate Aggies boys tennis team got back into the win column 5-2 over Navarre Thursday. The Tate girls fell to the Raiders 5-2. Up next, Tate will host Pace on Monday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$200,000 And Counting: Tate Softball’s Strike Out Cancer Game Is Friday
April 3, 2025
Tate Aggie softball’s annual Strike Out Cancer Game will be this Friday as they add to over $200,000 raised for the fight against cancer.
The Lady Aggies will host the West Florida Jaguars at 5 p.m. for junior varsity with the varsity game beginning about 7 p.m. There are no advance ticket sales; admission is donations only at the gate. There will also be auction items and “Chase the Aggie” for children by donation.
Full concessions, fish dinners, jambalaya dinners, and more will be available for purchase. All gate fees, concessions and donations will benefit Rally Gulf Coast, the Keeping Abreast Foundation and the Baptist Healthcare Mammography Program.
Last year’s Strike Out Cancer Game raised $25,183.
The first year, they raised $2,550 and didn’t know if they would ever beat that mark.
The game has now raised over $200,000 for cancer awareness and research in 14 years.
For more photos from last year, click here.
Pictured: Last year’s Tate Aggies Strike Out Cancer Game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses This Month In Molino, Cantonment, Jay, Milton
April 3, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Molino, Cantonment, Jay and Milton. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Participants must take the online course before attending a class.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The two-day events will be held as follows, and you must have completed an online hunter safety course and have a copy of the completion certificate or field day voucher prior to taking a Field Day.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
- April 7, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- April 14, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Molino Community Center
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- April 21, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- April 28, 6 p.m. and May 3, 9 a.m. — Santa Rosa Extension, Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes or by calling FWC safety coordinator Jeff Schumacher at (850) 767-3612 for more information or email.
Tate LaCrosse Celebrates Senior Night
April 2, 2025
Tate High School Lacrosse celebrated senior night Tuesday.
The Aggies honored three seniors: Talia Mendiola, Hannah Keeler, and Laila Ritchey.
In Tuesday night’s game, Tate fell to the Seacoast Collegiate Swordfish from Santa Rosa Beach.
Pictured top: (L-R) Tate Lacrosse seniors Hannah Keeler, Talia Mendiola, and Laila Ritchey. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Girls Tennis Shuts Out Washington
April 2, 2025
Tate Aggies girls tennis defeated Washington 7-0 Tuesday, as the Tate boys lost 6-1 to the Wildcats.Up next, Tate will travel to Navarre on Thursday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bridges Records 18 Outs As Northview Slips To West Florida; Gulf Breeze Tops Tate
April 2, 2025
West Florida 3, Northview 1
The Northview Chiefs slipped to West Florida 3-1 on Tuesday night in Pensacola.
Jackson Bridges recorded 18 outs for the Chiefs in six innings, allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out seven and walking three.
Northview’s only score came on an error in the third inning. Grayden Sheffield, Kelan Jury and Cole Davis each had one hit for the Chiefs.
Up next, the Chiefs will head up to Atmore to take on Escambia County on Thursday before a rematch in Bratt with West Florida on Friday.
Gulf Breeze, Tate 0
The Gulf Breeze Dolphins defeated Tate 7-0 on Tuesday night in Cantonment.
Connor Dethlefs, Cal Foxworth, and Kaden Posta each had one hit for the Aggies.
Bryton McLellan went five and two-thirds innings and took the loss for Tate. He allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out four. Sheppard Edgar threw one and one-third innings, allowing on hit and one run while walking one.
Next, Tate will host the West Florida Jagaurs on Thursday before traveling to Navarre on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.