Blue Wahoos Schooled In 4-1 Education Day Loss
April 20, 2023
The near-miss left Nasim Nunez shaking his head in a play that epitomized the Blue Wahoos’ 4-1 loss in Wednesday’s matinee game against the Birmingham Barons.
Nunez thought he had enough distance on a seventh-inning fly ball for a 3-run homer that would have tied the game. Instead, it settled into the glove of Barons right fielder Ben Norman at the base of the wall for the third out.
As Nunez paused after rounding first base, visibly frustrated, the sequence was part of a day of missed opportunities with the Blue Wahoos, who fell for a second time in the series during the first “Education Day” game in franchise history. Nearly 1,000 school kids from the Pensacola area attended as part of a field trip experience.
The Blue Wahoos had never played a mid-week, home game with an 11:05 a.m. start until Wednesday. They will do again on May 3 against the Mississippi Braves.
The Barons scored the game’s first run on a two-out single by Yoelqui Cespedes in the first inning. They took a 2-0 lead in the third when Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Dax Fulton made an errant pickoff throw at first base with the ball going down the right field line, enabling Duke Ellis to score.
Nunez drove in the Blue Wahoos’ lone run in the bottom of the third on a bases-loaded groundout. But the Blue Wahoos missed a chance for a bigger inning when Barons starter Matthew Thompson retired the next two hitters.
Fulton (0-3) finished his third start with five innings pitched, four runs allowed on six hits with five strikeouts.
The Barons scored their other two runs in the fourth off Fulton after a double by Xavier Fernandez and Norman’s sacrifice fly.
The Blue Wahoos were held to five hits with leadoff batter José Devers going 2-for-5. Victor Mesa Jr., who hit for the cycle in Tuesday’s game, extended his hitting streak to nine games with an eighth inning single.
The teams will continue the series on “Mullet Thursday” with top-rated prospect Eury Pérez (0-1, 5.00 ERA) on the mound for the Blue Wahoos against the Barons’ starter Garrett Schoenle (0-1, 3.18).
In addition to the team wearing “Pensacola Mullets” uniforms, plus adult beverage specials, the game’s other promotion is “Legalize Marinara Night” as a spoof with the pasta sauce. T-shirts will be available for purchase.
written by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Coming Soon: Mayor Says Manufacturer Still Locating In Century’s Industrial Park
April 19, 2023
Mayor Ben Boutwell said Tuesday night that a new industry in a town-owned building is still in Century’s future.
In January, the 50-year old foreign company agreed to lease a building in the Century Industrial Park for their first domestic manufacturing and warehouse distribution facility serving the oil and gas industry in what is commonly known as the Helicopter Technology Building.
Officials had hoped they could begin warehouse operations by the end of February with manufacturing to follow. To date, the company has not signed a lease.
But not to worry, Boutwell told the town council.
“We are really close. They are coming, real soon,” he said. “I can’t give you dates and all that stuff, but it looks real good…we are really excited about it. So it’s coming soon.”
Earlier this month, we reported that FloridaWest Business Development Officer Danita Andrews said the foreign company was still working to establish this U.S. legal presence.
The company has agreed to pay the appraised value of the building — $7.833.33 a month, totaling $188,000 the first two years. The lease will continue for five years with a 3% annual increase beginning in the third year. The company will accept the building “as-is” and pay all utilities, maintenance, insurance and taxes. They are expected to create five jobs at startup with more to come in the first year with an average salary of $46,570 — the average wage in the Pensacola metro.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the economic development organization for Escambia County. Most details about the new company and their plans remain confidential during discussions, as is allowed and is standard in economic development in Florida.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lipscomb Elementary’s Yohn Named School District’s Employee Of The Month
April 19, 2023
Lipscomb Elementary School administrative clerk Laura Yohn has been named the Escambia County Public Schools Stellar Employee of the Month for April 2023.
She was honored by the Escambia County School Board and will receive a plaque, pin, and a check for $100 from a local credit union.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Freeze Takes A Big Toll On Walnut Hill Farm’s Peach Crop (With Gallery)
April 19, 2023
This year’s peach season at a 10-acre Walnut Hill farm was much shorter than owner Glen Wiggins had hoped.
The big freeze during the winter took a big toll on the size of the crop at The Peach Farm on Pine Forest Road.
“Nature at its worst,” Wiggins said, noting that trees from two varieties were completely fruitless.
The U-pick farm was open just a few days this year.
When we visited last Saturday, many of the peaches showed obvious damage from the freeze, and many smaller ones had fallen to the ground. While it was a bit of a scavenger hunt, decent size sweet peaches could be found across the orchard.
“Maybe better luck next year,” Wiggins said.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Respond To Possible Natural Gas Pipeline Leak In Bratt
April 19, 2023
Firefighters responded to a possible gas leak from a natural gas valve station near Bratt Tuesday night.
A passerby reported the smell of gas on North Highway 99 near Amerson Drive about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded and found an extremely strong smell of gas coming from the high pressure Pensacola Energy pipeline. The valve station is located about 150 feet off the roadway in the yard of a residence.
Firefighters determined that if natural gas was leaking, it was not a high enough level to be extremely dangerous. There were no evacuations ordered.
Pensacola Energy was notified of the possible leak.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McAnally Has Two Grand Slams, Pitches Complete Game As Tate Beats Washington
April 19, 2023
Ethan McAnally had two grand slams Tuesday night at the Tate Aggies defeated Washington High 12-1 in five innings.
McAnally’s homers came in the first and fifth innings.
McAnally also earned the win with a complete game on the mound for Tate, allowing six hits and one run over five innings while striking out five.
Frank Randall, Clifton Quiggins, James Davis, Javin Floyd and Conner Hassell added on hit each for Tate.
The Aggies will host West Florida on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mesa Jr. Hits For Historic Cycle Wahoos 10-4 Loss
April 19, 2023
Little went right Tuesday for the Blue Wahoos, except for a special night by Victor Mesa Jr.
The 21-year-old centerfielder, rated No. 14 among the Miami Marlins’ top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, attained one of baseball’s rarest achievements by hitting for the cycle in the Blue Wahoos’ 10-4 loss against the Birmingham Barons at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Mesa Jr., a Havana, Cuba native, matched the Blue Wahoos franchise feat first attained by Donald Lutz on April 21, 2014 while part of the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.
Ironically, Mesa’s magnificence followed the Miami Marlins’ Luis Arraez, who played for the Blue Wahoos in 2019 as Minnesota Twins prospect, becoming last week the first Marlins player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
In this case, Mesa Jr. hit the cycle in the natural order of single, double, triple and homer on a 4-for-5 night at the plate. He struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth to end the game, but now has a team-high .395 average.
He drove in the game’s first run in the first inning with his two-out single, then followed with the extra base hits. With two outs in the eighth inning, Mesa Jr. clubbed the first pitch he saw and launched it 407 feet over the right-center wall.
Before a crowd of 3,456, his game was the boost on a tough way for the Blue Wahoos to begin their first full-week homestand.
Erratic pitching created a deep, early-inning hole.
It was the first “Doggone Tuesday” promotion, sponsored by Anderson Subaru, giving fans ability to bring their beloved pets into the ballpark and take in the game together.
The Barons (3-7) quickly took over, expanding a 2-1 lead by scoring four runs in the fourth inning on one hit.
Through five innings, three Blue Wahoos pitchers had combined to issue six walks, hit three batters, a wild pitch and another that was a passed ball. The Barons took advantage for an 8-1 lead. The Blue Wahoos wound up using five pitchers in the game.
The two teams will play Wednesday on Education Day — the first mid-week, matinee game in Blue Wahoos history. It will include school children ages kindergarten through fifth grade at the ballpark as part of special educational field trip. The Blue Wahoos will do it again on May 3 in their other Education Day game.
