Blue Wahoos Open Season With 8-6 Win Over M-Braves
April 6, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
In a perfect match to the setting, Tanner Allen dazzled on opening night for the Blue Wahoos.
Allen, a former Mobile prep star who became an All-American in 2021 while helping Mississippi State win the College World Series, went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs as the Blue Wahoos outslugged the Mississippi Braves 8-6 Friday before an overflow, sellout crowd of 5,000-plus at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“It is a true blessing. It was an unbelievable night,” said Allen, who joined the Blue Wahoos in mid-August last year. “I mean, Pensacola showed out tonight. We had a packed house. Fans brought the energy and we kinda fed off it the whole game.
It was a great game and really made me look forward to (Saturday),” said Allen, a fourth-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2021. “Every time you come to the ballpark on opening day you have those opening day jitters and for me I almost can’t even sit still. So, I was doing stuff all day to try and keep my mind occupied.
“I don’t care if you’re playing in front of a hundred thousand or five people, your knees are going to be shaking and for me, when you see that first pitch go by, it’s like, hey it’s the same game I’ve played my entire life. It’s time to go.”
The game began Friday, backlit by a postcard-perfect, blue sky, the shimmering beauty of Pensacola Bay and a buzz throughout the stadium with fans even covering the outfield berm in right center.
After the M-Braves scored in the first inning, Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer then pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs. He struck out the next two batters and got an infield grounder to end the inning.
That proved pivotal.
The Blue Wahoos’ Jacob Berry, the Marlins top draft pick in 2022, blasted a shot over that right-center berm and out of the ballpark to tie the game.
The M-Braves then took a 3-1 lead in the second. But Allen changed that with his two-run double that followed Cody Morrisette’s RBI single.
It was also big game for Morissette, who had three hits, including a solo homer in fourth inning to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 4-3. The second baseman also helped turned a pair of double plays that thwarted M-Braves’ scoring chances.
There were 12 runs scored and 20 hits after the first five innings with the Blue Wahoos taking a 7-5 lead. Allen’s two-run single was part of that. The teams finishes with 24 hits combined (13 for the Blue Wahoos). Each team also used five pitchers apiece.
The Blue Wahoos bullpen that followed Fitterer was outstanding. Angel Macuare, Chandler Jozwiak, Zach McCambley and closer Austin Roberts combined to throw 4.2 innings, give up just three hits, one run and struck out eight batters.
With a sizeable portion of the crowd on its feet, Roberts threw a perfect changeup to strike out Justin Dean with the tying run on base to end the game and bring a roar from the stadium.
“It may have been the best crowd I have ever played in front of as a professional,” said Allen, who played high school baseball in Mobile at UMS-Wright School.
GAME NOTABLES.
This was the first game, too, with a new start time (6:05 p.m.) for all night games this season. Seven new food items at the storefronts.
It was also the first game in team history with fans going through security metal detectors at all three entrances to Blue Wahoos Stadium. This is something that Major League Baseball has in all 30 stadiums nationwide and has urged its minor league affiliates to follow suit.
On a Giveaway Friday, the first 1,000 fans receiving a blue denim, adjustable baseball hat, sponsored by LandrumHR. The company also filled the Winn-Dixie party deck with a group of 300 in right field.
Fans were treated to a Navy jet flyover that occurred seconds after the National Anthem.
Three fighter jets, VT-86 Saberhawks from Naval Air Station-Pensacola roared over the stadium. The jets began their journey with a turn 12 miles off the coast of Pensacola and reached the stadium in 90 seconds.
ON DECK
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Weekend
WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Reminder: See Free Mississippi State, Florida, LSU Women’s Soccer Games Saturday At Ashton Brosnaham
April 6, 2024
Saturday, the women’s teams from three top ranked Southeastern Conference schools will compete in the Western Gate Soccer Showdown at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park, and admission is free.
The inaugural Western Gate Collegiate Soccer Showdown will feature 45-minute matchups between the Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers, and autograph sessions will be held throughout the day with all the teams.
The game and autograph session times are below.
Luis Anthony (Tony) Martinez
April 6, 2024
On October 9th, 1954 Luis Anthony (Tony) Martinez was born in Panama Canal, Panama to Jose Luis Martinez, Caguas Puerto Rico, and Hortense Margaret Poe. Little did anyone know how important he would become to so many.
