Wahoos Take 4 Of 5 Over The Smokies
April 8, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Tennessee Smokies 3-2 Monday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos (4-1) won their third game in a row behind a spectacular performance from starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen. The Smokies (1-4) had just four hits against Lorenzen and six total hits in their final game in Pensacola.
The right-hander Lorenzen started for the first time since Rookie ball and went 7.0 innings strong while striking out six Smokies. Lorenzen no-hit the Smokies until first baseman Dustin Geiger led off the 5th inning with a single. Lorenzen’s defense helped him by turning two double plays in the 5th and 6th innings.
Drew Hayes notched his Southern League leading third save of the season despite yielding a ninth inning solo home run to Geiger for the second night in a row.
Left fielder Donald Lutz led the Wahoos’ offensive attack with a solo home run; Lutz went 1-for-4 in the game. First baseman Travis Mattair made a spectacular diving play in the field in the eighth inning to go along with a 2-for-3 night with two singles and an RBI.
Smokies’ RHP Matt Loosen went 5.0 innings in his first start of the year giving up 3 R/ER on six hits while striking out two. RHP Ryan Searle and LHP Hunter Cervenka provided a combined 2.0 innings and three strikeouts in relief for the Smokies.
The Smokies scored their first run thanks to an RBI double from shortstop Jeudy Valdez who scored John Andreoli all the way from first. Valdez went 2-for-3 on the night while Geiger went 2-for-4 with a home run.
The Wahoos have an off day Tuesday before they head to Huntsville for a five game series beginning Wednesday. The Stars lead the Southern League North Division with a 4-1 record. RHP Carlos Contreras is scheduled to start the opener of the series on Wednesday. Huntsville’s starting pitcher is still to be determined. The Wahoos will return home Monday, April 4 against the Montgomery Biscuits.
by Tommy Thrall
Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Softball Rescheduled; Tate Baseball Canceled
April 7, 2014
Today’s Northview at Pensacola Catholic softball game has been canceled. It has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 4:00, varsity only, at Catholic.
All Tate High School baseball games for today have been canceled.
Weather Being Blamed For Jay Man’s Semi Truck Wreck
April 7, 2014
A Jay man escaped injury in a wreck this morning in Okaloosa County that is being blamed on the weather.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 50-year old Michael Patterson of Jay was driving a Freightliner semi pulling a trailer during heavy rain on Highway 4 near Vernon Taylor Road. He said another vehicle pulled in front of him and another semi, causing him to veer off the roadway to avoid a collision.
Patterson traveled onto the shoulder, striking a utility pole and rupturing a water main. He was not injured.
Patterson was not charged with any traffic offense, according to the FHP.
Century Discovers Town Doesn’t Own Part Of Ballpark
April 7, 2014
The Town of Century has discovered it does not actually own the property that contains all or a portion of four ball fields at a town park.
The four ball fields at Century’s Showalter Park are on a parcel owned by the Escambia County School District. And now the school board is now set to sell a portion of the former Century Elementary School property to the Town of Century.
“We don’t know how or when it happened,” Mayor Freddie McCall said, adding that the ball fields were constructed long before he was involved in Century government.
At future meeting, the Escambia County School Board is set to convey the 5.59 acre parcel to the town for $1. The Town of Century will pick up the $1429.75 tab to Fabre Engineering for the required boundary survey.
Pictured top: The highlighted area shoes all or part of four ball fields at Century’s Showalter Park that were constructed on property owned by the Escambia County School District. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Vendors, Entertainers Needed For Twin Cities Watermelon Festival
April 7, 2014
Flomaton and Century are planning the Twin Cities First Annual Watermelon Festival. The event is planned for Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Showalter Park in Century.
The festival will include family fun, craft booths, food, entertainment and more.
Vendors and entertainers are needed. Vendors should click here for a booth application. Interested entertainers should call Kim at Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208 or email kgodwin@centuryflorida.us.
The Twin Cities First Annual Watermelon Festival is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Cooler Tonight, Rain Tuesday
April 7, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Cloudy, with a low around 48. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight.
- Tuesday A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 48. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
- Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Pictured: Sunshine State? Not this morning as water from heavy rains poured from a field into the southbound lanes of Highway 97 at the Florida/Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Spring Concert
April 7, 2014
The Northview Music Department Spring Concert featured a variety of music Friday night at the school. Performances included members of the Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and below:
Pictured above and below: The Northview High School Music Department Spring Concert Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Lady Aggies Go 3-1 At Kissimmee Klassic
April 7, 2014
The Tate Aggies went 3-1 in the Kissimmee (FL) Klassic over the weekend, an annual tournament that features of the top ranked teams in Florida.
Tate’s only loss came in their first game against Cooper City High School – a complete pitcher’s duo ending with Tate falling 1-0 as the clock closed in on midnight. The Lady Aggies compiled a total of 38 runs over their next three games and only gave up 11.
Juniors Tori Perkins and Rachel Wright each had grand slams in the tournament. Senior Kaylen Rowell blasted two dingers, and junior Lauren Brennan blasted one over the fence.
Tate is still undefeated in district play and will play three non-district games this week against Escambia, Milton, and rival West Florida to finish up the regular season. Tate will host the District 7A-1 tournament in post season.
Pictured: (L-R) From the Kissimmee Klassic, Tate Aggies Tori Perkins with a grand slam, Kaylen Rowell with two home runs, Rachel Wright with a grand slam and Lauren Brennan with a home run. Submitted photo NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Prayer and WD-40: NorthEscambia Headline Inspires Country Song
April 7, 2014
Inspiration for a song can come from most anywhere. For Michael Peterson of McDavid, that inspiration came from a NorthEscambia.com headline.
“Prayer And WD-40: Hattie Schneider Celebrates 105th Birthday” was that NorthEscambia.com headline last week.
“The headline that you put for the story about the elderly lady turning 105 sounded like it should have been a song,” Peterson later emailed NorthEscambia.com. “I told it to my friend and we sat down and wrote one. The content of the song is a bit different, but I have to say thanks for the awesome title.”
Peterson and his friend, Obe Brown, turned the song into the story of a 91-year old war veteran who lost his leg at Normandy — and now he survives on the Good Lord looking out for him, plus he never goes anywhere without (you guess it) prayer and WD-40.
Peterson has recently performed as part of the band Mayhaw Road, but he says songwriting is where his passion lies.
“I pride myself for being a songwriter mostly,” he said. “That’s my passion.”
He’s played at some local venues, at the Frank Brown Songwriters Festival and is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
“My dream is to be a staff writer with a Nashville publishing company. Getting to hear my songs on the radio would be a dream come true,” he said. “I like to sing but its songwriting that drives me. Me and Obe grew up together, taught each other to play the guitar.”
Peterson and Brown both graduated from Northview High School in 1998. Brown lives in Atlanta now, but the duo writes together using the video chat program Skype.
To hear “Prayer and WD-40″, click here or use the player below.
Fire Causes Minor Damage To Cantonment Home
April 7, 2014
Fire caused minor damage to a home in the 700 block of Escambia Avenue in Cantonment about 3:30 Sunday afternoon. There were no injures reported, and the exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
