Wahoos Fall In Pitcher’s Duel
July 31, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-15, 43-57) were stymied at the plate in a 3-0 loss to the Chattanooga Lookouts (13-18, 56-43) Thursday night at AT&T Field.
Wahoos starter Josh Smith (5-4) earned the loss despite a solid effort at the mound, throwing all eight innings and allowing three runs on eight hits.
The game would be won by Chattanooga’s Jason Wheeler (2-2), who threw 8.0 shutout innings while only allowing three hits. J.T. Chargois would relieve him in the ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.
Yovan Gonzalez, a player known more for his behind-the-plate prowess than his offensive ability, led Pensacola at the dish. He went 2-3 and was the only Wahoo with multiple hits on the evening.
The Wahoos threatened in the top of the third as Juan Perez and Yovan Gonzalez opened the frame with a pair of singles. However, Wheeler retired three straight batters to keep avoid damage.
The Lookouts got the scoring started in the bottom of the third as Aderlin Mejia was brought to the plate on a sacrifice fly from Heiker Meneses. They added another run on a solo blast over the right field wall from Max Kepler to make it 2-0.
The Wahoos would load the bases with three consecutive two-out singles from Gonzalez, Amaral and Zach Vincej, but they were unable to capitalize as a grounder ended the frame. Before those hits, Wheeler had retired 17 straight Wahoo batters.
Chattanooga added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with another solo home run for Kepler, this time on a line drive for his sixth of the season. Smith had retired 10 straight before the homer.
In the ninth, the Wahoos put two men on with a Marquez Smith walk and a Sean Buckley single, but the Wahoos came up empty once again.
The scoreless effort marked the first time that the Wahoos had been shut out since a 1-0 defeat in Mississippi on June 26th.
Seth Mejias-Brean did not reach base for the Wahoos, bringing an end to a streak of 23 consecutive road games.
The Blue Wahoos are on a 10-day road trip against the Chattanooga Lookouts and Jacksonville Suns
Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Attend Summer Camp; Five Named ‘All American’
July 30, 2015
The 2015-2016 Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders attended a three-day Universal Cheerleaders Association camp at the school this week, learning new cheers, stunts, chants and dances for the upcoming year.
Five of the girls were chosen as UCA All-American and will have the opportunity to to cheer in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando.
Award presented included:
- Anna Adams- All American and Most Improved
- Lexi Broadhead- All American
- Jada Crabtree- All American
- Ashlan Harigel- All American, Dancing Diva and Camp MVP
- Cloe Smith- All American and Best Attitude
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School UCA All-American cheerleaders (L-R, standing) Cloe Smith, Ashlan Harigel, Lexi Broadhead, Jada Crabtree, and (kneeling) Anna Adams. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Win In Extra Innings
July 30, 2015
It took 10 runs, 16 hits and seven pitchers, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-14, 43-57) got back into the win column after a 10-9 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts (12-18, 55-43) at AT&T Field Wednesday night.
With multi-hits from four different players, Pensacola registered season-highs in runs, hits and RBIs in the extra-inning game. Both Juan Perez and Beau Amaral went 3-5 with a run and three RBIs while Juan Duran went 3-5 with two runs and a RBI. Seth Mejias-Brean went 2-3 with two runs, an RBI and a walk.
The Blue Wahoos started the game by scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning for an early lead. After a leadoff single, Ryan Wright scored off of Duran’s RBI single. Duran later scored off of Perez’s single to shallow left field.
Starting pitcher Tim Adleman left the game in the second inning with an elbow injury after giving up one hit in 1.2 innings. RHP Jacob Johnson came into relief and threw 3.1 innings of work allowing two runs on five hits in his first appearance for the Blue Wahoos since being transferred back from Louisville.
With two-outs in the second inning, Pensacola added two more runs to the scoreboard as Duran got his second single of the game and Seth Mejias-Brean notched his 12th double of the season. Perez knocked them in with a double to the right field wall. Perez’s three RBIs are a season-high and the most since July 20, 2014 for the Bakersfield Blaze.
