Jay Rains On Northview’s Senior Night 9-1
April 3, 2024
Jay rained on Northview’s senior night, with the Royals winning 9-1 during intermittent rain showers Tuesday in Bratt.
Landon Golden pitched six and two-thirds innings for the Royals, allowing no hits and one run while walking two and striking out eight. Kaden Strength closed with one-third of an inning with no hits, no runs and striking out one.
Jackson Bridges went four innings on the mound for the Chiefs, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out four and walking two. Brady Smith closed three innings, surrendering four hits and four runs while striking out six and walking one.
Nick Baxley, Ethan McDonald, and Jax Lowery each had two hits for Jay. Haydn Morris and Lowery both drove in two runs for Jay.
Grayden Sheffield led the Chiefs with one RBI.
Northview will host West Florida at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, and Jay will travel to Fort Walton Beach Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Robbie Bodiford, Wyatt Scruggs and Rylan Minor were honored before the Senior Night game.
Pictured: North baseball seniors Robbie Bodiford (#6) with parents Robert and Angie Bodiford; Wyatt Scruggs (#16) with parents Ray and Kim Bodiford; and Rylan Minor (#18) with parents Brandon and Brittany Minor. Photos for NorthEscmbia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Lady Chiefs Beat Crestview 12-7 In Eight Innings
April 3, 2024
The Northview Chiefs beat the Crestview Bulldogs 12-7 in eight innings Tuesday night in Crestview.
Jamison Gilman tossed the first one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and three runs while recording two strikeouts and walking four. Mikayla McAnnally was in the circle for six and one-third innings in relief for the Lady Chiefs, giving up seven hits and three runs while striking out eight and walking three.
Gilman and Avery Stuckey had two hits each for Northview.
Northview will host the Escambia Gators on Friday.
Pictured: Northview’s Mikayla McAnnally. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Fall To Kentucky Team Ahead Of 1,600 Miles On The Road This Week
April 3, 2024
The Tate Aggies fell short 6-0 to the Spartans of South Warren, Kentucky, Tuesday night in Cantonment.
Neal Croom took the loss for the Aggies, going two innings while giving up one run on two hits, striking out two and walking one.
Connor Hassell, Kaleb Posta, Trey Rebber, and Clif Quiggins each one hit for the Aggies.
The Aggies will rack up over 1,600 miles on the team bus later this week, with a game at St. Augustine Thursday night and at Providence High in Jacksonville Friday night.
Blue Wahoos, Sultanes Of Mexico Play to 1-1 Tie in Festive Exhibition
April 3, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos rallied late in their season-opening exhibition game against the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey on Tuesday night, scratching across a ninth-inning run to force a 1-1 tie.
After hitting only seven singles over their first eight scoreless innings, the Blue Wahoos got on the board with one out in the ninth inning against Sultanes closer Jorge Rondon. Jake Thompson, who was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a Bennett Hostetler single in the fourth inning, laced a triple to the wall in right-center before scoring on a balk.
The tie spared the Pensacola pitching staff from a tough-luck defeat, as four righties combined to silence the Sultanes. Kyle Tyler allowed only an unearned run in 4.1 innings, departing after a Cody Morissette fielding error and Zoilo Almonte RBI single gave Monterrey a 1-0 lead.
Zach McCambley, Matt Pushard and Austin Roberts followed with 4.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing the Pensacola offense to force the late tie.
Tyler Viza, Stephen Tarpley and Carlos Morales kept the Blue Wahoos at bay for the first eight innings, combining for 10 strikeouts on a night when fly balls were stifled by a stiff gulf breeze.
