Alabama All-State Running Back Patrick McGhee Signs With UWA
June 27, 2019
Alabama all-state running back Patrick McGhee has signed a letter of intent to continue his football career at the University of West Alabama, according to an announcement Wednesday by head coach Brett Gilliland.
At 6-foot, 210-pounds, McGhee rushed for 2,256 yards and 38 touchdowns at Escambia Academy, averaging 11.5 yards per carry. The Atmore product recorded 16 runs of 60 yards or more.
McGhee, who is penciled in to begin his UWA career at linebacker, led the Escambia Academy Cougars to a state championship in 2017. He won the All-Saban Running Back Award in 2016 and 2017 at the Nick Saban Camp, as well as collecting most valuable player honors at the National Athletic Association of Private Schools All-Star Game.
He also played outside linebacker at Escambia Academy and has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and 10.8 in the 100-meter dash. Leading EA to the state track and field championship, he won state titles in the long jump and high jump, while finishing fifth in the state in the shot put.
He was selected as Escambia Academy’s Outstanding Male Athlete following his senior year.
DeSantis Backs New Treatment Options For Veterans
June 27, 2019
Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law providing alternative treatment options for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.
The bill creates a $200,000 pilot program focuses on using alternative therapies. It expands available therapies for eligible veterans to include accelerated resolution therapy, equine therapy, music therapy, service animal training therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy at registered facilities.
The bill had unanimous support in both the House and Senate in this year’s legislative session.
“I’m proud of Governor DeSantis, our Cabinet and legislature for supporting FDVA and the 1.5 million veterans of our state,” said Danny Burgess, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Together, we will work to ensure Florida continues to lead the charge as the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.”
Diaz Big Hits Leave Big Impression In Blue Wahoos Home Win
June 27, 2019
Pensacola fans gained their first chance Tuesday night to see first baseman Lewin Diaz at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It became quite an introduction.
The 22-year-old Diaz flashed his power, his fielding prowess and a megawatt smile, after driving in four runs with a homer and bases-clearing triple to lead the Blue Wahoos to an 8-3 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers. The win began a nine-game, two team homestand in a desired way.
Diaz had a 2-for-5 night at the plate Tuesday, which followed getting eight hits in the past weekend road trip at Jacksonville, during his Double-A level debut series.
“He can be really special,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, who managed Diaz last season with the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, where Diaz also played the first half of this season. “He’s turned into a really different ballplayer.”
Diaz, signed by the Minnesota Twins as a 17-year-old in 2013 from Santiago, Dominican Republic, has been the Blue Wahoos’ best player since joining the team.
He’s had five extra-base hits with three doubles, the triple Tuesday and his first-inning home run that became his 14th this season.
He also elicited a crowd reaction with a long flyout to centerfield in nearly the same spot he blasted a pitch off the wall for three RBI.
“The biggest thing has been the teammates here,” said Diaz, speaking with help of Borrego, who is bilingual. “I feel really comfortable with my teammates and that has made me more relaxed, more focused in the game.”
Also helping, as Borrego pointed out, is how the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Diaz has reshaped his body after going through a weight-loss program that adversely affected him last season.
In 79 games with the Fort Myers Miracle, Diaz hit .224 with only three homes and 35 RBI.
This season? He’s batting .385 with the Blue Wahoos with a combined 14 homers and 44 RBI in 63 games.
“He just lost a lot of weight,” Borrego said. “I can’t say how much weight … but he had basically some baby fat. So we put him on a program on eating healthy, but last year, he lost too much weight .
“Mentally, he was just out. This year is totally different. He’s more confident, he feels really good, and you see the results now.”
The results Tuesday quickly wowed. Moved up by Borrego to No. 2 in the batting order, Diaz hit a one-out pitch in the first inning like a moon shot, soaring higher than top of the outfield video board, before the ball dropped straight down into the grass berm beyond the right field.
In the second inning, after Jimmy Kerrigan led off with a blast over the left field fence, the Shuckers chose to walk Travis Blankenhorn to load the bases with two out against Diaz.
He promptly hit a 1-0 pitch off the right-center fence padding, scoring all three baserunners and giving the Blue Wahoos a 5-0 lead. That was plenty for Blue Wahoos starter Bryan Sammons, who pitched five scoreless innings against the Shuckers.
“Basically, everything has changed for me,” Diaz said. “I’ve been working on my mental approach. I am getting more focused in the game and trying to get better quality at-bats.. I am happy now.
“At 17, I was immature, still trying to learn a lot of things. But now I feel more mature and I’m playing in a different level.”
The Blue Wahoos, meanwhile, looked like a different team Tuesday night than the one which lost the final three games of their last series at Jacksonville.
