Flomaton High’s Wesley Inks Basketball Scholarship With Kansas School
May 18, 2016
Flomaton High School’s Dezeray S. Wesley has signed a women’s basketball scholarship to Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, KS. Pictured top are: (front) Flomaton High guidance counselor Anthony Wesley, Dezeray Wesley, (back) Anthony Wesley, Raylin Wesley, Khortense Dortch-Wesley and Vivian Dortch. Pictured below: Team members celebrate (front, L-R) Diamond Carter, Tamera Dunn, Dezeray S. Wesley, Caitlan Dean, (back) Morgan Miller, Hannah Filmore (Springhill College), Alisa Brown , Bianca White, Danielle Sager, Shelby Barnes, Coach Nathan Kemp, Madison McFadden and Aleiha Emmons. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Even Series With Victory Over Mississippi Braves
May 18, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starter Nick Travieso looked like his old self on the mound Tuesday night—the one who was the Cincinnati Reds’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and the one who entered the season as the Reds’ ninth best prospect.
Travieso used his low-to-mid 90 mph fastball to pitch a season-high seven scoreless innings and gave up only one hit as Pensacola downed the pesky Mississippi Braves, 3-1, Tuesday in front of 3,875 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A first round pick in 2012 — one of six first rounders on the Pensacola roster this season — Travieso threw seven scoreless innings to earn his sixth one hitter since 2013.
He admitted he has struggled his last three outings, posting an 8.30 earned-run average, allowing 13 runs in 12 innings pitched. He got knocked out in 2.1 innings May 7 at home against the Biloxi Shuckers, after giving up seven runs, including five earned.
“I’ve been struggling lately,” Travieso said. “I got into a groove. It’s something I’ve been working on all offseason.”
The last time Travieso, who threw 93 pitches, including a 95-mph fastball in the sixth inning, completed seven innings was in April 30, 2014 with the Low-A Dayton Dragons. He said he has been lifting weights to strengthen his legs this season, which has given him more stamina
“I’m feeling stronger every start,” Travieso said. “When I go after (the hitters) with my best stuff it turns out pretty well.”
Pensacola evened the series at 2-2 and improved to 23-16, while Mississippi fell to 17-22.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly was pleased with Travieso’s dominating performance. Travieso also had a season-high six strikeouts.
“He’s always a guy who has pitched off his fastball better than anybody,” Kelly said. “He just felt out of whack. This time he said he really felt good.”
After three-one run games in a row, Pensacola held on to a 3-1 victory with two outstanding catches. Phillip Ervin dived and stretched out to rob a sure hit by Mississippi left fielder Dustin Peterson that would have scored a second run in the eighth inning.
Then in the ninth Tony Renda, who has rarely played the outfield in his professional career, chased down a deep fly ball at the wall in left field off the bat of Mississippi catcher Willians Astudillo.
Kelly said he was as amazed as Blue Wahoos fans watching Ervin make the spectacular diving catch in right center field.
“Ervin’s catch was fantastic,” Kelly said. “When it was hit, I didn’t think he had a shot. He just ran that ball down.”
Pensacola started the game off right with three straight singles to score Renda and go ahead, 1-0. Mississippi pitcher Rob Whalen, however, then struck out the next three batters looking.
In the third inning, Pensacola added two more when Brandon Dixon scored by twisting away from the tag at home plate on a Jeff Gelalich single to right field. Pensacola third baseman Eric Jagielo, who was celebrating his 24th birthday, then crossed the plate for a 3-0 Pensacola lead on a blooper to right field by Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Hudson.
In the first three innings, the Blue Wahoos got seven hits but stranded eight runners on base.
“In those situations you have got to put the ball in play,” Kelly said.
Mississippi’s Dansby Swanson earned the only other Mississippi hit in the game in the eighth inning off of Pensacola closer Carlos Gonzalez, who earned his third save this year. He’s hitting .375 or 6-16 off Blue Wahoos pitching, which has a Southern League best 3.09 earned-run average.
Kelly said if he was the Atlanta Braves general manager, he would leave the future superstar in the Southern League for the remainder of the 2016 season.
“There’s a lot to be said for staying in the Southern League and learning,” Kelly said. “Eventually they (Swanson and Ozzie Albies) will be the double-play combination (in Atlanta). It’s just a matter of when they want to do that.”
Man Arrested For Brazen Theft At Cantonment Business
May 17, 2016
A Bonifay man has been arrested in connection with a brazen theft just before closing time Friday at a Cantonment business.
Matthew Silvester Schriefer, 35. was charged with two counts of felony grand theft. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $3,000.
Schriefer allegedly walked into A-1 Small Engines in Cantonment and walked out with nearly $1,000 in small power equipment, including a string trimmer and a chainsaw on Friday afternoon. He then fled north on Highway 29, the string trimmer visible in the bed of the getaway pickup truck.
Authorities were able to use a tag number partially visible of a photo of the truck to track Schriefer to Holmes County where they attempted unsuccessfully to make contact with him Saturday.
When Schreifer returned to A-1 on Monday afternoon to return the stolen items, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were waiting for him.
Pictured: A string trimmer allegedly stolen from A-1 Small Engines in Cantonment can be sticking out of the bed of this truck. Pictured below: The suspect’s truck fled north on Highway 29. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Dies In Three Vehicle Crash
May 17, 2016
An Escambia County man was killed in a three vehicle crash Monday.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 34-year old Andrew L. Boucher was westbound on Sorrento Road near Nighthawk Lane when he crossed the center line in his Honda Civic, striking a Chevrolet Equinox driven by 33-year old Maribel Mendez Vazquez. The Equinox was then hit by a Volkswagen Jetta driven by 57-year old Karne Smithee Choat of Pensacola.
Boucher was pronounced deceased from his injuries. Vazquez and Choat received minor injuries in the crash.
Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation by the FHP>
Construction To Begin Soon On New Paved Walking Trail In Walnut Hill
May 17, 2016
Construction will begin soon on a new paved public walking trail in Walnut Hill.
As we reported in late 2015, the Escambia County Commission and the Escambia County School Board reached a 25-year agreement to allow the construction of the path near the Walnut Hill Community Center (also known as the Ruritan Building) on Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Escambia County Development Review Committee is set to give final approval to the project, allowing for construction permits to be issued.
The asphalt walking path will be exactly one-quarter mile in length and will be eight feet wide. The path will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Benches and picnic tables will also be installed along walking path.
The property belongs to the Escambia County School Board, while the community walking path will be constructed by Escambia County Parks and Recreation under the agreement. At last report, the path could be completed by spring.
NorthEscambia.com photo/graphic.
DCT Student Merchant Honored By Town, Wins Scholarship
May 17, 2016
Northview High School student Cheyenne Merchant was presented a scholarship and a proclamation in her honor during Monday night’s meeting of the Century Town Council.
Through the Northview Diversified Career Technology (DCT) program, Merchant spent a portion of her school day working at the Century Town Hall for high school credit.
The proclamation recognized Merchant for “her time of service as a positive example in our community” and for her “diligence and eagerness to learn…while continuing to meet the rigors of her academic studies”.
McCall surprised Merchant with the announcement that she was the winner of the $500 Twin City Volunteers Scholarship for 2016. The group is a service club similar to Rotary that works for the betterment of Flomaton and Century.
Merchant and her teacher, Brandy White, presented the town with a Certificate of Appreciation for supporting the Northview DCT program.
Pictured top: Cheyenne Merchant reacts as Century Mayor Freddie McCall announces that she has won a $500 scholarship from the Twin City Volunteers. Pictured below: McCall, Merchant at NHS DCT teacher Brandy White. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
West Florida Senior Reber Signs With LaGrange College
May 17, 2016
West Florida High School senior Kris Reber of Molino signed Monday to play baseball with LaGrange College in Lagrange, GA. Among those joining him for the signing were WFHS Athletic Director and Head Coach Mark Conti, his brother Zach Reber, sister Olivia Reber and parents TJ and Melissa Reber. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Battle Of The Books Team Takes First Place
May 17, 2016
The Northview Battle of the Books team took home the first place Saturday in the Escambia County School District’s annual Battle of the Books championship held at Washington High School. Students had 15 books to read as a team during the school year. They were quizzed on the books in five different rounds. Pictured are Northview Battle of the Books team members (L-R) Jewel Garner, Jessica Amerson, Jason Perritt, Shyla Pope, and Amber Freeman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall In 10 To Mississippi
May 17, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had yet another chance to take back first place from the Biloxi Shuckers in the Southern League South Division.
However, Pensacola came up short as Mississippi Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson showed why he was the first overall pick in 2015, smashing a ball over the left field wall for the game winner, 4-3, at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Biloxi had lost, too, 1-0, to the Chattanooga Lookouts in 10 innings.
It was the third consecutive game between these two teams, so far, during this series decided by one run and second time they went into extra innings. Mississippi leads the five-game series, 2-1.
Pensacola dropped to 22-16, while Biloxi is 22-15.
The Blue Wahoos had runners on base in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings but could not capitalize. In the 10th inning, Swanson hit his solo shot, who went 2-4 with three runs scored Monday. Against Pensacola, he is now 5-12 or .417 with a homer, double, two walks, four runs scored and two RBIs.
Pat Kelly gave credit to Swanson who helped Vanderbilt win the College World Series title in 2014 and to runner-up in 2015.
“He’s a good player,” Kelly said matter-of-factly. “He’s definitely one of better players on the field.”
Pensacola kept the ball game close. Nick Routt threw 3.1 scoreless innings to increase his scoreless inning streak to 17.2—which is the longest this season for the team. Routt had three strikeouts and now has 20 in 22.1 innings.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Chacin threw a wild pitch with runners on first and third that allowed Swanson to score from third and tie the score, 3-3. Chacin, who hadn’t allowed a run to score all year, had his scoreless inning streak ended at 15 innings pitched.
Kelly said Routt has been “impressive” and is hard to hit because of his “spin rate” on his fastball that he keeps up with.
“He’s very intellectual guy,” said Kelly. “Nick (Routt) really tracks it and is aware of it. Hitters just don’t have a good swing at it.”
Mostly Kelly was upset with a call in the sixth inning when it appeared Pensacola shortstop Calten Daal beat out a slow roller to Mississippi first baseman Jordy Lara. It was a close play that would have extended Daal’s hitting streak to 15 games, the longest in the Southern League this season. It also would have scored right fielder Phillip Ervin with the winning run by giving the Blue Wahoos four for the game.
Instead the game went in to extra innings for the second time this series tied, 3-3.
Mississippi pitcher Sean Newcomb, the No. 2 pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization and 20th best prospect in the Major Leagues, bounced back from his last start when he gave up five runs on six hits and two walks in six innings to the Mobile BayBears, who won 5-3.
The Mississippi southpaw gave up two hits and three walks to Pensacola allowing three runs, one earned, and struck out seven Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola right fielder Phillip Ervin led the Blue Wahoos offense going 1-3 with a double, two RBIs and his 14th stolen base of the season. He smacked a stand up double when he lined the ball down the left field line that drove in Pensacola second baseman Alex Blandino to put Pensacola on top, 3-2, in the sixth inning. Ervin also scored left fielder Tony Renda from third on a sacrifice fly to the warning track in the fourth inning, that pulled Pensacola within, 2-1, against Mississippi.
Chance Of Showers And Thunderstorms Daily As Wet Pattern Begins
May 17, 2016
Pictured above: Farmers are in for some much needed rain during the rest of this week. Shown is an irrigation system running Monday afternoon in a Walnut Hill corn field. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Here is your official NorthEscambia.com area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.