Late Smokies Rally Downs Wahoos In 12 Innings
April 7, 2013
The Tennessee Smokies broke up a 1-1 tie with eight runs in the top of the 12th to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 9-1 in front of the third straight sellout to start the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
A pitchers duel through 11 frames, Tennessee exploded for the eight runs courtesy of five base hits, four walks (one intentional), a hit batter and two Pensacola errors. The first eight men in the inning reached before an out was recorded. Matt Szczur broke the 1-1 tie with a bases-loaded two-run single through the drawn-in infield to make it 3-1. Jae-Hoon Ha added a two-run single to make it 5-1 before a bases loaded hit by pitch against Christian Villanueva made it 6-1. Rafael Lopez, the 10th batter of the frame, drove home two more with a bases loaded double prior to Szczur tallying his second run-scoring base knock of the inning to provide the final margin.
The inning skewed what was a fantastic pitching matchup throughout the contest. Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe was brilliant over five innings, yielding just a solo homer to Rubi Silva in the fifth and a second-inning single to Villanueva. Crabbe struck out five in his first outing of 2013.
Yohan Pino, Drew Hayes, and Curtis Partch combined for five scoreless frames before the 12th. Lee Hyde (0-1) took the loss for Pensacola giving up 7 runs (6 earned) in an inning plus seven batters of work.
Frank Batista (1-0) picked up the win with two innings of scoreless relief for the Smokies. He had two of Tennessee’s 15 strikeouts as a staff.
Pensacola’s lone run of the contest came in the last of the fourth. With two outs and Ryan LaMarre on second, Steve Selsky sent a line drive into center field to score LaMarre just ahead of the throw from Silva in center. Selsky had the lone multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance. The Wahoos struggled on offense yet again, mustering just five singles for the second consecutive night.
The Wahoos look to even the series tomorrow at 4 p.m. behind southpaw Ryan Dennick. Tennessee will counter with righty Kyle Hendricks. It’s the first Family Sunday of the season sponsored by McDonald’s. Kids will have the chance to run the bases after the game and there will be a family toss in the outfield postgame.
Story by Kevin Burke
Pictured top: Tim Crabbe allowed one run on two hits for Pensacola in his first start of the season. Courtesy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tennesee Shuts Down Wahoos With 8-2 Victory
April 6, 2013
A night after mashing four home runs, the Pensacola offense was quieted by Tennessee starter Alberto Cabrera in a 8-2 loss to the Smokies on Friday night in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was the second straight sellout to open the season.Smokies pitchers had the Wahoos stymied all night, fanning 15 Pensacola hitters in the game.
Cabrera (1-0) was in control from the onset, consistently touching the mid-90s with his sinking fastball, keeping Wahoos hitters off balance all evening. The Dominican righthander set down all but four batters he faced over six frames, needing just 77 pitches to halt the potent Pensacola attack. Cabrera retired 12 of the final 13 hitters in his outing, compiling nine strikeouts overall en route to his first win of the season.
Zac Rosscup continued the trend out of the bullpen for Tennessee, retiring six of the seven hitters he faced, including five on strikeouts in two innings.
Tennessee got all the offense it needed in the fourth off Pensacola starter Josh Smith. Entering the inning trailing 2-1, the Smokies sent nine men to the plate, scoring five times to take a commanding 6-2 lead. The inning featured three doubles, two singles, a sac bunt and a fielder’s choice that resulted in a run. Jay Fernandez, Matt Szczur, Jae-Hoon Ha, Justin Bour and Christian Villanueva each picked up an RBI in the five-run frame. Villanueva led the Tennessee offense, going 3-for-5 with a double and 4 RBI.
Smith (0-1) took the loss for the Wahoos as he gave up six runs (all earned) on nine hits in 3.2 frames.
Tucker Barnhart led the Blue Wahoos offense, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored. Barnhart is now 5-for-7 at the dish to start the 2013 campaign.
Pensacola’s only runs in the game came in the last of the second. With runners on first and third, David Vidal brought in a run with a groundout to tie the game at one. A batter later, Brodie Greene drove home a run with an infield single to give Pensacola a 2-1 advantage.