First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 11:05 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
NWE Little League Treasurer Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud
April 18, 2023
The former treasurer of the Northwest Escambia Little League at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill is accused of fraud and theft of money from the organization.
Paula Star Pugh, 48, was charged with grand theft $10,000 to $20,000 and fraud under $20,000. Both charges are third degree felonies. She was released on a $2,500 bond 22 minutes after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail Monday night.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pugh was the elected treasurer/bookkeeper since 2017 for Northwest Escambia Little League with the alleged thefts taking place from July 26, 2021, until December 9, 2022.
“During this time Pugh wrote checks on NWE’s account which she cashed for personal use, completed unauthorized debit transactions for personal use, and completed numerous ATM withdrawals for personal use,” the ECSO investigator wrote in his report, noting that Pugh had no receipt or explanation for the transactions.
According to a warrant affidavit, the transactions included numerous cash ATM withdrawals from an Atmore bank; purchases from Shell Oil and Papa John’s Pizza in Tampa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods Online; and eight checks payable to Cash that were signed by Pugh totaling $9,226. The transactions are detailed in the image below.
NWE first reported the misuse of funds to law enforcement on December 20, 2022, and an investigation was launched by the ECSO. Over the next several weeks, an ECSO investigator and ballpark officials examined the league’s financial records and built a ledger of transactions attributed to Pugh with no receipt or explanation, the report states. Deputies said the NWE board attempted at least twice to meet with Pugh and obtain receipts, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
The investigation also indicated that a ball tournament completed on June 13, 2022, yielded receipts/cash profit of $10,012.66. According to the warrant affidavit: Pugh sent a text message on June 13 that a deposit of $2,690 would be made the following day. On June 14, a deposit was made at NWE’s bank in Atmore for $1,557.10. “The difference in the amount to be deposited and the amount actually deposited could not be explained,” the report notes.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said numerous attempts were made by phone and in person by the investigator to contact Pugh with no result, until she returned contact on March 7, 2023. Pugh’s statements to law enforcement were redacted from the warrant affidavit.
According to the school’s website, Pugh is an English 2 teacher at Northview High School. None of the charges are related to her employment, Northview High School, or the school district.
“We have been made aware of this situation and are proceeding with our normal disciplinary procedures, in accordance with statute,” Escambia County Public Schools spokesman Cody Strother told NorthEscambia.com. “Without commenting on any specific case, generally, the process would be a suspension with pay, pending an investigation, and then a suspension without pay. All of this, however, would be based on the outcome of any investigation.”
Editor’s note: Northwest Escambia Little League is not affiliated with Northwest Escambia (NWE) Football & Cheer at Bradberry Park.
Motorcycle, Semi Collide On Highway 97; One Critically Injured
April 18, 2023
A motorcyclist was critically injured after colliding with a semi-truck about daybreak Tuesday in Davisville.
The log truck pulled from West Highway 4 onto Highway 97 into the path of the northbound motorcycle, according to authorities. The motorcyclist was ejected as motorcycle went under the unloaded trailer and was dragged across Highway 97. The motorcycle reportedly did not have a headlight on at the time.
The 65-year old male biker from Atmore was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert”.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Trafficking Meth; Possession Of Fentanyl, THC And Pot In Escambia Park
April 18, 2023
A Molino man has been charged with trafficking meth and possession of fentanyl, THC and marijuana in an Escambia County Park.
Christian Bleier Irvin, 28, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription (two counts; fentanyl and THC), possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 12:35 a.m. Saturday, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy on patrol found Irvin parked in the middle of Atwood Park on Kipling Street, near a sign indicating the park is closed from sunset to sunrise. Deputies found 20.9 grams of marijuana, 18 grams of methamphetamine, 0.5 grams fentanyl, THC and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, according to an arrest report. He denied having any knowledge of the items in the vehicle.
Irvin remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $58,000.