Homer-Happy Wahoos Rout Shuckers 11-2
June 4, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos hit a season-high four homers in a blowout 11-2 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night.
Patrick Monteverde (W, 6-1) allowed just an unearned run over 5.0 innings to earn his league-leading sixth win, lowering his season ERA to a league-best 2.16 in the process.
Trailing 1-0 in the second, the Blue Wahoos manufactured the game-tying run against Shuckers starter Nick Bennett (L, 2-2) with a José Devers double and a Griffin Conine RBI infield single. An inning later, Victor Mesa Jr. brought home the go-ahead run with an RBI single to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 lead.
Will Banfield greeted Biloxi reliever James Meeker with a solo homer to lead off the fourth, and Devers launched a three-run blast in the fifth for his first homer of the season. Conine capped the five-run fifth with a solo blast of his own, extending the lead to 8-1.
Dane Myers added an RBI single in the sixth, and Mesa highlighted a four-hit, four-RBI night with a two-run shot to right field one batter later.
A.J. Puk made his third rehab appearance for the Blue Wahoos in the eighth, retiring the first two batters he faced before Tristen Lutz hit a drive to the right-center gap. Mesa was injured in a collision with the wall, allowing Lutz to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Sean Reynolds came in to get the final four outs of the game for Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos gained a game in the South Division standings, and are now 6.0 games ahead of second-place Biloxi and Montgomery with 19 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Shuckers on Sunday
No Arrests In Triple Shooting Last Week At Cantonment Park
June 3, 2023
There have been no arrests made in the shooting of three people last Saturday night during a “May Day”gathering in Cantonment.
The victims were two females both age 18 and a 21-year old male. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said all three were transported to the hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.
The shootings were reported about 9:10 p.m. in the area of Carver Park on Webb Street where the suspect opened fire into a crowd, striking the victims. The event was not sanctioned or approved by the community association that manages the park or Escambia County Parks and Recreation.
The Sheriff’s Office estimated about 2,000 people were in attendance. None of the bystanders provided witness information to deputies.
Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
‘Strange Bulge’ In Escambia Woman’s Pants Leads To Meth Arrest
June 3, 2023
The Atmore Police Department says a “strange bulge” in an Escambia County (Florida) woman’s pants led to her arrest on a methamphetamine related charge.
Sydni Weatherholtz, age 30 of Pensacola, was charged with unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to police.
About 7:35 p.m. on May 31, Atmore Police Narcotics Agents conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to signal during a turn onto Highway 21. Officers said Weatherholtz was a passenger in the vehicle.
“While speaking with Weatherholtz an officer noticed a strange bulge in her pants. Upon further investigation Waetherholtz was in possession of approximately 14 grams of a clear crystal-like substance that field tested positive for Methamphetamine,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said.
Ribbon Cutting Held For Escambia’s Newest Elementary School
June 3, 2023
A ribbon cutting was held Friday for Escambia County’s newest public school.
The new Pleasant Grove Elementary School campus is located on Sorrento Road just west of Blue Angel Parkway.
It’s the first new school in the Escambia County School District since Beulah Middle and Kingsfield Elementary opened back in 2018.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Scattered Afternoon Showers, Otherwise A Sunny Saturday
June 3, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of mostly afternooon showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Arlene Deteriorates Into Post-Tropical Storm
June 3, 2023
Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the Gulf of Mexico Friday afternoon with winds reaching 40 mph. The short-lived systemed deteriorated into Post-Tropical Cyclone Arlene by Saturday night.
The latest details on the system are in the graphic above.
The area will have no direct impact on our local weather.
Myers Homers Twice, But Blue Wahoos Fall 10-7 To Biloxi
June 3, 2023
Dane Myers continued his hot hitting, homering twice and driving in five in a 3-for-5 night, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos squandered an early lead in a 10-7 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday.
The game turned in the bottom of the fifth, as Biloxi scored five runs against starter M.D. Johnson and reliever Will Stewart (L, 2-1). The Shuckers needed only one hit, a Zavier Warren two-run double, thanks to four walks, a hit batsman, and a throwing error.
Pensacola jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first against Shuckers starter Carlos Rodriguez as Myers sent a three-run homer out to left-center. They added another run in the third on a Cody Morissette RBI single and two more in the fourth on Myers’ second homer of the night, a two-run blast.