The series continues tomorrow with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Tim Crabbe gets the call for the Wahoos opposed by Tennessee southpaw Eric Jokish. Tomorrow will be 1920’s night at the ballpark and it’s the first fireworks show of the season presented by Highpointe Hotels, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church and United Airlines.
Story By Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos fell to Tennessee Friday night. Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Ride Homers To Opening Day Win
April 5, 2013
The Blue Wahoos opened up their 2013 season with a bang, smacking four home runs en route to a 7-3 triumph over the Tennessee Smokies. The sellout crowd of 5,038 was the first of the season and 41st in 69 home dates in the history of the Pensacola franchise.
Pensacola was in control for nearly the entire game thanks to its balanced attack and powerful hitting. Travis Mattair started the show launching the first pitch he saw in Double-A deep over the left field wall in the second inning. Bryson Smith followed suit a frame later, sending a line drive shot over the left field fence to square the game at two. In the fourth, it was Tucker Barnhart who crushed on 0-1 pitch off the batter’s eye in center field to put the Wahoos on top 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. Donald Lutz joined the home run party in the seventh, lifting an opposite field shot to left to open the score up to 5-2.
The Wahoos also had RBI’s from Ryan LaMarre, with an RBI groundout in the fourth, and Devin Lohman, who added a two-RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Tennessee’s offense centered around shortstop Arismendy Alcantara. The Dominican native accounted for all three of the Smokies’ RBI’s, including a two-out, two-run tater in the top of third that gave Tennessee it’s only lead of the game at 2-1.
Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win for Pensacola, tossing five innings of four-hit ball while strking out four and allowing two runs. Yohan Pino, Drew Hayes, and Lee Hyde all earned holds in relief, with Hyde getting the powerful Justin Bour to ground out with the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the eighth.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler was harmed by three home runs in 5.1 innings and took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
The balanced Wahoos attack saw eight of the nine starters record at least one base hit, including the pitcher Rogers. Barnhart and Brodie Greene attributed two base hits apiece while Lohman had the lone multi-RBI game.
The series continues tomorrow as Josh Smith takes the hill for the Wahoos against Alberto Cabrera for the Smokies. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Story By Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos opened their season Thursday night with a win over the Tennessee Smokies. Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Chipley
April 5, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 4-2 Thursday night on the road.
Daulton Tullis went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up four hits. Kevin Vaughan was 2-4 at the plate.
The varsity Chiefs will travel to Freeport on Tuesday, April 9 before returning home to Bratt on Thursday, April 11 against the Baker Gators.
Tate Cheerleading Tryouts To Be Held Next Week
April 5, 2013
Tate High School Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 8-12 in the Tate gym after school. Information packets can be picked up at Tate’s main office or online by clicking here.
Tate’s Tanner ‘Robo’ Roberson Signs With Huntingdon College
April 4, 2013
Tate High School senior Tanner “ROBO” Roberson has signed to play football with Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
Roberson played football all four years at Tate High School as a tight end. He was chosen as this year’s Tate High’s Football Scholar Athlete.
In addition to his performance on the football field, Tanner was the leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was the 2013 Challenger Award recipient. He also was selected for inclusion in Tate’s 2012 – 2013 Hall of Fame.
Pictured: Tate High School senior Tanner “ROBO” Roberson signs to play football with Huntingdon College in Montgomery surrounded by family (above) and teammates (below). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Perfect Softball Seasons Spoiled For Jay, Northview; Jay Over NHS In Baseball
April 3, 2013
Perfect softball seasons were ruined Tuesday in Jay for both Northview and Jay, while Jay took two from Northview in baseball.
SOFTBALL
In varsity softball, the Northview Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season to the Jay Lady Royals, 6-0. The Chiefs, now 10-1 overall, were plagued by errors, according to Coach Amy Holland.
In JV softball, Northview beat Jay 8-2 to end the JV Lady Royal’s season at 14-1.
Northview’s Lady Chiefs will be on the road Saturday afternoon against Freeport (JV at 1:00, varsity at 3:00) before rounding our their season April 9 at Escambia Academy. Jay’s varsity softball team will travel to Holmes County on Thursday (6:00 p.m.), before hosting Pace on April 11 and Pensacola High on April 12.
The District tournament begins Monday, April 15 in Chipley.
BASEBALL
In JV baseball, Jay beat Northview 5-2..
In varsity baseball, Jay rallied to beat Northview 7-6. The Royals scored three in the seventh inning for the win.
The Royals will be on the road Friday at Freeport (4:00 JV and 6:00 varsity), while Northview will be at Chipley on Thursday (4:00 JV and 6:00 varsity).
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Stacey Signs Scholarship With Huntingdon College
April 3, 2013
Tate High School senior Austin Stacey, recently signed with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. He was awarded the college’s highest academic award, the Bellingrath Scholarship, and will be playing soccer for the college.
He played soccer all four years for the Tate Aggies. This past season, Stacey had 10 goals and six assists for the Aggies.
Stacey currently has a 4.2 GPA, is a member of the Tate Student Council, National Honor Society, Interact Club and yearbook. He is also a Children’s Ministry intern at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Pictured: Tate High School senior Austin Stacey signs with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Kids House 5K, Fun Run Is Saturday
April 2, 2013
In honor of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Santa Rosa Kids House is hosting a 5K Race and 1 Mile Fun Run at NAS Whiting Field this Saturday, April 6.
Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., and the race starts at 8 a.m. The cost is $20 for early registration, or $25 day of the race. The first 200 entries are guaranteed a t-shirt, and awards will be given to the top finishers in all age groups.
Register early at the Santa Rosa Kids’ House, 5643 Stewart Street in Milton anytime, or during packet pick-up at the Kids House on Friday, April 5th from 4-6 p.m. For more information call (850) 623-1112 or email coordinator@srkidshouse.org.
Softball Tourney To Benefit Wreck Victim Mark Shipps, Jr.
April 1, 2013
A Molino man and Northview High graduate is facing a long road to recovery from a March 24 wreck in Molino, and his friends are organizing a softball tournament in May to offset some of the family’s financial expenses.
Mark Allen Ships, Jr. was traveling west on Molino Road near Chestnut Road about 3:30 a.m. on March 24 when he crossed over the eastbound lane and onto the shoulder. He continued on the shoulder until he struck a cement culvert and cement embankment with the front of his 2002 Jeep Liberty.
At the time of the wreck, Shipps was returning home from a formal banquet for the Kappa Sigma Fraternity of University of West Florida. Shipps, a 2010 Northview graduate, is the vice president of the fraternity at UWF, where he is majoring in electrical engineering.
According to Shipps’ mother, Heather, Mark planned to spend the night with a friend in Pensacola. She said he apparently decided to come home because he was scheduled to work Sunday morning in the meat market at Piggly Wiggly in Davisville. He wrecked less than a half mile from his parent’s home.
Shipps’ injuries include intestinal damage, two broken femurs, bruised lungs and a fracture above his left eye, according to his mother. “Most of the damage was done by the seatbelt and airbag, but if he hadn’t had the seatbelt on he probably wouldn’t have survived,” she said.
He has undergone several abdominal surgeries to repair the damage, and rods were inserted in surgeries to repair his broken legs.
“Thankfully he did not suffer any head injuries,” Ms. Shipps said. “They have done CT scans and have found no injuries.”
“He is expected to make a full recovery,” Ms. Shipps said. “It is just going to be a long process.”
Junior Classic
The Junior Classic Softball Tournament will be held beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10 and continuing Saturday, May 11 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
It will be based on USSSA slow pitch softball rules, with three females on the field per team at all ties. There will be a two loss elimination in effect. Registration is $150 per team.
The event will also include food, music and more. Volunteers are needed in any form — from playing on a team, to umpiring and more. For more information or to register, contact Bradley Lowery at (850) 232-3205 or BJL0005@auburn.edu.
A benefit account has been established at United Bank in Atmore for Mark Shipps, Jr. The account information is: Mark Shipps Jr. Benefit Account, account #151892711, P.O. Box 8, Atmore, AL 36504. Checks should be made out to “Mark Shipps Jr. Benefit Account”.
The Junior Class Facebook page (click here) also offers more information.
Pictured top and bottom: Mark Allen Shipps, Jr. was critically injured in this accident at about 3:30 a.m. on March 24 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
