While Blue Wahoos Fall To M-Braves, Jay High Enjoys Special Recognition On Annual Jay-Day 

Outside Blue Wahoos Stadium, the Jay High School band was performing, getting surprise looks and smiles from fans entering the main gate.

Inside, two sets of cheerleading teams were performing. A Jay youth baseball team was getting ready to run out with Blue Wahoos players. Coaches, administrators and parents were nearby.

“It’s Thurs-Jay,” said on-field emcee “Downtown Dave” Presnell.

Yes it was. And a tradition continued.

For the sixth consecutive year, Jay High and its community traveled the 42 miles south to downtown Pensacola for Jay Day at Blue Wahoos Stadium and created goodwill at the ballpark.

”I think with the summer winding down and we’ll be starting school in a about a week or two, I think this kind of starts the school year off," said Jay's long-time athletic coach Brian Watson, who led the softball team to a state title two months ago.

"We have some of our rec (recreation) teams here and this kind of pulls the community back together. Sort of like, 'All right, here we go. And start school year off.”

The game itself went south for the Blue Wahoos in the middle innings. The Mississippi Braves scored three runs apiece in the third and fourth inning, then tacked on another in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead and eventual 8-5 victory before a crowd of 4,456.

First pitch started 15 minutes late from brief rain, then another burst of rain ensued in the sixth inning, but the teams played through it. Afterward, the Blue Wahoos produced some intrigue with three runs in the seventh, two runners on base in the eighth, but no runs, then another run in the ninth.

But the experience is what mattered to Jay and its group. The Royals’ recent Class 1A state champion softball team was saluted on the field and gathered together for photos. Watson threw out the first pitch with his players behind Blue Wahoos first base coach Frank Moore catching the toss at home plate.

On Monday, Watson transitions into becoming Jay’s first-year football coach.

“I thought I flushed it (softball season), had the enjoyment, and now we are back at it again,” said Watson smiling.

“We played softball till the end of May, then we had six days later playing summer ball. So we really haven’t had that much time away from each other. I think the last two weeks have been the most.”

On Monday, Watson transitions into becoming Jay’s first-year football coach.

“I thought I flushed it (softball season), had the enjoyment, and now we are back at it again,” said Watson smiling.

“We played softball till the end of May, then we had six days later playing summer ball. So we really haven’t had that much time away from each other. I think the last two weeks have been the most away.”

The tight-knit team won the first state championship in school history on May 26 with a 6-5 victory over Fort White, a school located just south of Lake City in the middle of the state.

It was extra meaningful for Watson, a 1992 Jay grad, who coached the softball team for the past 17 years. His daughter was on the state title team.

“It’s great because I’ve taught so many of (players) for a long time. Some since kindergarten. I’ve known them all most of their lives,” said Watson prior to the game. “Two of my coaches, their daughters were on this team, so it is very special.”

Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos game didn’t have a special comeback like so many home games this season, including Wednesday’s win.

This time, the M-Braves jumped on Blue Wahoos starter Zach King for seven runs on nine hits in his four innings pitched. He gave up a pair of two-run homers for the bulk of the damage. Drew Lugbauer blasted a ball out of the stadium in the third inning for his 21st homer of the season. This one went well over the right field back deck and concourse and over the park into the water in Pensacola Bay.

The M-Braves finished with 14 hits. The Blue Wahoos were held to five hits, but made the most of that with run production. In the seventh, Cobie Fletcher-Vance led off with a double, then Will Banfield and Thomas Jones walked to load the bases.

Devin Hairston followed with a two run single. The throw to third sailed and allowed Thomas Jones to score as well for the third run. The Blue Wahoos had baserunners in the eighth and ninth as well, but were unable to produce a bigger comeback.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Weekend

WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Friday Through Sunday

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.

TICKETS: Available for each game through www.bluewahoos.com, the stadium box office during normal business hours, or by calling the box office at 850-934-8444.

GAMETIMES: Friday's game begins at 6:35 p.m. Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s game is at 4:05 p.m.

PROMOTIONS: Friday is Giveaway Friday with the first 1,000 fans getting a Blue Wahoos beach towel.

Saturday is Pensacola Pelicans Reunion Night along with Latin Heritage Night, plus post-game fireworks.

Sunday is Family Sunday with kids able to run the bases following the game and family toss in the outfield.