Captains Double Up Pelicans

September 2, 2010

The Sheveport-Bossier Captains got timely hitting and solid pitching to stymie the Pensacola Pelicans 8-4 to take a 2-0 series lead in the best of five playoff series.

Pensacola jumped out in front in the bottom of the third inning when Javier Brito hit a two out single up the middle to score Carlos Leon to give the Pelicans an early 1-0 lead.

Shreveport-Bossier opened up their side of scoring in the top of the fifth inning when Palmer Karr Jr. hit a two out single to score Bryan Sabatella from third base to even the score at 1. Karr. Jr. then stole second before Andres Rodriguez hit a sharp grounder into left field to bring him in from second and give the Captains a 2-1 lead. Jorge Alvarez hit a two run homerun to left field to extend the lead for Shreveport to 4-1.

With the score 5-1 in the last of the seventh inning, the Pelicans got three RBI’s from Chase Porch, Javier Brito, and Adolfo Gonzalez to cut the deficit all of a sudden to one at 5-4.

The Captains got an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning with a pass ball that got away from Lou Palmisano scoring Brian Peterson giving Shreveport a 6-4 lead. Palmer Karr Jr. and Andres Rodriguez each added an RBI to extend the lead for Shreveport to 8-4.

Please join us Friday night for game three as the series shifts to Shreveport for game three of the best of five series. We’ll be on the air with the pregame show at 6:55pm live via listen link on pensacolapelicans.com. You can also watch the game live on our watch live TV link on pensacolapelicans.com.

Captains Stifle Pelicans

September 1, 2010

Palmer Karr Jr. hit a big two run double early and Robert Perry hit a big two run homer late to push the Shreveport-Bossier Captains past the Pensacola Pelicans 6-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in the South Divisional Championship Series.

Shreveport-Bossier struck first blood in game one with Jovanny Rosario driving in Jorge Alvarez with an RBI triple to right center to give the Captains a 1-0 lead.

The Captains extended their lead in the top of the fifth inning when Palmer Karr Jr. hit a two out, two run double off the left centerfield wall to score Bryan Sabatella and Christopher Garcia to give Shreveport a 3-0 lead.

Pensacola got on the board in the last of the fifth inning when Dallas Christison hit a rocket off the left field wall to score Marcos Rodriguez from second base to put the Pels on the score sheet at 3-1. Francisco Leandro followed with a sacrifice fly to right center to score Carlos Leon and make it a 3-2 contest.

It was 4-2 in the top of the ninth inning when Robert Perry sliced a ball down the left field foul pole for a big two run homerun giving the Captains a 6-2 lead.

The Pelicans and Captains will be right back in action tomorrow night for game two at Pelican Park. We’ll get started at 6:45pm and you can get your tickets by calling 850-934-8444 or logging onto pensacolapelicans.com. You can listen to all the exciting action live at 6:35pm via listen link on pensacolapelicans.com. You can also watch the game live on our watch live TV link on pensacolapelicans.com.

St. Paul Catholic Wins $10K Reading Challenge Prize

August 31, 2010

The Pensacola Pelicans are pleased to announce the winner of the 2010 Scoop’s Reading Challenge $10K Grand Prize. St. Paul Catholic School of Pensacola, FL, had the highest percentage of tickets redeemed at a Pelicans game this season, thus earning the $10,000 grand prize.

Prior to the season, nearly 20,000 students from 57 schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties participated in Scoop’s Reading Challenge, an incentive-based reading program. For each “base” a student reached, a prize was awarded. Once the students reached “home”, he or she received a free ticket voucher to a Pelicans game. Students could earn up to two vouchers. The school that had the highest percentage of vouchers redeemed would be awarded the $10K grand prize.

“We feel this is a great program for the kids to engage in and they want to participate,” said Pelicans owner Rishy Studer. “This program has grown from 600 kids in 2006 to almost 20,000 this year. We are happy to give back to the community and schools.”

On Wednesday, September 1, 2010, the Pelicans will recognize St. Paul Catholic School and present the $10,000 check in a pre-game ceremony on the field.

The students and families of St. Paul Catholic School are absolutely thrilled to have won the Pensacola Pelicans Reading Challenge,” said St. Paul Catholic Principal Lorelei Darga. “The students worked really hard to reach their reading goals which resulted in a substantial increase of reading in the classrooms. The Challenge magnified the importance of reading while keeping it fun. We are so appreciative of our families who supported us in the Challenge and are grateful to the Pensacola Pelicans for offering this incentive.”

The Pelicans are currently in the first round of the playoffs, playing tonight and tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 1) against the Shreveport-Bossier Captains in games one and two of the best-of-five series. Games three through five will be played in Shreveport, Lousiana.

Tickets for this week’s home playoff games are available at www.pensacolapelicans.com or by calling 850-934-8444.

Chase Porch Wins Rookie of the Year Award

The Pensacola Pelicans are pleased to announce that Chase Porch has been awarded the 2010 American Association Rookie of the Year honors voted on by the league managers and media representatives. Porch signed with the Pelicans in late May after finishing his college career at the University of North Alabama and provided an immediate impact in the starting lineup.