He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with many illnesses. With his father in the Army, he grew up all over the world. He was never afraid of anything. He was adventurous. He joined the Army and once out of the Army, he hitchhiked all over the West Coast with his friend, Joe Zamboni. Most of it spent in California. He came home for a visit and that’s when he met his wife, Tonya and he never left. He was a free spirit. He loved his family and friends. He was very generous with his time and knowledge. He could talk about any subject. You could ask him any question and he knew the answer. He was well read and even read the Bible three times. He loved everything about space, and built many rockets.
He worked offshore as an engineer and decided when Tonya became pregnant, that he would return home. He worked for Arco and Runyans shipyard until he was hired at Harris Music where the legacy began. He became the best luthier in Pensacola FL. He will always be the best. When Harris Music closed down, he founded his own business Singing Tree Guitars. The reason for that name well if you know you know. He not only repaired guitars; he built several. He was a mentor to many young people in their teens that are now married and have children and playing in bands. He was generous with love. Tony was the one who got Vintage Sound Amps off to a running start and was responsible for that company being as successful as it is today.
We spent the last five months at home reminiscing looking at our pictures, going over all the concerts we went to. Every Rolling Stones concert since 1981. I will miss hearing him play in his shop while I work in our yard. He wasn’t able to play the last 3 months of his life and that really hurt him. His happiness the last 5 years was his granddaughter, Liliana Melody Pearl Martinez. He was a hands-on grandpa. He loved her more than anything in this world. He tried his best to live as long as he could for her. They loved playing frisbee, soccer, playing in the pool, flying kites, but their favorite was racing putting puzzles together. We had our share of marital problems. We spent the last months loving and forgiving. I loved taking care of him and would do it all over again.
A special thank you to our precious caring, Covenant Hospice nurse, Cassandra, my family (Mondello’s) for helping us through this sad time, my nephew Johnny Mondello for putting so much time and effort and loss of sleep into making this great video.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Tonya; his son, Joseph; his granddaughter, Liliana and her mother, Heather Polischeck; brother-in-law, Gary Mondello; sister-in-law, Grace Mondello; sister-in-law, Linda Taylor; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
We are the two mice in the corner. Love Pumpkin. Grandpa I love you♥️
Pallbearers include Gary Mondello, Johnny Mondello, Scott Mondello, Ricky Taylor, David Allen, and Jeff Hignite.
Funeral services for Tony Martinez will be held Monday, April 8, 2024 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. The family will receive friends for visitation from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Elijah Pursell officiating. Tony will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery following the service.
“What tho the radiance which was once so bright be now forever taken from my sight.
Tho nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass nor glory in the flower.
I will grieve not rather find peace in what remains behind.”
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Tate Boys Tennis Defeats Navarre
April 6, 2024
The Tate Aggies tennis boys defeated Navarre 7-0 this week. With the win, the Aggies improved to 10-1 on the season. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To Prison For DUI Pedestrian Hit And Run
April 5, 2024
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to state prison for a hit and run crash involving a pedestrian in Pensacola on March 23, 2023.
Sean James Young was adjudicated under a plea deal of failure to remain at a crash with severe bodily injury and DUI with serious bodily injury.
Judge John Simon sentenced him to 36 months in state prison followed by five years probation, and he was immediately remanded into custody following Monday’s hearing.
Young was involved in a hit and run pedestrian crash at East Garden Street and North Jefferson Street that left the victim with serious pelvic injuries, according to Pensacola Police. Young refused to submit to a breath alcohol test, but officers noted a strong smell on alcohol of his breath and obvious impairment.
Forecasters Predict Extremely Active Hurricane Season
April 5, 2024
Colorado State University hurricane researchers are predicting an extremely active Atlantic hurricane season in their initial 2024 forecast. The team cites record warm tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures as a primary factor for their prediction of 11 hurricanes this year.
The report also includes the probability of major hurricanes making landfall: 42% for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville (average from 1880–2020 is 27%).
When waters in the eastern and central tropical and subtropical Atlantic are much warmer than normal in the spring, it tends to force a weaker subtropical high and associated weaker winds blowing across the tropical Atlantic. These conditions will likely lead to a continuation of well above-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic for the peak of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. A very warm Atlantic favors an above-average season, since a hurricane’s fuel source is warm ocean water. In addition, a warm Atlantic leads to lower atmospheric pressure and a more unstable atmosphere. Both conditions favor hurricanes.