The Lookouts got on the board in the fourth inning as Stuart Turner was walked by Johnson and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Levi Michael doubled on a line drive to right-center field to score Turner.
In the fifth inning, Marquez Smith was walked and advanced to third on a deep double to left field by Duran for his third hit of the night. Smith scored on a sacrifice fly by Mejias-Brean as the Blue Wahoos took a 5-1 lead.
Heiker Meneses scored for Chattanooga in the bottom of the fifth off of a RBI double by Max Kepler to make the game 5-2. LHP Joel Bender came into the game for the Wahoos in the sixth inning and gave up two runs on three hits to make it 5-4.
After a few quiet innings, the Lookouts went on a scoring rampage in the eighth. Meneses started the inning with a single. Patrick Shuster came in to replace Miguel Celestino on the mound. Celestino promptly gave up a home run to Kelpler. After a single, fielding error and two walks, Aderlin Mejia drove in two runs to take an 8-5 lead.
The Blue Wahoos began a comeback and tied the game 8-8 in the ninth inning. Beau Amaral hit a one-run single to score Ray Chang. Smith double to right field to drive in both Cam Maron and Amaral.
In the top of the 10th, the Blue Wahoos scored two runs on Amaral’s double to right field scoring both Mejias-Brean and Perez.
Zack Weiss, who came into the game in the ninth inning, registered his first career Double-A win going 2.0 innings recording three hits, one run, one walk and one strikeout.
The Blue Wahoos are on a 10-day road trip against the Chattanooga Lookouts and Jacksonville Suns.
Wahoos Fall To Lookouts
July 29, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (17-14, 42-57) got off to a hot start but fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts (12-17, 55-42) at AT&T Field Tuesday night.
Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (7-8, 4.66) fell after three consecutive wins on a night in which he gave up seven runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings. Most of the damage came in the decisive fourth inning, when the Lookouts had seven runs on six hits and a pair of walks. He was relieved by Wandy Peralta, newly a member of the bullpen, who went 3.0 and gave up a run on four hits.
Chattanooga’s Brett Lee (1-4, 4.25) earned his first Double-A win in nine tries this season as he went 5.0 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits.
The Wahoos struck first in the second with a three-run inning keyed by a two-RBI double from Seth Mejias-Brean, who lead the Wahoos at the plate as he went 2-4. He would later score on a throwing error to make it 3-0.
After a few frames of quiet baseball, the Lookouts made some noise in the bottom of the fourth as they scored seven runs on six hits, taking a 7-3 lead and chasing Wright out of the game in the process.
The Wahoos attempted to cut into the lead in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases without a hit, but they came up empty as Lee was able to hold strong.
The Lookouts added to their lead as Shannon Wilkerson drove in a run on a double to right field, making the score 8-3.
The Wahoos threatened again in the eighth as Juan Duran’s double and Mejias-Brean’s single put runners at the corners with nobody out. However, the Wahoos came up empty.
RHP Kevin Shackelford did not give up a hit in the eighth inning as he made his 20th appearance since April 25. Since then, he’s gone 1-3 with a 1.50 ERA (four earned runs in 24.0 innings of work) with nine walks and 12 strikeouts.
The Wahoos have now dropped four straight after reaching the top of the division last week at 17-10.
The Blue Wahoos are on a 10-day road trip against the Chattanooga Lookouts and Jacksonville Suns.
Northview Grad Weeks Inks With Jeff Davis Baseball
July 28, 2015
Northview High School graduate Brett Weeks has signed a full baseball scholarship with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. Weeks was part of Northview’s district and regional championship teams and the’s first appearance in the state final four. Pictured: Brett Weeks (center), his mother Julie Weeks, father Ray Weeks (right) and Northview Coach Marty Lister (standing). Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Series To Biloxi
July 27, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos started off the first inning by scoring a run against the Biloxi Shuckers for the fourth time in the five game series.
Shuckers pitcher Jorge Lopez allowed the run on a double by Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej and an RBI-single by Jesse Winker to start the game and tie it at 1-1.
