Wahoos Beat Biscuits; Welcome 300,000th Fan
August 24, 2012
The Blue Wahoos batted around and tallied eight hits as part of a five-run fifth inning, led by a two-run triple from designated hitter Yordanys Perez, while three Pensacola pitchers kept Biscuits batters to just four hits in their 6-0 shutout victory over Montgomery in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved their record to 30-30 in the second half and are now four games behind the Biscuits for first in the South Division. Montgomery fell to 34-26 since the season’s midpoint.
The capacity crowd was the 37th of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 63rd home date. Prior to the game, the club welcomed their 300,000th fans at attend in their inaugural season. The Apostolides family was greeted by Blue Wahoos staff and Kazoo to celebrate the milestone and present the family with a special prize pack.
After both teams went scoreless into the fifth, LF Donald Lutz and C Tucker Barnhart began the Wahoos’ big inning with back-to-back base hits and then were driven in on Perez’s triple to right-center. Perez would then come plateward courtesy of 2B Miguel Rojas’ RBI single, while RF Josh Fellhauer eventually scored Rojas with a run-scoring double down the left field line.
The inning’s scoring was capped with Fellhauer coming across on 1B Beau Mills’ RBI single to left. The eight hits in the frame, collected by eight different Pensacola batters, set a new team record, breaking the previous mark of five that had been set on seven previous occasions. Pensacola plated their final tally in the eighth when Barnhart reached on a walk, moved to second on a free pass and third on a single, before coming home on a wild pitch.
Fellhauer (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) recorded a game-high three hits and reached base four times for the second straight night, while Barnhart (2-3, 2 R, 1 BB) and Rojas (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) each collected a pair of base knocks for the Blue Wahoos. 3B Omar Luna (2-3, 1 BB) was the lone batter to collect a multi-hit effort for the Biscuits in the defeat. Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton collected a hit and two walks but did not steal a base to keep his all-time single-season steals record total at 148.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two hits in five scoreless frame to improve to 8-7. Relievers Josh Ravin (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Chris Manno (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) preserved the shutout with two shutout innings each. Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson (4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 7-11 after yielding five earned runs on nine hits in his 4.2 innings.
Pensacola will now travel to Pearl, Mississippi for their final road series of the season with a five-game set scheduled against the Mississippi Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday night, with the Blue Wahoos slated to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound, while the Braves are expected to give the nod to LHP Jose Lugo.
Following the five-game series, the Blue Wahoos will return home for their final series of the regular season, facing the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, with the first game of that series set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: The Blue Wahoos welcomed their 300,000th fans, the Apostolides family, Thursday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos were the first Southern League team to hit the 300,000 milestone this season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FEMA Positioning Equipment For Isaac
August 24, 2012
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is positioning supplies in Jacksonville in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaac.
The federal agency, led by former Florida emergency chief Craig Fugate, has begun shipping MRE’s and generator units to a distribution center in advance of the storm.
Bryan Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said state warehouses are stocked but responders are waiting for more information on the storm’s path before pre-positioning material.
“We’re not quite sure where it is going so we don’t want to move supplies into the path of the storm,” Koon told reporters Thursday.
The National Guard has been alerted and plans call for the guard to bolster security should law enforcement need to be redeployed from the Republican National Convention.
Upwards of 4,000 law enforcement officials are expected to provide security for the event, which is expected to draw more than 50,000 visitors to the Tampa Bay region.
Clarence Gillis Godwin
August 24, 2012
Mr. Clarence Gillis Godwin, 83, passed away on Friday, August 24, 2012, in Atmore. Mr. Godwin was a native of Monroeville and had resided in Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Godwin attended the Zion Hill Baptist Church of Andalusia.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Godwin; mother, Nanney Davis; one sister, Mary Nell Elkins; two brothers, Joe Godwin and Gene Godwin; and two step-sons, Joey Kelley and Rev. Johnny Johnson.
Survivors include three stepsons, Ed (Darlene) Gibson of Andalusia, Carl (Mary) Kelley of Andalusia and Albert (Nancy) Kelly of Atmore; one stepdaughter, Frances Hildreth (Fiancé-James Gray) of Andalusia; one daughter, Doris Godwin of Atmore; 25 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, August 27, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Alvin Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, August 26, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Terry Godwin, Tommy Godwin, David Godwin, and Robbie Johnson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Latest Isaac Update
August 24, 2012
Eyes are on Isaac as the storm continues to churn on a course that may bring a Category 1 hurricane to the Northwest Florida area by next week. The latest information and forecast track on the storm are in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Raymond Reid Steele
August 24, 2012
Raymond Reid Steele, 96, of Pensacola, passed Monday, August 20, 2012. He was a native of Oak Grove and a resident of Pensacola most of his life. He was retired from Booker Construction Company as a superintendent. His hobbies were fishing and traveling. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
Mr. Steele was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Lee King Steele; infant daughter, Kathy Lynn Steele; parents, Alex and Elizabeth Greer Steele; three brothers, Marshall Steele and wife, Elsie, Amond Steele and wife Mary; and Roger Steele.
Mr. Steele is survived by one sister, Luvern Steele Passmore of Pensacola; seven brothers, Juber “Bob” Steele (Ethel) of Gulf Breeze, Edward Steele (Frances) of Foley, Cleveland Steele (Ann) of Panama City Beach, Aaron Steele (Carolyn) of Pensacola, Artis Steele (Syble) of Pensacola, Norman Onoree Steele (Brenda) of McDavid, and Bennie Earl Steele (Eloise) of McCullough; sister-in-law, Jean Steele; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 23, 2012, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Rev. Don Minton officiating.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 10 – 11 a.m. Thursday prior to services.
