Blue Wahoos Fall In Playoff Finale Against The Shuckers
September 9, 2019
The Blue Wahoos went the distance in their divisional playoff series against the Biloxi Shuckers.
But that didn’t make the heartache any easier to take.
The Blue Wahoos took their third lead in Sunday’s deciding game on an 8th inning homer from catcher Ryan Jeffers, only to have the bullpen give up a deluge in the bottom half of that inning, as the Shuckers rolled to an 8-4 win to take the Southern League South Division championship at MGM Park.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t stop the bleeding,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. “When you take a lead in a game like that, you are looking for pitching. You are trying to shut them down.”
“The game was right there. When you get to that point, you are looking for the pitching.”
In winning Sunday’s decisive fifth game, the Shuckers advance to the Southern League championship series against the defending champion Jackson Generals. Biloxi will seek to win the league title for the first time.
This became the third time in five years the Blue Wahoos were knocked out of the playoffs by their Gulf Coast neighboring rival. The Blue Wahoos had advanced to post-season for a fifth consecutive year, the first as a Minnesota Twins affiliate, which tied Pensacola with the Mobile BayBears for the second longest playoff streak in the 55-year history of the Southern League.
The Shuckers, however, have proven to be a playoff nemesis. But unlike the past two playoff losses – one in three games, the other in four – this one had opportunities for the Blue Wahoos to produce a different outcome.
They rallied with five runs in the ninth in Game 1 to stun the crowd and take a lead. But again the bullpen wasn’t able to hold on, yielding a tying run in the ninth, then a walkoff homer in the 10th for an 11-10 loss.
Trailing 0-2 in the series, after a 4-1 loss in the second game, the Blue Wahoos beat the Shuckers 3-2 Friday in their only game in Pensacola as the wild card team, then scored five times in the ninth to win 10-5 and force a deciding game.
With the pitching staff taxed, the Blue Wahoos activated lefthander Bryan Sammons, who had been sent down to Fort Myers, as the Game 5 starter. He produced a solid outing, working 4.2 innings. The only damage was a pair of solo home runs, but he struck out five and walked only one.
“He gave us what we needed,” Borrego said. “It was good to see. That was exactly what we wanted.”
He left in the fifth with a 3-2 lead. Jeffers, who went 3-for-4 in the game, started a two-run rally in the fourth with a double. He later scored on Mark Contreras ground out. Caleb Hamilton hit a two-out double to score Jose Miranda, who had walked.
In the sixth inning, Travis Blankenhorn narrowly missed a home run to the deepest part of MGM Park, but Shuckers centerfielder Dillon Thomas tracked the ball down at the base of the wall. With two runners on, Hamilton was then robbed of a sure RBI hit by Shuckers shortstop Luis Aviles Jr.
The Shuckers then tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth.
In the eighth, Jeffers broke the 3-3 tie with his opposite field home run into the right field berm.
The Blue Wahoos called upon left-hander Stephen Gonsalves, who had pitched in games last year with the Twins. But from the outset, he was off in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“When you take a one-run lead with six outs away, we got to pitch, we got to execute,” Borrego said. “That was the difference.
Gonsalves gave up a leadoff single, walked the next batter, then created a scary situation when his pitch struck Thomas in the face as he squared around to bunt.
“The first batter he was wild, and you can see that, and then that pitch slipped right from his hand,” Borrego said. “That was scary. I hope that kid (Thomas) is doing good. That was unbelievable. I never expected it.
“It put us in a tough situation, but it’s the game some time… I know he is a better pitcher than that.”
With the bases now loaded, Borrego summoned Alex Phillips, who immediately gave up a sacrifice fly for one out and the tying run. He then gave up a couple more hits and suddenly the Shuckers had a commanding lead.
“We just couldn’t get the pitching,” Borrego said.
But the season provided plenty of memories. The Blue Wahoos played much of the second half with a trio of the Twins’ last three No. 1 draft picks – Alex Kirilloff, Royce Lewis and Trevor Larnach.
Lewis went 3-for-3 in first three at-bats and nearly had a fourth when a scorched ball was turned into a inning-ending double play in the seventh by third baseman Jake Gatewood.
Kirilloff, who homered in each of the first four playoff games and batted .381 in the series, was 1-for-4 Sunday and kept alive the ninth inning with his broken bat single. With two on, two out, Lewis struck out to end the game.
Larnach went 0-for-4 and struggled in the series, but had many big hits during the second half of the season.
“That was really special to see those guys together and for the fans,” Borrego said. “We won’t have that again, but we have good players who will be here (Pensacola) next year.”
ECAT Receives $180K Grant For Cantonment, Molino, Century Bus Route
September 8, 2019
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) has received a grant to offset the cost of existing bus service to Cantonment, Molino and Century.
The $180,271 grant is from the State of Florida Department of Transportation Public Transportation Grant Agreement is for fiscal year 2019-2020, which begins October 1.
The program provides dollars to eligible recipients who operate public transportation service in rural areas. The “Route 60″ bus to North Escambia is the only eligible rural bus route operated in Escambia County.
The grant requires a 50% match from Escambia County, which is included in the upcoming fiscal year budget. The grant will not create any additional costs for Escambia County.
Pictured: The ECAT Route 60 bus makes a stop in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
PSC Moves Forward: Second Area Code Coming For The 850
September 8, 2019
The Florida Public Service Commission on Friday heard a plan to add a new area code for Northwest Florida.
The current 850 area code is running out of available phone numbers, and an additional area code would be added under the plan.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator, which oversees area code planning across the nation, said the 850 area code will run out of available photo numbers in the first quarter of 2022. They have petitioned the Florida Public Service Commission for a new area code that will overlay the existing 850 area code.
An additional area code would be expected to provide enough available phone numbers until 2049.
If approved the new area code would cover the same area as the current 850 area code, which includes Escambia County to Tallahassee.
The new area code would go into service in 2021, with a transition period before the 850 runs out of numbers. The addition will require 10-digit dialing in all of Northwest Florida .
All existing customers will retain the 850 area code and would not have to change their telephone numbers, according to the PSC.
The PSC will consider final approval in November, and we should learn what the new area code number will be at that time.
Winning $107K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
September 8, 2019
Someone is over $107,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Nine Mile Road grocery store.
The ticket sold at the Publix, 2180 West Nine Mile Road, was one of two winning tickets sold for Saturday night’s drawing and is worth $107,018.35. The second winning ticket was sold in Titusville.
The 341 tickets matching four numbers won $101 each. Another 10,527 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9 each, and 99,932 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Saturday’s winning numbers were 5-7-16-21-33.
Volunteer Sought for the Escambia County Planning Board
September 8, 2019
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking an Escambia County resident interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than noon; however, occasionally may go beyond noon depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board to begin serving in September are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Wednesday, September 11. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Kayla Meador; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, FL 32505; or emailed to krmeador@myescambia.com.
Northview Volleyball Mini Camp Next Saturday
September 8, 2019
The Northview High School volleyball team will host a Volleyball Mini Camp on Saturday, September 14 from 8-11 a.m. in the school gym.
The cost is $35 per participant. Each participant will receive a t-shirt, snacks and free admission to the Gold Digger game benefiting the American Childhood Cancer Association.
The camp is for third grade and up. Each camper has a chance to win awards for “best hitter”, “best digs” and more.
Chiefs volleyball will host W.S. Neal for the Gold Digger game on September 17 at 4:30 for junior varsity and 5:30 for varsity.
Century Set To Increase Property Taxes
September 7, 2019
The Town of Century is raising taxes for the upcoming fiscal year in order to meet an increased budget.
The town is proposing a $3.63 million budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020, up slightly from $3.43 million during the current fiscal year. The tentative millage rate of .9204 is about 10% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8361.
The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase.
Century also increased property taxes during the current fiscal year.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Youth Show Off Their Beef Projects At Escambia County 4-H Labor Day Classic
September 7, 2019
Youth from Florida and Alabama showed their beef project animals during the second annual Escambia County 4-H Labor Day Classic at the 4-H property in Molino.
Youth showed their animals in the showmanship category, which focuses on the youth’s show abilities, and the breed and weight classes, which focus on the animal’s merits.
“This show was just a stepping stone for youth who are preparing these animals for shows later in the year where they will finish their project,” said Ali Schortinghouse, 4-H livestock agent. “Of the many hours a youth pours into a livestock project, shows like the Labor Day Classic allow the youth to demonstrate their growth throughout the project.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
11th In A Row: Flomaton Hurricanes Defeat The Jay Royals
September 7, 2019
The Flomaton Hurricane picked up their 11th win in row over the Jay Royals Friday night in a rivalry dating back to 1933.
The Hurricanes shut out Jay 40-0.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In the first quarter, Flomaton quarterback Vickery’s pass was intercepted by Jay senior Brenton Eister, but the Royals could not capitalize and were forced to punt it away. It was fielded by Da’quan Johnson for a 65 yard punt return, and Flomaton was up 6-0 on their home field. Johnson was in again in the first quarter from 35 yards out as Flomaton pulled out to a 14-0 lead.
Jate’vious Franklin added a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to make it 20 to zip for Flomaton.
Travon Brown zigged and zagged pass numerous Jay defenders in a 30-yard touchdown run, and quarterback Zeb Vickery found Johnson with a 50-yard touchdown pass as Flomaton pulled out 34-0 advantage over the Royals.
With the win, the Flomaton Hurricanes improved to 2-0. They will travel to Excel next Friday night.
The Jay Royals fell to 1-2. The Royals are off next Friday night and will host Escambia Academy on September 20.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
September 7, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending August 15 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Specialist McHenry conducted a resource inspection on an individual fishing at the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier. He was found in possession of 40 Spanish mackerel, 32 of which were undersized. The individual claimed two of his children helped catch the fish. Officer Specialist McHenry seized the illegal fish and cited the individual.
Officer Allgood was patrolling near the Navy Point Boat Ramp when he noticed a vessel returning to the ramp without the proper navigational lights. After the individual loaded his vessel on his trailer and pulled it into the parking lot, Officer Allgood approached him. The person showed several signs of impairment and field sobriety tasks were conducted. The subject was arrested for driving under the influence, failure to give a breath sample and other misdemeanor charges.
Officer McHenry was getting into his truck at a Pensacola marina when he noticed two individuals posing for pictures with a red drum. They were standing next to a small fishing pier and were also holding spear fishing equipment. Officer McHenry approached the individuals and spoke to them about the red drum. They denied spearing anything, they had wrapped the fish in a towel and placed it in a vehicle when they noticed Officer McHenry. Officer McHenry explained what he had witnessed and they admitted spearing the fish. The fish was over the legal-size limit. One of the individuals was cited for harvesting red drum by illegal methods.
Officer Allgood and Lieutenant Lambert were checking subjects as they returned to Galvez landing. They saw a charter boat returning to the ramp without the proper navigational lights. After discussing the lighting violation, a fisheries inspection revealed several fillets of vermillion snapper. Citations were issued for the violations.
Officers Allgood and Long stopped a vessel to perform a fisheries inspection. They found the two occupants in possession of six red snapper. Citations were issued accordingly.
Officers Allgood and Long were on patrol in the Big Lagoon area when they heard several people on a vessel yelling. They approached the vessel and spoke to the operator. The operator showed several signs of being impaired. Field sobriety tasks confirmed the operator was impaired and he was arrested for BUI. The operator was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he refused to give a breath sample.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Mullins received information that a subject was in possession of a gopher tortoise. The officer located the subject and discovered he had two gopher tortoises in an enclosure at his residence. The subject had the tortoises for some time and had been caring for them as pets. Officer Mullins issued a notice to appear for possession of a threatened and endangered species and the gopher tortoises were returned to the wild.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.