Smith Hits Back To Back Homers In Wahoos Win
July 21, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Marquez Smith showed off the power that he has displayed throughout his nine seasons in the minor leagues.
The 30-year-old lined a two-run home run to left center in the first inning and then crushed a solo shot to left field in the second inning. Smith became the first Pensacola player to hit back-to-back home runs this season.
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ensacola downed Jacksonville, 7-4, Monday in front of 3,973 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium and now leads the Florida rivals’ race for the Golden Skillet, 8-6. The Blue Wahoos, who have one more five-game series left with the Suns, have never won the trophy since its inaugural season in 2012.
Smith has averaged just over 15 homers a season and last year smacked 30 mostly for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze. Besides his two home runs, he had a double and four RBIs. Smith now has seven homers and 33 RBIs and improved his batting average to .278 this season for Double-A Pensacola.
“It was a big one,” Smith said about his night. “A pretty huge one for sure.”
Smith said he cranked a slider and fastball out of the park. His play in the Mexican League earned him 300 more at bats during the winter. He said everyone on the team is stepping up their play in the second half.
“You go up every at bat just trying to battle,” he said. “I was just trying to move the runners over. I was able to get it in the air and drive it out.”
In the first inning, Smith lined a two-run home run to left center that also brought in left fielder Jesse Winker, who had hit a stand up double, to put Pensacola ahead, 3-0. In his next at bat, he crushed a solo shot to left field that put the Blue Wahoos up, 5-0, after two innings. Then, in the sixth inning, Smith doubled to score center fielder Bryson Smith for a 7-2 lead.
Smith became the eighth Pensacola player to clobber two homers in a game. Former outfielder Kyle Waldrop was the last to do it against Jacksonville on Aug. 19, 2014. No Blue Wahoos player has hit three homers in one game.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said Smith is now hitting like he did in Bakersfield, where he coached him last year.
“This is how he was swinging the bat last year,” Kelly said. “You’re starting to see it in this second half. I think he’s hitting extremely well.”
The fifth inning was the Seth Mejias-Brean inning. After making a diving grab at third of Jacksonville left fielder Eudy Pina’s sharp grounder and barely getting him out at first, Mejias-Brean came to the plate and crushed a solo homer to left field, which was his fifth of the year, and put Pensacola ahead, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Josh Smith rebounded from his loss to Birmingham Barons who scored six runs before chasing him after 3.2 innings. It wasn’t pretty but Smith lasted 5.1 innings and gave up just two runs to Jacksonville and struck out eight. However, he also gave up 10 hits and two walks to the Suns. He improved to 5-2 on the season with a 3.00 ERA.
Four times Jacksonville loaded the bases and four times Pensacola thwarted the Suns from scoring.
Smith had given up two singles and a walk after getting the first two batters out in the fifth inning and got out of the bases-loaded jam.
Blue Wahoos reliever Patrick Schuster came in for Smith, who loaded the bases on three singles, and got a strike out and ground out to shortstop to end the sixth inning with no runs.
Then, Jacksonville loaded the bases in the eighth inning but Blue Wahoos reliever Miguel Celestino struck out the Suns’ cleanup hitter Matt Juengel on a 94 mph fastball.
Finally, Zack Weiss struck out two batters and got a ground out to escape with the bases loaded in the ninth inning without a score. Weiss now has a team-leading 11 saves.
“You can’t give them that many opportunities,” Kelly said. “Eventually, it comes back and bites you.”
The final game of the two-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday with the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns
Scott Orders Flags To Half-Staff In Honor Of Chattanooga Service Members
July 20, 2015
Monday, Gov. Rick Scott Monday directed the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff in honor of the five service members who were murdered at recruiting centers in Chattanooga, TN, last week. The flags are to remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the final military member’s date of internment.
Pictured: The flag at half-staff Monday afternoon at the West Florida Library Main Branch in downtown Pensacola. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two-Year Bitten By Dog, Seriously Injured
July 20, 2015
A two-year girl is recovering after a serious dog bite Sunday evening in Cantonment.
The young girl was reportedly bitten in the chest area by a dog about 7:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Muscogee Road. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”. An update on her condition was not available Monday.
A county official said the dog was killed by its owner. The dog was identified as a lab-blue heeler mix.
Further details have not been released.
Heat Advisory Again Tuesday, 50 Percent Chance Of Rain
July 20, 2015
There is a heat advisory in effect for the entire area for Tuesday with a heat index of about 110 expected. Here is your officially North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 109. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
One Shot During Confrontation With Hunters
July 20, 2015
One person was shot after getting into an argument with hunters northeast of Munson Saturday night.
According to witness accounts, there were several individuals deer hunting the area of Green Road and Yearling Lane. A confrontation began between the group of hunters and and another individual, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said.
