Renken Leads Wahoos To Second Straight Shutout

July 30, 2013

Daniel Renken fired six shutout frames for the second straight outing and the Blue Wahoos offense provided two early runs to knock off the Mobile BayBears 2-0 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was Pensacola’s ninth shutout of the season and extended the team’s scoreless innings streak to 18 innings.

Renken (5-7), riding a string of six consecutive quality starts since his last start against Mobile, dominated the BayBears over six innings. The right-hander allowed three scattered hits while falling one shy of a season-high in strikeouts with six. Renken’s lone bit of trouble came in the fifth when he worked with two runners on and one out, but he got a groundout and a strikeout to retire the side. With the six shutout frames, Renken extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1 frames dating back to July 12.

The Pensacola offense provided solo tallies in the first two frames for the only runs of the night. In the first inning, Yorman Rodriguez jacked his second home run of the year off Mobile starter David Holmberg to give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Ray Chang doubled home Travis Mattair to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead.

Holmberg took the loss for Mobile to fall to 5-6 on the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

That was more than enough for Renken, who gave way to Lee Hyde in the seventh inning. The Wahoos southpaw reliever fired two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit to extend his personal scoreless streak to 27.1 innings dating back to May 21.

Trevor Bell came on in the ninth inning and retired the BayBears in order to pick up his ninth save of the year.

Pensacola will now look to take the series against Mobile on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Tim Crabbe (4-7, 3.33) looks to build on his nine scoreless innings last time out for Pensacola against Mobile’s Bo Schultz.

story by Kevin Burke

Argument With Credit Card Company Lands Man In Jail On Drug Charges

July 29, 2013

An argument on the phone with his credit card company ended with a Walnut Hill man in the Escambia County Jail.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Raceway at 406 Airport Boulevard in Pensacola after receiving a call about a disturbance. When asked if he was arguing with someone,  Kevin Foster Bey, 52, told deputies he was yelling on the phone with a credit card company.

A records check revealed Bey had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear, and he was placed under arrest. When he was searched, deputies found a pill bottle with rock cocaine and two marijuana cigarettes in Bay’s pockets, according to an arrest report.

Bey was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $8,000.

Two Injured After Hitting Deer In Bratt

July 29, 2013

Two people were injured in single vehicle crash with a deer early Monday morning in Bratt.

The accident happened about 12:50 a.m. on West Highway 4 near Vaughn Road, east of Northview High School. Both occupants of the Buick LeSabre were transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance.  Their injuries were not considered severe.

The deer did not not survive the crash.

The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the crash.

Pictured: Two people were injured after hitting a deer on West Highway 4, east of Northview High School early Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Century Store And Clerk Struck By Lightning

July 29, 2013

A Century store clerk received a shock at work Sunday evening when the store was struck by lightning.

The clerk at the Dollar General on North Century Boulevard reported she received a shock from the cash register when lightning hit the store about 8:25 p.m. The 25-year old female was not seriously injured. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital for evaluation.

There was no significant damage reported to the store.

Barrineau Park 4-H Members Donate To Children’s Hospital

July 29, 2013

Dillon Conti challenged his fellow Barrineau Park 4-H Club members to give something back to the community.

He presented them with the idea of collecting board games to donate to the Child Life Program at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola.

Each member set aside a portion of the proceeds they received from the sale of their animal and showmanship winning from the GCA/NRA Spring Livestock Show last April at the Langley Bell 4-H Center. Each club member used the funds to purchase a board game of their choice.

The Barrineau Park 4-H Club members presented the board games Wednesday morning to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Club members plan to make another donation next year.

Members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club visited Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Wednesday to donate board games for patients.  Scrabble, Trouble, Scrabble Slam and other games will provide hours of entertainment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Local Couple Needs Your Vote To Win Free Wedding

July 29, 2013

A local couple is in the running to win the Pensacola Block Party Wedding Contest — a free wedding held on the streets of Pensacola with everything donated by various vendors.

Jessica (Jessy) Killam and her fiance Jarrett Swearingen are top ten finalists, and they are asking for North Escambia readers to vote for them to win the fabulous free wedding.

Jessica grew up in Byrneville and graduated from Northview High School. Her fiance Jarrett grew up in Jay and graduated from Jay High School. He’s now an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy.

The couple met on a blind date in December 2011 and almost immediately fell in love.

“Marriage is important to both of us, Putting God first is definitely a must,” a poem penned by the couple says. “We both have divorced parents, no one’s willing to help. We’ll be paying for our wedding all by ourself. Winning this wedding would be a dream come true, The future Mr. & Mrs. Swearingen saying I do. We go together like two peas in a pod, Can’t wait to begin our marriage blessed by God!”

