Wahoos Wait Out Rain, But Biscuits Win 4-3
May 19, 2024
written by Erik Bremmer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits endured a long mid-game rain delay on Saturday night, but it was the Biscuits who emerged victorious with a 4-3 win to take sole possession of first place.
Each team’s shortstop had a multi-homer game. Pensacola’s Harrison Spohn tied the game twice with a two-run homer in the fifth and a solo homer after the delay in the seventh, but Montgomery’s Carson Williams followed up a solo shot in the first with a go-ahead blast in the bottom of the seventh that proved to be the game-winner.
M.D. Johnson allowed three runs, two earned, over 5.0 innings in his start for the Blue Wahoos. After Williams opened the scoring with his home run in the first, Mason Auer circled the bases on a double, stolen base and obstruction call in the second to give the Biscuits a 2-0 lead.
Spohn’s two-run homer in the top of the fifth was the only blemish for Montgomery starter Ian Seymour, who finished a career-high 6.0 innings while striking out seven. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Biscuits got back-to-back doubles from Dominic Keegan and Kenny Piper to take a 3-2 lead.
The game was halted just before the top of the seventh as severe weather rolled through downtown Montgomery. After waiting 2 hours and 12 minutes, Spohn’s game-tying homer in the seventh off Sean Hunley (W, 4-0) brought the score to 3-3. The tie game would only last a few moments, however, as Williams launched a solo homer of his own against Chandler Jozwiak (L, 1-1) to put the Biscuits up for good. The pair of homers gave Williams seven on the season, putting the Rays prospect atop the Southern League leaderboards just ahead of Spohn.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t manage a hit in the final two innings, going down quietly against Keyshawn Askew and Austin Vernon (S, 2).
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series in Montgomery on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 3:33.
Wahoos Battered by Biscuits In 18-1 Loss
May 18, 2024
written by Erik Bremmer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost in lopsided fashion to the Montgomery Biscuits on Friday night, dropping game four of their series 18-1 and falling back into a tie for first place.
The loss tied for the widest margin of defeat in team history, and Montgomery’s 21 hits marked the most allowed by the Blue Wahoos in a single game since the team’s inception in 2012.
After a 39-minute pregame delay to help the field recover from afternoon thunderstorms, the Biscuits jumped ahead immediately. Pensacola starter Evan Fitterer (L, 3-2) saw his scoreless inning streak of 20.1 frames come to an end with a Dominic Keegan sacrifice fly in the first inning. Mason Auer added a two-out, two-run triple to extend the Montgomery lead to 3-0, beginning a 4-for-5 night for the Biscuits center fielder.
Montgomery added another run in the second on a Carson Williams RBI double, and then broke the game open in the fourth with a two-out, two-run single from Bob Seymour. Fitterer allowed a season-high six runs on nine hits over 4.0 innings before turning things over to the Pensacola bullpen.
Fitterer’s mound opponent, Adam Leverett (W, 3-0), turned in a career-high 7.0 innings in the best performance of his career. The righty allowed only two hits while striking out five without walking a batter. The only Pensacola run scored on a Jakob Marsee RBI groundout in the third inning, after which the Blue Wahoos were held hitless.
The Blue Wahoos bullpen struggled as the game got away late, surrendering a run in the fifth, four runs in the sixth, six runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth. The lone bright spot was lefthander Patrick Murphy, who got the final four outs in the blowout to mark his return to the mound after a yearlong stay on the injured list.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery on Saturday night. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:05
Jay Royals Win 1A State Championship, Their First In 54 Years
May 17, 2024
It’s been 54 long years, but a state baseball championship trophy is on the way back to Jay.
The Jay Royals are FHSAA 1A state champions for the first time since 1970 after a 6-3 win over Bozeman Thursday night in Fort Myers.
Ethan McDonald was 3-4 with a double and two runs at the plate for the Royals. Nick Baxley was 2-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Grayson Shehan was 2-3 with a double and two RBIs. J Lowery, B Godwin, and W Peaden each added a hit.
McDonald went for three and two-thirds innings for Jay, surrendering three hits and two runs while walking four and striking out five. Godwin was on the mound for three and a third innings, giving up three hits and one run, striking out four and walking four.
The Bucks were the No. 1 seed headed into Thursday night’s rain-delayed game and took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with a double. The Royals recovered by scoring a run in the fourth and three in the fifth inning to take the lead for good.
Photos courtesy FHSAA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Hosts Central In Spring Game (With Gallery)
May 17, 2024
The Northview Chiefs hosted the Central Jaguars in a spring football game Thursday evening in Bratt.
