Biscuits Beat The Wahoos 7-3 In Second Game Of Series
June 17, 2021
A night after a signature, walk-off win, the Blue Wahoos played a game Wednesday they will quickly seek to forget.
They committed five fielding errors and assorted other miscues in a 7-3 loss against the Montgomery Biscuits in the second game of their week-long series.
The game included 312 pitches, including 165 by the Wahoos’ four pitchers. The Blue Wahoos had nine hits, including a 3-for-4 night from first baseman Lazaro Alonso.
It was a contrast to Tuesday when catcher Nick Fortes’ dramatic two-run homer in the ninth produced a 5-4 comeback win and on-field celebration.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Will Stewart worked out of a bases-load jam in the first and overcame a leadoff error in the second inning. The biggest damage occurred in the fifth inning when the Biscuits took extended a 2-0 lead with three runs.
Stewart finished the night working 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits and four runs, all off singles.
Jerar Encarnacion got the Blue Wahoos back in the game on a two-run double in the sixth inning. The Blue Wahoos then had the tying run at the plate in the seventh after Nick Fortes and Alonso began the inning with singles.
After coming up empty in that inning, however, the Biscuits added two more runs in the eighth to put the game away.
The series continues Thursday with the Blue Wahoos sending Max Meyer, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft, to the mound for his eighth start this season. Meyer has a 1.38 earned run average which is the fourth best in Double-A among starters.
On Friday, Edward Cabrera, the Marlins’ No. 4 rated overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, will make his first start for the Blue Wahoos as he progresses in his fifth minor league season.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
Weekend Tropical Weather Impacts? Here’s What Is Possible Here, And Where To Get Sand
June 16, 2021
We are watching potential for tropical development in the western Gulf of Mexico later this week.
A tropical disturbance over the Bay of Campeche in the far southern Gulf of Mexico this morning is expected to gradually become better organized by the end of this week and lift north across the western Gulf of Mexico. A tropical depression is likely to form late Thursday or Friday. This tropical disturbance currently has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression.
While it is still too soon to determine the exact track and eventual strength of this system, it is increasingly possible that there will be some impacts along our portion of the Gulf Coast. Regardless of development, a high risk of rip currents is expected by Friday, with the potential for very heavy rain, high surf and minor coastal flooding over the weekend.
Below are the most likely impacts for our local area:
Possible Impact #1:
- WHAT? Dangerous Rip Currents and High Surf is becoming increasingly likely.
- WHERE? Local area beaches of coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.
- WHEN? Beginning Friday and continuing through the weekend.
Possible Impact #2:
- WHAT? Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding is possible.
- WHERE? The entire area, but especially southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama. Potential also there for south central Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.
- WHEN? This weekend.
Possible Impact #3:
- WHAT? Minor Coastal Flooding is possible.
- WHERE? Along the coast, especially in the normally minor flood prone locations.
- WHEN? Saturday and Sunday.
“Escambia County Emergency Management would like residents to prepare now for possible flooding and rip currents with this system,” said Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “This is the first threat of severe weather this hurricane season so this is the perfect time to make your plans and preparations now to stay safe.”
Sand is available at the following locations:
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St., Pensacola
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297-A, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School – 8355 Yancey Lane, Pensacola, sand will be on the northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Travis M. Nelson Park - 4541 County Road 4, Pensacola
The sand is available on a first come, first serve basis. Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels.
Jaidan August Peters
June 16, 2021
Jaidan August Peters, 4-years old, of Walnut Hill, FL passed away on June 5, 2021, in Pensacola, FL. He was born on May 10, 2017 in Pensacola, FL to Levi and Samantha Macks Peters.
He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Brenda Lynn Hubbard Peters and his uncle, Chris Henderson.
He is survived by his parents, Levi and Samantha Peters of Walnut Hill, FL; his grandfather, Erich Peters of Canoe, AL; his grandmother, Nancy Peters of Pace, FL; his grandparents, Sam and Cheryl Macks of Century, FL; his siblings, Levi Jordan Peters, Brylee Ann Peters and Samuel Colton Peters; his aunts and uncles, Austin (Trisha) Macks, Skyler (Elizabeth) Macks, Ericka (Victor) Peters- Quesada, Isaiah Peters, and Caleb Peters, along with many loving family and friends.