The 6’1, 195 pound right-handed hitter finished this season batting .286 with four homeruns and 40 RBI on the year. The East Union, Mississippi native stole nine bases and has been a huge asset in the outfield with a strong arm and great speed to flag down balls all season long. Porch who was only one of 48 people in his high school graduating class sported a 14-game hitting streak from May 29th to June 14th. A few days later, Porch had an eight game-hitting streak from June 18th to June 25th. The man who wears a number two on his back had his best game in a Pelican jersey on June 16th where he went for 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI against the El Paso Diablos. The rookie sensation has had 23 multi-hit games this season.

Chase Porch will be a big key factor in the Pelicans playoff series coming up with the Shreveport-Bossier Captains where he is batting .367 with two homeruns and 12 RBI against them.

South Divisional Championship Playoff Preview: Games One and Two are on Tuesday and Wednesday Night at Pelican Park!

August 30, 2010

The Pensacola Pelicans and Shreveport-Bossier Captains will face off against one another in the Divisional Championship Round of the 2010 American Association playoffs. The Captains won the first half South division title while the Pelicans were victorious in capturing the second half division title. The Captains won the season series 12-8 against the Pelicans this season. 

Pensacola and Shreveport-Bossier will tango in a best of five playoff series. The Pelicans will host the first two games of the series while the last three games of the series will be in Shreveport. Games four and five will be on an if-necessary basis.

The probable starters in Game one for both teams will be a battle of aces for both teams in David Nathanson going for the Pelicans against the left-handed veteran Richard Salazar going for the Captains. Nathanson is 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA against the Captains this season while Salazar is 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA against the Pelicans this year. The strong handed veteran Jared Gothreaux will go for the Pelicans against the very talented Osvaldo Rodriguez in Game two of the series.

Shreveport-Bossier is ranked second in the league in best overall batting percentages in the American Association this season. The Captains are batting .307 as a team while the Pelicans aren’t too far off with a .295 average as a squad on the year. Pensacola will have to shut down Christopher Garcia in the series as he’s batting a whopping .430 with one homerun and 22 RBI’s against the Pelicans this year. For the Pelicans, they will look to Lou Palmisano, John Alonso, and Chase Porch to carry the load that have all had great numbers against the Captains this season. Porch is batting .367 with two homers and 12 RBI’s, Palmisano has hit six homers with 11 RBI’s, and Alonso has drove out three homeruns with 11 driven in against the Captains this season.    

Tickets for games one and two which are on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:45pm respectively are very affordable beginning at $8.  Fans can purchase tickets in advance and print from home via the Pelicans website: www.pensacolapelicans.com. Additionally, fans can purchase tickets over the phone at (850) 934-8444.

Pelicans Trap Cats; Split Doubleheader

Javier Brito homers and the Pelicans pitching staff shut down the Fort Worth Cats by a final score of 3-1.

Javier Brito put the Pelicans on the board first in the first inning when he blasted a two run homer down the left field line giving Pensacola an early 2-0 lead. It was Brito’s team leading 21st homerun of the season.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Adolfo lined a double down the left field line scoring Lou Palmisano all the way from first base making it a 3-0 contest.

Tommy Baumgardner (1-0) pitched a perfect fifth inning to get the win. Seth Overbey pitched the ninth inning to get his ninth save of the season.

Be sure to join us for the finale of this three game series tomorrow night at 6:05pm. You can listen to all the exciting action live at 5:55pm via sportsjuice on pensacolapelicans.com. You can also watch the game our watch live TV link on pensacolapelicans.com.

Pelicans Playoff Tickets Available

August 29, 2010

The Pelicans are in the playoffs!  For the second consecutive season, the Pelicans have reached the post-season.  The first two home games are Tuesday, Aug. 31 and Wednesday, Sept. 1 beginning at 6:45 p.m.  Tickets are now available by e-mailing shelley@pensacolapelicans.com, calling 850-934-8444, or by clicking here.

The Pelicans will be taking on the Shreveport-Bossier Captains in a best of five series.

Saturday’s double header – postponed! Single game at 7:00

August 28, 2010

As of 2:00pm, the Pelicans double header has been changed to a single game starting at 7:00.  Please check back for updates.

Saturday’s double header postponed until 7:00 pm

As of 2:00pm, Saturday’s double header has been changed to a single game starting at 7:00 pm.

Pelicans Add Veteran Reliever To Pitching Staff

August 27, 2010

The Pensacola Pelicans are creeping closer to their second consecutive playoff berth in the South Division. As the Pelicans approach their final week of the season, they have added reliever Scott Vander Weg to help bolster their already solid pitching staff.

Vander Weg was 2-1 with a stingy 3.92 ERA in 39 innings pitched for the Fort Worth Cats. The 6’3, 215 pound right-hander struck out 36 batters while walking only 12 this season.

Vander Weg was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005 and played at the Class A-New Jersey in the New York Penn League. In 2008, the strong right hander played in Double-A Springfield where he was 1-1 with a 4.10 ERA in 19 games.

The Pelicans are hoping Vander Weg can provide some added late inning relief in what will be some important games down the stretch and in the playoffs.