There were no scores kept as the two rural schools met in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium as the sun began to set and a tractor plowed a nearby field. The fans watched a little football, cheered, and swatted gnats. For Northview, the cheerleaders did the usual “N-H-S” cheers, and the band played the fight song from the stands.
But for the young men on the field, it was a chance to see what they are made of, and for the coaches, it was a first look at the teams in advance of those scorching hot summer practices and those Friday night lights.
For game action photos, click here.
For pictures of the cheerleaders, band, and fans, click here.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” Northview head coach Wes Summerford said. ‘But we played well; I really like our intensity. I’m glad they embraced that; We were on kind of the verge of hitting all spring, and I thought we hit the intensity tonight. There were mistakes and we’ve got a long way to go, but it is spring.
“We are going to hit it hard in the summer.”
The Northview Chiefs will host Destin on August 23 before traveling to Opp and Freeport. They’ll be back in Bratt on September 13 to face Central again. Central’s schedule was not available at publication time.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Taylor Fitzgerald Signs With Nichols College
May 17, 2024
Taylor Fitzgerald, a four-year member of the Tate High School cheerleading team, signed with Nichols College (Dudley, Mass.) this week.
Fitzgerald was a member of the 2024 FHSAA State Championship squad, a two-time FHSAA Regional Champion and three-time UCA Regional Champion squads.
A member of FFA, Taylor heads to Nichols College with a plan to study business..
Photos by Tate High School Yearbook and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bellozo Brilliant in 4-1 Blue Wahoos Win over Biscuits
May 17, 2024
written by Erik Bremmer
Valente Bellozo turned in a career-high 7.0 innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos reclaimed sole possession of first place with a 4-1 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night.
Bellozo (W, 2-2) struck out eight batters and allowed only two hits, pitching into the seventh inning for the first time in his professional career and delivering his second quality start in a row.
The Pensacola offense was carried by the long ball, as Harrison Spohn opened the scoring with a solo homer in the third against Biscuits starter Logan Workman (L, 0-2) and Joe Mack added insurance with a two-run homer in the ninth. Left fielder Paul McIntosh also had a good night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple.
Bellozo needed only 75 pitches to cruise through seven innings, exemplified by a rare three-pitch sixth inning. He did allow a run in the seventh on a Carson Williams double and a Tanner Murray sacrifice fly, but center fielder Jakob Marsee tracked down a pair of deep flyouts to preserve the Pensacola lead.
After Matt Pushard registered a scoreless eighth, Austin Roberts (S, 7) picked up the save in the ninth. The game ended on a lineout to McIntosh in left field that turned into a double play when Williams was doubled off first base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery on Friday night. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35.
Tate’s Bray Touchstone Signs Baseball Scholarship With Gulf Coast State College
May 16, 2024
Bray Touchstone, a standout player on the Tate High School varsity baseball team for four years, signed a full-ride scholarship with Gulf Coast State College (Panama City) this week.
Touchstone’s achievements at Tate include being named the FACA 6A District 1 Player of the Year, Pensacola Sports Baseball Senior Scholar Athlete, and earning spots on the FACA District 1 All-Academic Team, the West All-Star Team, and the PNJ Player of the Year (2023). He was also an All-Area First Team selection for two consecutive years, a member of the FACA 6A All-State Team for three consecutive years, and was chosen by Professional Baseball Scouts to attend the Florida Diamond Club.
Touchstone excelled academically as well. He was selected a member of the Tate High School Hall of Fame, consistently made the A Honor Roll, ranked in the top 5% of his graduating class, and received multiple FFA honors including the Greenhand FFA Degree, the FFA Chapter Rising Star Award, the Chapter FFA Degree, and the State FFA Degree. He also dedicated over 200 hours to community service, participating in Student Council, National Honor Society, FFA, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Photos by Tate High School Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six-Run Inning Sinks Wahoos In Loss To Montgomery
May 16, 2024
written by Erik Bremmer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell into a tie for first place with a 9-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday night.
The Biscuits exploded for a seven-hit, six-run third against Luis Palacios (L, 2-3) to equal Pensacola’s win total and clinch a potential head-to-head tiebreaker by taking the season series.
The six-run frame featured run-scoring singles from Carson Williams and Dominic Keegan, followed by a pair of RBI doubles from Heriberto Hernandez and Tanner Murray. It marked the first time since April 17 a Blue Wahoos starting pitcher allowed more than four runs in a game.
The Blue Wahoos had ample opportunity against Biscuits starter Ben Peoples (W, 2-1) but managed only one run on a Zach Zubia RBI single in the fifth inning. The Montgomery righty gave way to the bullpen after 5.0 strong innings, and the Pensacola offense failed to reach base against a trio of Sean Hunley, Jeff Belge and Haden Erbe in the final four frames.