The Blue Wahoos play their second and final exhibition game against the Sultanes on Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium before beginning their regular season on Friday at home against the Mississippi Braves.
written by Bill Vilona, Wahoos senior writer
Photos NIno Mendez/Blue Wahoos for NOrthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Catherine James McKinley
April 3, 2024
Catherine James McKinley, age 72, of Nokomis, AL passed away on April 2, 2024. She was born on August 14, 1951 in Atmore, AL to Harold and Ruby Drew James. She was a 1969 graduate of Escambia County High School. Cathy was a member of Brooks Memorial Baptist Church. She worked at Atmore Public Library for 26 years and was the librarian for the last 11 of those years. She also helped her husband as bookkeeper of McKinley’s Auto Service for 41 years. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Steve of 54 years and her parents.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Chris Wilson, her grandsons, Dustin (Ashley) Wilson and Steven (Maddie) Wilson, her great grandchildren, Kasen Luke Wilson and McKinley Kate Wilson, her siblings, Sandra (Gary) Hare and Joan (Gerald) Malone.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Community Hospice for the care you gave Cathy during the last few months. We would also like to say a special thank you to Renee Rolin for caring for Cathy.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore with Bro. Don Davis officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Chris Wilson, Dustin Wilson, Steven Wilson, Jeff Malone, and Will Malone.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Molino Park, Six Other Escambia Schools Named Florida Schools of Excellence
April 2, 2024
Molino Park Elementary School and six other Escambia County public schools have been named Schools of Excellence by Florida State Chancellor of Education Paul Burns.
The Escambia County schools awarded this designation were:
- Molino Park Elementary School
- West Florida High School of Advanced Technology
- N.B. Cook Elementary School
- Cordova Park Elementary School
- A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Pensacola Beach Elementary School
- Brown Barge Middle School
“We are excited to celebrate these schools’ outstanding success,” said ECPS Superintendent of Schools Keith Leonard. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, parents, and community stakeholders. Our district is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our students, their families, and this community.”
Florida statute requires the State Board of Education to designate a school as a School of Excellence if the school’s percentage of possible points earned in its school grade calculation is in the 80th percentile or higher for schools comprised of the same grade groupings (elementary, middle, high and combination) for at least two of the last three school years.
Statewide, 783 schools received the designation.
Free Mississippi State, Florida, LSU Women’s Soccer Games Saturday At Ashton Brosnaham
April 2, 2024
This 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.
Slight Chance Of Severe Storms Tonight
April 2, 2024
There is a marginal (1 out of 5) risk of severe weather tonight across most of the North Escambia area. Winds capable of damaging trees, powerlines, structures and crops. Quarter size hail is possible. There is s low chance of a tornado.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Parents Line Up Before Sunrise For Escambia School VPK Registration
April 2, 2024
Dozens of parents lined up before sunrise Monday to register their children for voluntary pre-K in Escambia County.
The Escambia County School District offers free full-day pre-k programs for students living in Title One attendance areas. In North Escambia (ECSD District 5), VPK is offered at Bratt, Jim Allen and Molino Park elementary schools.
Nearly one dozen parents were in line at Molino Park Elementary School just after 6 a.m. We are told about 50 parents were in line by about 7 a.m., and all program slots at Molino Park were filled.
For more on the Escambia County Public School VPK program, click here.
Photos by Ryann Summerford, Felicia Norris, and Tracy Gaines for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Extends $450 Million Toll Relief For Second Year
April 2, 2024
Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a second consecutive year of the state’s Toll Relief Program, which will cut the toll rates of frequent commuters in half by applying a toll credit from April 2024 to March 2025.
Launched last year, drivers utilizing Florida-based toll transponders (including SunPass and other Florida-based transponders) and having 35 or more qualifying toll transactions monthly will receive a 50 percent credit to their account.
In the Northwest FLorida, the program applies to the Garcon Point Bridge, Bob Sikes Bridge, Spence Parkway, and Mid-Bay Bridge. For a map of toll roads and bridges included statewide, click here.
“I am pleased to have secured an additional $450 million for toll relief in Florida that will alleviate costs on our commuting families,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida is committed to good fiscal governance, and I am committed to returning our surpluses back to the taxpayers in the form of tax breaks and toll savings.”
In 2023, the Toll Relief Program delivered $500 million in substantial savings to over 1.2 million commuters, equating to an approximate savings of $400 per individual. Florida drivers can expect another year of toll savings from April 2024 to March 2025.