EREC Crews Working On Idalia Power Restoration In The Big Bend Area
September 3, 2023
Escambia River Electric Cooperative crews are hard at work in Florida’s Bend Bend helping to restore power following Hurricane Idalia.
They are assisting Tri-County Electric Cooperative restore power in Jefferson, Madison and Taylor Counties. About 800 contract crews, like those from EREC, are assisting.
As of Saturday afternoon, about 15,700 customers in the area were still without power. Tri-County is estimating that a majority of their members will have service restored by Tuesday.
The EREC crews departed Jay on Thursday.
Pictured: EREC crews help restore power in the Big Bend area on Saturday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Late Error Sinks Wahoos In 3-2 Loss
September 3, 2023
Another 20-year-old rising star shined on the mound Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
This time, however, it was an opposing pitcher.
Chase Petty, one of the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospects, dazzled in his Double-A debut, setting a tone on a pitchers’ night for both teams as the Chattanooga Lookouts held on for a 3-2 win against the Blue Wahoos.
The well-played, rapidly-moving game was completed in 2 hours,12 minutes, and the crowd of 3,915 then took in the post-game fireworks display provided by game sponsor Budweiser.
Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermúdez dueled with Petty in one of his best starts this season. He went six innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven.
The Lookouts scored a pair of unearned runs off reliever Caleb Wurster to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh and their bullpen shut down the Blue Wahoos for the win.
Petty, a first-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of high school in Linwood, New Jersey, joined the Reds in a March 2022 trade for major league pitcher Sonny Gray and minor-leaguer Francis Peguero. He is rated the Reds’ No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Petty was elevated to Chattanooga and his four-inning start Saturday brought to mind former Blue Wahoos star Eury Pérez, who turned 20 earlier this season and was honored Friday with a giveaway bobblehead.
The fast-working Petty yielded just one hit – facing just one above the minimum – and threw 32 strikes in his 43 pitches.
The Blue Wahoos picked up a game-tying run in the sixth inning when Cobie Fletcher-Vance led off with a double and scored on a single by Nasim Nuñez. It was the first time the Blue Wahoos had multiple hits in an inning.
The game was decided on a misplay.
In the seventh, Chattanooga’s Ivan Johnson hit a hard grounder that second baseman Cody Morissette fielded, but his force-out throw sailed over Nuñez and into left field allowing both runners to get into scoring position.
Nick Northcut then hit a deep drive that bounced out of the glove of left fielder Tanner Allen for a two-run double.
The Blue Wahoos got a run back in the bottom of the seventh when Norel González and Jake Thompson had back-to-back singles. Bennett Hostetler moved both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, and Allen got the game to 3-2 on an RBI groundout.
But the Blue Wahoos were unable to get another baserunner the rest of the way against reliever Michael Byrne.
The Blue Wahoos (69-54), who have already surpassed last season’s win total, will now try get a split in the six-game series in the homestand finale on Sunday afternoon.
Righthander Evan Fitterer (6-6, 4.76 ERA) will make his 21st start for the Blue Wahoos on Sunday against Chattanooga righthander Sam Benschoter (6-10, 7.27).
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Cantonment Woman Charged With Defrauding Walmart Out Of Nearly $50K In Phones
September 2, 2023
A Cantonment woman has been charged with an alleged theft scheme that cost Walmart nearly $50,000.
Mackenzie Elizabeth McKay, 22, was charged with grand theft $20,000 to $100,000 and scheme to defraud over $20,000, both second degree felonies. She was released on a $12,000 bond.
In 2019, Walmart on Mobile Highway reported what they called a “complex employee related theft and fraud”, according to the Escambia County Sheriff.
McKay “created numerous fraudulent cellphone contracts for the price of the cellphone and service with the intent to steal the cellphones and provided them to someone else,” an arrest report states.
The total loss, the ECSO said, was $49,576.
McKay stated that a man “Chip” purchased a phone from her, and that he would later send people to her along with identification, phone numbers, addresses and social security numbers. She stated that she was sometimes paid $200 for each person, according to the arrest report.