At one point during the confrontation, a gun was pointed at the group of hunters when a shot was heard. The individual who was pointing the gun at the group was shot with a high powered rifle during the incident, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said. The victim was airlifted to an area hospital.
The victim remained in the hospital late Sunday recovering from a gunshot wound; their exact condition was not available.
Detectives with the Santa Rosa County Sheriffs are actively working this investigation. The individual who shot the victim was identified and is being questioned about the incident.
More information has not been released.
Motorcyclist Killed In Santa Rosa Crash
July 20, 2015
A Laurel Hill man was killed in a single motorcycle accident Saturday morning in Santa Rosa County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 67-year old Michaelis L. Johnson was westbound on Red Rock Road whe he failed to negotiate a curve on his 1999 Harley Davidson, traveled onto the shoulder and then struck an embankment. Johnson, who was ejected from the motorcycle, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Johnson was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
K-9 Officer ‘Mink’ Retires
July 20, 2015
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Mink retired from service last week. The German Shepherd and his handler, Deputy 1st Class Michael Milstead have been responsible for many suspect and narcotics finds throughout the last five years, according to the ECSO. Mink will spend his retirement with Milstead and his family. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Court Tries To Decide Exactly What Is A Kosher Prison Diet
July 20, 2015
After ordering the Florida Department of Corrections to provide kosher meals to inmates, a federal judge is expected to hear arguments about what exactly that means.
U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz ruled April 30 in a long-running dispute between the state and the U.S. Department of Justice about providing kosher meals to inmates whose religions have dietary restrictions. Seitz required attorneys for the state and the Justice Department to file proposed language for a final judgment and permanent injunction.
But Seitz issued another order last month setting a July 15 hearing because the two sides could not reach agreement on details, including the state objecting to use of the term “certified kosher diet” in any permanent injunction.
She wrote that she will hold the hearing, in part, to determine the “meaning of the terms ‘kosher diet’ and ‘certified kosher diet,’ ” though she said that portion of the hearing could be canceled if agreement is reached.
Seitz wrote that “there is nothing in the record regarding what plaintiff (the Department of Justice) meant when it sought to have defendants (the state) provide ‘kosher meals’ to prisoners, and there is nothing in the record as to how either side believes defendants can demonstrate compliance with the court’s order to provide kosher meals.”
Pictured: The cafeteria inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Reward Offered: Flomaton Police Seek Playground Vandals
July 20, 2015
The Flomaton Police Department is seeking information on the person or persons who damaged playground equipment at the town’s Hurricane Park.
The playground was damaged with some type of an edged object, causing large holes in two of the slides. A rock climbing wall and other slides were damaged.
The playground, which is designed for children ages 2-12, will be closed until repairs are made. Two individuals are offering a total reward of $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the responsible person or persons.
Anyone with information on the playground damage is asked to contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
Photos courtesy Flomaton Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Skipworth Homers, Wahoos Lose To Birmingham
July 20, 2015
Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Kyle Skipworth set another franchise record Sunday with his seventh home run blast in a month and now has nine homers on the season.
On Thursday against the Birmingham Barons, Skipworth had set the team record with five homers in five straight games. He now has six homers in the past seven games and seven homers in the past 10 games.
Despite Skipworth lifting a fly ball over the center field wall for a solo home run in the seventh inning, Birmingham won, 11-3, Sunday at Regions Field and captured the five-game series, 3-2.
The Barons broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up, 9-0. Birmingham shortstop Tim Anderson had a two-run single and DH Courtney Hawkins hit a two-run home run.
Mostly the Barons relied on the arm of the Chicago White Sox No. 2 prospect Frankie Montas, who was called up for one day July 17 to the Major Leagues, where he served as the 26th man for a doubleheader.
Montas, whose fastball has been clocked as high as 102 mph this season, blanked Pensacola over five innings, allowing just two hits—a double by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean in the fourth inning and a single by shortstop Zach Vincej in the fifth.
He also walked one and struck out eight in Sunday’s game. Montas improved to 3-1 in 16 starts in Double-A and lowered his ERA to 2.31. He has given up just three earned runs in his last 18 innings for a 1.50 ERA since June 28.
Mejias-Brean, who was 2-4, has gotten a hit in 13 of his last 16 games, including five multi-hit games. He is now batting .259 on the year.
Vincej went 1-3 and walked and has a hit in 11 of his last 12 games, after going 0-4 Saturday to end his 10-game hitting streak.
Pensacola is now 13-10 in the second half of the Southern League season (25-43 first half) and fell into second place in the South Division.
Meanwhile, the Barons improved to 17-5 in the second half (33-36 first half) and remains in first place in the North Division.
The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jacksonville Suns July 20-21 and the Biloxi Shuckers July 22-26.