However, Pensacola would not get another hit off Lopez until 14 batters later in the fifth when Blue Wahoos catcher Yovan Gonzalez singled to left field.
Biloxi would go on to pull out a, 10-2, victory on 14 hits and win the last three games of the series over Pensacola in front of 4,173 Sunday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Shuckers improved its record to 11-4 in three series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos—its best record against a Southern League team. The Shuckers are also 11-4 against the Jacksonville Suns.
Lopez, who entered the game 1-1 against Pensacola, improved to 9-4 with a 2.72 ERA after surviving the first inning. The 22-year-old righty retired 11 in a row through the fourth inning. The Milwaukee Brewers No. 15 prospect has not allowed more than three earned runs in his last nine starts dating back to June 2.
Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said Biloxi’s starting rotation impressed him this series.
“It came down to starting pitching,” Kelly said. “We just got outpitched this series.”
Although Kelly said he likes his rotation and bullpen, he’s interested in seeing the pitchers the Cincinnati Reds may send Pensacola’s way following its trade of starter Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
The Shuckers improved to 14-15 (57-40) in the second half of the Southern League South Division. The loss dropped Pensacola to 17-13 (42-56) in the second half and they remained tied for second with the Mississippi Braves.
Zach Vincej led Pensacola at the plate, going 1-2 with a double to center field, earning two walks and scoring a run. He has hit .348 in July (23-66) — his best month this season — to raise his season average to .264.
Against Pensacola, Shuckers left fielder Victor Roache extended his on-base streak to 11 games. Roache tore up Pensacola pitching, hitting .474 (9-19), including a two-out, three-run homer Sunday in the third inning that put Biloxi up, 4-1.
“We didn’t pitch him very well,” Kelly said of Roache. “When we made a mistake, he didn’t miss, that’s for sure.”
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos start a five-game series against the Minnesota Twins Double-A affiliate the Chattanooga Lookouts, followed by a five-game series against the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate the Jacksonville Suns. The Blue Wahoos next home game is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Friday Aug. 7 with the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate Birmingham Barons.
Biloxi Beats The Wahoos
July 26, 2015
After being shut down for seven innings getting only one hit — a solo home run by left fielder Jesse Winker — the Pensacola Blue Wahoos lineup came alive in the eighth and ninth innings getting a double, two singles and a walk.
However, Pensacola’s hopes for a comeback against the Biloxi Shuckers fell short, 4-2, and the Shuckers evened the series at two games apiece in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was the 19th sellout of the season in 47 home dates and 123 since Pensacola’s first season in 2012.
There were plenty of theatrics in the ninth inning and not just at bat.
Home plate umpire Alex Ziegler ejected Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth over an alleged argument on a foul tip. Skipworth, who was behind the plate, took his catcher’s gear off and threw it toward the umpire. Pensacola manager Pat Kelly came out in the middle of the argument and was ejected. Kelly threw his helmet and hat down, took off his jersey and threw it to the ground and then ejected each of the umpires on the field.
Kelly said afterward that he was mad because the home plate umpire wouldn’t admit any wrongdoing after both teams argued about his strike zone throughout the game.
“My temper is good for 30 seconds,” Kelly said. “Once I reach 30 seconds, then it’s over. I don’t carry a grudge. I get it out of my system.”
Pensacola shortstop Juan Perez doubled off Shuckers reliever Jacob Barnes and scored on center fielder’s Bryson Smith’s single in the eighth that cut Biloxi’s lead to 3-2. However, Biloxi came back in the ninth and scored a run when third baseman Taylor Green scored on a perfect squeeze bunt by Shuckers catcher Parker Berberet to go up, 4-2.
In the ninth inning, first baseman Marquez Smith walked and right fielder Juan Duran singled but they were both left on base.
Kelly credited Biloxi’s left-handed starter Hobbs Johnson and reliever Jacob Barnes.
“They have good pitching and we face another good one tomorrow,” said Kelly, referring to Shuckers Jorge Lopez (8-4, 2.70). “That’s how they won the first half.”
