Smith Hits Back To Back Homers In Wahoos Win
July 21, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Marquez Smith showed off the power that he has displayed throughout his nine seasons in the minor leagues.
The 30-year-old lined a two-run home run to left center in the first inning and then crushed a solo shot to left field in the second inning. Smith became the first Pensacola player to hit back-to-back home runs this season.
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ensacola downed Jacksonville, 7-4, Monday in front of 3,973 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium and now leads the Florida rivals’ race for the Golden Skillet, 8-6. 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.
Smith has averaged just over 15 homers a season and last year smacked 30 mostly for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze. Besides his two home runs, he had a double and four RBIs. Smith now has seven homers and 33 RBIs and improved his batting average to .278 this season for Double-A Pensacola.
“It was a big one,” Smith said about his night. “A pretty huge one for sure.”
Smith said he cranked a slider and fastball out of the park. His play in the Mexican League earned him 300 more at bats during the winter. He said everyone on the team is stepping up their play in the second half.
“You go up every at bat just trying to battle,” he said. “I was just trying to move the runners over. I was able to get it in the air and drive it out.”
In the first inning, Smith lined a two-run home run to left center that also brought in left fielder Jesse Winker, who had hit a stand up double, to put Pensacola ahead, 3-0. In his next at bat, he crushed a solo shot to left field that put the Blue Wahoos up, 5-0, after two innings. Then, in the sixth inning, Smith doubled to score center fielder Bryson Smith for a 7-2 lead.
Smith became the eighth Pensacola player to clobber two homers in a game. Former outfielder Kyle Waldrop was the last to do it against Jacksonville on Aug. 19, 2014. No Blue Wahoos player has hit three homers in one game.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said Smith is now hitting like he did in Bakersfield, where he coached him last year.
“This is how he was swinging the bat last year,” Kelly said. “You’re starting to see it in this second half. I think he’s hitting extremely well.”
The fifth inning was the Seth Mejias-Brean inning. After making a diving grab at third of Jacksonville left fielder Eudy Pina’s sharp grounder and barely getting him out at first, Mejias-Brean came to the plate and crushed a solo homer to left field, which was his fifth of the year, and put Pensacola ahead, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Josh Smith rebounded from his loss to Birmingham Barons who scored six runs before chasing him after 3.2 innings. It wasn’t pretty but Smith lasted 5.1 innings and gave up just two runs to Jacksonville and struck out eight. However, he also gave up 10 hits and two walks to the Suns. He improved to 5-2 on the season with a 3.00 ERA.
Four times Jacksonville loaded the bases and four times Pensacola thwarted the Suns from scoring.
Smith had given up two singles and a walk after getting the first two batters out in the fifth inning and got out of the bases-loaded jam.
Blue Wahoos reliever Patrick Schuster came in for Smith, who loaded the bases on three singles, and got a strike out and ground out to shortstop to end the sixth inning with no runs.
Then, Jacksonville loaded the bases in the eighth inning but Blue Wahoos reliever Miguel Celestino struck out the Suns’ cleanup hitter Matt Juengel on a 94 mph fastball.
Finally, Zack Weiss struck out two batters and got a ground out to escape with the bases loaded in the ninth inning without a score. Weiss now has a team-leading 11 saves.
“You can’t give them that many opportunities,” Kelly said. “Eventually, it comes back and bites you.”
The final game of the two-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday with the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns
Smith, Winker Smash Homers In Wahoos 3-1 Win Over B’ham
July 19, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Marquez Smith and Jesse Winker both hit solo home runs against the Birmingham Barons Saturday at Regions Field to win its second game in a row.
Smith crushed a fly ball deep to left field for his fifth homer of the season in the fourth inning and Winker lined a drive to right center field for his sixth homer in the eighth inning.
The five-game series between Pensacola and Birmingham is tied at two games apiece after the Blue Wahoos, 3-1, victory. Pensacola, which has won eight of its last 10 games, plays the final game of the series with the Barons at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Smith, who was the DH, currently has five homers and 29 RBIs, while Winker, who was playing left field, now has six homers and 31 RBIs.
Pensacola went ahead, 2-1, when it scored its other run in the seventh inning after shortstop Juan Perez doubled in third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean, who doubled to lead off the inning.
Birmingham had tied the game, 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when first baseman Danny Hayes singled on a line drive to right field to score third baseman Nick Delmonico.
Pensacola starter Daniel Wright improved to 6-7 with a 4.57 ERA, after scattering nine hits and striking out four in eight innings of work. It was Wright’s third win in four games and his longest start of the year for the Blue Wahoos.
In his past two games, both wins, Wright has allowed one earned run in 15 innings for a 1.20 ERA that dropped his ERA below 5.0 runs per game for the first time this season.
Zack Weiss earned his team-leading 10th save, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out one.
Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth’s franchise record five home runs in five games was broken and Zach Vincej’s hitting streak ended at 10 games.
Mejias-Brean, who doubled Saturday in four at bats, has gotten a hit in 12 of his last 15 games, including four multi-hit games. He is now batting .255 on the year.
Pensacola is now 13-9 in the second half of the Southern League season and is tied for first place in the South Division. The last time the Blue Wahoos were in first place this late in the season was July 22, 2012.
The Barons dropped to 16-5 in the second half and lead the North Division by five games over the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jacksonville Suns July 20-21 and the Biloxi Shuckers July 22-26.
Skipworth Homers Again As The Wahoos Fall To The Barons
July 17, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Kyle Skipworth keeps tagging the baseball out of the park, hitting an almost unbelievable five home runs in five games.
The 24-year-old also tied the Pensacola record by striking his sixth dinger in a month. Still, the Blue Wahoos lost, 4-2, Thursday to the Birmingham Barons at Region Field.
Pensacola third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean started a two-out rally in the sixth inning with a single to center. Skipworth followed his single by smashing a line drive over the center field wall to cut Birmingham’s lead, 3-2.
Skipworth now has six homers in eight games to lead Pensacola with eight homers this season and has 18 RBIs.
Barons designated hitter Brian Fletcher hit a solo homer in the eighth off of Pensacola closer Zack Weiss to pad Birmingham’s lead, 4-2.
Birmingham had gone ahead, 3-0, in the fourth when left fielder Marcus Lemon drove in two runs on a line drive single to centerfield.
Birmingham scored first in the third inning when third baseman Nick Delimonico singled to right field to score center fielder Keenyn Walker, who also singled.
In addition, Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej went 2-4 and drove in a run to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. He is batting 15-36 or .417 during his streak.
Pensacola is now 11-9 in the second half of the Southern League season and is tied for first place in the South Division with the Mobile BayBears. The last time the Blue Wahoos were in first place this late in the season was July 22, 2012.
The Barons improved to 16-3 in the second half and lead the North Division by 6.5 games over the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jacksonville Suns July 20-21 and the Biloxi Shuckers July 22-26.
Birmingham Beats The Blue Wahoos, Snapping 6-Game Win Streak
July 16, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Kyle Skipworth crushed his fourth homer in four games and right fielder Juan Duran knocked his first home run of the season for the team.
Pensacola lost, 14-8, Wednesday to the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field, which snapped a franchise record six wins in a row for the Blue Wahoos.
Skipworth has five homers in seven games and now leads the Blue Wahoos with seven homers on the year. His solo shot came in the fifth inning and cut Birmingham’s lead to, 6-1.
Duran’s first homer of the year was a three run shot in the sixth inning. It pulled Pensacola within, 9-4, of Birmingham. Duran went 2-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the game.
However, the Barons jumped out to a, 6-0, lead off of Pensacola starter Josh Smith with six hits and a walk in 3.2 innings of work. Smith’s record fell to 4-2 on the year and his ERA rose to 2.95 from 1.64.
Barons catcher Rob Brantly hit a solo shot in the second inning and center fielder Keenyn Walker smashed a two-run homer to give Birmingham a 3-0 lead and they never looked back.
In addition, Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej went 1-5 and drove in a run to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He is batting 13-32 or .406 during his streak.
Pensacola did add four runs in the top of the ninth inning but the comeback was too little, too late.
Pensacola is now 11-8 in the second half of the Southern League season and remained in first place in the South Division, one game ahead of the Mississippi Braves and Mobile BayBears. The last time the Blue Wahoos were in first place this late in the season was July 22, 2012.
The Barons improved to 15-3 in the second half and lead the North Division.
Escambia River Catfish Falls Just Short Of State Record
July 15, 2015
Darrin Smith of Byrneville recently caught this huge flathead catfish on the Escambia River near Bluff Springs using a rod and reel. He met a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer for a certified weight. The fish weighed in at 50.5 pounds — 4.5 pounds short of the state record. Photo for North Escambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Record Sixth Straight
July 14, 2015
The Pensacola Blue s set franchise records Monday night by winning its sixth game in a row and sweeping its first five-game series.
Not only that, Pensacola is now 11-7 in the second half of the Southern League season and in sole possession of first place in the South Division. The last time the Blue Wahoos were in first place this late in the season was July 22, 2012.
The Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits, 6-2, on Monday in front of 4,143 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
How have they turned around a last place team in the first half to a first place team in the second half?
Pitching and defense, says Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly.
“All along I have thought this was a good ball club,” Kelly said. “Pitching and defense wins this league.”
During the first half, Pensacola finished in last place at 25-43 and 18 games behind the Biloxi Shuckers, who were 43-25. Kelly has said that Biloxi is the only team that he thought was better than Pensacola, winning eight of 10 games against the Blue Wahoos to start the year.
They face the hottest team in the Southern League North Division next — the Birmingham Barons. After winning, 2-0, over Jackson Generals Monday, the Barons are 14-3.
“They may be hotter than us,” Kelly said of the Barons. “It’ll be a good test for us. Our motto has been to win every series.”
Pitching and defense beat the Biscuits Monday night.
Tim Adleman earned his fourth win in a row and improved to 6-6 on the season with a 1.95 ERA. He allowed a solo home run by Montgomery catcher Justin O’Conner. In seven innings he gave up five hits, one walk and struck out five.
In his past four games, Adleman has allowed three earned runs in 28 innings for a 0.96 ERA. He also has given up 20 hits, four walks and struck out 24.
Plus, the Blue Wahoos turned three double plays and leads the Southern League with 102 double plays total.
Pensacola utility infielder Ray Chang, who is batting .323 this season, says player development is great but winning is even better. He endured a 59-79 record in 2013 and 60-80 in 2014.
“It feels great,” Chang said. “Throughout my career, I have not been a part of too many winning clubs. The last two years were rough. To start off the way we have in the second half gives the fans something to cheer about. It has been awesome.”
Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth hit his third homer in three games and fourth in six when he launched a bomb to straight away center field that scored three runs and put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 3-1, in the fourth inning.
“We’re just enjoying it right now,” said Skipworth, who said he didn’t want to know how many games the team has won in a row.
Adleman, the Blue Wahoos mainstay in the rotation this year, said he hopes to keep winning.
“It would be nice to win the second half and send the Blue Wahoos to the playoffs,” he said. “It would be fun, a lot of fun.”
Pensacola’s main closer Zack Weiss, who has a team-leading nine saves, added: “We just want to be competitive and give ourselves a chance to make the post season. It’s nice to get rolling. We’re not thinking about the first half.”
After second baseman Zach Vincej singled to lead off the first inning for Pensacola, Montgomery right-hander Austin Pruitt struck out five of the next six batters between the first and second innings.
Vincej also scored during a three-run eighth inning on a double into the left field corner by third baseman Marquez Smith. Vincej singled in three at bats to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He’s batting .444 (12-27) over that span.
The 24-year-old is hitting .248 this season, raising his average from .210 on July 2. This series against Montgomery, Vincej went 7-14 or .500 with three runs, one RBI and a walk.
No matter what happens, Kelly said he likes this team.
“At no time do they quit,” he said. “They always play hard.”
The Blue Washoos start a five-game series at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, July 15-19 with the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate Birmingham Barons. Pensacola returns home to host a two-game series at 6:35 p.m. Monday, July 20-21 with the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns.
Wahoos Win Record Tying Five In A Row
July 13, 2015
Power has surged through Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Kyle Skipworth’s swing recently. The 25-year-old’s solo home run deep to right field in the fourth inning against the Montgomery Biscuits put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 3-0, at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola tied its franchise record by winning its fifth game in a row over Montgomery, 4-1, Sunday in front of 4,168 fans. It is now 10-7 in the second half of the Southern League season and 35-50 overall. The Biscuits fell to 8-8 and 42-42 and now have lost eight straight games on the road.
A bolt of lightning knocked out the score board Sunday and 1.5 inches of rain in about 45 minutes flooded downtown streets and delayed the start of the game from 4:05 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
It was Skipworth’s second dinger in two days and third in five games. His homer on Friday jump started a five-run inning. Skipworth now has five home runs on the season, tying him with Blue Wahoos right fielder Jesse Winker for the team lead.
“I just had to kick myself in the butt,” Skipworth said. “Sometimes I don’t bare down mentally enough. When I do bare down I get a good approach and get better at bats.”
Skipworth has also been a force behind the plate especially this series. He ended a Blue Wahoos victory Thursday by throwing out a runner trying to steal. He also received a Juan Duran throw to get a runner out at the plate against Montgomery.
He tore a ligament May 27 and was out of the lineup for a month and the Blue Wahoos went into a tail spin, going 4-18. In addition, the team’s ERA wen from 3.61 (third in the Southern League) to 3.86 (seventh).
Skipworth said the pitchers have just improved.
“A lot of it is just them,” he said. “They understand what they do well and what they don’t do well. They’re hitting their mid-season form.”
Pensacola starter Daniel Wright threw another strong game, using his fastball to get ahead in the count and then relying on his slider and changeup. He improved to 5-7 with a 4.87 ERA. He pitched seven innings, giving up five hits, two walks and striking out five. Wright gave up the run and three hits by the Biscuits in the seventh with right fielder Johnny Field Jr. scoring on a single by third baseman Patrick Leonard.
Wright has now completed seven innings in four of his last six starts, going 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in those games. He blanked the Jacksonville Suns July 2 over seven innings.
Pensacola scored first in the second inning when third baseman Marquez Smith, who hit his third triple of the year, put the Blue Wahoos up, 1-0. He crossed the plate when Montgomery first baseman Cameron Seitzer couldn’t hold on to a throw by pitcher Ryne Stanek to get the charging Pensacola first baseman Seth Mejias-Brean out.
Blue Wahoos second baseman Ray Chang scored in the second inning when Smith knocked him in with a single to right field to put Pensacola up, 2-0.
Skipworth smacked his homer in the fourth and Pensacola tacked on another run in the sixth when center fielder Beau Amaral singled to score shortstop Juan Perez for a 4-0 lead. Amaral was 1-3 with a single and RBI and is now 5-8 or .625 in his last three games after entering the series against Montgomery in a 1-16 slump.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he sat Amaral a few games to work on his hitting.
“He looks more aggressive at the plate to me,” Kelly said. “He has got to be aggressive, not tentative.”
The final game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Monday with the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits. RHP Timothy Adleman (5-6, 2.00) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by a Biscuits RHP Austin Pruitt (5-4, 2.99).
Wahoos Win Fourth In A Row
July 12, 2015
Zack Weiss made sure he preserved the Pensacola Blue Wahoos one-run victory, 4-3, over the Montgomery Biscuits Saturday night.
Throwing his fastball in the mid-90s, Weiss earned his team leading ninth save in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038. It was the 18th sellout of the season and the 122 sold out game since the Blue Wahoos inaugural year in 2012.
Weiss entered the game in the eighth inning with runners on first and third and got a strikeout. On the very next play, right fielder Juan Duran stretched out and made a diving catch to rob Biscuits left fielder Tyler Goeddel of a hit.
Weiss said he likes the closer role that he’s assumed during the past four weeks. His fastball helped Pensacola win its fourth straight game and extended the Biscuits road losing streak to seven games.
“I enjoy pitching in the ninth inning,” he said. “That’s fun. Getting those last three outs and going to shake the catcher’s hand, give him a hug, that’s awesome. I really do enjoy that.”
Weiss now has 20 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched in his last 12 relief appearances.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said both Weiss and Duran saved the day for the Blue Wahoos.
“(Duran) saved the ball game with that catch,” Kelly said. “It was a tremendous play in the eighth inning.”
Kelly added that Weiss, who he first coached in Billings, also did well. “We put him in with the tying run on third in the eighth inning. Now he’s got to get five outs. That’s very special. There are not a lot of guys who can do that.”
Pensacola is now 9-7 and tied for first place in the Southern League Southern Division in the second half. They are 34-50 overall this season.
It’s the first time since 2012 that Pensacola has been in first place this late in a half. They were last in first place July 22, 2012. Montgomery fell to 8-7 in the second half and is 42-41 on the year.
Pensacola took the lead, 3-2, in the fifth inning when left fielder Jesse Winker grounded a single to right field to score catcher Yovan Gonzalez. Gonzalez tied the game, 2-2, when he singled to center to score second baseman Juan Perez, who doubled to lead off the inning.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on what ended up being the game-winning run in the seventh when shortstop Zach Vincej lined a single to center to score center fielder Beau Amaral to put Pensacola ahead, 4-2.