Jaidan is dearly loved by his parents, siblings, and all his family and friends. Jaidan made friends effortlessly and was a joy to be around; he always had a smile on his face. Jaidan enjoyed drawing, singing, and listening to music about Jesus. He loved the color purple and going to imaginary school. Jaidan didn’t like to eat a lot, but loved “kid coffee” and toast. He would often help make his own toast with lots of extra butter. Jaidan’s ZeeZee (Grandmother) often had a special drawer with bubble gum just for him. Jaidan enjoyed taking the wagon to feed the pigs and cows whom he named One, Two, and Three. He loved the everyday trips with his Daddy to pick his siblings up from school and always greeted them with his precious smile and a sweet hello. Jaidan’s nickname was “little monkey” because he was always found on his mom’s hip or by her side.
Funeral service was held Friday, June 11, 2021 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Tim Floyd officiating. Interment followed at Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens in Walnut Hill, FL.
Active pallbearers were Austin Macks, Skyler Macks, Caleb Peters and Isaiah Peters.
Honorary pallbearers were Keith McCann, Robby McCann and Larry McCann.
New Owner Making Good On Promise To Clean Up Century’s Alger Sullivan Mill Property
June 16, 2021
For the first time since it was ravaged by tornado five years ago, the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century is almost cleaned up.
The 38-acre abandoned industrial site was heavily damaged and was mostly untouched since EF-3 tornado winds of 150 mph on February 15, 2016.
The property was purchased March 1, 2021, by Creighton Sounds, LLC of Pensacola for an industrial project, the nature of which has not yet been announced. But the company is making good on a promise to clean up the property.
The principal owner of Creighton Sounds was involved in “Project Fusion” that in November 2020 canceled a pending contract with the Town of Century to purchase the former Helicopter Technology building and about 40 acres in the Century Industrial Park. The company had promised 80 new jobs and a $15.3 million capital investment during their first five years.
“We’re very excited that we’re in Century to help the fine folks of that town to bring jobs and to clean up an area that’s been devastated by a tornado since 2016 that ravished their neighborhood,” Creighton Sounds representative Kipp Anglin told NorthEscambia.com in March, when he appeared before an Escambia County Special Magistrate Robert O. Beasley to ask the county to put code enforcement violation fines on hold.
Environmental enforcement costs and fines of $50 a day had accumulated against the previous property owners since 2016 and stand at an estimated $85,000. Beasley ordered the fines on the property put on hold as of March 1, the date of the property purchase by Creighton Sounds. The previous owner, DMT Holdings LLC of Navarre, will still be responsible for the $85,000 and has placed the amount in a trust fund.
Creighton Sounds worked over the past few months to salvage about 60,000 square feet of one large building on the property. The structure has now been stripped to its metal skeleton, weeks in advance of the 90 days Anglin promised the code enforcement magistrate.
The magistrate said that the general cleanup is Escambia County Code Enforcement’s top priority The magistrate said if there are any unforeseen delays for engineering, permitting or other reasons and the building deficiencies cannot be corrected with 180 days, he would be willing to work with the developers.
“I think we would all like to see a clean site with all the debris and garbage cleaned out and the red iron (building framework) standing. That would put you in the best situation for success here,” Beasley said.
Escambia County received three bids for the demolition and cleanup of the mill in 2017, but bids ranged from $800,000 to $3 million — far in excess of the county’s entire 2017 cleanup budget of $463,425. Property records show the value of the property was $802,189 before the tornado, but the most recent assessment shows what remains was worth $226,535.
Pictured above and below: The current state of the former Alger Sullivan Lumber Mill property in Century. Pictured inset: A 2019 view of the building as seen from an adjacent neighborhood on Front Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Amy McCrory Named New Bratt Elementary School Principal
June 16, 2021
The Escambia County School District has named Amy McCrory as the new principal at Bratt Elementary School.
McCrory is retiring at the end of June as principal of Monroeville Elementary in Monroeville, Alabama. She has worked in education Monroe County for over 25 years, serving as an elementary and middle school teacher, high school administrator, a district curriculum director and as a principal.
“I want to say how excited I am to meet my new children and just become a member of that community in Bratt,” she said.
McCrory’s appointment was confirmed Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board.
Bratt’s previous principal, Karen Jeanene Hall, has retired.
School Board Gives Nod To Updated Progression Plan With No Change To Valedictorian And Salutatorian Awards
June 16, 2021
The Escambia County School Board voted Tuesday night to move forward with advertising updates to the Student Progression Plan, with no change to the current practice of naming a valedictorian and salutatorian at each of the county’s high schools.
In a proposal presented to the board at a Monday workshop, Lesa Morgan, the school district’s director of high school education, had requested the elimination of the valedictorian and salutatorian awards beginning with the Class of 2025.