While the alleged crimes occurred in 2019, McKay was just recently arrested.
Woman Charged As Accessory To Murder For Helping Her Boyfriend After Escambia Murder
September 2, 2023
An Escambia County woman has been charged with helping her boyfriend after he allegedly shot and killed a man in the parking lot of a nightclub in July.
Deomi Polyzos, 31, is charged with accessory after the fact to second degree murder. She was released on a $75,000 bond.
Michael Andrew Rodriguez, 39, was charged with homicide following the July 21 shooting at Sam’s Lounge on North Old Corry Field Road. He was released from jail on a half million dollar bond.
According to investigators, Polyzos drove to the lounge and picked Rodriquez up after the murder before making stops ” presumably to dispose of evidence/the firearm utilized”, an arrest report states. Deputies said the couple went to Polyzos’ home, where he was later arrested.
The couple late spoke using video visitation from the Escambia County Jail, and she said she should not have brought him back to her home,” deputies said.
“These statements show that Polyzos was cognizant and aware that Rodriguez had committed murder and still assisted him after the fact,” the report states.
Perdido Landfill Closed Saturday Through Monday
September 2, 2023
The Perdido Landfill will be closed over the long weekend for work.
The landfill, at 13009 Beulah Road, will be closed Saturday, September 2 through Monday, September 4 while crews install the landfill’s new scale house building. The landfill will re-open for regular hours Tuesday, September 5.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Crush The PHS Tigers 54-0 (With Photo Gallery)
September 2, 2023
The Tate Aggies crushed the Pensacola High Tigers 54-0 Friday night at Madison Field.
It came on the heels of a big 48-21 Aggie game one loss to Pine Forest. But boy what a difference a week can make.
“Last week, we faced adversity, and the question is after you get a little humble pie, how will you respond? I thought out kids responded well,” head coach Rhett Summerford said. “I’m really proud of the week of practice they had; the seniors really stepped up.”
“I told them this week, the message was I’m going to do everything I can for you, you do everything you can for me, and that’s how we’re building.”
For an action photo gallery, click or tap here. Look for a gallery with fans, the band and cheerleaders in the coming days.
The Aggies were first on the board with a 25-yard touchdown run from senior Andre Colston followed by a 28-yard dash from Colston to make it 14-0.
Tate increased their lead to 21-0 on a 55-yard Christian Nepton run on a pass from Taite Davis. Colston rounded out the Aggie first quarter onslaught from five yards out, 28-0.
In the second quarter, Tate scored again from 47-yards out on a Davis hand off to Carson Secchiari.
The Aggies added a safety with about eight minutes remaining in the half to make it 37-0, and Jackson Clarke kicked a 40-yard field goal with seconds to go before band time .
Next week, it’s a battle of the brothers as the Rhett Summerford’s Tate Aggies (1-1) host Wes Summerford’s Northview Chiefs (0-2) Thursday night in Cantonment. The Chiefs are coming off losses in Alabama to Escambia County and Flomaton.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Scoreboard
September 2, 2023
Here are Friday night football scores from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Tate 54, Pensacola High 0 [Story, photos]
- Escambia County (Atmore) 26, Northview 14 [Story, photos]
- Jay 20, Freeport 14
- Pine Forest 40, Navarre 17
- West Florida 30, Washington 14
- Pensacola Catholic 13, Escambia 12
- Lincoln 21, Pace 7
- Niceville 42, Milton 7
- Crestview 35, Gulf Breeze 21
- Lighthouse Private Christian Academy at Florida A&M (canceled due to Idalia)
ALABAMA
- Escambia County (Atmore) 26, Northview 14 [Story, photos]
- Walton (DeFuniak Springs) 45, Flomaton 21
- W.S. Neal 53, McIntosh 6
- UMS-Wright 16, T.R. Miller 14
- Clarke Prep 49, Escambia Academy 35 (Thursday)
Pictured: Tate beat Pensacola High 54-0 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Blue Devils Top The Northview Chiefs
September 2, 2023
The Escambia County Blue Devils downed the Northview Chiefs 26-14 Friday night in Atmore.
