Pensacola Posse Wins World Series 14U Fastpitch Softball Tourney
July 31, 2013
The Pensacola Posse won the recent USSSA 2013 World Series 14U Fastpitch Softball Tournament in Gulf Shores. Team members are: (bottom, L-R) Kaili Okahashi, Pace; Paige Palmer, Cantonment; Savannah Rowell, Cantonment; Mallory Miller, Cantonment; Meagan Jones, Cantonment; (top row) Bryce Miller, Pace; Hadley Starratt, Cantonment; Destiny Herring, Jay; Samantha Kummer, Pace; Morgan Bolen, Cantonment; Kristin Quina, Cantonment; (back row) coaches Randy Miller, Sean Starratt, Pete Kummer, and John Quina. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BayBears Down Wahoos
July 31, 2013
The Mobile BayBears snapped an extended scoreless streak early, and held on late for a 3-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night in front of the 22nd capacity crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Mobile, having not scored in either of the first two games, fell behind early on a Mike Costanzo double in the last of the first inning that gave Pensacola a 1-0 lead. Unlike the last couple nights, though, the BayBears offense provided some support, tying the game in the top of the second on an RBI groundout from Rossmel Perez.
An inning later, Dustin Martin reached on a two-out infield single that scored Justin Greene, giving Mobile a 2-1 lead. The hits kept coming against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe in the fourth inning when Ryan Court blasted his first Double-A homer giving the BayBears a two-run advantage.
Crabbe (4-8) finished off a quality start with six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. It was Crabbe’s second straight quality outing and ninth of the season.
Mobile starter Bo Schultz, who retired 11 in a row at one point and 14 of 15 hitters from the second through sixth innings, quieted the Wahoos offensively. That changed in the seventh as Travis Mattair led off the frame with a solo homer to bring Pensacola back to within two. The blast was Mattair’s franchise-record 12th of the season, but first since June 28.
Mattair had an opportunity to plate the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, but grounded out with two on against Mobile closer Jake Barrett. Pensacola brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth inning against Barrett, but Devin Lohman struck out looking to end the game.
Schultz (4-2) picked up the win for the BayBears by allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings. Barrett picked up his sixth save of the year with 1.1 scoreless frames.
The two teams will tangle in game four of the series on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Josh Smith (8-8, 3.86) gets the call for Pensacola opposite Mobile’s Mark Serrano (4-0, 2.18) with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Tate’s Dunsford, West Florida’s Rosario Named To All-State Softball Teams
July 30, 2013
Miracle Sports has named two local players to the 2013 All State Softball Team.
Rachel Dunsford, an incoming senior at Tate high school, made First Team 6A for 2013 as a Utility player. The University of Alabama Birmingham commit hit .432 for the year with eight doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, .519 on base percentage and a .591 slugging percentage. In 2012, Rachel made Second Team All State.
Korina Rosario, incoming senior at West Florida High, made Honorable Mention in 5A for 2013. The Florida State commit hit. .467 for the year with 12 doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBI, .495 on base percentage and had nine stolen bases. Korina was 9-4 pitching for the jaguars with 134 strikeouts and a .166 batting average against.
Both players will sign their National Letter of Intent with their respective universities in November.
Miracle Sports is the official website of the Florida High school softball rankings and the Florida All-State high school softball teams.
Pictured: Korina Rosario (left) and Rachel Dunsford. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Renken Leads Wahoos To Second Straight Shutout
July 30, 2013
Daniel Renken fired six shutout frames for the second straight outing and the Blue Wahoos offense provided two early runs to knock off the Mobile BayBears 2-0 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was Pensacola’s ninth shutout of the season and extended the team’s scoreless innings streak to 18 innings.
Renken (5-7), riding a string of six consecutive quality starts since his last start against Mobile, dominated the BayBears over six innings. The right-hander allowed three scattered hits while falling one shy of a season-high in strikeouts with six. Renken’s lone bit of trouble came in the fifth when he worked with two runners on and one out, but he got a groundout and a strikeout to retire the side. With the six shutout frames, Renken extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1 frames dating back to July 12.
The Pensacola offense provided solo tallies in the first two frames for the only runs of the night. In the first inning, Yorman Rodriguez jacked his second home run of the year off Mobile starter David Holmberg to give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ray Chang doubled home Travis Mattair to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead.
Holmberg took the loss for Mobile to fall to 5-6 on the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
That was more than enough for Renken, who gave way to Lee Hyde in the seventh inning. The Wahoos southpaw reliever fired two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit to extend his personal scoreless streak to 27.1 innings dating back to May 21.
Trevor Bell came on in the ninth inning and retired the BayBears in order to pick up his ninth save of the year.
