Wahoos Win Close Contest 2-1 Over Birmingham Barons
September 1, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (28-41, 59-80) defeated the Birmingham Barons (31-38, 60-79) 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. The Blue Wahoos pitched spectacularly well, allowing just one run and striking out 12 batters in total.
The story of the game was RHP Robert Stephenson’s stellar outing for the Blue Wahoos. Stephenson pitched 7.0 innings of one-run ball against Birmingham, notching his seventh win of the season. The righty struck out nine batters in the contest, two off his season-high of 11. Stephenson struck out five batters swinging and four were caught looking. He retired the 11 of the final 12 batters he faced from the fourth through the seventh inning. Stephenson’s 140 strikeouts lead the Southern League and are a Blue Wahoos team record.
The Barons got a run off of Stephenson in the bottom of the first to take a quick 1-0 lead. Rangel Ravelo scored Tim Anderson on a sacrifice fly to deep center field, but the Barons would strand a runner on third base to end the inning.
The Wahoos took the lead from the Barons in the top of the fourth inning. Kyle Waldrop launched his eighth home run of the year to the right field bleachers to tie the contest at one. In the following at-bat, Travis Mattair hit a ground rule double into the Wahoos bullpen. Mattair moved over on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning.
The Wahoos took that same 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning and the Barons first two batters of the inning reached base against RHP Shane Dyer. Joey DeMichele put down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with just one out in the inning. Chris Curley came off the bench to pinch-hit and laced the first pitch he saw right at Seth Mejias-Brean who snagged the ball out of the air for out number two. Dyer coaxed a ground ball down the third base line and Mejias-Brean fired a bullet to Mattair at first base to end the game. It was Dyer’s franchise leading 21st save of the season, which is also good for second in the Southern League.
RHP Terance Marin pitched incredibly well for the Barons in his second Double-A start of the season, but still took the loss. Marin struck out nine batters over 7.2 innings and he allowed two runs on eight hits.
The Blue Wahoos final game of the season begins at 12:30 p.m. at Regions. RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-6, 3.13) will make his final start of the season for the Wahoos. RHP Myles Jaye (4-12, 5.54) is scheduled to start for the Barons.
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Drop Second Straight 6-3
August 31, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (27-41, 58-80) fell for the second straight night to the Birmingham Barons (31-37, 60-78) 6-3. With the win, the Barons take a two games to one lead in the series.
The Wahoos benefitted from a couple of errors to get on the board in the first inning. Yorman Rodriguez reached on an error, stole second and third, and a throwing error by the catcher allowed him to score. The Barons would take a 3-1 lead into the sixth thanks in part to solo home runs from Dan Black and Kevan Smith.
Pensacola cut into the lead on a two-out RBI single from Travis Mattair in the sixth. They would add one to tie the score at three when Ryan Wright followed Juan Silverio’s triple with an RBI single.
The big blow came once again off the bat of Joey DiMichele, who singled home Kevan Smith off of RHP Kyle McMyne in the bottom of the eighth inning. Trayce Thompson put the game away with a two-run double down the right field line to give the Barons a 6-3 lead. McMyne took the loss for the Blue Wahoos.
RHP Kevin Vance earned the win in relief for the Barons. Vance struck out six batters over 2.2 innings and surrendered just one hit. Gulf Breeze native Ben Lively made his final start of the season for the Blue Wahoos. Lively got the no decision going 5.0 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He added five strikeouts to his season total of 171 and finished the night tied for second in the minor leagues in punch-outs.
Sunday’s game marks the penultimate contest in the Blue Wahoos season and starts at 3:00 p.m. at Regions Field. The Wahoos will send Cincinnati’s top prospect RHP Robert Stephenson (6-10, 4.93) to the mound. Terance Marin (0-1, 9.00) will start for the Barons.
by Tommy Thrall
Flomaton Storms Past Jay 42-20 (With Photo Gallery)
August 30, 2014
A storm was brewing Friday night in Jay as the Flomaton Hurricanes beat the Jay Royals 42-20.
In a game that saw a 15-minute lightning delay at a packed Merle North Stadium, Flomaton’s Jamel Grace and Jamal Brown combined for three touchdowns with about 140 yards each. The Hurricane’s Tripp Vickery completed three passes to Andrew Cash for two touchdowns on a total of 109 yards.
Flomaton (2-0) will play their home opener next Friday night at 7:00 against Washington County (1-1) of Chatom, AL. The Jay Royals (0-1) will travel to Rocky Bayou (0-1).
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat West Florida Tech (With Photo Gallery)
August 30, 2014
The Tate High School Aggies had a little revenge on their minds Friday night as they beat West Florida in Cantonment 19-7, a far cry from last year’s 45-3 loss to the Jaguars.
Tate controlled the first half on the scoreboard, with a 10-0 lead at the half that they expanded to 17-0 with about eight minutes to go in the third. The Aggies were led by Alondo Thompkins with 35 yards, four of which came in the second half on a touchdown run.