Down 14-0, the Chiefs had a 27-yard run by Devin Kelly to make it 14-7. In the third quarter, Northview tied it up at 14-14 with a 30-yard touchdown run from Wyatt Scruggs, but the Blue Devils then added a dozen unanswered points.
Northview head coach Wes Summerford said the Chiefs simply had too many costly mistakes.
“I just think we gave them too many opportunities on offense,” Summerford said. “Our defense was on the field all night. We turned the ball over. We’ve done that two games in a row. You can’t make those kind of mistakes. We played two good football games, and you can’t do that. We’re going to have to fix it.”
When asked what the Chiefs can take from this game moving forward, Summerford said the little things from the contest.
“We’ll get better at that,” he said. “We’ve got a young group. We’ve got some young guys playing, and we’ve got to grow up in a hurry. It’s going to take some games under our belt, but we’ll get better.”
Next week, it’s a battle of the brothers as the Rhett Summerford’s Tate Aggies (1-1) host Wes Summerford’s Northview Chiefs (0-2) Thursday night in Cantonment. The Aggies beat Pensacola High School 54-0 Friday night.
The Blue Devils (2-0) will travel to Satsuma next Friday night.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No. 7 UWF Silences Kentucky Wesleyan, 35-3, In Game One Of Kaleb Nobles Era
September 2, 2023
In a year defined by newness, seventh-ranked UWF played like the best version of its old self in a 35-3 blowout win over Kentucky Wesleyan in the season opener for both squads Friday night.
West Florida (1-0) dominated in every phase of the game, racking up 403 yards of total offense while holding the Panthers (0-1) to just 168. The Argos out-rushed the run-heavy Panthers 142 yards to 128 and out-passed them 261 to 40.
“Super excited about how our team played,” first-year head coach Kaleb Nobles said. “They did a great job of competing, chasing the football, what I’ve talked about all fall camp since I’ve been here. Just did a great job of being relentless on defense, being very efficient on offense – running the ball like I thought we should.”
The Argos were a model of methodical success on offense, getting off 66 plays from scrimmage despite the best efforts of Kentucky Wesleyan to burn clock with a deliberate, run-based offense.
Senior quarterback Peewee Jarrett completed 19-of-22 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a pair of first-half scores.
Jarrett, who wowed Pen Air Field crowds with his immense arm in 2022, was a bit more judicious with the deep ball Friday night, partially due to a Panther secondary that erred on the side of preventing big plays.
He still completed his share of deeper throws, including a 51-yarder, but was more willing to take what the Kentucky Wesleyan defense gave him. The end result was an efficiency that served as an early indicator that Jarrett is on his way to achieving one of his and Nobles’ primary goals for 2023.
“Coach Nobles came to me right away and one of the first conversations we had he said I probably left 600 to a thousand yards on the field last year,” Jarrett said. “Plays I could have made getting the ball out quicker, so that was something. If the defense is going to give it, we’re just going to take it.”
Jarrett added, “They were playing really off, didn’t want us to beat them over the top, and we just took everything underneath.”
The West Florida defense proved as dominant as its offensive counterpart, limiting the Panthers to just 10 first downs, forcing four fumbles, and sacking Kentucky Wesleyan quarterback Christian Arrambide twice.
Defensive back Virgil Lemons, a newcomer making his first appearance for UWF after transferring in from UNC-Pembroke, hauled in a key early interception that set up the Argos’ first score.
But it was junior linebacker and UWF mainstay Will Breland who paced the UWF defense, registering seven tackles.
Byron Puryer and John McMullen, both transfers making their Argo debuts, added four tackles and a sack apiece.
“We were all very eager about getting this first game,” Breland said. “We have a lot of athletes, a lot of great players, but we haven’t played together yet. So, it was really good to get that first game under our belt playing together, rushing to the ball. Made some mistakes, but … did a lot of great things. We’re going to clean up on it and come back even better next week.”