Pensacola will now look to take the series against Mobile on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Tim Crabbe (4-7, 3.33) looks to build on his nine scoreless innings last time out for Pensacola against Mobile’s Bo Schultz.
story by Kevin Burke
Wahoos Top BayBears
July 29, 2013
Shaun Ellis combined with four relievers to fire a two-hit shutout of the Mobile BayBears in Pensacola’s 2-0 win on Sunday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The shutout was Pensacola’s eighth of the season
The Wahoos pitching staff tied a team-low for hits allowed in a game this season, sparked by the starter Ellis. The All-Star went four-plus innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Both free passes came in the top of the fifth inning and forced Ellis from the game. Parker Frazier came out of the Blue Wahoos bullpen to get a strikeout and a double play to end the threat.
Frazier (1-0) picked up his first win in a Pensacola uniform with three scoreless and hitless innings in just his second appearance since being traded from Colorado. The right-hander struck out three and walked only one.
Josh Ravin and Chris Manno combined to toss a scoreless eighth before Trevor Bell closed the door in the ninth inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.
Pensacola provided enough support with a pair of runs in the last of the second against BayBears’ starter Andrew Chafin. Mike Costanzo led off the inning with a walk before scoring on a double from Chris Berset. Ryan LaMarre drove home Berset two batters later with a single to make it 2-0.
Chafin took the loss to fall to 7-6 on the season. The southpaw allowed two runs on four hits in six innings with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Wahoos look to make it two wins in a row on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Daniel Renken (4-7, 3.56) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mobile’s David Holmberg (5-5, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke
Pensacola Wahoos Drop Series Finale 4-2 To Mississippi Braves
July 28, 2013
Christian Bethancourt slapped a single through the right side in the last of the seventh inning, scoring the eventual game-winning run for the Mississippi Braves in a 4-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Trustmark Park. Mississippi took the series in the process, handing Pensacola its first loss in a rubber game this season.
The contest was scoreless headed to the fifth inning before Pensacola pushed a run across against Braves starter Ian Thomas. Travis Mattair led off the inning with a single before Ryan LaMarre reached on a sacrifice bunt as the catcher Bethancourt threw the ball into the stands. Ray Chang would then drive home Mattair with a groundout to make it 1-0.
Mississippi responded in the last of the sixth with a pair of runs against Pensacola starter Carlos Contreras. The first three Braves reached on two singles and a walk before Robby Hefflinger and Edward Salcedo lifted sacrifice flies to push Mississippi in front 2-1.
Pensacola came right back in the top of the seventh to tie the game in the seventh against Thomas on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Donald Lutz, scoring Ryan LaMarre, who had singled earlier in the inning. Thomas picked up his fifth win of the year with seven strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts.
Thomas was given the win thanks to the Braves rallying for a run in the last of the seventh. Facing Loek Van Mil, the Braves put runners on the corners with one out for Mycal Jones who grounded into a fielder’s choice with Christian Marrero being thrown out at the plate. Bethancourt picked up the tab, though, with a single to right to make it 3-2.
The Braves added an insurance tally in the eighth inning against Van Mil. Hefflinger doubled to right with one out and scored on a Jaime Pedroza single with two outs to give Mississippi a two-run advantage.
Van Mil took the loss, falling to 0-7. The right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with a strikeout and two walks in two frames. Contreras was dealt a no-decision in his second start at Double-A, yielding two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings.
The Wahoos got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning, but Andrew Russell was able to retire the side to pick up his second save of the year.
Pensacola now returns home to resume the Bay-to-Bay series with a five-game series against the Mobile BayBears. Shaun Ellis (3-2, 4.02) will get the ball for the Wahoos against the BayBears’ Andrew Chafin (7-5, 2.81). First pitch from Pensacola Bayfront Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Wahoos Knock Off Braves
July 27, 2013
The Blue Wahoos offense erupted for five early runs and held on to knock off the Mississippi Braves 5-3 on Friday night at Trustmark Park. Pensacola’s victory forces a rubber game between the two squads on Saturday night.
Things started quickly for Pensacola. In the first inning, Chris Berset slashed a two-run, two-out double down the left field line to give the Wahoos a 2-0 lead. Travis Mattair then brought Berset home with a single up the middle to make it 3-0.
In the third inning, Pensacola strung together four straight two out singles, culminating in RBI base knocks from Berset and Mattair to open up a 5-0 lead. Berset and Mattair combined to go 4-for-6 with a run and five runs batted in.
All of the damage came off Mississippi starter Michael Lee who fell to 5-7 by allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Josh Smith was cruising through four shutout innings before running into trouble in the fifth inning. The Braves loaded the bases against the Smith, who escaped the jam by allowing two runs on two sacrifice flies from Robby Hefflinger and Mycal Jones. Smith (8-8) went just five frames for Pensacola, allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Drew Hayes entered in the sixth inning and gave up an RBI single to Jose Martinez to cut the lead to 5-3 before being replaced by Lee Hyde. The Wahoos southpaw got out of the inning unscathed and ended up extending his scoreless inning streak to 25 innings with 1.1 spotless frames.