Biloxi chipped away in the fourth, drawing a pair of walks against Johnson before Wes Clarke hit a three-run homer to draw the score to 6-4. Morissette hit another RBI single in the fifth to give Pensacola a seven-run lead, but Biloxi’s big inning followed.
Johnson walked the first two Biloxi batters in the fifth before departing. Stewart, who had not allowed a run in 11.1 Double-A innings, allowed Warren’s double before loading the bases with a hit batsman and a walk. Clarke then drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before Felix Valerio hit a potential double-play grounder that instead allowed the Shuckers to take a 9-7 lead. Nasim Nuñez’s low throw to first skipped out of play, scoring two runs and capping the five-run frame.
A.J. Puk allowed a pair of singles in his second rehab appearance, but wriggled out of the jam thanks to a strikeout, pickoff and popout to throw a scoreless eighth.
The Shuckers got effective long relief from T.J. Shook (W, 2-1) before Abner Uribe (S, 4) worked a spotless ninth.
The Blue Wahoos lost a game in the South Division standings, and are now 5.0 games ahead of second-place Biloxi with 20 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer
Escambia Extension To Host Small Farm Workshop
June 3, 2023
Do you want to start a farm but are not sure where to start? Or just want to learn more about Florida programs that can help with your current operation?
Escambia Extension will hold a Small Farm Workshop for Emerging Farms on June 13 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Topics will include loan and cost share programs, soil fertility, agritourism, small ruminant livestock and marketing.
The cost is $15. To register, or for more information, click here. Lunch will be provided.
Register Now For Tate Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp
June 2, 2023
Registration is continuing for the Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Camp.
The camp will be held 8 a.m. until noon on June 26-28 in Tate High School’s Fryman Gym. The cost is $80 per athlete.
For a registration form and more information, click or tap here.
The Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Clinic will teach athletes proper stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques, motion placements, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. There will also be fun, games and engaging activities. A snack and drink will be provided each day.
The registration deadline is Thursday, June 23 and available spaces are filling fast.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘A Great Day For North Escambia’ — Fiber Internet Buildout Begins
June 2, 2023
Fields of corn line Bratt Road, not far from the power substation where nearby two new grain bins glisten brightly in the sun.
It’s the community of Bratt, home to Bratt Elementary and Northview High schools.
There’s a caution light at the four-way stop by the corner store. There’s often a good game of hoops going on, or people just walking, at the park — the Travis M. Nelson Park –built where Travis Nelson played as a child. The U.S. Marine was killed in Afghanistan a few years back.
It’s the slow life in rural North Escambia. And the internet, well, that’s even slower.
But in the next months, Bratt will be home to something else. New internet service, pretty much the fastest residential service available anywhere in Escambia County.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC), owned by the residents of Bratt, Walnut Hill, Jay — and the other communities in North Escambia and northern Santa Rosa County — has partnered with Conexon Connect to bring high speed fiber internet with speeds reaching 2 Gig up and down. Some of the fastest residential service in the county.
Over the past week or so, crews have started work, pulling fiber cable and attaching it to the power poles in Bratt. It will connect, and branch out to homes and businesses, from the power substations in Bratt and Walnut Hill. The first customers are expected to be connected by fall.
The price will range from about $50 to $100 a month for the fastest speed. A real game changer.
“We are very excited about this project,” Ryan Campbell, CEO of EREC, said Thursday. “It represents a tremendous commitment from EREC that will benefit members for generations to come.”
The member owned electric cooperative will spend north of $35 million on over 1,000 miles of fiber to every home and business in their service territory. Even where the houses are spaced out by miles down dirt roads.
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $2.6 million from the Broadband Opportunity Program for the fiber buildout. Escambia County has contributed $6.3 million from American Rescue Plan funds for the estimated $24 million for the 600 miles of fiber in Escambia County. (Escambia will, at a future date, contribute additional American Rescue Plan funds for a fiber project in the remainder of the county.) EREC will provide broadband internet service and additional “dark” fiber (without internet service) for all county owned facilities within the EREC footprint for two years at no additional cost to the county.
“I’m ecstatic to see the work begin, and could not be more thankful to my board for supporting the initiative, and for our tremendous partners EREC and Conexon for really hitting the ground running,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “It’s a great day for North Escambia County.”
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