While the tropical Pacific is currently characterized by El Niño conditions, these are likely to transition to La Niña conditions by the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season from August to October. La Niña tends to decrease upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic. These decreased upper-level winds result in reduced vertical wind shear, favoring Atlantic hurricane formation and intensification.
Given the combined hurricane-favorable signals of an extremely warm Atlantic and a likely developing La Niña, the forecast team has higher-than-normal confidence for an April outlook that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be very active. This is the highest prediction for hurricanes that CSU has ever issued with their April outlook.
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team is predicting 23 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers forecast 11 become hurricanes and five to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson Category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate Team is part of the Department of Atmospheric Science in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at CSU and is one of the top ranked Atmospheric Science programs in the world.
Tate Softball’s Strike Out Cancer Game Is Friday
April 5, 2024
Tate Aggie softball’s annual Strike Out Cancer Game will be this Friday.
The Lady Aggies will now host the West Florida Jaguars on April 5 at 5 p.m. for junior varsity and 6 p.m. on varsity.
Full concessions, fish dinners, egg rolls and more will be available for purchase. All gate fees, concessions and donations will benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
The games were originally set for March 22 but were rescheduled due to weather.
Last year, the Lady Aggies presented a $27,755 donation to the American Cancer Society from the event.
Pictured top: The Tate Lady Aggies Softball team presented their annual Strike Out Cancer donation last year. Pictured below: The Strike Out Cancer game March 31, 2023 at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Lady Chiefs Come From Behind To Beat The Jay Royals
April 5, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs battled back from a four-run deficit defeat the Jay Royals 6-4 Thursday night in Royal territory.
The Royals were first on the board with a 2 RBI Morgan Barrow homerun to right field. Jay increased their lead in the bottom of the third when Kaylee Gilbreath singled and Brooklyn Sorrells scored.
A Jamison Gilman double and a single rom Riley Brookes for Northview tied it up at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. With doubles in the top of the eighth from Avery Stukey and Mikayla McAnally, the Chies pulled head with a 6-4 lead.
Gilman led things off in the circle for the Lady Chiefs, giving up five hits and four runs in four and one-third innings while striking out one and walking three. McAnally went three and two-third innings in relief, surrendering one hit, walking one and striking out three.
Layna Lowery opened for Jay, giving up four hits and one run in six innings, walking one and striking out three. C Carroll finished, surrendering six hits and four runs while striking out one and walking none in two innings.
The Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Gators Friday at 5:30 p.m. while Jay will host T.R. Miller on April 9.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Updated Dates: Free Community Emergency Response Team Training To Be Held In Century
April 5, 2024
UPDATE: BRACE has updated training dates to April 8, 11, 15 and 18 — moving a previously scheduled April 9 training to April 8 and an April 16 training to April 15. The change was due to a scheduling conflict.
BRACE –the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies in Escambia County — will hold Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training beginning next week in Century for North Escambia residents.
CERT is a training program that prepares Floridians to help their families and neighbors in the event of a disaster in their community. Through CERT, citizens can learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.
With this training, Florida volunteers can provide critical support in their local communities by giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene. CERT volunteers also support the community year-round by participating in community preparedness outreach activities and distributing materials on disaster preparedness and education.
“It teaches you how to be prepared for yourself, your family and for your neighbors until help arrives in emergency situations,” BRACE CEO Dr. Nick Jackson said. “CERT volunteers meet the need before first responders arrive and are committed to ensuring that their community needs are met. They are also a voice for their community with the county to ensure the needs of their areas are met and the resources are sent into the communities where the need is the greatest.”
For instance, Jackson said CERT volunteers could respond to a natural disaster such as the EF-3 tornado that struck Century with winds up to 152 mph on February 15, 2016.
CERT classes are free and open to the public at the Century Community Center (also known as the “Ag Building” at West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard from 6-9 p.m. on April 8, 11, 15 and 18. Hands-on instruction will be at the same location on April 20 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. All classes must be attended to receive certification.
To register, visit Eventbrite by clicking here. For more information, contact Elizabeth Voytko at (850) 739-3978 or email trainingcoord@bereadyalliance.org.
Pictured top: Century Town Council member Sandra Jackson underwent CERT training in 2011. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Clear, Middle 40s Tonight; Sunny And Nice For Saturday
April 5, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Breezy.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.