It was a big night for Nobles, too, as he made his head coaching debut before a sellout crowd of 4,068 at Pen Air Field.
“I’m just very blessed to be here,” Nobles said. “Very excited to be here. But, really, it’s because of the players. I’m super excited to be here because of guys like Peewee, guys like Will Breland. Everybody downstairs in that locker room. So excited to be the leader of them … I told them yesterday that I am so proud to be their head coach. And I tell them all the time that I love them, because I want them to know that I care about them more than just what they are doing on the field. This is a great opportunity and great university to have the chance to be the head coach.”
The game was all but decided by half as the Argos scored twice in the first quarter and once in the third and took a 21-3 lead into the break.
C.J. Wilson, whose 540-yard, 12-touchdown 2022 made him the most experienced returning tailback for West Florida, carried the ball nine times for 39 yards and a touchdown.
In the receiving corps, John Jiles, a senior transfer from Virginia Union, caught six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown while Caden Leggett (4-34), Zac Offord (3-48), and KJ Franklin (3-47) gave the Panther secondary fits all game.
Next up for the Argos will be a Sept. 9 visit to McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois.
Photo Emily Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mesa’s Walk-off Homer Sends Wahoos To 6-4 Win
September 2, 2023
Victor Mesa Jr. has enjoyed a flair for dramatics at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The centerfielder did it again in a big way Friday night following a lengthy rain delay and tied game, blasting a towering, 2-out, 2-run, walk-off home run over the right field wall to lift the Blue Wahoos to a 6-4 victory against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
It was his second homer of the game and his second walk-off homer this season. On July 22, he blasted the first walk-off grand slam in franchise history in a 12-8 win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. It also became the Blue Wahoos’ third walk-off win via a home run this season.
This one, however, may have been the most satisfying.
After taking a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning, the Blue Wahoos were tied in the eighth inning when a massive storm struck the ballpark. It happened after the Lookouts were retired in order in top of the eighth.
A 1-hour, 9-minute delay ensued.
Blue Wahoos reliever Jefry Yan earned his third win with some clutch pitching in the ninth inning and a great defensive play by Blue Wahoos left fielder Tanner Allen, a Mobile native.
Yan allowed a lead-off single, then committed a balk to move the Lookouts’ Matheu Nelson into scoring position at second. But Yan got next batter James Free to pop out. The Lookouts’ Ivan Johnson followed with a liner to left that Allen caught with a sensational dive, then threw out Nelson before he got back to second to end the inning on a double play.
With two outs, none on in the bottom of the ninth, Nasim Nuñez drew a walk. Nuñez was playing in his first game in more than a week after sustaining an injury against Biloxi. He came back by going 3-for-4, all singles, plus reaching on the pivotal walk in the ninth.
Mesa followed by hitting a low fastball from reliever Steve Branch high into the thick air, then having the wind continue to carry the moon shot over the right field wall to end the game.
The Lookouts’ right fielder Rece Hinds, a former Niceville High star returning to Northwest Florida for the first time, had a big night with a pair of solo homers that helped Chattanooga back into the game.
The Blue Wahoos jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Mesa’s solo blast over the right-center wall before newcomer Jake Thompson connected on a two-run single. He joined the club Friday from the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate, the Beloit Sky Carp.
Cody Morissette provided the Blue Wahoos their fourth run with a solo homer in the fourth inning. But the Lookouts bullpen kept Pensacola in check until the ninth.
It was only the Blue Wahoos’ second win in nine games against the Lookouts, who suffered a six-game sweep three weeks ago in Chattanooga and won the Southern League North Division first half title.
The game was stopped at 8:43 p.m. before the Blue Wahoos batted in the bottom of the eighth inning. The grounds crew consisting of Blue Wahoos front office staff raced to get the tarp on the field before the rain fell.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to win another in the fifth game between the teams on Saturday. Blue Wahoos lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez (3-5, 5.07 ERA) will go against Chattanooga righty Chase Petty, making his Double-A debut.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos