Lady Aggies Take Second In Kissimmee Klassic In Lightning Coin Toss
April 7, 2019
The Tate Lady Aggies finished second in the annual Kissimmee Klassic Tournament Saturday night — due to lightning.
The Lady Aggies went undefeated through three games, scoring 21 runs while allowing only one earned run through the weekend. The championship game was decided by a coin toss due to lightning.
Earlier in the day, the Lady Aggies shut out Keystone Heights 5-0.
Abbie Burks earned the win in the circle. She surrendered no runs on five hits, had no errors and had two strikeouts.
Ryleigh Cawby and Gabby Locke had three hits each for Tate.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Get Shutout Win Over Mobile
April 7, 2019
After Blue Wahoos starting pitchers Jorge Alcala and Brusdar Graterol combined to allow just one run over 9.2 innings and strike out 12 batters during Friday evening’s doubleheader sweep in Mobile, Devin Smeltzer had a tough act to follow during his Saturday night start at Hank Aaron Stadium.
If the bar was set high, he raised it.
The 23-year-old lefty opened his season with one of the finest outings of his professional career, carrying a perfect game into the fifth inning and finishing the night with nine strikeouts over 5.2 two-hit innings.
Smeltzer was sharp from the beginning, striking out BayBears’ top prospect Brandon Marsh to open the game in a 1-2-3 first inning. The strikeouts kept coming in the second inning, as he struck out the final two batters of the inning before opening the third with two more strikeouts.
After another K in the fourth, he opened the fifth having not allowed a baserunner to reach. The leadoff hitter in the inning, Jhoan Urena, quickly ended the no-hit bid with a ground ball single through the right side, but Smeltzer was unfazed, striking out two more to strand Urena.
Opposing Smeltzer, BayBears starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval was also strong, striking out four in the first two innings. The Blue Wahoos manufactured a run against him in the third, with Jordan Gore reaching on a dropped third strike and then coming all the way around to score from first on a throwing error by Mobile third baseman Roberto Baldoquin.
The 1-0 score held until the fifth inning when the Blue Wahoos offense broke out. Jimmy Kerrigan led off the inning with a towering home run to left, his second in as many days to make it 2-0 in Pensacola’s favor. The Wahoos then strung together a walk and hits by Caleb Hamilton, Gore, Brian Schales, and Taylor Grzelakowski to score twice more.
With a 4-0 lead, Smeltzer cruised into the sixth inning. He allowed his second hit of the game with one out in the inning but struck out Jahmai Jones for the second out before turning the ball over to reliever Adam Bray.
Smeltzer finished with a line of 5.2 innings pitched, two hits, no runs, one walk, and nine strikeouts. With the strong effort by the lefty, Blue Wahoos starting pitchers now have a 0.59 ERA through three games, having allowed just one run in 15.1 innings while striking out 21.
Pensacola extended their lead to 5-0 on an RBI single by Jaylin Davis in the seventh inning while Bray combined with Ryan Mason to throw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to secure the victory and the second shutout of the year by the Wahoos.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos improve to 3-0 on the season. Pensacola and Mobile will continue their five-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium Sunday.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Climbed Through Window, Sexually Battered Woman, Police Say
April 6, 2019
A Cantonment man has been charged in connection with allegedly climbing through a window and sexually battering a woman last year.
Teremis Marchristopher Boykin, 27, was charged with sexually battery, false imprisonment, battery and burglary with assault or battery.
The victim attended a party thrown by Boykin last November, and he asked to go home with her but she refused, according to an arrest report. At some point after the party, Boykin allegedly climbed through the victim’s apartment window and sexually assaulted her. He then “snuggled” with her before leaving the apartment, according to Pensacola Police.
The victim did not report the incident until February because she was thinking if she didn’t tell anyone it would all go away and she would forget about it, the arrest report states.
Boykin told police the two previously had a romantic relationship, and they had planned before the party for him to spend the night.
Boykin was arrested this week. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $302,500.