The family wishes to thank Northpointe Retirement, Emerald Coast Hospice and his caretaker, Patty Dennison, for his care while there.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.
Maxine Brooks McDonald Godwin
August 24, 2012
Maxine Brooks McDonald Godwin, 68 of Atmore, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2012, in Mobile. She was born in Atmore on January 25, 1944, to the late Sidney and Bama Parker Brooks, Sr. She was a bookkeeper for Staff Chevrolet.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, George W. “Billy” McDonald; second husband, Douglas “Doug” Godwin; one brother, James H. “Bully” Brooks; and one sister, Rosa Belle Whitehead.
She is survived by two daughters, Marsha Phillips (Brandon) and Julie McDonald all of Atmore; one stepson, Michael Douglas Godwin (Angie) of Newton, AL; two brothers, Sidney Warren Brooks, Jr. (Jerry); Franklin D. Brooks (Eloise) all of Montgomery; one sister, Ann Brown (Joe) of Gulf Breeze; and sister-in-law, Georgia Brooks of Atmore.
Services will be Thursday, August 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Janet Lee officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 5 – 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Jasper (Gene) Parker
August 24, 2012
“I make all things new”. On August 18, surrounded by his family, Gene Parker, 79, of Cantonment, joined his wife of 59 years, Margie Parker, at the feet of Jesus. Gene was loved by everyone and had a contagious smile. He loved the Lord and served faithfully throughout his life. He loved his family and always put their needs first. He loved his church, especially singing in the choir, and being a member of the gardening class. He had many talents and interests throughout his life including photography, oil painting, gardening, jewelry sales, acupuncture, piano and singing. He was compassionate and humble, always thinking of others.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Margie.
He is survived by his daughters, Marsha (Craig) King and Jeannie Blanton; grandchildren, Alicia (Derek) Stone, Erika (Rick) Rabon, Ashley (Allen) Farr, Michael King, Kirasten and Parker Blanton and William Williamson; great-grandchildren, Madyson Stone, Molly and Emma Rabon, and Owen Farr; and numerous other family and friends.
Special thanks to Julie, Evelyn, Jason and the Emerald Coast Hospice Staff for your excellent care and love the last several months.
Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at Faith Chapel North Funeral Home with Rev. Gordon Godfrey officiating. Interment will follow in Bayview Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel North one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.
“To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Abe Dearl “Ducky” Dixon
August 24, 2012
Abe Dearl “Ducky” Dixon, age 73, passed away on Sunday, August 19, 2012, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was a lifelong resident of Jay. He retired from Solutia in 1994 after 36 ½ years. Dearl was a member of the Riveria Band and he enjoyed singing and performing in local restaurants. He was a huge Florida Gator Fan. He loved to camp and fish with our camping friends and teaching his three grandsons how to deer hunt. He was a member of the Community Church of Christ. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his father, Abe Dixon; mother, Ruby Barnes Dixon; sisters, Hazel Henry, Willdean Tompkins, Lois Ward and brother, Clayton Dixon.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 53 ½ years, Myrtice Manning Dixon; sons, Dearl Allen (Vicki) Dixon of Pace and Jon Derek “Derry” (Debbie) Dixon of Zebulon, GA; granddaughters, Nikki (Eddie) Powell of Milton, Alli (Matt) Audiffred of Pensacola, Catherine (Matt) Lamphire of North Carolina; grandsons, Arron and Adam Dixon of Zebulon, GA, and Cody Dixon of Pace; great-grandchildren, Abby, Nathan Powell, and Calli Audiffred; sister, Trudy (Don) Coleman and special friends, Sahara Shuburte, Isobell Mosley, Melba Jerkins, and Helen Sanders.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home with Pastor Diane Ward and Pastor Don Coleman officiating services.
Active pallbearers are Kenny McGhee, Ronnie Parker, Dickie Haul, Jimmy Ward, Bobby Guy, and Kenny Gray.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Curlene Byrd
August 24, 2012
Curlene Byrd, age 76, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Curlene was a member of Pine Forest Estates Baptist Church.
Curlene is survived by her husband, Addis Byrd; son, Greg (Jenny); son, Jeff; son, Tim (Jill); daughter, Brenda (Jim); son, Brent (Cathy); sister, Carolyn (Jim); 12 grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North Cantonment.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 23, 2012, at Faith Chapel North with Pastor Mike Davis officiating. Interment will follow at Gonzalez United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of the arrangements.
One Injured In Crash Near State Line
August 23, 2012
One person was injured in a single vehicle wreck just north of the Alabama-Florida line Thursday afternoon.
The driver of a Ford pickup was trapped in her vehicle about 30 minutes following the crash in Alabama just after 2 p.m. on the Alabama/Florida Highway (CR 8), just north of North Highway 99 in Bratt.
The adult female was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
She was apparently northbound on when she ran off the road, lost control and overturned into a cotton field. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation by Alabama State Troopers. Further details have not been released.
The Atmore Fire Department, Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: Firefighters use the Jaws of Life to free the river from this overturned truck. Pictured inset: The truck came to rest on its side in a cotton field. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