After public outcry overwhelmingly against the idea, Superintendent Tim Smith removed the section from the plan before it was approved Tuesday night.
For more information on the original plan and board member comments, click or tap here for a Monday NorthEscambia.com story.
Slight Chance Of Rain Wednesday, High In The Lower 90s
June 16, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 72. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Nick Fortes Provides Walk-Off Blast In Ninth For The Blue Wahoos
June 16, 2021
His previous at-bats Tuesday night had left Blue Wahoos catcher Nick Fortes frustrated at himself.
One sweet swing in the ninth inning changed that feeling.
Fortes squared up on a 3-1 fastball and powered it over the left-center wall for a two-run, walk-off, home run that lifted the Blue Wahoos to a dramatic 5-4victory against the Montgomery Biscuits and wowed a bayfront stadium crowd staying around to see it happen.
It was the first time in his career Fortes ended a game with a home-run stroke.
“It is honestly kinda crazy,” said Fortes, who also drove in the Blue Wahoos second run on a fielder’s choice play. “You kinda black out for a little bit rounding the bases.
“I remember hitting first and a snap of the fingers I’m already at home greeting my teammates. It is a pretty cool feeling.”
This became the Blue Wahoos (22-15) third walk-off win in 19 home games. It continued the team’s success in one-run games. They are now 11-4 in that category after Tuesday’s series-opening win. The teams will continue a six-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium through Sunday.
“It’s exciting. It makes for some really good baseball games,” Fortes said. “You can just tell the intensity picks a little bit once we get to the later innings.
“Obviously we would like to have those at-bats through the entire game, but it is really encouraging to see us not do so well early on, but then be able to lock it in, and put together good at bats later in the game and pull out some wins.”
While Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Jeff Lindgren gave up four runs in his five innings, he avoided worse damage in the second and fourth innings after yielding home runs.
The Biscuits (16-20), the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate, took a 3-0 lead in the second on shortstop Ford Proctor’s 3-run homer that kept carrying until clearing the left field wall.
Leadoff batter Garrett Whitney hit a solo home in the fifth. Three Blue Wahoos relievers produced shutout innings. Zach Wolf earned his first win by stranding Whitney at third base in the top of the ninth after he was hit by a pitch, advanced on a wild pitch, then moved to third on a groundout.
The Blue Wahoos got a pair of runs in the fourth on JJ Bleday’s double and Fortes’ one-out grounder. They got another in the eighth when Demetrius Sims hit into a double-play with runners on the corners.
In the eventful ninth, after Bleday grounded out, Jerar Encarnacion singled off Biscuits reliever Ivan Pelaez. Up stepped Fortes, who worked a 3-1 count and saw a 88-mph fastball that he left no doubt where it was heading after contact.
“It was a great feeling. My first three at-bats weren’t my best,” Fortes said. “Just really happy to go up there and put a good swing on one and send us home with a win.
“Honestly, we just had a feeling we were going to get ‘em in the ninth. A bunch of the guys were like, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’re going to get them.’
“From the seventh inning on we had some good at-bats. Everyone just had a feeling we were going to make some noise in the ninth.”
The Blue Wahoos had several roster moves prior to the game, led by the arrival of pitcher Edward Cabrera, the Miami Marlins No. 4 rated prospect by MLB Pipeline. The move provides the Blue Wahoos with three of Miami’s top four rated prospects in 2021.
Outfielder JJ Bleday (No. 2) and pitcher Max Meyer (No. 3) are the others.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer.
Robert Edward “Bobby” Raines, Jr
June 16, 2021
Robert Edward “Bobby” Raines, Jr went to be with the Lord Sunday, June 13, 2021.
Robert leaves behind his two sons, Bobby Joe Raines of Pensacola; Daniel Riley Raines of Pensacola; mother, Olivia Kittrell Hamilton of Cantonment; and a large extended family.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Edward “Bobby” Raines, Sr; grandmother, Alice Kennedy Raines; grandfather, Hugh Raines of Molino; and sister, Dee Niece Raines.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00a.m. on Friday, June 18, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Tim Lewis officiating. Burial following in Lathram Chapel UMC Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 9:00a.m. prior to services.
ECUA Lifts West Nine Mile Road Boil Water Notice
June 16, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has lifted a precautionary boil water notice that was issued Saturday for customers along West Nine Mile Road from Pine Forest Road To Beulah Road.
Results of all independent bacteriological samples have returned as clear, ECUA said.
ECUA crews completed repairs Saturday to a 16-inch pipe in the area.