Late Rally Not Enough As Wahoos Fall 5-4
September 16, 2023
Pregame rain returned Friday, continuing a week-long trend, thinning the crowd and delaying the Blue Wahoos game by nearly two hours on consecutive days.
The glum scenario has carried into a post-game feeling as well.
After trimming a 5-1 deficit with an eighth-inning rally, the Blue Wahoos fell short of ninth-inning heroics in a 5-4 loss against the Mississippi Braves at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Once again, M-Braves closer Brooks Wilson locked the door with his second dominant performance in four nights. This time, his array of splitters led to a pair of ninth-inning strikeouts to seal the Blue Wahoos’ fate.
It was M-Braves’ third win in four games of this series.
What had been a sunny afternoon turned into a thunderstorm at 6:25 p.m. – 10 minutes before the scheduled start of Friday’s game. A one-hour, 50-minute delay. It was a similar scenario to Thursday’s game, which started well past the scheduled time.
The M-Braves produced three runs off Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer in the fifth inning. The big hit was a two-run double by Bryson Horne.
The Blue Wahoos got a run back in the sixth on a two-out single from Norel González to score Nasim Nuñez, who had walked and stolen second base. At that point, it was Pensacola’s first hit since Paul McIntosh’s first inning single.
The M-Braves added a run in the seventh and another in the eighth against relievers Josan Méndez and Zach Willeman to open a 5-1 lead.
But in the bottom of the inning, the Blue Wahoos offense came to life. Nuñez reached on an error and scored on Will Banfield’s triple. Bennett Hostetler’s double scored a third run and Cody Morissette reached on a throwing error that scored Hostetler.
But Wilson retired the Blue Wahoos in order in the ninth for his second save in two days.
The Blue Wahoos will try to get back in the series on Saturday.
The M-Braves will be throwing former Florida Gators star Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on Saturday. He was the Atlanta Braves’ No. 1 draft pick in July following a 2023 season with the Gators in which he helped Florida reach the College World Series.
The Blue Wahoos will have lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez on the mound (4-5, 4.94 ERA) for the fifth game of the homestand.
Pregame activities will begin at 5:45 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 6:05 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
New Fire Trucks Stationed In McDavid, Ferry Pass, Osceola
September 15, 2023
Three new fire trucks are on the road in Escambia County, including a new squad truck in McDavid.
The new Escambia County Fire Rescue trucks are:
- Squad 9 – McDavid (Station #9)
- Engine 7 – Ferry Pass (Station #7)
- Ladder 12 – Osceola (Station #12)
“I’m proud to showcase the newest arrivals to our fleet, which was funded using local option sales tax.” said Fire Chief Adam Harrison. “This investment represents our commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents and guests in Escambia County.”
The total cost for the trucks was just over $2.4 million.
Pictured top: The new Squad 9 now stationed in McDavid. Pictured below: Ferry Pass Engine 7, Osceola Ladder 12. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sneak Peek: Planting Thanksgiving Dinner For 1,000 Needy Families
September 15, 2023
Every November, NorthEscambia.com takes you to Farm City Week, and this year we are giving you an early sneak peek.
During Farm City Week, a couple of hundred or so student volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties work for a day in the fields near Jay to harvest collards and turnips, bag sweet potatoes, and more to be distributed with hams or turkeys to feed 1,000 needy families at Thanksgiving.
Tate High School FFA students worked tirelessly recently to transplant and water 2,600 collard plants at the UF/IFAS West Florida Research & Education Center.
For more photos, click or tap here.
“The Farm to City food distribution allows us to feed these families and teach people in our community about the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of agriculture,” said Robin Vickers from the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center.
UF/IFAS WFREC is looking for public partners to support the effort. For more information, contact Vickers at rvickers@ufl.edu or 850-393-7334.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Georgia Stabbing, Home Invasion Suspect Arrested In Escambia County
September 15, 2023
A Georgia stabbing and home invasion suspect was arrested Friday morning in Escambia County.
The Albany (GA) Police Department said Robert Bleedlove fled an early Thursday morning stabbing and home invasion during which he stabbed a woman and his own brother.
He fled in a gold Ford Edge. The vehicle was recovered Thursday in Pensacola by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office but Breedlove was not located with the vehicle.
He was wanted for aggravated assault, home invasion, aggravated battery and motor vehicle theft. Additional charges are expected.
Breedlove was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond to await extradition to Georgia
Escambia Parks And Rec Wins State Sports Tourism Award
September 15, 2023
The Florida Recreation and Park Association Awards has awarded Escambia County Parks and Recreation the 2023 Excellence in Sports Tourism Award: Small Market Award.
The award recognizes efforts to advance the park and recreation profession in the area of sports tourism.
Escambia County Parks and Recreation maintains property throughout the county, including the athletic fields and parks, neighborhood and open space parks, community centers, beach access parks, boat launch areas and the Equestrian Center. The department partners with Pensacola Sports, the local sports marketing organization, to attract and retain events that fit the community.
The Southeastern Conference hosted the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in October 2022 after a previous run in Orange Beach. The week-long event saw record-breaking attendance and generated over $2.5 million in local economic impact. Parks and recreation staff worked tirelessly to welcome players and visitors, prepping the field prior to the tournament and maintaining the grounds daily.