FHSAA Moves Football Championship Games To Tallahassee, Daytona Beach
April 6, 2019
The road to the state football championship will be a shorter one for 1A-3A teams and a change of scenery for other classes.
The FHSAA announced Friday that the 1A-3A state championship games will be played in Tallahassee for at least the next three years, and the 4A-8A games will be held in Daytona Beach.
“I think this was a great move by the FHSAA,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “The FHSAA is starting to listen more to schools’ requests, and this is a big step in what schools and coaches want. Over 90% of the 1A schools are from Pensacola to Jacksonville, so this makes sense.”
For Northview High School, for instance, the distance to a state championship game drops from about 450 miles to Orlando to about 200 miles to Tallahassee. That means a much easier trip for teams and fans, Marshman said.
When Northview defeated Trenton for the 2012 1A state championship in, over 3,000 Northview fans were on hand in Orlando in what was then known as the Florida Citrus Bowl. It’s now called the Camping World Stadium and holds 65,000 people.
The 1A-3A championship games will be played December 5-7 this year on the artificial turf in the 6,500 capacity Gene Cox Stadium.
“The smaller stadium will make a big difference in the feel of the game,” Marshman said. “There’s no way for a 1A team to fill the stadium in Orlando. But in Gene Cox in Tallahassee, teams can look up and it will be a big time feel with a stadium that’s nearly full.”
The 4A-8A games will be placed December 11-14 at Daytona Stadium, capacity 15,000.
“After listening to feedback from our membership, we felt having two locations stretched out over two weeks made the most sense,” FHSAA Executive Director George Tomyn said. “This new schedule gives families and fans the most flexibility when it comes to supporting their student-athletes.”
Both venues recently underwent significant renovations. Daytona’s $20 million renovation included new field turf, remodeled locker rooms, an open-air VIP club, VIP space with theater seating and a completely redesigned expansive concourse area. Gene Cox Stadium underwent an $800,000 renovation featuring installations of completely new field turf and a pair of HD video boards.
For a Pensacola area team, such as Tate High School, the distance to Daytona Beach and Orlando are essentially equal.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs won the 2012 1A state championship in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Spring Livestock Show Winners Announced
April 6, 2019
Results have been announced from the recent Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization Spring Livestock Show.
Youth exhibited chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, sheep, goats, and cows. In addition to showing their animals in the show ring, youth were quizzed on their knowledge of their projects. In the show ring youth may compete in two types of classes, one focused on the youth which is known as showmanship, and the other focused on the animal in either a breed or weight class.
Results were as follows:
Beef Breeding Supreme Champion- Izzy Kent
Beef Breeding Reserve Champion- Savannah Bradshaw
Grand Champion Preview Steer- Savannah Bradshaw
Reserve Champion Preview Steer- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Grand Champion Market Steer- Lane Booker
Reserve Champion Market Steer- Jessica Conti
Grand Champion Market Swine- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Reserve Champion Market Swine- Keaton Fuqua
Grand Champion Market Meat Goat- Isabella Kent
Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat- Madison Fendley
Grand Champion Dairy Goat- Tucker Padgett
Reserve Champion Dairy Goat- Madison Fendley
Grand Champion Sheep Breeding- Austin Manning
Reserve Champion Sheep Breeding- Emily Miller
Grand Champion Bird- Kyler Bennet
Reserve Champion Bird- Griffin Lavallee
Grand Champion Rabbit- McKenzie Gray
Reserve Champion Rabbit- Jillian Zukoski
Grand Champion Cavy (Guinea Pig)- Addison Miller
Reserve Champion Cavy (Guinea Pig)- Emily Miller
Beef Breeding Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Mary Oliver
Intermediates- Maevree McElhaney
Seniors- Isabella Kent
Cow-Calf Pair Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Ally Oliver
Seniors- Isabella Kent
Market Steer Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- John Parker Miller
Seniors- Keaton Fuqua
Market Swine Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Intermediates- Payton Fuqua
Seniors- Madison Behrends
Meat Goat Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Andrew Fendley
Seniors- Madison Fendley
Dairy Goat Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Tucker Padgett
Intermediates- Andrew Fendley
Seniors- Madison Fendley
Sheep Breeding Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Austin Manning
Seniors- Emily Miller
Rabbitt and Cavy (Guinea Pig) Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Tucker Padgett
Intermediates- Catherine Proud
Seniors- Hannah Roger
Pictured top: 2019 GCA/NRYO Reserve Champion Market Steer winner Jessica Conti with Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore of Gizmo Angus Farms in Molino who bred the steer. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Rear-Ends School Bus
April 6, 2019
A school bus was rear-ended Friday on Olive Road in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old Michael Tremer of Pensacola was driving a GMC Envoy east on Olive Road at Davis Highway when he failed to see a school bus stopped in traffic.
Tremer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. The bus driver was not injured.
Termer was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
There were no students on the bus.
Beauchanie Throws Complete Game Shutout As Aggies Get Kissimmee Klassic Win
April 6, 2019
The Tate Aggies shut out Eau Gallie (Melbourne) 4-0 Friday afternoon in the 2019 Kissimmee Klassic Softball Tournament.
Avery Beauchanie threw a complete game shutout in seven innings, allowing three hits, walking three and striking out six.
Amber Decoux and Hannah Halfacre led the Aggies with two hits each.
Blue Wahoos Open Season With Doubleheader Sweep Over Mobile
April 6, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos unveiled their touted pitching tandem Friday night against the Mobile BayBears and witnessed a pair of gems.
In a memorable season-opening double-header sweep, Jorge Alcala tossed five shutout innings, helping lead the Blue Wahoos to a 7-0 victory in the first game. Brusdar Graterol, the Twins top pitching prospect, took the mound in game two and yielded only a run while pitching into the fifth inning in Pensacola’s 4-3 extra innings win at Hank Aaron Stadium.
“It was a good start. Those guys gave a good effort, especially on the pitching side,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, who was making his Double-A debut as Pensacola begins its new era as a Minnesota Twins affiliate.”The pitching was unbelievable.”
The Blue Wahoos knocked six hits and worked four walks in game one on their way to seven runs. Alcala, who struck out six in 5.0 shutout innings and allowed just three hits, was helped by some terrific defense. Jimmy Kerrigan made a highlight reel catch in the fourth inning, tracking a ball onto the centerfield warning track and holding on as he crashed into the wall. The next inning, Jaylin Davis made a diving catch in right to prevent a Mobile rally.
After his web gem, Kerrigan hit a two-run homer in his next at-bat. Offensively, Luis Arraezreached base three times, twice with base knocks and once on a walk.
The second game was far different than the opener. After going up 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI snigle by Taylor Grzelakowski, the Blue Wahoos didn’t score again until the fifth when Jordan Goresingled home Kerrigan. After Mobile answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, the score held at 2-1 until the seventh.
In his Double-A debut, the 20-year-old Graterol allowed just three hits over 4.2 innings. He allowed one run and walked two while striking out six and flashing 100 miles per hour on the radar gun multiple times.
Graterol left with the 2-1 lead and Andro Cutura held the BayBears at check out of the bullpen for 1.1 innings, allowing no hits while striking out one. The lead didn’t hold, though, as the BayBears broke through with one swing in the home half of the seventh on a solo homer by Brendan Sanger off Cody Stashak.
Because it was a doubleheader, both games were seven-inning games. However, with the score tied 2-2 following the homer, the Wahoos headed to extra innings for the first time in 2019.
They quickly loaded the bases in the eighth. With the pace-of-play runner starting at second, Luis Arraez knocked a single, his fourth of the day, and Brian Schales walked. A ground out by Grzelakowski brought home Gore to put the Wahoos up 3-2, giving the Wahoos first baseman four RBIs on the night.
The Wahoos pushed home what ended up being a crucial insurance run, using a fielder’s choice ground out by Jaylin Davis to move Schales to third and a wild pitch to bring him home.