Montgomery cut the lead to 4-3 when first baseman Jake Bauers smacked a liner to the left-center gap to score right fielder Johnny Field Jr. in the eighth inning before Weiss came in and shut the Biscuits down.
Pensacola starter Wandy Peralta went six innings, which was his longest start since going 6.2 inning against the Mobile BayBears June 17. Peralta rebounded from two bad starts, leaving the game with a 3-2 lead. He scattered eight hits, walked two and struck out four Montgomery batters.
In his previous two starts, Peralta allowed 10 runs on 13 hits and two walks in 5.1 innings of work for a 16.88 ERA.
Winker went 1-4 with two RBIs Saturday. He’s now 3-10 with a home run, six RBIs, two runs scored and two walks. He has 5 HR 29 RBI and hitting .271 on year. Winker is hitting .363 (20-55) in 16 games in the second half. He has multi-hit games in eight of his last 18 starts.
Former NBA Coach To Lead Bratt Basketball Camp This Week
July 12, 2015
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp this week with a former NBA, college and high school coach.
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 13-17 from 9 a.m. until noon at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
“We are fortunate to get someone of Coach Roger’s talents and achievements to head up this camp” said First Baptist Bratt Student Pastor Tim Hawsey. “He has a unique ability to deal with children, and his love for them is evident.” This is the fourth year the church has offered this camp.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost is $45 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. The funds are used exclusively to purchase shoes and basketballs for needy children in other countries where Dutremble conducts camps.
Students can register Monday morning prior to the camp at the church on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
Pictured: Students that participated in a previous basketball camp at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Inset: Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Winker Grand Slam Seals Wahoos Win
July 11, 2015
Left fielder Jesse Winker hit the Pensacola Blue Wahoos first grand slam of the season when he took Montgomery Biscuits starter Jaime Schultz’s fastball deep to left field with one out.
His fifth homer of the year capped a five-run fifth inning that also included catcher Kyle Skipworth’s solo shot to right field into the Hill-Kelly Hill area to lead off the inning.
Pensacola went on to win its third straight game and hand Montgomery its sixth straight road loss, 6-3, Friday in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos improved to 8-7 (33-50) and remained in a four-way tie for first place in the second half of the Southern League South Division season. The Biscuits dropped to 8-6 (42-40) on the year.
Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, hit his last grand slam two years ago to the day with the Low-A Dayton Dragons.
The newly bearded Winker is hitting .373 (19-51) in 15 games in the second half with a .492 on-base percentage. And Winker has multi-hit games in eight of his last 17 starts.
Winker said he was waiting for Schultz to bring his 90-95 mph heater over the plate, after watching him walk shortstop Zach Vincej.
“I wanted to elevate a fastball,” Winker said. “I didn’t want to get cheated there. I got it up and over the wall. It was really cool.”
Seth Mejias-Brean added a solo blast in the sixth inning over the left field wall just inside the foul pole. It was his fourth homer of the year and gave him a team-leading 32 RBIs on the season.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly was most impressed with Skipworth’s homer of the three Friday.
“The one that was impressive was Skipworth’s,” Kelly said. “That ball had an over spin, which is basically impossible to do.”
Meanwhile, Barrett Astin earned his first victory in Double-A after two no-decision games since being called up June 25 to Pensacola. The 23-year-old is now 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA, allowing 13 hits, 10 walks and striking out 16 batters in 18.1 innings.
Kelly said Astin has looked good in his three starts.
“That’s what you want is a starter who can give you six innings and then turn it over to the bullpen with a lead,” he said. “Barrett’s done that all three times he’s been out there.”
One other impressive play came defensively from Juan Duran in right field that saved a run. The 6-foot-7 prospect charged a soft liner by Montgomery shortstop Leonardo Reginatto and threw a perfect strike to Skipworth to nail third baseman Patrick Leonard at the plate for the second out of the seventh inning.
Kelly said he coached Duran when he was a 16-year-old “baby giraffe.”
“He could barely stand up,” Kelly joked. “But every year he gets better. He’s got a more controlled swing at the plate and a better throwing arm than you think.”
By the way, Winker said his mom is getting used to his new beard.
Photo courtesy Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.