For the third time against Biloxi this series, Pensacola smacked a solo home run in the first inning. Bryson Smith did it Wednesday, Ryan Wright did if Friday and Winker did it Saturday.
Winker smacked his seventh homer of the year and earned his team-leading 35th RBI to put the Blue Wahoos up 1-0.
It was the only hit Biloxi pitcher Johnson, the Milwaukee Brewers No. 23 prospect according to Baseball America, gave up in his seven innings of work. Johnson, in fact, retired 16 Blue Wahoos in a row from the second inning through the seventh inning before reliever Barnes came on.
Perez doubled in the eighth off the Shuckers reliever to end the streak of 17 straight Blue Wahoos set down.
Zack Weiss gave up his first run in relief since July 16 when Berberet’s squeeze bunt scored Green to put the Shuckers ahead, 4-2. In his 15 appearances since June 15, Weiss has given up just three runs in 17 innings for a 1.59 ERA. The Blue Wahoos closer has converted all 10 save opportunities and struck out 26 batters.
Biloxi went ahead, 2-1, in the second inning when Green doubled in two runs. In the top of the sixth, Biloxi shortstop Nick Shaw scored on a deep fly ball by first baseman Nick Ramirez to make the score, 3-1, Shuckers.
The Shuckers improved to 13-15 (56-40) in the second half of the Southern League South Division season. The loss dropped Pensacola into second place behind the Mobile BayBears at 17-12 (42-55) in the second half.
The final game of the five-game series is scheduled at 4:05 p.m. Sunday with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers. RHP Barrett Astin (2-1, 3.45) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by Shuckers RHP Jorge Lopez (8-4, 2.70).
Storm 12U Team Wins Global World Series
July 24, 2015
The Pensacola Storm 12-year old Majors team recently won the Global World Series in Orange Beach, competing against 35 other 12U teams from across the county. They went 8-0 in tournament play, scoring a total of 56 runs while allowing just 16 runs. The Storm finished their season at 48-11, ranked 42nd in the nation out of 4,687 teams in 12U.
Pictured are Pensacola Storm 12U Majors team members (front, L-R) Damarius McGhee, Josh Turner, Aaron Noack, Tanner Rouchon, Ian Ladieu, (back) Jordan Jarman, Jordan McCants, Tyler Michanowicz, Hunter Pierson and Brady Garcia.
Blue Wahoos Win Tenth Straight Home Game
July 23, 2015
When Bryson Smith comes to the plate, opposing pitchers don’t exactly quake in their shoes that the center fielder will take them deep.
After all Smith’s career high is six in a season in 2012 when he split the season between Double-A Pensacola and High-A Bakersfield.
But Smith turned on a first pitch and took Biloxi pitcher Johnny Hellweg over the left field wall in the first inning and Pensacola went on to win its third straight game, 6-4, in front of 4,506 Wednesday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola has won 8 of its last 11 games and 10 straight games at home since losing its home opener in the second half on July 1 to Jacksonville, 6-2.
Smith is now hitting .333 (6-18) with one homer and two RBIs in five games with Pensacola. His homer gave Pensacola 16 dingers in the past 12 games. Pensacola is in eighth place in the Southern League in home runs with 46 total.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said having the 26-year-old Bryson on the team, who played for the Blue Wahoos every season since 2012, has been calming to the club house.
“Boy, it’s nice to have him,” Kelly said. “The way he runs the bases. Just the way he plays the game. I really like what I see.”
Pensacola hitting coach Alex Pelaez said none of the Pensacola batters are trying to hit the ball out of the ball park.
“They’re not trying to,” Pelaez said. “They’re just putting good swings on it and it’s jumping out.”
The Blue Wahoos are tied for first place with the Mississippi Braves in the second half at 16-10 (41-53) in the Southern League South Division. It’s the first time since July 22, 2012, that Pensacola has been six games over .500. The Blue Wahoos have never been seven games over .500 in a season since its inaugural year in 2012.
Meanwhile, Biloxi, the first half winner in the South, fell to 11-14 (54-39).
Kelly said the team is taking winning in stride.
“I thought we’ve had great chemistry even from day one,” Kelly said. “To me, they’re the same. They’re not too up and the not to down even when we’re winning games. We were undermanned in the first half. Now we feel like we can compete.”
Relievers Jimmy Moran and Kyle McMyne, who earned his seventh save, blanked Biloxi over the last four innings, giving up two hits striking out two and benefitting from two double plays.
With relievers Patrick Schuster, Zack Weiss and Miguel Celestino not available, Kelly said their relief work was critical.
The second game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Thursday with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers. RHP Daniel Wright (6-7, 4.57) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by Shuckers RHP Brooks Hall (7-5, 4.72).
Wahoos Move Into Second Place
July 22, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played good defense, received clutch hitting and relied on strong pitching to hand the Jacksonville Suns its sixth straight loss.
It all came together to propel the Blue Wahoos to a 6-5 victory Tuesday in front of 3,290 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
On defense, Pensacola turned four double plays and now leads the Southern League with 119 total.
At the plate, Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej hit a solo home run in the first inning to knot the game at 1. Second baseman Ryan Wright singled in the fifth to score third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean to tie the score, 4-4. Finally, right fielder Juan Duran smashed a double down the third baseline in the sixth inning to put Pensacola ahead, 6-4.
On the mound, Barrett Astin lasted a career-long seven innings in his fifth start in Double-A, setting down the last seven Suns batters he faced. Then, Blue Wahoos closer Zack Weiss struck out two with the bases loaded in the eighth and two more in the ninth to earn his 12th save on the season.
Pensacola leads the Florida rivals’ race for the Golden Skillet, 9-6. The Blue Wahoos, who have one more five-game series left with the Suns, have never won the trophy since its inaugural season in 2012.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly is intent on winning the Golden Skillet, which he has a picture of on his Twitter account. But he said he’s not savvy enough to print it out.
“It would be the first time we’ve won it,” Kelly said. “It really tells us how much Jacksonville has dominated Pensacola the last four years. We want to win every series and win the division. That’s our goal. That’s what we’re shooting for.”
The Blue Wahoos are in second place at 15-10 in the Southern League South Division, one game behind the Mississippi Braves. They were 24-43 and in last place in the first half.
Duran provided much of the clutch hitting for Pensacola Tuesday. He went 3-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. He also generated a run on his own in the fifth when he reached on an error by the third baseman, stole second, stole third and then scored on a wild pitch that cut Jacksonville’s lead to 4-3. His two stolen bases came after he had one in his previous 118 games in Double-A.
Duran is hitting .270 with one homer and 13 RBIs for the Blue Wahoos since returning July 1 to the team after injury rehab at Goodyear, Ariz.
“I’m feeling very good,” said Duran, who played pepper with a Cincinnati Reds hitting coach Tuesday. “This is one of the best games in my life. That’s what I’m working on — being consistent.”
In his fifth start with the Blue Wahoos, Astin overcame a three-run fourth inning, to retire nine of the last 10 Suns he faced. Astin improved to 2-1 with a 3.73 ERA, after giving up four runs, three unearned, on seven hits and two walks, while striking out four.
“A good manager would have left him in the game,” Kelly said jokingly. “Astin did a really nice job, pitching through the seventh inning. We needed what he could give us.”
Jacksonville went on top with three runs in the fourth off Astin to go ahead, 4-2. He walked Suns third baseman Zack Cox to score right fielder Carlos Lopez. Suns catcher Chadd Krist then hit a double to left field that drove in shortstop J.T. Riddle and second baseman Terrence Dayleg.
Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the third when he lined a solo home run to left field. Vincej has hit in 13 of his last 14 games, going 4-7 in the series, with a home run and double. He’s batting 20-50 or .400 with five RBIs in those games and has raised his season average to .261.
The first game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers. LHP Wandy Peralta (5-7, 5.72) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by Shuckers RHP Johnny Hellweg (0-2, 6.23).