The Aggies will head down to Pensacola High School next Friday night at 7:30, while West Florida will be at Milton.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Gary Carnley for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Rolls Past The Bozeman Bucks, 49-7
August 30, 2014
The Northview Chiefs rolled into Panama City Friday night and left the Bozeman Bucks behind with that deer in the headlights look as the Chiefs opened their season with a powerful 49-7 rout.
The Chiefs were first on the board with a play that left the Bucks standing in disbelief. Cameron Newsome called for a fair catch on a punt in the first quarter, but there was no whistle. Newsome then took off, scoring on a 70-yard run.
Northview expanded their lead to 14-0 with just a minute in the first with a 35-yard pass from Gavin Grant to Jacob Dunsford and a good kick from Chasen Freeman. The Chiefs added another 14 in the second quarter with a 40 yard pass from Grant to Dunsford, and an an 84-yard interception return from Newsome for a 28-0 lead at the halftime buzzer.
In the third, Grant found senior Nick Lambert with a 24-yard touchdown pass, and with a two-point conversion from Dunsford, the Chiefs were up 35-0. And to round out the third with no time on the clock, Keondrae Lett scored on a 10-yard pass, 43-0.
The Bucks added their only seven with 3:30 to go in the game on a two-yard run. And with just 30 seconds to go, the Chiefs scored again on a 55-yard kickoff return from Lett.
The Northview Chiefs (1-0) will play their home opener next Friday night in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium at 7:00 against the Bulldogs of Marianna (0-0).
Wahoos Fall 1-0
August 30, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (27-40, 58-79) fell 1-0 to the Birmingham Barons (30-36, 59-77) at Regions Field Friday night. It was a game dominated by pitching with both starting pitchers going 7.0 innings.
RHP Tim Adleman started for the Wahoos and lowered his ERA as a starter to a miniscule 2.38. He pitched 7.0 strong innings and allowed just one run in the fifth. Adleman added five strikeouts and walked just one batter, but still took the loss for the seventh time this season. Rangel Ravelo led off the fifth inning with a triple to right field and Jason Coats followed it with an RBI single. It was all the Barons would need to prevail.
Birmingham did not leave a single runner on base and went 1-for-1 with runners in scoring position. By contrast, the Wahoos were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine batters on base. Yorman Rodriguez, Ryan Wright and Kyle Waldrop were the only Wahoo players with hits and Waldrop had the only multi-hit game for Pensacola.
RHP Mike Recchia earned the win for the Barons and spun a gem. Recchia did not allow a run over 7.0 innings and surrendered just four hits in the contest. RHP Braulio Ortiz earned his first save of the season for the Barons. The Wahoos would once again put multiple runners on base in the ninth, but Ortiz got Brodie Greene to fly out to right field to end the contest.
RHP Drew Hayes pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth while striking out one Baron batter. He’s posted a 1.72 ERA during the month of August and hasn’t allowed a hit over his last 4.0 innings pitched.
Pensacola’s series continues with Birmingham on Saturday. The Blue Wahoos will look to take control of the series in game three at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night at Regions Field. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Ben Lively (3-6, 3.76) to the bump on Friday. Terance Marin (0-1, 9.00) will start for the Barons.
by Joey Truncale
Photos: Ernest Ward At Jay HS Football
August 29, 2014
The junior varsity Jay High Schools Royals defeated their Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles Thursday in Jay, 24-12.
Ernest Ward’s Eagles will be in action again next Thursday, September 4 on the road in Fairhope, AL.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Neiko Robinson Makes College Football Debut
August 29, 2014
Northview High School graduate Neiko Robinson made his college football debut Thursday night for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs as they rolled passed Northeast 41-8 in Perkinston, MS.
Robinson, a freshman defensive back, recorded five tackles, one quarterback sack and one pass breakup for the Bulldogs.
“I’m proud of the way our guys came out strong. They had a lot of energy and played fast and hard,” said new Gulf Coast coach Chad Huff after his first win.
Gulf Coast, ranked #9 in the NJCAA, takes on Northwest (0-1) Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at A.L. May Memorial Stadium in Perkinston.
Wahoos Get Comback 6-5 Win
August 29, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (27-39, 58-78) won in thrilling fashion, 6-5, over the Birmingham Barons (29-36, 58-77) at Regions Field Thursday night. After tying the game with two runs in the ninth, the Wahoos took the lead in the 10th on Bryson Smith’s fourth single of the game. RHP Shane Dyer earned his franchise leading 20th save of the season in the bottom half of the inning.
The Wahoos shot out to an early lead in the top of the first with a two-out RBI double from Travis Mattair. The Barons tied the score up in the bottom of the second on an RBI double from Joey DeMichele, who scored Jason Coats from second base.
The score remained even until the sixth when Devin Lohman knocked a double deep to left center field. Kyle Waldrop’s groundout moved Lohman to third and he came home to score on Mattair’s fielder’s choice ground ball on the right side.