Traditional sports events, including lacrosse, youth soccer and baseball, and intramural college flag football, have contributed to the economic impact, marking Escambia County as a true sports destination. In 2022, the Equestrian Center hosted 51 events, generating over $6 million of local economic impact.
Pictured: The record-setting SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex last October. Thee tournament will return in October 2023. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Low About 70 Friday Night; Chance Of Showers Returns For Saturday
September 15, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the evening. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light north wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Here Is Tonight’s High School Football Schedule
September 15, 2023
Here is the Friday night football schedule for the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Tate at Navarre
- Lighthouse Private Christian Academy at Northview
- Jay at Baker
- Pine Forest at Choctaw
- Escambia at Fort Walton Beach
- Pensacola at Bay
- Crestview at Pace
- Gulf Breeze at Milton
- BYES: Washington, West Florida
ALABAMA
- Flomaton at Cottage Hill Christian (Mobile)
- Escambia Academy at Jackson (MS) Academy
- St. Michael Catholic at Escambia County (Atmore)
- Jackson at T.R. Miller
- Monroe County at W.S. Neal
Pictured: The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs last week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 42-14 last week. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Early Deficit Swallows Wahoos In 8-2 Loss
September 15, 2023
The first inning breezed quickly for Blue Wahoos pitcher Patrick Monteverde, resembling so many of his previous starts this season.
But he will quickly want to forget the rest.
After suddenly struggling with his pitch command, a leadoff homer in the second inning was followed by three consecutive walks and a grand slam, leading to the Mississippi Braves’ 8-2 victory in the season’s final Mullet Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game’s start time was delayed 46 minutes after another set of afternoon storms.
It wound up becoming the shortest of Monteverde’s 21 starts with the Blue Wahoos this season. He was lifted after the 42-pitch, five-run second inning. The Blue Wahoos were unable to bounce back at the plate. They had only two hits in the first five innings and none after scoring two runs in the sixth.
Wearing Pensacola’s alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets, Monteverde didn’t look like himself in more ways than one on Thursday. He was coming off recording his 10th win last week against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. In doing so, he became only the fifth Blue Wahoos pitcher in team history to earn 10 wins in a single season.
He was the first with 10 wins since former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rookie Davis in 2016 during his time with the Blue Wahoos.
After the rain delay Thursday, Monteverde (10-5) started with an eight pitch, 1-2-3 first inning.
But that was followed by a knockout punch. M-Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin led off the second with a booming homer to center field. Three walks later, right fielder Landon Stephens blasted his 21st homer well over the left field wall toward the water for a grand slam.
The Blue Wahoos got a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Victor Mesa Jr., one of just five Pensacola hits.
While the weather affected the crowd, the game had two special guests in attendance.
Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng watched the game from various locations in her first trip this season to Pensacola.
Equally noteworthy, Darrell Randel, father of Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel, watched his son manage for the first time. He traveled from Montclair, California with son, Jeff, and his wife, Kristin, along with their daughter Kaylee and older son Jacob.
Kevin Randel didn’t know his dad was visiting until they met Thursday morning at a Pensacola restaurant. The group will take in Friday’s game as well.
The series against the M-Braves now shifts to the weekend.
The Friday game will have the Blue Wahoos’ Evan Fitterer (7-6, 4.40 ERA) on the mound against the M-Braves’ Daniel Martinez (0-2, 5.56). It will be the 23rd start of the season for Fitterer, a righthander from Mission Vejo, California, who was the Miami Marlins’ fifth round draft pick in 2019.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Claudia Burkett Powell
September 15, 2023
Claudia Burkett Powell, age 76, of Bay Minette, AL passed away on September 13, 2023. She was born on October 13, 1946 in Davisville, FL to Comer Eugene Burkett and Lela Bruce Burkett. She is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings: Tommy Burkett, Johnny Burkett, James Burkett and Cindy Burkett.
She is survived by her children: Roger (Shelley) Scott, Cynthia Scott and Sherry Scott; her brothers, Gene Burkett, Wayne Burkett, Mike Burkett, and Floyd Burkett; her sisters, Ruby Sanspree, Frances Godwin and Shirley Boatwright; her grandchildren: Jessyka (Tali), David (Whitney), Bookie (Crystal), Whitney, Matt (Savannah), Courtney, Tamaria, Summer (Scott), Shawn (Katelyn), Anthony, Jace, Zack, Holly (Bobby) Ethan and Devin along
with 31 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, September 18, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Michael Hadley and Bro. Steve Hadley officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Active pallbearers will be Shawn Ramer, Anthony Ramer, Zack Daniels, Jace Daniels, Matthew Scott and Michael Burkett.
Honorary pallbearers will be Courtland Scott, Bryson Scott, Bookie Scott and David Scott.
Visitation will be held Monday, September 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
County Websites And Services Restored After Morning Network Outage
September 14, 2023
Escambia County websites and services were down for a period of time Thursday morning due to network issues.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said all of his branches across the county were down and unable to assist citizens due to the outage.
The outage impacted networks managed by Escambia County. This did not include the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.