Trevor Bell came on in the eighth inning and allowed just one hit while striking out to pick up the two-inning save. It was Bell’s seventh save of the year in as many opportunities.
The series wraps up with the rubber game on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Pensacola will look to improve on its 5-0 record in rubber games with Carlos Contreras (0-1, 6.75) on the mound against Mississippi’s Ian Thomas (4-6, 3.14)
story by Kevin Burke
Braves Beat Pensacola 1-0
July 26, 2013
Christian Marrero smoked a single just out of the reach of first baseman Mike Costanzo, scoring Mycal Jones to give the Mississippi Braves a 1-0, 10-inning win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.
Jones set up the inning with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch by Jamie Walczak. Edward Salcedo and Braeden Schlehuber were then walked intentionally to load the bases with nobody out. Walczak struck out Barrett Kleinknecht for the first out but Marrero snuck the liner past Costanzo to win it for Mississippi. Walczak took his first loss of the season by allowing a run on two hits in just 0.1 innings.
The walk-off dampened one of the best starts in franchise history turned in by Tim Crabbe. The right-hander shutout Mississippi over nine frames, limiting the Braves to just five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Crabbe needed just 98 pitches to get through nine innings, not allowing a single Brave past second base. It was the first time in franchise history that a Wahoos hurler had completed nine innings.
Mitch Atkins was equally as dominant for Mississippi, firing seven shutout innings for the Braves. Atkins struck out nine Wahoos against just one walk while allowing five hits. Pensacola’s biggest threat against him came in the fifth with Yorman Rodriguez on third base and one out. Tucker Barnhart chopped a ball to first where Barrett Kleinknecht fielded and fired home to nab Rodriguez, keeping the game scoreless.
Pensacola faced a similar fate in the eighth inning against reliever Pat Egan. Devin Lohman led off the frame with a double, moved to third on a groundout, but was stranded after Egan induced a pop out and groundout, the latter of which was a bang-bang play in which Donald Lutz was called out at first base.
Egan improved to 6-1 on the season with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out one and allowing two hits.
The Braves have now taken two of the first three games in the series and look for the series victory on Friday night at 7 p.m. Josh Smith (7-8, 3.87) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Michael Lee (5-6, 3.96).
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Brain Cancer Claims West Florida’s Tristan Laurent
July 25, 2013
West Florida High School Jaguar Tristan Laurent passed away Wednesday at home. He was just 15.
Laurent battled a malignant brain tumor for just over a year. As a freshman last year, he played a portion of the 2013 season on the West Florida High School Jaguar freshman team. He was unable to complete the season due to his health.
He was honored by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos back in April, spending the day practicing with the Wahoos players. During a “Home Run for Life” during the night’s Blue Wahoos game, every player from both teams greeted Laurent during his lap on the field and he also received a bat signed by the entire Blue Wahoos team.
Funeral services for Tristan Laurent are not yet complete.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Knock Off The Mississippi Braves 5-2
July 25, 2013
Bolstered by a dominant start from Daniel Renken, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos knocked off the Mississippi Braves 5-2 on Wednesday night at Trustmark Park. The win evened the five-game series at one game apiece.
Renken entered Wednesday having fired five consecutive quality starts sandwiched around a relief appearance and continued his strong performance with six shutout frames. The right-hander had bits of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings while twirling his gem. In the fourth, two batters reached on two Pensacola errors, but Renken induced two pop-ups to get out of the jam. In the fifth, the Braves loaded the bases on two walks and a single but Robby Hefflinger grounded out to thwart the threat.
The right-hander’s team-leading 12th quality start featured four strikeouts and two walks with just two hits allowed. Renken improved to 4-7 with the win.
The Wahoos provided early offensive support for Renken with a pair of runs in the second inning off Mississippi starter Gus Schlosser. Tucker Barnhart led off the inning with a single and scored on a double by Travis Mattair. Ryan LaMarre then singled up the middle to score Mattair and make it 2-0. Schlosser (6-3) worked just four innings, allowing the two runs on four hits.
Pensacola added to its lead in the fifth inning on a two-out double by Mike Costanzo, who finished the night going 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.
The Wahoos added extra insurance in the eighth inning against Ronan Pacheco, which proved to be rather important. The first two hitters reached on walks in the inning before Mattair laced a single up the middle to make it 4-0. Two batters later, Ray Chang made it 5-0 with an RBI groundout.
Mississippi made things interesting in the last of the ninth against Josh Ravin. Christian Bethancourt slashed a two-run single to right field to draw the Braves back to within three. Tommy La Stella, representing the tying run with two outs in the ninth, flew out to the warning track in dead center field to end the contest.
The Braves and Wahoos will square off in the middle game of the five-game set on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. Tim Crabbe (4-7, 3.63) gets the call for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Mitch Atkins (2-1, 2.90). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke