Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Mobile
June 17, 2016
In an all-important doubleheader against the Mobile BayBears, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos split the games to take a half game lead in the Southern League South Division over the Biloxi Shuckers.
In a must-win game, Pensacola pinch hitter Jeff Gelalich hit a soft line drive to the opposite field in left to give the Blue Wahoos a walk-off win, 3-2, with two outs in the seventh inning.
It was Pensacola’s fourth walk-off hit in its last seven games.
Then in the second game, Mobile returned the favor when Mobile right fielder Gabriel Guerrero led off with a single to center and then first baseman Kevin Cron singled to right field, allowing Guerrero to reach third base. Mobile third baseman Cody Regis delivered a deep sacrifice fly ball to right center to score Guerrero for a 3-2 lead.
The split puts Pensacola at 38-29 a half game up on the Biloxi Shuckers, who dropped to 37-29 with a 3-1, loss to the last place Jacksonville Suns.
In the first game, Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth launched an opposite field homer to left field, his third in 35 at bats this season, to start the sixth inning and tie the game, 2-2, in the sixth inning.
Pensacola starting pitcher Amir Garrett reached 5.2 innings before being yanked after throwing 98 pitches. The southpaw reached his pitch limit after throwing 10 pitches to third baseman Travis Denker before walking him.
Garrett allowed three hits and three walks and gave up two earned runs to Mobile, while striking out eight.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said the victory was critical.
“To be up a half game in the win column in this division is huge,” Kelly said. “It is very important.”
Pensacola left fielder Tony Renda said he’s confident in his Blue Wahoos teammates to win the first half and make the playoffs for the second time in the team’s five-year history.
“In my eyes we are clearly the best,” said Renda, who was 3-7 with a run scored and his 24th double of the year. “I have all the faith in the world that we will finish strong.”
In the second game, Pensacola shortstop Calten Daal smashed a standup triple to the right center gap that drove in Renda, who hit a hard liner to left field, and pulled the Blue Wahoos within, 2-1. Elizalde then lifted a deep fly ball to left field to score Daal and tie the game, 2-2. Mobile then pulled out the victory in the eighth.
Mobile scored first when left fielder Steward Ijames hit a solo blast into the Hill-Kelly Dodge hill in right field.
Mobile went ahead, 2-0, in the top of the fourth inning when Pensacola starting pitcher Barrett Astin intentionally walked BayBears shortstop Ildemaro Vargas to pitch to right-hander Billy Buckner, who was hitless this year. But Astin walked him on five pitches to score Mobile’s Cron.
Mobile’s Buckner retired the last 12 batters in a row before coming out at the end of the fourth inning for reliever Luis Ramirez, who retired two more, before hitting Pensacola third baseman Eric Jagielo.
The Blue Angels Are Back
June 16, 2016
The Blue Angels announced Thursday morning that they have started training flights in preparation to resume the team’s Pensacola practice and air show season schedules.
The team flew its first training flight about 9:30 this morning in a “Big V” formation, with five aircraft, over downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach this morning.
The formation few over Perdido Key towards Pensacola Beach, then over Palafox St. in downtown Pensacola before returning to Forrest Sherman Field on Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Pictured: The Blue Angels back in the skies Thursday morning. Bottom photo reader submitted by Douglas Berry for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Hit And Run Driver Identified, Facing Arrest
June 16, 2016
Thanks to public tips, the Florida Highway Patrol has identified the driver of a Dodge Ram involved in a May 31 hit and run crash in Cantonment.
According to the FHP, the Dodge Ram was traveling northbound on Wegner Avenue approaching Mintz Lane when the driver failed to stop at a yield sign and struck a Toyota Avalon driven by 71-year old Elizabeth Harris of Cantonment.
The Toyota left the roadway and struck a concrete table and landscaping at 302 Wegner Avenue, while the driver of the Dodge Ram fled the scene northbound on Wegner Avenue. Harris and her six-year old passenger suffered minor injuries.
Wednesday night, the FHP said the Dodge Ram was located on Well Line Road and identified as the the vehicle involved in the crash. The driver of the Dodge was identified as 25-year old Colby Chase Myrick of Cantonment. The FHP said Myrick has an arrest warrant pending judicial review for leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, driving while license revoked habitual, reckless driving with injuries, driving while license expired more than six months and tampering with evidence.
Myrick was also cited for failure to report a crash and failure to provide insurance in a crash.
Myrick’s 1996 Dodge ram was identified by a piece of the front grill left behind at the crash scene with a chrome skull with two guns mounted to the front.
Vehicle photo by Penny DeVries for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged In 2015 Fatal Crash
June 16, 2016
A man who drove his truck into a home on East Mallory Street last year and killed a woman who was sitting in the living room has been arrested.
John Dye, 31, was charged with vehicular homicide by the Pensacola Police Department, and his bond was set at $100,000.
The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. May 3, 2015. Sgt. Danny Lawrence said Donna Sue Alexander, 52, of Pensacola was sitting in her living room in the 1600 block of East Mallory Street when a Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck driven by Dye crashed into the house. Lawrence said Alexander died at the scene.
Lawrence said Dye was northbound on 17th Avenue when the truck left the road, struck the house and entered the living room. The investigation determined Dye was intoxicated from inhaling Endust for Electronics Multi-Purpose Duster. A chemical in the duster may cause loss of consciousness, loss of control, grogginess, and an overall dazed appearance, according to police.
Lawrence said the investigation determined the duster can, which was recovered from Dye’s vehicle, revealed his DNA on the nozzle in addition to his fingerprints on the can.
Shots Fired During Robbery Of Nine Mile Road Raceway
June 16, 2016
Shots were fired during the armed robbery of a Raceway gas station on Nine Mile Road Wednesday night.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said two armed men entered the store at Nine Mile Road and Fowler Avenue about 8:20 p.m. and held up the clerk. Deputies said two shots were fired during the robbery, but there were no injuries.
The men fled the scene in a U-Haul truck. Further details have not yet been released.
Anyone with information on the robbery should call call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9630 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: Surveillance video from inside the store. Pictured bottom: Deputies arrive on scene of an armed robbery at a Raceway on Nine Mile Road Wednesday night. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s FFA Named One Of Florida’s Finest
June 16, 2016
The Northview High School FFA was named one of Florida’s Finest FFA chapters and recognized on stage Wednesday at the 88th Florida FFA State Convention & Expo in Orlando.
The selection of Florida’s Finest FFA Chapters is based upon the completion of the National Chapter Award program application. These chapters have excelled in the areas of student, chapter and community development and have worked hard to fulfill the mission of the FFA. Northview’s FFA chapter will represent Florida at the national level in the National Chapter Award Program in Louisville, KY.
The Northview FFA Chapter and members are expected to receive additional awards and honors as the convention continues this week.
Pictured in Orlando Wednesday are Northview FFA members Emma Fennell, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Haylee Weaver, Zack Steele, Mitchell Singleton, Cody Kite, Bethany Reynolds, Brandon Korinchak and Courtney Weekley. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gun Measures Expected To Return In 2017 Session
June 16, 2016
The mass shootings in an Orlando nightclub this week have fueled the already-polarizing issues of gun rights and gun control, with the debate expected to return on multiple fronts during Florida’s 2017 legislative session.
Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday called for a special session to halt gun sales to people on federal watch lists and to impose new requirements for becoming a security guard. Republican legislative leaders say a special session isn’t needed.
Instead, lawmakers next spring are expected to revisit measures that failed during the 2016 session, such as proposals to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry handguns in most public places and to be able to bring their side arms onto university and college campuses.
Lawmakers could also consider eliminating “gun-free zones,” which are places, including nightclubs, where people with concealed-weapons licenses are not allowed to tote weapons.
“Time and time again we’ve seen that gun-free zones don’t protect anybody but the terrorist,” said state Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who has played a leading role in supporting gun-rights legislation. “There is nothing you can do if you’re on the inside, and you have no firearm in which to engage a shooter, but hide behind a desk or hide behind wherever and wait until the police arrive. And I don’t believe that should be the public policy of the state of Florida.”
