Conine Goes Deep, Reynolds Saves In Magical Night For Blue Wahoos
May 7, 2023
Sean Reynolds turned toward teammates and pounded his chest with exhilaration.
It became the perfect ending for the Blue Wahoos’ 3-2 victory against the Mississippi Braves on a Fireworks Saturday night, featuring one of the team’s all-time crowd experiences in Blue Wahoos Stadium history.
An overflow crowd of 5,000-plus, which completely filled the outfield berm and all of the party decks, watched Reynolds close out the final two innings with flawless relief. He struck out the side in the ninth with the final batter Drew Lugbauer – the most prolific home-run hitter in M-Braves history – whiffing on a 99-mile fastball for the final strike.
Reynolds earned his fourth save this season, second of the week, as he’s moved into the top closer role.
The traditional fireworks show then lit the sky with many of the Blue Wahoos players, attired in specialty Marvel “Defenders of the Diamond” uniforms worn this night, staying on the field with families and friends to take it in.
This all capped a game that began one hour and 14 minutes late due to weather concerns.
Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton made the most from the wait, producing his best outing of the season. He allowed just one hit, struck out six and yielded four walks in a five-inning performance.
The pivotal inning was his final one when the first two M-Braves batters reached on a single and walk, but Fulton then made huge pitches to strike out the next two batters and coaxed a groundout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Will Banfield hit a pop fly double that fell between the shortstop and left fielder. Griffin Conine followed by rifling a pitch into the right-field berm for a two-run homer.
The M-Braves Jesse Franklin led off the sixth with a homer off Cristian Charle. The Blue Wahoos answered with Banfield’s RBI single that produced the eventual winning run. Banfield and Conine both collected two hits in the game.
Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos honored Pensacola native and former M-Braves pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn, whose Escambia High class was celebrating its 50-year reunion at the ballpark.
The group was among more than two dozen big groups in attendance that enveloped all of the party decks.
After the fifth inning, Pensacola High head football coach Cantrell Tyson, who suffered a stroke in a mid-September 2022 game while on the sidelines, was provided a “Home Run For Life” celebration by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital. Tyson circled the bases, high-fiving members of each team before hugging his doctors in an emotional scene at home plate.
The Blue Wahoos win was their fourth this week, sealing a series win. It was the team’s ninth win in the last 10 games.
The teams will close out their week-long series on Sunday. Top organization prospect Eury Pérez (2-1, 2.52) will make his second start this week for the Blue Wahoos.
written by Bill Vilona, photo Blue Wahoos
Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Photo Galleries
May 6, 2023
The 32nd Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo was held Friday and Saturday nights at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway in Beulah.
For action photos from Friday night’s rodeo, click here.
For the rodeo parade and opening photos, click here.
Related: Lexi Nelson Named Tate FFA Rodeo Queen
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Student Arrested For School Shooting Threat That Circulated Statewide
May 6, 2023
A student has been arrested following a social media post threatening a school shooting that would “make history as the top school slaughter”.
The Coral Springs Police Department said 18-year old Catrina Petit, a student at Taravella High School in that city, was charged with multiple felonies for threatening to commit a school shooting. Coral Springs is a city in southern Florida northwest of Fort Lauderdale.
“Petit sent the threat out fraudulently using another student’s name and computer access,” Coral Springs Police said in a statement. “The threat was later posted on social media causing concern in several counties throughout the state.”
The message made a threat to “shoot up the school” Friday morning at 7:40 as the bell rings or during the school day and “everyone must DIE”. The message suggested the presence of a bomb at the school. However, the message did not indicate any school or location; it only contains generalities.
The photo was further altered on social media questioning if the message might be related to Northview High School or other local schools in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Public Schools said Friday that it had been determined that the threat was not credible.
“District administration and law enforcement have worked together to make sure this was not a credible threat to our schools, students, and staff,” Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith said in a call-out to parents Friday morning. “In communication, with the Florida State Department of Education, we were also made aware that this same social media threat was made in several districts across the State of Florida.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: ‘Old 100′ Is 109 Years Old
May 6, 2023
The Old 100 locomotive Century’s historic park was sandblasted and painted earlier this year.
According to the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society:
Old 100 was built in 1914 by the Baldwin Locomotive Company, the 100th of the type.
The wood burning engine and tender were designed especially for the rough tracks used in the logging industry of the South. The unique wheel configuration lends to its general description as a 2-6-2 locomotive. In 1923, Old 100 joined other locomotives hauling logs from Alabama on the company railway of the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co. at Century.
In 1945, Old 100 became the yard switch-engine of the sawmill in Century. Retired in the mid-1950s, it was then made a promotional display at the sawmill. In 1974, it was sold and restored by Pinto Island Metals of Mobile and by 1976 Old 100 was an active tourist train locomotive in Indiana. After 2000 it was sold and dismantled for scrap.
In 2005, the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society began a multi-year effort to acquire and rebuild Old 100 at Century.
The wood-framed, wooden boxcar was one of several built in Century by the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co. shortly after 1900. Assigned primarily for fresh food transport from Pensacola and storage at the company’s commissary in Old Century, it was known as the “Commodity Car”. In 1939 it was the only company boxcar to survive a massive fire at the sawmill. In the 1950s, it and Old 100 became a promotional display at the sawmill in Century. By 1970 the boxcar was used as a museum display in Pensacola. The car was acquired by the ASHS and returned to Century in 1998.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Holds Groundbreaking For Elvin McCorvey Memorial Well
May 6, 2023
ECUA marked the development of a new water supply point Thursday with a groundbreaking and renaming ceremony, which will honor past ECUA Board member, Elvin McCorvey.
McCorvey’s family, fraternity brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., and ECUA representatives gathered at the site of the future well to honor McCorvey’s memory and officially dedicate this project as the Elvin McCorvey Memorial Well.
A graduate of Florida A&M University, McCorvey earned a degree in political science and a master’s degree in educational leadership, which led to a long and meaningful career with the Escambia County School District where he was the first African-American teacher at Workman Middle School. He later served the ECSD as an assistant principal at Woodham High School and as a principal at Wedgewood and Workman middle schools and Washington High School. McCorvey was also director of staff development at the school district, where he was responsible for the recruitment and retention of teachers while also overseeing the Principals’ Pool.
Larry Williams, current ECUA board member for district 3, spoke about McCorvey’s passion and contributions to his community.
“Mr. McCorvey did so much for so many in public, as well as personally. It is indeed an honor to commemorate his life of service to Escambia County and particularly district three,” Williams said.
ECUA’s West Well Water Treatment Facility has served its surrounding community reliably for 75 years and is currently located 1420 West. Cervantes Street, several blocks away from the existing elevated storage tank that supplies potable water to area residents. The well was scheduled for an overhaul but its existing site is too small for the needed replacement facility.
An opportunity arose for ECUA to purchase the property adjacent to the nearby West Tank at 1313 West Gonzalez Street and consolidate the well and storage tank facilities onto one site. This project provides the opportunity for a new water treatment facility that will include a granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration system as well as a new, three million gallon ground storage tank to replace the current elevated half million gallon tank to meet future needs.
The multi-phased project is expected to be completed in approximately 24 months at an estimated cost of $12 million.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Open Sunday In Advance Off Full-Time Schedule
May 6, 2023
Naval Air Station Pensacola is open to the public Sunday in advance of a return to a full-time schedule on May 17.
Public access to the air station on Sunday, May 7 and May 11 through 14 will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only, located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Areas of public interest onboard NAS Pensacola include the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and Fort Barrancas. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available to anyone with family interred at the cemetery through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate.
NAS Pensacola is scheduled to open to the public seven days a week beginning May 17.
Foreign nationals will not be allowed access. Non-DoD cardholders operating vehicles with trailers will not be allowed to enter. Access will be dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
- No visitors with boats or boat trailers.
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card.
Blue Wahoos Blanked In Soggy 8-0 Defeat
May 6, 2023
A first-time game with Pensacola’s participation in Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversion initiative became memorable, but didn’t include a franchise win feat.
Two weather delays, one of those lasting nearly two hours, put a damper on crowd involvement, then had the Mississippi Braves expand a pair of sixth-inning runs into a blowout, 8-0 victory Friday night that ended Pensacola’s record-tying eight-game win streak.
The game did not end until 10:56 p.m., 4 hours, 18 minutes after it began.
Transforming into the Pensacola Pok-ta-Pok for the first of three times this season – part of MILB’s Copa series to honor centuries of Hispanic/Latino heritage nationwide – the home team was shut out for the first time this season.
Pensacola’s team wore reddish-orange uniforms with gray-teal caps as the Pok-ta-Pok — a nod to a game with a heavy ball played in 1650 BC.
When Friday’s game began at 6:38 p.m., before a crowd of 4,333, the skies had begun to turn ominous. A light rain had already started. Two innings were played before conditions worsened.
The game resumed in the top of the third inning at 9:01 p.m. following a 1-hour, 52 minute rain delay. The Blue Wahoos front office staff, including team president Jonathan Griffith and general manager Steve Brice, along with part-time staff, worked en masse to remove the tarp in heavy wind, then helped get the infield playable again.
The game was first halted for four minutes in the second inning when lightning flashed in the sky beyond the left field area. Six minutes of play followed before the much-longer delay ensued.
The forced both teams to rely on relievers to finish the game. Pensacola’s Josan Méndez worked three scoreless innings before trouble ensued in the sixth inning.
The M-Braves Cal Conley led off with a double. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. He scored on Cade Bunnell’s two-out double. After a walk to Drew Lugbauer, Méndez was lifted for Zack Leban, who gave up an RBI single.
The ninth inning became disastrous for Pensacola. Reliever Jefry Yan struggled with his command the entire way. He gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases, then walked in four runs on five consecutive walks.
M-Braves reliever Domingo Robles shined with seven scoreless innings. He got Pensacola to hit into inning-ending double plays in the third and sixth inning and allowed just three hits, a walk, six strikeouts.
It was the third time in franchise history the Blue Wahoos produced eight consecutive wins before a loss.
The series continues Saturday with the Blue Wahoos’ Dax Fulton (0-4, 6.45) on the mound against the M-Braves’ Alan Rangel (0-2, 5.40).
by Bill Vilona/Blue Wahoos
Escambia Officials Say Social Media Threat Against School Is Not Credible
May 5, 2023
The Escambia County school district says a threat circulating on social media is not credible.
The message made a threat to “shoot up the school” Friday morning at 7:40 as the bell rings or during the school day and “everyone must DIE”. The message also threatened that it would “make history as the top school slaughter”. And it also suggested the presence of a bomb at the school. However, the message does not indicate any school or location; it only contains generalities.
A photograph of the message on a phone showed a send time of May 4 at 8:09 a.m.. The photo was further altered on social media questioning if the message might be related to Northview High School or other local schools.
The school system and law enforcement determined that the threat was not credible, and the message was circulating statewide.
“District administration and law enforcement have worked together to make sure this was not a credible threat to our schools, students, and staff,” Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith said in a call-out to parents. “In communication, with the Florida State Department of Education, we were also made aware that this same social media threat was made in several districts across the State of Florida.”
“We went to assure the public that the safety of our students and staff is always our first priority.”
Smith encouraged parents to monitor their student’s social media accounts, and he encouraged students to report any suspicious or dangerous online activity.
Could 24/7 Paid Fire Crews Be Coming To Molino And Beulah?
May 5, 2023
Career fighters could be coming 24/7 to the Molino and Beulah fire stations as a complement to current volunteer crews, but if funding is approved it could take well over a year to implement the plan, according to Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore.
Gilmore said he’s making a funding request for the four-firefighter crews for the upcoming budget year, but that’s all preliminary at this point. If the request makes it all the way through budget meetings and were to be approved by the Escambia County Commission in September, certified fighters would have to be hired or cadets trained — a process that could take 18 months or more.
Both Molino and Beulah would become what is known as combination departments –volunteers would still respond to calls alongside the paid crews. Fire stations currently also respond to neighboring areas to assist.
A new fire station is already a done deal for Beulah. A groundbreaking was held a year ago for the nearly $8.5 million “Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station” on the site of the old Beulah Fire Station. It will be named in honor of Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw who died in the line of duty in November 2019, and Chief Steve McNair who dedicated over 50 years to fire service in Beulah and helped rebuild the current station after fire destroyed the original fire station in 1977.
Pictured top: The Molino Fire Station. Pictured below: Groundbreaking in May 2022 for new Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station in Beulah. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff Names New Chief Deputy, Makes Several Other Promotions
May 5, 2023
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons made several promotions Thursday, including a new chief deputy.
Andy Hobbs is the new ECSO chief deputy of administration, joining Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter who is responsible for day-to-day operations.
Simmons also made the following additional promotions.
- Jeremy Small — commander
- Phillip Folmar — captain
- Mike Ward — captain
- Jayson Barnes — lieutenant
- Brandon Beech — lieutenant
- Drew Kilgen — lieutenant
- Ryan Robinson — lieutenant
- Joey Scapecchi — sergeant
- Lacey Oden — forensic manager
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
