Nerves Calmed, Nicolas Settles Into Dazzling Debut Amid Wahoos Loss

Kyle Nicolas took a final pause on the mound before his first pitch, helping calm the emotional aspect of his debut Tuesday night with the Blue Wahoos.

“After a couple pitches I settled in and was just focused on getting outs,” said Nicolas, the Miami Marlins’ second-round pick last year from Ball State University.

He got plenty of those in rapid fashion.

Nicolas made his next-level experience, his first Double-A start in his rookie professional year, become a special memory with five no-hit, scoreless innings against the Mississippi Braves.

Unfortunately for him, and the Blue Wahoos, the rest of the game was a wipeout after three relievers combined to give up seven home runs in the M-Braves 9-3 rout to begin Pensacola’s homestand.

Mississippi (41-32) snapped an eight-game losing streak, including losses in all six games last week against last-place Biloxi, by blasting homers across all points at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Their fifth-straight loss dropped the Blue Wahoos (37-36) to a game above .500.

M-Braves heralded catcher Shea Langeliers, the Atlanta Braves’ first round pick in 2019, put on another show with two bombs. One landed in the outfield berm. The other hit the batter’s eye screen beyond center field.

The power display against the Blue Wahoos’ bullpen changed a game that started in a different direction.

After being promoted last week from High-A Beloit (Wisc.) Snappers, Nicolas’ first start went like the perfect script.

He retired eight of the first nine batters he faced in order. Six of those outs were strikeouts. He finished with eight strikeouts and four walks. Another batter reached on an error.

“I feel like I started the year off pretty good and then I kinda had some struggles,” said Nicolas, who entered with a 3-2 record and 5.43 earned run average in 12 starts with Beloit. “I think my last couple starts in Beloit, I was starting to put some things together.

“And it was fun to be out there. I was a little nervous at the begging, but that is kind of normal.”

Nicolas is the nephew of former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge, now ESPN college football analyst. He entered the season ranked as Miami’s No. 17 overall prospect.

He is quickly adapting from college baseball to pitching at this level.

“I would say the consistency of my off speed pitches,” said Nicolas, when asking for his biggest improvement. “Being able to land more for strikes. Throwing competitive changeups. Just being more focused and making sure I am throwing a pitch I have the most confidence in.”

When Nicolas exited after the fifth, he had a 1-0 lead thanks to J.J. Bleday’s first-inning inning double and Lazaro Alonso’s two-out single.

But in the sixth, the M-Braves greeted Blue Wahoos first reliever Andrew Nardi with a pair of 2-run, home runs and the game turned south from there. Nardi gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Braden Shewmake, then a two-run homer to Drew Lughauer, followed by another single and homer in the same inning.

Five more homers were hit off the Wahoos' relievers.

The second game of the series Wednesday will feature Blue Wahoos’ top prospect Max Meyer (4-1, 1.80 ERA) against the M-Braves’ top pitcher Bryce Elder (3-1, 3.60 ERA).

GAME NOTABLES: A moment of silence was observed before the game in memorial for Kathy Fullerton, a Blue Wahoos season-ticket holder since the inaugural 2012 season. She passed away Monday. She was also a ticket holder for Pensacola Pelicans’ games.

--- The Blue Wahoos joined with team owner Quint Studer to honor Durrell Bennett, a Pensacola resident who rushed to Studer’s aid, after he was struck by a vehicle in May while riding his bicycle along Bayfront Parkway. Studer was returning that night from a Blue Wahoos game. He sustained a shoulder injury and has fully recovered.

Studer joined with Bennett on the field following the third inning and addressed the crowd in appreciation of Bennett’s immediate help that night when witnessing the accident.

--- Two of the region’s top former prep golfers, Maxwell Page and Molly Kirkman, were saluted as part of the Blue Wahoos’ partnership with the First Tee-Gulf Coast youth golf program.

Page, a recent graduate of Pensacola Catholic and part of the 2020 Crusaders boys golf title, won the overall title in the recent 64th annual Divot Derby Junior Golf Championship. He will attend the University of West Florida and try to join the Argos’ men’s program as a walk-on player.

Kirkman, a Booker T. Washington grad, won the Bonnie Cook Trophy for the overall low scoring average for summer tour and was runner-up in Divot Derby.

The duo were among a group from the local First Tee chapter attending the game. The Blue Wahoos created a golf theme night, “Putt in the Park,” featuring a grand prize of a free golf outing for a foursome at Marcus Pointe Golf Club. In addition, Pensacola’s Edwin Watts Golf Shop on North Davis Highway supplied a variety of gift prizes.

BLUE WAHOOS HOMESTAND

WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Wednesday through Sunday (Aug. 1).

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

GAMETIMES: Wednesday through Friday games start at 6:35 p.m., Saturday is 6:05, Sunday is 4:05.

TICKETS: Available for all games at www.bluewahoos.com, the stadium box office or calling 850-934-8444.

RADIO: ESPN-Pensacola (99.1 FM, 1330 AM), Chris Garagiola on play-by-play.

TV: Livestream on MILB-TV (subscription required).

PROMOTIONS: Wednesday – Winning Wednesday (cash prize), plus post-game fireworks; Thursday -- Thirsty Thursday (adult beverage specials), plus Pensacola Mullets Night. Friday – Giveaway Friday (Hawaiian design Blue Wahoos shirts for first 1,000 fans 21-up). Saturday – Fireworks after game. Sunday – Military Sunday and Family Day with kids able to run bases and family toss in outfield.