Such proposals in the past would have exempted courthouses and businesses, such as Disney World, where people have to go through security checkpoints.
“You know that no one is walking in with a gun because there is security and a metal detector,” said Steube, who is running for the Senate this year.
Under a proposal rolled out Wednesday by a group of Central Florida Democrats, a special session would be held to consider legislation that would prohibit anyone on a federal watch list or no-fly list — due to suspicion of terrorist ties or activities — from purchasing firearms in Florida. Those no longer on the list would be able to buy guns, but after a more “extensive background check” by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, called the proposal a tactical measure to prevent future tragedies.
Soto was joined at a press conference outside the Orange County Courthouse by Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, and Reps. John Cortes of Kissimmee and Randolph Bracy of Orlando.
Thompson, who along with Soto is running for Congress and will not be part of the Legislature in 2017, said the state needs to tighten policies on who can obtain guns.
“We’ve got to look at our background check to make sure people cannot buy guns at gun shows without a background checks, that they cannot buy guns from private individuals without a background check,” Thompson said. “We’ve got to look at our rules here in the state of Florida as to who can be licensed as a security guard.”
Thompson also said the state and federal government need to review how much firepower people need for self-protection.
“I don’t think there is anyone here who opposes a person’s right to defend themselves,” Thompson said. “But what do you need for self-defense? Do you need a bazooka? Do you need a flame thrower? Do you need a rocket launcher? Do you need an assault-style weapon? It is those kinds of things we want to examine in the special session.”
Cortes said only law enforcement should have assault rifles similar to the one used Sunday in the attack at the Orlando nightclub Pulse. St. Lucie County resident Omar Mateen, 29, killed 49 people and wounded dozens of others before he was shot dead by police.
Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said he “is not aware of any specific proposed legislation that would necessitate a special session.”
Marion Hammer, the longtime Tallahassee lobbyist for the National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida, said in an email that the special session request by “these ultraliberal, gun hating Democrats” is “political grandstanding.”
“They are attempting to exploit a tragedy for political gain,” Hammer said in the email.
The request for the special session came as U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Orlando, filed federal legislation Wednesday that would allow the FBI to enter the names of people who are or have been investigated for possible ties to terrorism into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, which gun-shop owners use to run background checks on prospective gun buyers.
The bill wouldn’t bar people from buying guns but would flag them for the FBI when background checks are conducted.
“We’re not saying: don’t sell guns to someone just because they were investigated,” Nelson said in a prepared statement. “But having a system in place that alerts the FBI if someone they once investigated is suddenly trying to purchase multiple assault weapons is just common sense.”
The gunman in Orlando, who reportedly had no criminal history and cleared background checks to become a security guard, had been on a terrorism watch list in 2013 and 2014. However, FBI Director James Comey told reporters Monday that “once an investigation is closed, there is then no notification of any sort that is triggered by that person then attempting to purchase a firearm when the cases were closed as inconclusive.”
The NRA released a statement Wednesday that maintained its opposition to barring “law-abiding” people from buying guns.
“Anyone on a terror watch list who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing,” Chris W. Cox, the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action executive director, said in a release. “If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist. At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watch list to be removed.”
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pensacola Storm Wins Open State Championship
June 16, 2016
The Pensacola Storm 13-year old Majors team recently competed in the Florida Panhandle 13 Open State Championship in Destin.
On Saturday they beat Team Phenom Navy by a score of 4-3 and the Pace Mudcats by a score of 13-0. On Sunday, they outscored the Niceville Traveling Eagles 6-2 to go to the championship game. The Pensacola Storm’s bats stayed hot and they played outstanding defense and defeated Machine Baseball by a score of 10-1.
This is the fourth state tournament championship out of the five years that the Pensacola Storm has competed. This victory finished up the regular season for the Pensacola Storm with a 36-9 record. The Pensacola Storm will compete in the Wilson DeMarini Elite World Series in Orlando next month.
