Hoeing Deals, Conine Rakes, Capacity Crowd Enjoys Blue Wahoos Win In Sun-Splashed Series Finale

The decision Bryan Hoeing made midway through his high school years was not an easy one.

He was standout basketball player in a basketball-crazed state. His mother, his aunt, both played college basketball. But he also sensed there was a potential future in baseball.

“Growing up (basketball) was my favorite sport. But I talked with my family, my friends, just people close to me,” said Hoeing, who grew up in Batesville, Indiana. “I really relied on them and we all decided on baseball. I think that was just the best decision for my future.”

Intuition has proven true.

Hoeing, a 6-foot-6 righthander, continued his progression in professional baseball, creating more lasting impressions Sunday in his third start for the Blue Wahoos, while helping deliver a 4-1win against the Montgomery Biscuits in the series finale at Blue Wahoos Stadium

Another capacity crowd (5,038), which completed a full weekend of sellouts, watched Hoeing earn his first Double-A level win. He worked into the sixth inning, allowing just one run, one walk and recorded six putouts from his array of breaking pitches.

In three starts, the former all-state high school basketball player, has allowed just one earned run and has an 0.48 earned run average. He has gone into the sixth or beyond in all three starts.

"I would say the biggest thing for me was working on my slider," said Hoeing, a seventh-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2019. "I tweaked with my grip a little bit (in offseason and spring training) and it’s been a great pitch so far.

"What also has helped going late into games has been my defense .They have made really great plays for me. As a starting pitcher, if your defense makes those type of plays you are able to go deep into the game."

Sunday, he shined on a cloudless day that included one of the largest mass of children for the popular “Roach Run” and a good portion of the large crowd staying to the conclusion.

“Just a really good day, all the way around,” said Blue Wahoos left field Griffin Conine, who went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in the Blue Wahoos final round with his fifth-inning double.

“Bryan is a pleasure to play behind,” Conine said. “We all like playing behind him defensively, He has a great pace and works quickly and gets outs. He’s the guy to play defense behind.”

The win Sunday enabled the Blue Wahoos (6-9) to earn a series split. It also continued a notable trend. In 11 of the Blue Wahoos’ 15 games, they have scored four or more runs.

“It’s just a 180 for me as far as how the offense has started off this year,” Conine said. “We just got a lot of dudes, man. A lot of dudes who can hit the ball hard and with authority. It’s fun to be a part of.

“Honestly, I think our record doesn’t show how good we are yet, and I think it will start to reflect that, too.”

Conine got things going for the Blue Wahoos in the second inning with his one-out single. Luis Aviles Jr. followed with a run-scoring double. With two out, catcher Santiago Chavez laced an RBI single.

It was a 2-1 game in the fifth inning when Victor Victor Mesa led off with a walk. Paul McIntosh drew a two-out walk. Troy Johnstone followed with an RBI single and Conine delivered more insurance with his RBI double.

The Blue Wahoos bullpen was stellar with relievers Josh Simpson and Andrew Nardi (2 IP) earning a hold and closer Colton Hock getting his third save with a clean ninth inning.

GAME NOTABLES

--- The National Anthem was performed Sunday by the Helen Caro Elementary School chorus. The singers were part of a 425-member group outing at the ballpark for the school and parents.

--- A moment of silence was held before the National Anthem in the memory of Pensacola attorney Fred Levin and Blue Wahoos' long-time loyal fan Ro Bergman, who passed away in January. A memorial service for Bergman will be held at Blue Wahoos Stadium on May 3 at 5 p.m. and will be open to the public.

--- Many in the capacity crowd stayed to have kids run the bases and families catching baseballs in the outfield as part of Family Sunday sponsored by StepOne Automotive and WKRG-5 News. In addition, StepOne Automotive brought several new cars from their showroom and set up a table on the home plate concourse to hand out T-shirts and greet fans.

--- A youth team from Buzz Baseball was able to run out on the field with Blue Wahoos players before the National Anthem. It was the first time since 2019, before the first onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, that this was able to occur.

WHAT’S NEXT?

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Road Series

WHO: Blue Wahoos at Biloxi Shuckers

WHEN: April 26-May 1

WHERE: MGM Park, Biloxi, Miss.

RADIO-WEB: ESPN Pensacola (99.1 FM, 1330 AM), www.milb.com/pensacola.

TICKET INFO: www.biloxishuckers.com

NEXT HOMESTAND: Begins on May 10 vs. the Rocket City Trash Pandas.