Blue Wahoos Beat Mississippi Braves 4-3 To Open Series
August 26, 2012
Blue Wahoos right fielder P.J. Phillips blasted his second homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth, while shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 149th base and scored the winning run on a wild pitch, as Pensacola topped the Mississippi Braves 4-3 on Saturday night at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
With the win the Fish improved to 31-30 in the second half of the season to remain to within 2.5 games behind the Montgomery Biscuits for first place in the South Division, thanks to their loss to the Jacksonville Suns Saturday. The Braves fell to 28-33 since the season’s All-Star Break.
Pensacola plated the game’s first score in the opening frame. Hamilton led off with a single, stole second for his 149th of the year and advanced to third on an error, before coming home on a double play to put the Fish ahead 1-0. Hamilton continues to extend his single-season steals record, which he broke earlier this week against Montgomery.
The Blue Wahoos would then extend the margin to three in the fifth thanks to the longball. After 1B Donald Lutz began with single, Phillips powered the 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for his second roundtripper of the year and his first since May 5 against Jackson.
Mississippi would answer and tally their first run of the game in the bottom of the inning. LF Alden Carrithers drew a leadoff free pass and took second on a walk, before CF Todd Cunningham sent him home with a run-scoring single to right.
Following a two hour and 29 minute rain delay, the Braves would eventually tie it at 3-3 in the seventh. Pinch hitter Jason Christian began the inning with a free pass and moved to second on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s walk before scoring on an RBI single by C Evan Gattis. Terdoslavich would score later on the play to draw the contest even.
Pensacola grabbed the lead for good however in the ninth thanks to small ball. Hamilton reached on a bunt single and got to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout, prior to taking advantage of a wild pitch to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Both starters did not factor in the decisions due to the precipitation despite good outings. Blue Wahoos starter Wirfin Obispo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) gave up a lone earned run on just three hits in his five frames, while Braves LHP Jose Lugo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) yielded three earned runs on three hits while fanning four.
Pensacola reliever Curtis Partch (1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) earned the victory with his 1.1 shutout frames in relief, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0) notched his 15th save of the year with a perfect ninth. Braves RHP Mark Lamm (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-7 after allowing the final tally on two hits in two innings pitched.
The two teams are slated to play a double header Sunday afternoon, with the first game a makeup for Friday night’s scheduled contest beginning at 4:00 p.m. Both games will last seven innings. LHP Tony Cingrani is expected to get the start in the first game for the Blue Wahoos, while RHP David Hale will get the start for the Braves. RHP Chad Rogers is scheduled to toe the rubber in the second contest for Pensacola, facing Mississippi RHP J.R. Graham.
The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thurdsay, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: P.J. Phillips mashed his second homer of the year in Pensacola’s 4-3 win over Mississippi. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Takes On Bay, May Lose Star Neiko Robinson Next Game (With Photo Gallery)
August 25, 2012
The varsity 1A Northview Chiefs tied the 5A Panama City Bay Tornadoes 7-7 Friday night in Bratt, but the Chiefs may have lost Penn State recruit Neiko Robinson for the first game of the regular season. The JV Chiefs lost 7-0 in one quarter of play.
Robinson, a senior transfer from the Flomaton Huricanes, was ejected in the fourth quarter after an overturned interception led to a brief scuffle allegedly involving Robinson. The incident started after officials flagged Neino Robinson, Neiko’s younger brother, for pass interference on the play. The incident will be reviewed next week by the Florida High School Athletic Association to determine if the preseason scuffle will lead to a suspension.
The play led to Bay’s go-ahead touchdown.
Coach Sid Wheatley said he did not see the incident but he was told that the officials said it was retaliation. Neiko was already under the weather before being ejected, possibly suffering from strep throat.
For 100 photos of game action, NHS cheerleaders, band and dance team, click here.
The preseason game was planned to be a matchup of reserves in the first quarter, but Bay played mostly starters. The first was to be followed by three quarters of varsity play. PC Bay was up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
With 2:30 to go in the second, LaMikal Kyles flipped and tripped on a tackle attempt, but he did not go down, making his way in for the final yards for a Chiefs touchdown. A good kick from Kevin Vaughan, and it was tied 7-7.
Wheatley said his Chiefs, ranked third in the state, played good defense in the second and third quarters, but faltered in the third as Bay drove the ball almost the length of the field before punching it in.
“They made the big drive,” Wheatley said. “We didn’t make the stop, and that kind of determined the game.”
And the Chiefs were also plagued by a seemingly endless series of penalties during the game.
“We’ve got to learn from what we did tonight,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to see all the mistakes…all the undisciplined play. That was very disappointing to me.”
“We’ve got to be able to close. We’ve got to be the team that finishes it off in the fourth quarter”
On the upside of the loss, the head coach said he was pleased with new starting quarterback Vaughan.
“When you can get a guy on the edge who puts the defense in a bind whether to come up and play this guy or back off, and if you back off, he’s going to get some yards,” Wheatley said. “I thought he played real well.”
Wheatley also acknowledged good play from senior Corry Baggett at linebacker, Stetson Nash who “has really come along on the defensive front for us”, Brandon Freeman at outside linebacker, and the play of backup quarterback Daulton Tullis.
The Northview Chiefs will open the regular season next Friday night against John Paul Catholic at 7 p.m.
For 100 photos of game action, NHS cheerleaders, band and dance team, click here.
Pictured top: Senior Neiko Robinson picks up yardage for the Northview Chiefs Friday night against Panama City Bay. Pictured top inset: LaMikal Kyles on gain for NHS. Pictured bottom inset: Backup Northview QB Daulton Tullis, a junor. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
PHS Downs Tate 27-0
August 25, 2012
The Tate Aggies fell to the Pensacola High School Tigers 27-0 in a preseason game Friday night.
Tate’s Lorenzo Long returned the opening kickoff 84 yards before being driven out of bounds at the PHS 7-yard line. PHS stopped them, and Tate missed the kickoff to remain scoreless in the first.
The young Aggies, under the leadership of new coach Brad Naggatz, had four turnovers that were converted into touchdown for PHS, the defending 1-6A state champions.
The Tate Aggies will open the regular season next Friday night on a long road trip at Louisiana’s St. Charles High School.
Pictured: Action under the Friday night lights between Tate and Pensacola highs schools. Courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fans ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 24, 2012
Fans had chance to “Meet the Chiefs” Thursday evening at Northview High School, 24 hours before the defending regional champs took to the field for a preseason matchup Friday night.
NHS fans turned out to meet the Chiefs varsity and junior varsity teams, cheerleaders, band and dance team.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Northview Wins Tourney Over Jay, Central, Escambia (With Gallery)
August 24, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs won a preseason volleyball tournament Thursday in Bratt, topping Jay, Century and Escambia high schools.
Northview defeated the Escambia Lady Gators in three – 19-25, 25-16, 15-12. Lily Townson had three aces for Northview. Misty Doran accumulated 11 kills, while Morgan Payne contributed four kills.
Northview also beat Jay — 20-25, 25-17, 15-12. Doran had nine kills, and Payne had eight. Danielle Steadham added four more kills for the Lady Chiefs.
In other action, Jay defeated Central.
Pictured top: Northview takes on Escambia High. Pictured inset: Central and Jay go up to the net. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Biscuits; Welcome 300,000th Fan
August 24, 2012
The Blue Wahoos batted around and tallied eight hits as part of a five-run fifth inning, led by a two-run triple from designated hitter Yordanys Perez, while three Pensacola pitchers kept Biscuits batters to just four hits in their 6-0 shutout victory over Montgomery in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved their record to 30-30 in the second half and are now four games behind the Biscuits for first in the South Division. Montgomery fell to 34-26 since the season’s midpoint.
The capacity crowd was the 37th of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 63rd home date. Prior to the game, the club welcomed their 300,000th fans at attend in their inaugural season. The Apostolides family was greeted by Blue Wahoos staff and Kazoo to celebrate the milestone and present the family with a special prize pack.
After both teams went scoreless into the fifth, LF Donald Lutz and C Tucker Barnhart began the Wahoos’ big inning with back-to-back base hits and then were driven in on Perez’s triple to right-center. Perez would then come plateward courtesy of 2B Miguel Rojas’ RBI single, while RF Josh Fellhauer eventually scored Rojas with a run-scoring double down the left field line.
The inning’s scoring was capped with Fellhauer coming across on 1B Beau Mills’ RBI single to left. The eight hits in the frame, collected by eight different Pensacola batters, set a new team record, breaking the previous mark of five that had been set on seven previous occasions. Pensacola plated their final tally in the eighth when Barnhart reached on a walk, moved to second on a free pass and third on a single, before coming home on a wild pitch.
Fellhauer (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) recorded a game-high three hits and reached base four times for the second straight night, while Barnhart (2-3, 2 R, 1 BB) and Rojas (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) each collected a pair of base knocks for the Blue Wahoos. 3B Omar Luna (2-3, 1 BB) was the lone batter to collect a multi-hit effort for the Biscuits in the defeat. Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton collected a hit and two walks but did not steal a base to keep his all-time single-season steals record total at 148.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two hits in five scoreless frame to improve to 8-7. Relievers Josh Ravin (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Chris Manno (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) preserved the shutout with two shutout innings each. Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson (4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 7-11 after yielding five earned runs on nine hits in his 4.2 innings.
Pensacola will now travel to Pearl, Mississippi for their final road series of the season with a five-game set scheduled against the Mississippi Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday night, with the Blue Wahoos slated to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound, while the Braves are expected to give the nod to LHP Jose Lugo.
Following the five-game series, the Blue Wahoos will return home for their final series of the regular season, facing the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, with the first game of that series set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: The Blue Wahoos welcomed their 300,000th fans, the Apostolides family, Thursday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos were the first Southern League team to hit the 300,000 milestone this season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Biscuits Clinch Series With 9-8 Comeback Win Over The Wahoos
August 23, 2012
Biscuits second baseman Derek Dietrich and designated hitter Ryan Garko hit back-to-back homers in the ninth, while Pensacola third baseman David Vidal drove home four runs, three thanks to a homer, as Montgomery defeated the Blue Wahoos in a 9-8 comeback victory on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win clinches the series for the Biscuits and propels their second half record to 34-25, while the Fish fell to 29-30 since the season’s midpoint. Pensacola also dropped to five games behind Montgomery for first in the South Division.
The Blue Wahoos would start the scoring with a three-spot in the opening frame. Following base knocks from SS Miguel Rojas and RF Josh Fellhauer, CF Bryson Smith drove both home with a two-run triple down the right field line. Smith subsequently scored on Vidal’s sacrifice fly to center to cap the inning.
Montgomery narrowed the margin to 3-2 courtesy of single tallies in the third and fourth frames. CF Ty Morrison mashed a solo blast to right, his third of the season, while RF Mikie Mahtook took advantage of a pair of Blue Wahoos fielding miscues to cut the deficit to one.
Pensacola however, struck back with another three-run inning, this time in the fifth. Fellhauer and Smith both reached on base hits with one out, before Vidal launched his 11thh roundtripper of the year to left to take the team lead and put Pensacola ahead 6-2. LF Andrew Means in the next inning would bring home 2B P.J. Phillips with an RBI single to increase the Blue Wahoos’ advantage to 7-2.
A four-run seventh for the Biscuits would then make it a one-run game. Morrison and Dietrich recorded back-to-back runs-scoring singles to get the rally going, while Mahtook made it 7-6 with his two-run single to right.
Montgomery eventually entered the ninth trailing by a run, but took advantage of two longballs to grab their first and only lead of the game. Dietrich and Garko blasted their consecutive homers, the third of the season for Dietrich and eighth of Garko’s season. The Biscuits also added a key insurance run when 1B Michael Sheridan drove home Mahtook to go up 9-7.
The Blue Wahoos then mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth, putting the tying run on base. Pinch hitter Ryan LaMarre led off with a double and was brought home on an RBI single by Billy Hamilton. Hamilton then stole second to extend his own single-season stolen base record to 148 thefts this year, but was left stranded in scoring position.