Pictured: (Bottom, L-R) Bailey Mott, Tanner Rouchon, Josh Turner, Ian Ladieu, Aaron Noack, (top, L-R) Wilson Perkins, Blake Holman, Jordan McCants, Hunter Pierson, Damarius McGhee and Jordan Jarman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Remain In First Place Despite Loss
June 16, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost for the second straight game but remained tied with the Biloxi Shuckers for first place in the Southern League South Division.
Pensacola managed just two hits off of Mobile starting pitcher Anthony Banda, who threw eight scoreless innings to lead the BayBears to a 2-0 win Wednesday in front of a crowd of 4,340 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly knew that Mobile had some strong arms coming in to the six-game series boasting a 3.40 ERA, which is good for third in the Southern League.
“(Banda) was outstanding,” Kelly said. “We didn’t have many good swings on him. His fastball is very deceptive and he has a very good changeup.”
Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin got the first hit by either team in the bottom of the fourth inning on a ground ball past the second baseman into right field. Blue Wahoos shortstop Calten Daal in his first game back from the disabled list got the other hit when he hit a bloop single to right field.
Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker got a third hit for Pensacola off of Mobile reliever Joey Krehbiel.
In its last six games, the Blue Wahoos are hitting .187 as a team. They’re hitting .244 on the year.
“I think we’ve seen some good pitching,” Kelly said. “We knew it would be tough.”
Banda, the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 14 prospect according to MLB.com, threw a season-high eight innings, gave up a season-low two hits and tied his season-high with nine strikeouts.
Despite Pensacola’s loss it is still deadlocked at 37-28 for the Southern League South Division lead with Biloxi, who fell to Jacksonville, 8-4.
With just five games to play in the first half, including a seven-inning doubleheader that begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Kelly said he likes how his team is playing.
“I mean it’s fun,” Kelly said about battling Biloxi for the first half crown. “I’d rather be in that position than where we were last year—out of contention.”
Raisel Iglesias threw a total of 23 pitches and 18 strikes in two scoreless innings and didn’t allow a hit, while striking out two. Like his first two-inning rehab assignment with Pensacola, he showed a mix of pitches and motions. In his first rehab assignment June 11, Iglesias allowed two hits and struck out two throwing 30 pitches with 22 for strikes.
After five starts with the Cincinnati Reds, including the opening day start, Iglesias went on the disabled list with an impingement in his right shoulder.
Kelly, who played catcher, said Iglesias is scheduled to pitch one more time in Pensacola.
“I saw a little better velocity,” Kelly said. “He was impressive to me tonight.”
In the top of the fifth inning, Mobile catcher Michael Perez earned the BayBears first hit of the game. Perez hit it up the middle and Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon dived and knocked it down behind second base. Blue Wahoos shortstop Calten Daal picked it up and threw it away, allowing Mobile third baseman Travis Denker, who led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, to advance to third base and Perez to reach second.
Pensacola pitcher Jackson Stephens got the next two batters to fly out to bring up Mobile pitcher Anthony Banda to the plate. Banda hit a line drive single to left field to get his first RBI of his professional career, scoring Denker for a Mobile lead, 1-0.
Stephens then allowed the first two Mobile hitters to single in the sixth inning but worked out of the jam.
Mobile centerfielder Evan Marzilli tripled to lead off the eighth inning and then scored on right fielder Gabriel Guerrero’s double over Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin’s head in dead center for a 2-0 BayBears lead.
In the ninth inning, Pensacola had runners at first and second with the winning run at the plate but couldn’t get a hit.
“We thought Iglesias and Stephens would keep us in the ball game and they did,” Kelly said. “They could have easily blown us out.”
Flags Remain At Half Staff Through Today To Honor Orlando Victims
June 16, 2016
Flags remain at half staff today honoring the victims of the weekend attack in Orlando. Flags are set to be returned to full mast at sunset today, by order of President Barack Obama. Pictured: A flag at half staff in front of the Century Branch Library and the Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.