And different than the team swept by the Shuckers in a five-game series June 7-11 in Biloxi that ultimately decided the Southern League South Division first-half winner.
Borrego, who was coming off an extended family vacation, as permitted in season by the Twins, noticed an uplift when he walked into the team’s clubhouse at Blue Wahoos Stadium. He flew into Pensacola earlier Tuesday from Fort Myers.
“I recharged my body and that was great,” Borrego said. “I was able to spent time with my family, especially after how the first half ended, a long first half…. then getting to spend time with my daughter and my wife, it’s always great.
“As soon as I got here, the clubhouse was totally different. I can feel that. I am big on that. When I can see players laughing, I know it’s good.”
Sammons was good on the mound, allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out six batters in five innings. Anthony Vizcaya followed with two scoreless innings, then Zack Weiss overcame a shaky eighth inning when he allowed three runs, to slam the door on the win.
The Blue Wahoos added three runs in the eighth inning, after Biloxi closed the deficit to 5-3. Alex Kirilloff led off with a double Jimmy Kerrigan reached on a fielding error. With one out and the bases loaded, Aaron Whitefield grounded into a fielder’s choice play which scored Kirilloff. Jordan Gore followed with a two-run single.
The Blue Wahoos spread eight hits in the game among seven batters in the lineup.
The Blue Wahoos will continue the homestand Wednesday.
Salzman Files For Florida House District 1
June 27, 2019
Michelle Lynn Salzman filed Wednesday for the Florida House District 1 seat currently held by Rep. Mike Hill.
Salzman filed as a Republican.
House District 1 encompasses the northern two-thirds of Escambia County.
One Democrat, Franscine Cecilia Mathis, has also filed for the seat.
Baptist Hospital To Construct Brand New $550 Million Facility
June 26, 2019
Baptist Hospital announced Wednesday morning that they will construct a brand new modern hospital campus at southwest corner of I-110 and Brent Lane. The main hospital will move from E Street to the new 650,000 square foot, $550 million facility. Administration, Lakeview and other services will remain at the current E Street campus.
The hospital said if this was an economic decision, the hospital would have been moved toward the Beulah Road area, but the decision was about staying near the current Baptist community.
“This was not an economic decision,” said Mark Faulkner, president and CEO of Baptist Health Care. “This was a community decision.”
No Injuries In East Kingsfield Single Vehicle Crash
June 26, 2019
There were no serious injuries reported in a single vehicle crash Wednesday morning on East Kingsfield Road near Eleven Mile Creek. The driver of a Nissan Altima lost control, left the roadway and ran into the woodline. The Florida Highway Patrol investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Allegedly Stealing Two Trailers From Roads, Inc.
June 26, 2019
A Molino man was charged with two felony counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle for allegedly stealing two trailers belonging to Roads, Inc.
Randal Thomas Smith, 47, is accused of taking two flat bed trailers, one 16-feet long and the other 20 feet. The trailers were valued at $7,000 and sustained $1,500 in damage, an arrest report states.
Smith was using one of the trailers to haul his race car to Southern Raceway, the report states.
After being made aware the trailers were reported stolen, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted the 16-foot trailer with a race car loaded on it sitting in the driveway of Smith’s home on Chestnut Road, and the 20-foot trailer was also in plain view. Both trailers had Roads, Inc. welded on the frame, and both had registration documents in watertight containers identifying them as belonging to Roads, Inc, according to arrest report.
Smith returned home and spoke with the deputy, but Smith’s statement was redacted from the arrest report.
Smith was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Both Lanes Of Highway 4 Bridge Are Open
June 26, 2019
Both lanes of the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek are open. Last week, the bridge was reduced to one lane after a state inspection found a problem with one piling under the bridge.
The 225-foot long bridge between Bratt and Century averages over 1,000 vehicles per day. The county-owned bridge was constructed in 1942.
Pictured top: The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek Monday afternoon. Pictured below: On Friday after, the bridge had been reduced to one lane. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Need A Job? The Escambia School District Is Hiring Teachers
June 26, 2019
The Escambia County School District is hiring teachers.
They are looking to fill positions in elementary education, art, music, American sign language, math, reading language arts, science and ESE.
Individuals with a bachelors, masters or doctorate degree may be eligible to enter the teaching profession and obtain a temporary certificate. Individuals with an associates degree can become a substitute teacher or teacher assistant.
For a list of available positions and other information, click here.
Camp Fire Kids Learn Local History
June 26, 2019
Summer campers at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Century learned a lot about local history Tuesday with a visit to the James Houston Jones Historic Park operated by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society in Century. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