Pensacola starting pitcher Mark Serrano (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite allowing two runs, one of which was earned on four hits in his six innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Montgomery RHP C.J. Riefenhauser (1.0 IP) earned the win with a scoreless frame in relief, while LHP Chris Rearick (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) notched his second save of the year.
The Blue Wahoos and Biscuits are slated to face off for the final time this year Thursday night at the bayfront stadium, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Daniel Corcino to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Jacob Thompson.
By Andrew Green
New Sign Welcomes Fans To Northview’s Football Stadium, Just In Time For Meet The Chiefs
August 22, 2012
A new sign on the football stadium press box at Northview High School will greet fans this football season. The “Home of the Northview Chiefs” sign was purchased by the Northview Quarterback Club.
The Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 Thursday night at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
Pictured above: A new sign welcomes fans to the Northview High School football stadium. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hamilton Breaks Steals Record As Biscuits Sweep Fish In Twin Bill
August 22, 2012
Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton stole four bases to set a new professional baseball record of 146 for stolen bases in a single season, while Montgomery swept the Blue Wahoos in Tuesday night’s double header. The Biscuits took the first game 4-2 before they topped the Fish 3-1 in the second contest at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the defeats, the Blue Wahoos fell to an even 29-29 record in the second half, while Montgomery improved to 34-25 since the league’s All-Star Game. The Wahoos are now four games out of first place in the Southern League South.
With two outs in the bottom of the third of game one and one steal away from tying the top mark, Hamilton lined a single into right field to reach for the second time in the contest. Hamilton then took off for second and swiped the base just under a strong and accurate throw from Montgomery catcher Mark Thomas. Three pitches later, the Mississippi native ran on the 0-2 pitch and dove head-first into third base ahead of Thomas’ throw to claim the record.
The record falls 20 years to the day after Vince Coleman and Donnell Nixon broke Rickey Henderson’s single-season stolen base record with their 131st stolen base of the 1983 season.
After both teams went scoreless through the first five innings of game one, Montgomery got the scoring started with a run in the sixth. 1B Greg Sexton walked and then advanced to third on C Mark Thomas’ double, before an RBI groundout sent home Sexton. One inning later, LF Brad Coon increased the advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single to center.
The Blue Wahoos however, came back to tie it with a clutch two-out two-run game-tying homer. LF Donald Lutz drew a one-out walk, before C Tucker Barnhart left the yard for his second longball of the year.
However, Montgomery plated two tallies in the extra eighth inning to pull ahead for good. 1B Michael Sheridan led off with a solo shot to right, his ninth roundtripper of the year, prior to RF Mikie Mahtook’s RBI single. Pensacola again fought hard in bottom of the frame and loaded the bases, but their hopes were shut down by the Biscuits.
Fish starter Tony Cingrani (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) did not factor in the decision despite giving up just two earned runs on three hits while fanning seven in seven innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Cingrani started off the contest by retiring the first 16 batters he faced. Montgomery starter Kyle Lobstein (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) also did not receive a decision in the first game despite yielding just two hits in six shutout frames, while RHP Kirby Yates (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory.
Pensacola struck first in game two, beginning with 1B Beau Mills’ leadoff single in the second. The infielder eventually moved to second on a passed ball and third on a bunt, before being sent in on LF Donald Lutz’s run-scoring single to right. The Biscuits however, scored the next three runs to push ahead with single tallies in the third, fifth and seventh innings.
Montgomery C Mayo Acosta launched his fourth big fly of the year in the third to tie it, while the club took advantage of a Blue Wahoos passed ball to take the 2-1 advantage in the fifth. In the final frame, 3B Omar Luna drew a free pass and then moved to third on a single before coming across on Acosta’s sacrifice fly to center.
Biscuits starter Matt Buschmann (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) fired a seven-inning complete game to earn the win after giving up the lone earned run on just four hits in seven frames, while Blue Wahoos reliever Josh Ravin (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB) suffered the loss.
The two teams will now meet on Wednesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Mark Serrano to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Nick Barnese.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Billy Hamilton broke Vince Coleman’s record of 145 Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Emmele Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
HS Football: Meet The Chiefs Thursday At Northview
August 21, 2012
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 7:00 Thursday night at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2012 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.