Wahoos Sweep Doubleheader Against Mississippi Braves
August 31, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Hudson hit a slow roller toward Mississippi Braves second baseman Travis Demeritte who fielded the ball on the infield grass, but threw the ball wide past the first baseman Jonathan Morales.
The result — a walk-off error — scoring center fielder Jonathan Reynoso from third base to give Pensacola a, 6-5, victory in the second game of the doubleheader Wednesday in front of 4,789 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola won the first game, 4-3, to sweep the Braves and capture the series, 3-2. It snapped a streak of two series losses at home.
Hudson, not exactly known for his speed, said he closed his eyes and ran as fast as he could once he made contact.
“I really got a hold of that one,” Hudson said jokingly of the Blue Wahoos sixth walk-off win this season. “You can hit four liners in a game and not get a hit and hit one off the end of the bat and get a game winner. That’s baseball.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly also teased Hudson about the game-winner in the 10th inning that improved the Blue Wahoos’ record in extra-inning games to 3-6.
“It’s the Wahoo Way,” Kelly said. “He put the ball in play and obviously his speed is what got it.”
Pensacola trailed Mississippi, 5-4, heading into the bottom of the 10th. Right fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a one-out double down the right field line. With two outs, Reynoso lined a single to center field, scoring Guerrero to tie the game, 5-5.
Reynoso also had the clutch, game-winning hit in the first game Wednesday as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. The 24-year-old, hitting .286, singled to right field with two outs to drive in first baseman Gavin LaValley, who led off the inning with a double off the top of the yellow bumper pad in left-center field.
“He’s been really clutch since coming up,” said Kelly of Reynoso who came up from High-A Daytona Tortugas on Aug. 5. “He has a knack for putting the ball in play and finding holes.”
In the second game, Blue Wahoos second baseman Arismendy Alcantara tripled to right field when the ball scooted by Mississippi’s Connor Joe, allowing LaValley to score and tie the game, 4-4, in the fifth inning.
Mississippi took the lead, 4-3, in the fifth inning when catcher Joseph Odom crushed a solo homer to left field, his first for the Braves this season.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Reydel Medina launched a two-out, three-run homer to left field in the fourth inning with Guerrero and Reynoso.on base to tie the game, 3-3.
Leading Mississippi at the plate was Austin Riley who hit a solo homer in both of Wednesday’s games to increase his total to eight on the season.
Mississippi hit four homers total including one by the Braves Game 2 starting pitcher Wes Parsons who ripped his first career homer to left field with two outs in the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead. Mobbed by his teammates in the dugout, Parsons is now 3-18 with two RBIs this year.
Other first game highlights included Pensacola taking a 3-1 lead in the second inning when Alcantara lined a two-out, bases-loaded doubled into the left center gap, driving in right fielder Aristides Aquino, catcher Chad Tromp and pitcher Jesus Reyes.
Additionally, Pensacola closer Tanner Rainey picked up his second save in two days for the Blue Wahoos. In his last three relief appearances, the 24-year-old, whose fastball reaches triple digits, has struck out nine of the 11 outs. For the Blue Wahoos he has 25 strikeouts in 15 innings over 12 appearances with a 1.80 ERA.
The Blue Wahoos, who improved to 31-34, are guaranteed to play in the Southern League South Division playoffs after winning the first half. They play their last five-game series of the regular season against first place Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, who they will likely play again Sept. 6 in the playoffs.
Kelly said he hopes that Cincinnati Reds top ranked prospect, third baseman Nick Senzel, is in the starting lineup soon after taking medication for an inner-ear infection.
Hudson, who has played in four consecutive minor league playoffs in the Reds farm system, said it’s odd playing Jacksonville in two-series in a row.
“We’ve always fallen short,” Hudson said. “We’d like to win one for (manager) Pat (Kelly) and for our city.”
FWC Officers Rescue More Than 200 Harvey Victims In Texas
August 30, 2017
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers are continuing to actively assist with disaster response efforts in the Houston area.
FWC officers have rescued more than 200 Texans since arriving in the area after being deployed by Governor Scott in response to Texas’ request for emergency assistance. Nearly 125 FWC officers, more than 40 boats, 17 high water vehicles, two Mobile Command Centers, and eight shallow draft vessels are currently in Texas to support ongoing search and rescue and disaster response efforts.
Contributed photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flash Flood Watch, Several Inches Of Rain Expected
August 30, 2017
Bands of heavy rain and storms will continue across southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the northwest Florida panhandle now through at least Thursday. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding across the southern portion of the area. An additional 2-5 inches is expected through Thursday afternoon with isolated higher amounts possible.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT
Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 81. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 75. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Labor Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested
August 30, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a January 24 robbery at the Compass Bank on North Davis Highway.
Nicholas Paschel was charged with robbery without a weapon for the holdup. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
Deputies said he walked up to a bank teller wearing a motorcycle helmet and handed the teller a note demanding money. After the teller complied, he fled the bank on an orange motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office said a Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers tip lead to a search warrant of Paschel’s home and his eventual arrested.
Splash Pad Water Bill Costs Century Nearly $8,000
August 30, 2017
The Town of Century has paid a water bill of just under $8,000 for their new splash pad.
Town documents show the bill was $7,871.81 for water used since the splash pad was installed late last year. It official opened in March.
The town paid the water bill to it’s own water department, but it was still an actual expense for taxpayers. That is because the water was billed at the actual cost of providing it with no profit for the water department., according to a town official.
The splash pad operates on a timer system. Children push a button to turn it on, and a short time later it turns off the water until the button is pushed again.
A $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant was awarded to the town in October 2015 to install the splash pad. The competitive grant program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds. Century was the only recipient of the grant in Escambia County during 2015.
Pictured: The official opening day for the Century Splash Pad last March. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Honors Road Prison Corrections Officer That Died After Saving Inmate
August 30, 2017
A corrections officer that died after working to save a suicidal inmate was among those honored during an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office award ceremony Tuesday afternoon.
Joe Heddy Jr. died from a heart attack while trying to save the inmate’s life on June 17.
“He suffered a fatal heart attack after struggling with an inmate,” Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. “He had responded to a cell at the Escambia County Road Prison in Cantonment after an inmate tied a bedsheet around his own neck and was tightening it in an attempt to commit suicide. He called for assistance and began to struggle with the inmate in an attempt to remove the bedsheet. The inmate continued to resist until officers were able to remove the bedsheet and subdue him.
“Officer Heddy then packed up the inmate’s belongings before calling for assistance on the radio and collapsing. Other officers initiated CPR but were unable to resuscitate him. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Officer Heddy reflect great credit upon himself, the corrections profession and the criminal justice system, Morgan said, presenting the department’s Medal of Courage to Heddy’s widow, Jill Heddy.
Also during the ceremony, a Lifesaving Medal was presented to deputies Matt Howell and Bryan Barton.
According to Morgan, the deputies responded to a call involving a mental health problem.
“The victim had a large laceration to his left forearm which was spurting blood from an arterial injury. The victim was armed with a knife and a screwdriver and told deputies he had a firearm. He warned Deputies Barton and Howell that if they came any closer that he would shoot them. The victim was losing a lot of blood fast, so Deputies Barton and Howell needed to act quickly. Deputy Barton made the decision to utilize his TASER which allowed Deputy Howell to restrain the victim and apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The victim was transported to a hospital. An emergency room doctor advised that if the tourniquet had not been applied when it was, the victim would not have survived,” Morgan said.
FDLE Agents Brian Whittaker, Mike Jankowski and Chris Williams were commended for the roles they played in assisting the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in closing homicides last March on Klondike Road and Citrus Avenue.
Sgt. Kevin Coxwell, an investigator, was recognized for closing a 10-year old cold case homicide with an arrest.
On July 26, 2007, Barry Shipp was killed inside his barber shop. The homicide happened after what appeared to be a robbery. A year later, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement identified Demarcus Ledent as a foreign DNA contributor. Ledent denied ever having contact with the victim.
The case went cold for seven years, until Sgt. Coxwell received a call from FDLE that a source was willing to provide information on the case. During an interview with that source, Coxwell learned that Ledent was in fact at the scene of the crime, had robbed the victim first, and had also shot himself during a struggle before going to Mobile for treatment.
Coxwell learned that an individual who identified himself as Ledent’s brother reported to a Mobile hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound during that time period. The man told hospital staff he was robbed in Mobile
On December 16, 2016, Ledent was arrested on unrelated charges in Spokane, WA. Coxwell contacted the arresting officer, who took photos showing scarring to Ledent’s right knee. Ledent told the officer that he had been shot and had surgery years earlier. Coxwell traveled to Louisiana and located Ledent’s brother who stated that he had never been shot or received treatment in Mobile.
Coxwell discovered that seven shell casings were located at the scene of the homicide as well as five projectiles. The sixth projectile was removed from the victim during the autopsy and the seventh from Ledent’s leg at the hospital. These projectiles accounted for every shot fired during the robbery
On January 6, 2017, Coxwell was able to obtain a warrant for the arrest of Demarcus Ledent, for first degree premeditated murder.
Dispatcher Karen Jones was named Law Enforcement Employee of the First Quarter. A woman in Pennsylvania credited Jones for helping to save her daughter in Cantonment from a domestic violence situation.
A Civilian Service Medal was presented to the staff of staff at Scenic Hills Veterinary Clinic.
On January 19, 2017, ECSO Deputies were en route to the Escambia County Jail when they saw a large dog attacking a small dog and its owner. Deputies Robert Greene and Jose Oliveras engaged the attacking dog to stop further injury to the small dog and its owner.
The small Dachshund suffered several lacerations around its midsection. Deputy Greene asked the dog’s owner if he needed a ride to the vet office to get his dog treated. The dog’s owner told deputies that he didn’t have the money to have the dog treated. Deputy Greene offered to take the dog to the vet and cover the cost. The dog’s owner agreed.
Deputy Jose Oliveras placed the injured dog in the rear of the patrol car as a second person approached them. A second small dog, a Chihuahua, had been attacked by the same large dog and was bleeding from lacerations to the neck and midsection. The second owner, a double amputee, was also unable to afford the cost of vet care. Deputy Greene asked her if he could take her dog to the vet and he would pay for the costs. She agreed.
Deputy Oliveras placed the second dog in the patrol vehicle and Deputies Greene and Oliveras drove the dogs to Scenic Hills Veterinary Clinic. The staff of the clinic triaged the two dogs and placed them in the rear. Deputy Greene told the staff that he would be responsible for the cost.
Later, Deputy Greene received a call from the Scenic Hills Vet staff that the dogs would make a full recovery. When he arrived at the clinic to pick the dogs up, he was informed the bill was paid in full by the clinic. The clinic also provided medicine at no cost.
Other awards and recognitions included:
- Scenic Hill Hills Veterinary Clinic owner Greg Strand, veterinarians Mark Royer and Lisa Beitler, Manager Ryan Mitchell and Supervisor Hayley Brown were presented the Civilian Service Medal.
- Law Enforcement Officer of the First Quarter – Sgt. Joshua Hendershott
- Law Enforcement Officer of the Second Quarter – Deputy Neal Tipton
- Law Enforcement Employee of the Second Quater: Intelligence analyst Stephanie Brown
- Civilian Service Medal – Linda Warrick, Russell Warrick and Wesley Warrick – Diamond View Neighborhood Watch
- Longevity Awards 20 Years: Sonny Beane, Kim Mathis, Yvonne Jackson, Master Deputy J. Jarman Sr., Sergeant. S. Mashburn, Sergeant. S. Webber, Captain L. Dixon, Captain T. Greer
- Longevity Awards 35 Years – Lynn Hodge
- Newly promoted sergeants: Andrew Kilgen, Shaun White
Pictured top: Chief Deputy Chip Simmons (left) and Sheriff David Morgan as a Medal of Courage was presented posthumously to Jill Heddy, wife of corrections officer Joe Heddy Jr. Courtesy photo for North Escambia.com, click to enlarge.
Portion Of Stefani Road To Close Thursday Morning
August 30, 2017
A planned closure of Stefani Road between Nine Mile Road and 9 1/2 Mile Road in Cantonment has been postponed. The closure and detours will now begin Thursday at 7 a.m. Construction will consist of the installation of a sanitary sewer manhole.
The roadway closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately three weeks. Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road on or before Monday, Sept. 18. If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time period, another notice will be issued.
Cottage Hill Resident Hit With Bat During Home Invasion
August 30, 2017
A Cottage Hill man told deputies that he was hit with a baseball bat during a home invasion Tuesday afternoon.
The incident happened on Williams Ditch Road near Wishbone Road.
The victim told deputies that after he was hit with the bat, the suspect fled the home. Deputies and a K-9 unit were used to search for the suspect. The suspect was a white male, but not other details were known, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. At last report, he was still on the run.
The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Cantonment Sex Offender Arrested For Registration Violation
August 30, 2017
A Cantonment sex offender has been arrested for failing to register as required by law.
Marquis Lamar Meriweather , 35, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a felony sex offender violation.
Meriweather of 311 Booth Avenue was released from jail on a $25,000 bond.
According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, Meriweather was convicted in Hawaii in 2009 of two counts of assault of a child under 16 and two counts of an indecent act on a child 12-15 years old.
Advance Tickets On Sale For Escambia Academy At Northview
August 30, 2017
The Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Academy Cougars Friday night in Bratt, and presale tickets are available now.
Advance tickets are $5 for adults or students, $1 for elementary students and are available in the Northview office during school hours.
For more information, call Teresa Johnson at (850) 327-6627 ext. 225
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