The couple has gone to great lengths to garner votes for the contest — from painting a campaign message on Pensacola’s famed “Graffiti Bridge”, to handouts with an easy to scan QR code for smartphones, to campaign t-shirts, to asking for this article on NorthEscambia.com.

To vote for Jessica and Jarrett in the Pensacola Block Party Wedding Contest, click here and choose “Jessica  Killam & Jarrett Swearingen” from the drop-down menu. Voting ends at midnight today and is limited to one vote per email address.

Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Teen Bitten By Poisonous Snake At Canoe Creek

July 29, 2013

A teenager was hospitalized Sunday evening after being bit by what was believed to be a poisonous snake.

The teen was at Canoe Creek along Highway 29 in McDavid when he was bitten by the snake about 7:15 p.m.  EMS reported that he was unconscious after being bitten by what was believed to be a cottonmouth snake.

The teen was transported by a Santa Rosa County ambulance to West Florida Hospital for treatment. His name and  condition were not available.

Westley Lynn Mote

July 29, 2013

Westley Lynn Mote, age 26 of Jay, passed away on Saturday July 27, 2013. He was a great son, mentoring brother, loving husband and best friend to his wife, and a doting father. Westley had an amazing talent when it came to music. He not only played the guitar, he also wrote his own music and songs. He and his wife loved to sing their songs together. He was happiest when playing transformers and other games with his son Rylan. He enjoyed fishing with his friends and his father in-law. He loved his work and enjoyed working with his boss and best friend. He enjoyed living with his grandparents and the support they gave him during his school years. Westley was a very loving person, and you could tell it just by his smile.

He is survived by his wife, Natalie Faye Mote; son, Rylan Mote; mother, Sabrina Mote; father, Douglas Mote (Suzanne); brother, Tyler Mote (Ashley); grandparents, William Mote (Addie Rue); special in-laws, John Leccese (Linda); sisters, Tiffany and Nichole Harter; and numerous cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be July 31, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Cornerstone Church with Reverend Jim Lassiter officiating.

Burial will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday, July 30, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Pallbearers are Matthew Hanks, Paul Black, Myles Leccese, Cory Walker, Jeremy Williams and Greg Dunsford.

In lieu of flowers a monetary gift can be given to Jay Funeral Home to help his wife and son with expenses.

Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Decorated War Hero Bud Day Passes Away

July 29, 2013

Retired Col. Bud Day passed away Saturday at his home. He was 88.

Day is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and command pilot who served in active service in World War II and the Vietnam War. Shot down in an air strike in North Vietnam, he was a prisoner of war for five years and seven months during which time he shared a cell with U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ).

“He was the bravest man I ever knew, and his fierce resistance and resolute leadership set the example for us in prison of how to return home with honor,” McCain said in a statement Sunday.

Day is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received nearly 70 decorations, a majority for actions in combat. Day is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

“Day was a patriot in the truest sense of the word.  He worked tirelessly for veterans and never backed down to a challenge.   He was the most distinguished of warriors and a most loving husband and father.   Col. Bud Day was a national treasure and a shining example of bravery.  Our community will miss his unwavering perseverance, his limitless patriotism, and his enduring optimism for the future of America,” Rep. Jeff Miller said Sunday.

Wahoos Top BayBears

July 29, 2013

Shaun Ellis combined with four relievers to fire a two-hit shutout of the Mobile BayBears in Pensacola’s 2-0 win on Sunday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The shutout was Pensacola’s eighth of the season

The Wahoos pitching staff tied a team-low for hits allowed in a game this season, sparked by the starter Ellis. The All-Star went four-plus innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Both free passes came in the top of the fifth inning and forced Ellis from the game. Parker Frazier came out of the Blue Wahoos bullpen to get a strikeout and a double play to end the threat.

Frazier (1-0) picked up his first win in a Pensacola uniform with three scoreless and hitless innings in just his second appearance since being traded from Colorado. The right-hander struck out three and walked only one.

Josh Ravin and Chris Manno combined to toss a scoreless eighth before Trevor Bell closed the door in the ninth inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Pensacola provided enough support with a pair of runs in the last of the second against BayBears’ starter Andrew Chafin. Mike Costanzo led off the inning with a walk before scoring on a double from Chris Berset. Ryan LaMarre drove home Berset two batters later with a single to make it 2-0.

Chafin took the loss to fall to 7-6 on the season. The southpaw allowed two runs on four hits in six innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Wahoos look to make it two wins in a row on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Daniel Renken (4-7, 3.56) takes the ball for Pensacola against Mobile’s David Holmberg (5-5, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Story by Kevin Burke

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