Mobile threatened to extend the game in the bottom of the eighth. A single by Jahmai Jonesleading off the inning scored the pace-of-play runner and cut Pensacola’s lead to 4-3. After Stashak struck out Jack Kruger, Borrego summoned reliever Dusten Knight from the bullpen to try and lock down the save. He delivered, getting a ground out and a strikeout to end the game and complete the doubleheader sweep by the Wahoos, capping off the evening by doing a backflip on the field.
“I saw what we expected,” Borrego said. “Those guys were aggressive. Those two guys were excited to start the season and they gave it their best,” Borrego said.
It was the first time Borrego had managed a team in the U.S. outside of Florida. Prior to joining the Blue Wahoos, all of his managerial stints were in Fort Myers with the Gulf Coast League Low-A team, and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, who he led to the 2018 Florida State League title.
“I am really excited,” he said. “And hopefully my coaches and players, too. They are excited. We had some really bad weather but finally we got good weather. We have a really good team. Every game we are going to battle.”
The Wahoos (2-0) will continue the five-game home road series against Mobile Saturday night. The Wahoos and BayBears will play a total of 25 times in 2019. During the 2018 season, the Blue Wahoos hit .243 against the BayBears and were outscored 113-91.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Navy Federal Employee Pleads Guilty To Producing And Possessing Child Porn
April 5, 2019
A former Navy Federal Credit Union employee pleaded guilty Friday morning to federal child porn charges involving a local girl.
Michael Lee DePine, 62, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty today to the production and possession of child pornography. Based upon his guilty plea, he will be required to register as a sex offender.
In December 2018, law enforcement officers received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that DePine and a local minor female were engaged in illicit sexual communications and activity via Facebook Messenger. After Homeland Security Investigations and the Pensacola Police Department geolocated DePine’s criminal activity to his Pensacola residence, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for the residence. In January 2019, law enforcement searched DePine’s residence. While the residential search was underway, DePine was located at his place of employment, Navy Federal Credit Union.
A forensic review of DePine’s seized digital media confirmed that he was in possession of multiple child pornographic images and videos of the minor victim. DePine produced these images and videos of the minor female in his bedroom at his residence on Lobelia Lane off West Nine Mile Road. The investigation revealed that DePine had been picking the minor female up at her residence in the middle of the night to bring her back to his residence and engage in sexual acts. DePine also provided the minor female with intimate apparel and electronic funds for her expenses.
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said: “Tragically, the internet and social media can allow child predators a gateway to victimize children, the most innocent and vulnerable members of our communities. Together with our investigative partners, we will vigilantly pursue and prosecute those who hurt minors.”
“The harm this predator has caused to a young child is unimaginable to most of society,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Thanks to the diligence of our special agents and the Pensacola Police Department, he will be held accountable for that harm, and we hope today’s guilty plea is a small step on the road to recovery for the young survivor of his crimes.”
DePine faces the following penalties:
- Production of Child Pornography — A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 30 years in prison;
- Possession of Child Pornography — A maximum of up to 10 years in prison;
- Registration as a Sex Offender; and
- Forfeiture of his Pensacola residence, his 2016 Lexus, and all the electronics used to commit the offenses.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 14 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.
A Navy Federal spokesperson said, “Navy Federal fully cooperated with investigators in this case. As soon as we learned of this investigation, Navy Federal took immediate and appropriate action.”
The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the North Florida internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel David L. Goldberg.
Cantonment Man Charged With Abuse Of Wheelchair Bound Man
April 5, 2019
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly attacking a wheelchair bound amputee.
Brian Christopher Holtman, 34, was charged with felony abuse of an elderly or disabled person.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, the victim said he was arguing with Holtman over financial issues when Holtman became upset and physically attacked him as they traveled along Plantation Road. Holtman lost control of his Honda Accord and hit several parked cars.
Holtman then fled the scene, the report states.
The victim refused medical treatment.
Holtman was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.