Angel Macuare allowed two runs in a pair of relief innings for the Blue Wahoos, and Austin Roberts allowed a solo homer to Carson Williams in the ninth to cap the scoring. Pensascola’s pitching bright spot was Zach McCambley, who fanned three over a pair of perfect innings to move into fifth place all-time in strikeouts for the Blue Wahoos franchise.
The Blue Wahoos look to reclaim first place in Montgomery on Thursday night. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35.
Northview Lady Chiefs Fall To Holmes County In Region 1-1A Final (With Gallery)
May 15, 2024
“It’s going to be a great season next year. We’re excited. This is not an end; this was a beginning.”
That’s how Northview High School softball head coach Amy Holland described her optimistic look ahead at next season, her 13th, after the Lady Chiefs fell to Holmes County 7-2 in the Region 1-1A final in Bratt Tuesday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“The good thing about us is we are stacked with ninth and tenth graders that will be back next year. We will be tougher and stronger than ever next year,” she said, adding that the 22-5 team had just seniors on the field.
The Blue Devils held a 2-0 lead after one inning. The second ended at 2-0 as Northview turned a double play.
A double by Chloe Ragsdale helped the Chiefs tie it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the third before the Blue Devils pulled ahead in the top of the fifth.
Headed into Tuesday night, Holmes County had won eight straight game. In th last six, they had out scored opponents 60-2, including two wins over the Jay Lady Royals.
Jamison Gilman went six and two-thirds innings for the Lady Chiefs, surrendering five runs on 13 hits while striking out two and walking one. She stepped out of the circle as Makayla McAnally pitched one-third of an inning.
Mary Clayton Dawson led the Chiefs at the plate, going 2-3. Ragsdale and Dawson each drove in one run.
“I think nerves got to our girls a little bit. Other than that, our outfielders played a good game. Our infield played good at time,” Holland said. “Tonight, errors ate us up a little bit. We had a few little errors.”
“We had a great season this year, our record was awesome. This is just the beginning of this team right here.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Sports Honors Top High School Senior Athletes
May 15, 2024
Every year, Pensacola Sports honors the top senior student-athletes in each sport from Escambia and Santa Rosa County schools for a scholarship recognition program. Schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties nominate their senior athletes for each sport.
A selection committee made of educators, community leaders, and Pensacola Sports board members reviews the anonymous applications and selects the best person’s credentials for individual sport winners as well as the overall male and female winners from the individual sport winners.
OVERALL MALE
Christopher Rembert – Catholic
MULTISPORT MALE
Jaquez Moorer – Northview
OVERALL FEMALE
Gabrielle Goyins – Catholic
MULTISPORT FEMALE
Maddie Simmons – Navarre
BASEBALL
Bray Touchstone – Tate
BOYS BASKETBALL
Darius Cunningham – Navarre
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Xander McLaughlin – Catholic
FOOTBALL
Turner McLaughlin – Catholic
BOYS GOLF
Bentley Van Pelt – West Florida
BOYS LACROSSE
Benton Lane – Catholic
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton Nolen – Pensacola
BOYS SWIMMING
Jackson Hebert – West Florida
BOYS TENNIS
(tie) Francis Smith – Gulf Breeze
(tie) Benjamin Ling – Catholic
BOYS TRACK
Zachary Hoyle – Pine Forest
BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING
Caleb Hahr – Milton
WRESTLING
Michael Mancuso – Gulf Breeze
CHEERLEADING
Finlee Jenkins – Washington
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Piper Tieman – Gulf Breeze
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Mozelle Powell – Gulf Breeze
GIRLS GOLF
Islay Benoit – Catholic
GIRLS LACROSSE
Natalie Biggs – Catholic
GIRLS SOCCER
Amelia Jacobs – Gulf Breeze
SOFTBALL
Leila Ammon – Gulf Breeze
GIRLS SWIMMING
Shelby Smith – West Florida
GIRLS TENNIS
Sara McElrath – Gulf Breeze
GIRLS TRACK
Jennifer Mims – West Florida
VOLLEYBALL
Julia Irmen – Navarre
GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING
Shannon Bryan – Pace
UWF SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Cora Helmig – Tate
Katie Kauth – Navarre
Xander McLaughlin – Catholic
KESSLER SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Kaylee Nguyen – Pensacola
Pictured top: Overall female Gabrielle Goyins – Catholic High. Pictured below: Overall male Christopher Rembert – Catholic High. Pictured below: Baseball winner Bray Touchstone – Tate High School. Boy’s golf winner Bentley Van Pelt – West Florida. Pictured bottom: UWF Scholarship winners Katie Kauth – Navarre, Cora Helmig – Tate, and Xander McLaughlin – Catholic. Photos courtesy Pensacola Sports for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
