Blue Wahoos To Host Eight High School Baseball Games From Across Region

His team’s first experience a year ago playing in Blue Wahoos Stadium provided W.S. Neal Eagles baseball coach Mike Roberts and players an unforgettable experience.

A Pensacola Mardi Gras krewe was gathered above the field at the Hancock Whitney Club, enjoying a reception and letting the good times roll.

“They were having fun, good-naturedly heckling and yelling down,” said Roberts, whose team traveled from Brewton, Alabama to play the game. “Our kids loved it. They had an absolute blast and that’s why we wanted to do this.”

The Eagles are doing it again, this time playing their 2026 season-opening game on Friday night against the Central Jaguars at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It will be the first of a record eight high school baseball games played this year at the ballpark.

On Monday, North Bay Haven is traveling from Panama City to play Destin, which is playing only its sixth season in school history, in a battle of coastal teams.

Also next week, the Tate Aggies are playing back-to-back games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. They will host Fort Walton Beach on Feb. 26, then play the Escambia Gators in a special night on Feb. 27 where both schools will honor their state championship teams of the 1970’s and those players from yesteryear.

It’s the busiest high school slate the Blue Wahoos have staged in a short period. Four more games involving area teams, including another game for Escambia, will follow in March and early April.

“When we first started welcoming high school teams years ago to play at the stadium, there were one, maybe two games a season,” said Shannon Hannah, in her ninth year as Blue Wahoos events manager, who has arranged all the games. “Then we saw three (games), maybe four in the next couple years.

“We’ve seen more and more high schools take advantage of the opportunity, which includes fundraising opportunities for their programs, along with the chance to play at the stadium. It’s a big deal to these kids and for their parents to see.

“This year we’re hosting eight games,” Hannah said. “It’s exciting for us, as some of these teams have not played at the stadium before. We’re grateful to have the opportunity for these kids to play on an MLB level field under the lights.”

In agreeing to play at the stadium, high school teams have the option of purchasing tickets for a Blue Wahoos game to sell to their communities, or purchase a group outing night at the ballpark for players, families and friends.

“It’s a big thing for us,” said Central baseball coach Coy Campbell, whose team opened its season Feb. 17 with a win against Pine Forest. “It’s something my administration is super-excited about.

“It’s a great experience. It’s a great thing for my seniors to look forward to every year. If they move on and don’t play baseball beyond high school they can always say they played at Blue Wahoos Stadium. I know with us, it’s a big deal.”

The opportunity is attractive enough for a school like North Bay Haven to travel two and a half hours to play as the home team on Feb. 23 against Destin.

“I was coaching at Tate when we played there,” said North Bay Haven coach Brett Weeks. “That was a such an awesome experience. I think it’s something these kids will never forget. It’s awesome for them to play at that ballpark.”

When asked when his W.S. Neal team was starting the season, Roberts would give the date, the opponent (Central) and then remind the game was at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

“When you say that, it just gives a whole different dynamic and the fact we’re opening the season there is all the better. I can tell you my guys have really embraced this.”

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL AT BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM

Feb. 20 – W.S. Neal (Brewton, Ala.) vs. Central, 6 p.m.

Feb. 23 – North Bay Haven (Panama City) vs. Destin, 6 p.m.

Feb. 26 – Tate vs. Fort Walton Beach, 7 p.m.

Feb. 27 – Escambia vs. Tate, 7 p.m.

March 2 – Gulf Breeze vs. Orange Beach, 6 p.m.

March 18 – Escambia vs. Navarre, 6:30 p.m.

March 27 – Freeport vs. Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton) 6 p.m.

April 7 – Aletheia vs. Mountain View Christian (Bryant, Ala), 6:30 p.m.

TICKET PRICES -- $12.25 apiece per-game

PARKING: Free

CONCESSIONS: One food-beverage storefront will be open for purchases

TICKETS: www.bluewahoos.com (scroll down to events, click on game links).