A new division chase began June 24 for the Blue Wahoos as the second half of their Southern League schedule opened on the road against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Everything resets. The second-half winner will complete the playoff matchup in the divisional playoff series that will follow the regular season.
The Biloxi Shuckers pulled away with the first half win – four games ahead of second-place Montgomery with the Blue Wahoos (34-35) missing out on a winning first-half record to finish third in the South Division.
It’s a fresh start now in Chattanooga. The Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, won the North Division first half on June 22 in the schedule finale.
The Blue Wahoos began June 24 with a flurry of roster moves that are likely to continue in the second half of the season.
Reliever Dale Stanavich, who had been a dependable closer, was elevated on June 24 to Triple-A Jacksonville, which won the first half of its division in the International League with a lot of former Blue Wahoos players. Reliever Jose Fernandez, briefly summoned from Class-A Jupiter, returned to the Hammerheads. Starting infielder Jared Serna, injured during last week’s series, was placed on the injured list.
The Blue Wahoos picked up four players, beginning with the return of reliever Luis Palacios, plus reliever Luarbert Arias, who pitched in Pensacola in 2023. He began this season in the Miami Marlins bullpen.
Two players joined the team from High-A Beloit. They are infielders Michael Snyder and Tony Bullard.
The Blue Wahoos won June 22’s series finale against Montgomery to salvage two wins from a tightly contested series last week.
But off the field, it was likely the biggest and most impactful homestand for events and promotions. The Blue Wahoos had three fireworks shows, including a special one on June 19, on Juneteenth, when they wore the uniforms of the Pensacola Seagulls.
They hosted renown organist Nancy Faust, a pioneer in the baseball entertainment during her 41 years with the Chicago White Sox. There was a second “Shark In The Park Night’ following June 21’s game where 200-plus people received T-shirts, an inflatable and many jumped in the water at the boat dock behind right field to watch the original Jaws movie in its 50th anniversary year.
Earlier that day, the Blue Wahoos welcome a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter unit named “Ugly Angels” from the Vietnam War for a reunion event at the ballpark.
There was also a reminder of Pensacola’s historic snowfall on January 18 with a “Snowmageddon” promotion night, plus a giveaway of a Blue Wahoos ski hat.
The next homestand will be July 1-3 prior to the Fourth of July.
A LOOK BACK
The Blue Wahoos split their first two games last week against the Montgomery Biscuits, then lost three in a row before salvaging June 22’s game. The 2-4 record in the series cost the Blue Wahoos a chance for a winning record in the first half.
Here’s a recap:
TUESDAY, JUNE 17: Biscuits 4, Blue Wahoos 3 – The Blue Wahoos had Grant Richardson thrown out at the plate in a close play that Richardson thought he made for the tying run in the 10th inning, but it proved decisive in the Montgomery Biscuits’ extra-inning win. It was the first loss in five extra-inning home games for the Blue Wahoos.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18: Blue Wahoos 6, Biscuits 5 – A role reversal with this time the Blue Wahoos winning in extra innings. Shane Sasaki produced a perfect sacrifice bunt down the third base line in the 11th inning that was misplayed into a throwing error, allowing Grant Richardson to score as he reached third base on the bunt and kept on running. In the top half of the 11th inning, reliever Nigel Belgrave stranded the bases loaded in the game’s pivotal moment.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19: Biscuits 7, Blue Wahoos 6 – Taking on identity of the Pensacola Seagulls, the most renowned of the city’s former teams during the segregation era, the Blue Wahoos trailed 7-0 after two innings, but rallied to make it a one-run game before Montgomery’s bullpen held on for the win. The game, which honored Pensacola’s heritage on Juneteenth, started nearly an hour late, following a massive thunderstorm.
FRIDAY, JUNE 20: Biscuits 3, Blue Wahoos 2 – Lefthander Thomas White, 20, the Miami Marlins’ top prospect, made his Double-A level debut in Pensacola, battling through a tough start in what became another extra-inning loss for the Blue Wahoos. White pitched into the third inning on a restricted pitch count before being lifted. He allowed three hits, one earned run, four walks and four strikeouts. The game was tied 1-1 after nine innings, but the Biscuits got two runs in the 10th inning and held on.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21: Biscuits 4, Blue Wahoos 3 – Unable to generate a big inning or late-inning dramatics, the Blue Wahoos dropped another one-run game against the Biscuits before the usual Saturday capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Johnny Olmstead hit a two-run homer in the second inning and the Blue Wahoos made it a one-run game in the fifth inning. But they had just one hit and two baserunners in the final four innings.
SUNDAY, JUNE 22: Blue Wahoos 6, Biscuits 3 – An explosive fifth inning and a three-RBI day from Cody Morissette propelled the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to the win over the Biscuits, ending the first half on a high note. Morissette, who picked up two singles and scored a run to pair with his three RBIs, knocked in the winning run in the fifth to help put Pensacola back in the win column.
THIS WEEK
The Lookouts won the Southern League North Division with a 38-28 record, finishing 1 1/2 games ahead of the Birmingham Barons (White Sox). It went down to the final day on Sunday with Chattanooga winning and Birmingham losing.
The team boasts several of the Reds’ top prospects, led by third baseman Cam Collier, 20, who is ranked No. 69 overall across all MiLB levels by MLB Pipeline. He’s hitting .462 in his first seven games with the Lookouts.
Second baseman Hector Rodriguez, ranked No. 4 among the Reds’ Top-30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, batted .567 in the Lookouts past series. with 13 runs scored. For the season, Rodriguez is batting .316 with 37 RBI and 10 home runs.
Infielder Sal Stewart, ranked No. 3 among the Reds’ Top 30, batted .500 last week with nine RBIs, and eight runs. He is hitting .325 this season with 36 RBI and seven homers.
The Lookouts began the season the Reds top prospect, pitcher Chase Burns, one of the top-rated prospects in Minor League Baseball, who was recently elevated to the major leagues by the Reds.
NOTEWORTHY
–The Blue Wahoos won’t be playing at home on the Fourth of July, but they will be hosting a community event, “Blue Wahoos 4th of July Summer Celebration,” from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
There are three ticket options: $10 apiece general admission with open seating in the outfield or seating bowl areas, $40 per-person for the Coors Lite Party Deck in right field that includes a buffet and soft drinks, or $55 per-person for the Hancock-Whitney Club that includes a full-course buffet, deserts, free sodas and a bar available for alcoholic drink purchases. Information or purchasing can be done through www.bluewahoos.com.
The field will have inflatables for children, lawn games, whiffle ball and ability to run around the bases. Pensacola’s downtown fireworks show, sponsored by the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Pensacola Young Professionals, will be viewed from beyond the left field area when it occurs at 9 p.m. No folding chairs, tents, coolers or any kind of food or beverages are permitted through the gates. Concession stands will be open at the ballpark.
–The Blue Wahoos finished the first half with a 22-17 home record, 12-18 on the road. They will play 39 road games in second half, 30 at home. In this current stretch, the Blue Wahoos play just three home games (July 1-3) in 23 days and just nine home games in July.
–A man wearing a Chicago White Sox jersey was among the last to leave Blue Wahoos Stadium on Sunday. He was able to visit with legendary White Sox organist Nancy Faust, who built a iconic status during her 41 years (through 2010) playing at Chicago’s Comiskey Park for White Sox games. Faust made her third trip in four years to Pensacola, saying how much she enjoys being with the fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A local Pensacola church donated a copy of the same Hammond organ Faust played for all those years at White Sox games. She also performed during the 1980s at Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls game.
–Former Blue Wahoos pitcher, lefthander Josh Simpson, became the No. 147th player club history to make his MLB debut when he did so June 21 with the Miami Marlins. He pitched two innings, allowing four runs. He played for the Blue Wahoos in 2022 and 2024 in 42 appearances. He is now the fifth former player this season to make an MLB debut.
WANT TO FOLLOW?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
WHEN: Tuesday (June 24) through Sunday (June 29)
WHERE: AT&T Field, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
BACKGROUND: This series begins the second half of the Southern League season. This will be the Blue Wahoos only trip to Chattanooga to face the Lookouts, the Cincinnati Reds affiliate. However, the Lookouts will play in Pensacola on July 18-20 and again on August 26-31.
LIVESTREAM AUDIO: You can listen to the Blue Wahoos’ broadcast with announcers Erik Bremer and Carter Bainbridge on www.bluewahoos.com/radio or the MILB App.
LIVESTREAM VIDEO: Available on MiLB.TV (subscription required).
NEXT HOMESTAND: July 1-3 vs. Biloxi Shuckers.
TICKETS: Available at www.bluewahoos.com or the stadium box office, which opens weekdays at 10 a.m. this week.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Wahoos Weekly: After eventful homestand, Blue Wahoos begin second half of season in Chattanooga
Reporting by Bill Vilona / Pensacola News Journal
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