Pensacola’s lead was short-lived as the Barons scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, DeMichele hit his second double of the game, which scored two Barons. Yorman Rodriguez and Brodie Greene would combine to throw out the runner, Jason Coats, at home as he attempted to score from first. Birmingham’s manager Julio Vinas argued with the umpires and protested the call believing that Wahoos’ catcher Chris Berset was blocking the plate. The rest of the game was played under protest.
The Barons tacked on another run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead over the Wahoos. Waldrop answered for the Blue Wahoos with his seventh home run since the All-Star break to cut the lead to one. Again, the Wahoos could not put together a shut down inning as the Barons re-took a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Pensacola refused to go down without a fight in the top of the ninth inning. Juan Silverio led off with a double and the next hitter, Bryson Smith, singled him home on a sharp line drive to left field. Smith would eventually come home on a sacrifice fly from Greene to tie the contest at five. It was Birmingham’s 23rd blown save of the season.
In the 10th, Mattair bunted himself on and reached second on the Barons’ third error of the night. Smith, who finished the day 4-for-5 with two RBI, singled him home for the eventual winning run. Smith was one of four Wahoos that ended up with a multi-hit game.
RHP Mikey O’Brien rejoined the team from Triple-A Louisville and made his 11th start of the season with Pensacola. O’Brien pitched well, allowing just three runs over 5.2 innings of work. RHP Radhames Quezada made his Double-A debut for the Blue Wahoos in the seventh inning. Quezada went 1.0 innings and struck out a batter. LHP Fabian Williamson earned his second win of the season going 2.0 innings and allowing 1 R/ER on one hit.
LHP Nelvin Fuentes allowed the winning run in the 10th and took the loss for the Barons.
Pensacola’s series continues with Birmingham on Friday. The second game of the series will begin at 7:05 p.m. at Regions Field. The Blue Wahoos will send RHP Tim Adleman (3-7, 3.00) to the bump on Friday. The Barons have tabbed RHP Mike Recchia (5-4, 3.32) as their starter.
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Ends Year At Home With 6-2 Win Over Montgomery
August 27, 2014
The Pensacola Blue s ended the 2014 season with a standing ovation from the packed stadium.
It was a heart-felt and electrifying moment to end the team’s 70 home games this year and deeply appreciated by the Blue Wahoos players and coaches. Plus, it was particularly gratifying going out with a victory, 6-2, over the Montgomery Biscuits Tuesday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
“It reminds me a lot of Wrigley Field,” said Pensacola Manager Delino DeShields. “The people keep coming back no matter what. The fans really make this place go. They are the best in the league by far in my opinion.”
Starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen admitted that the players joke that they like Pensacola so much, they don’t want to get called up.
“The atmosphere is always fun here, no matter the wins and losses,” said Lorenzen, who worked four innings and gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three. “We love it here. A lot of the players say we don’t want to go up. We want to stay because it’s so nice here.”
Pensacola’s closer Shane Dyer, who earned his franchise record 19th save Tuesday, was on the mound as the fans rose to their feet with two out and the last Biscuits player coming to the plate. Of course, Dyer struck out Montgomery’s Richie Shaffer, who has homered the past two games.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said of the loudly cheering fans. “That’s what guys in the bullpen thrive on. It’s always exciting to go out on top.”
The Wahoos ended their final game of the 2014 season with a sellout crowd of 5,038 to reach 311,687 total, which is the second highest total in the Southern League behind the Birmingham Barons.
It was the 33rd sellout in 70 home games this season for the Blue Wahoos, who averaged 4,453 fans a game. Pensacola had entered the final game 445 fans short of passing last season’s attendance total of 307,094.
The Wahoos are now 53,072 fans from reaching the 1 million mark in attendance in their fourth season in existence, which they will likely reach by the third homestand next season.
Jack-of-all-trades Brodie Greene came over from the Carolina Mudcats, which Quint and Rishy Studer bought and moved to Pensacola to start the 2012 season. Greene, who has played second base, shortstop and the outfield this season, has spent all three years in Pensacola. His season was cut short last year, when he broke his leg in July.
He ended his third season with the Blue Wahoos in fairy-tale fashion, belting a solo home run to deep leftfield – his third of the year and first at home.
“It was a good way to end a tough season,” Greene said. “I’ve been scuffling a little bit. I finally got one over the fence, though. It was great to see everyone behind us. It was like we were in the playoffs or something.”
The Wahoos have five more games on the road against the Birmingham Barons before the end of the Southern League season. They’re 56-78 overall and out of the playoff picture.
Many are making their plans for the offseason, such as playing in the Arizona Fall League, running a baseball academy in Europe, coaching a Wyoming and Colorado high school All-Star team, playing winter ball in Venezuela and returning home to their families, among other things.
One thing’s for sure. As they break for the winter, the Blue Wahoos fans’ standing ovation Tuesday will still be ringing in their ears.
The final five-game series for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the 2014 season is against the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate the Birmingham Barons. It gets underway after a day off Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. start Thursday. LHP Tim Adleman (3-7, 3.00) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Barons RHP Tony Bucciffero (2-2, 5.59). The season concludes Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1.
by Tommy Thrall