Blue Wahoos Manager Kevin Randel Reaches Milestone In Series-Clinching Victory
May 6, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos clinched a series victory with a 9-1 win over the Mississippi Braves on Sunday. With the victory, fourth-year Pensacola manager Kevin Randel made history by moving into first place on the franchise’s all-time wins list. The victory was Randel’s 219th in a Blue Wahoos uniform, passing former manager Pat Kelly (2015-17).
After a rain delay pushed back the game’s start by an hour, both offenses struggled for early production. Neither Pensacola nor Mississippi scored through six innings. Blue Wahoos starter Paul Campbell (W, 3-1) and Braves starter Luis De Avila (L, 0-4) both turned in quality starts, but De Avila was the first to blink in the pitchers’ duel.
With one out in the seventh inning, Pensacola snapped out of a 23.1-inning long scoreless streak with a five-run barrage. Second baseman Cody Morissette’s single drove in catcher Paul McIntosh to break the scoreless deadlock. RBI singles from center fielder Dalvy Rosario, left fielder Tanner Allen, and designated hitter Joe Mack padded the lead.
The Braves’ only offense of the game came in the bottom of the seventh off a pair of Pensacola relievers. A bases-loaded walk to right fielder Justin Dean plated what would ultimately be the lone Mississippi run of the game. However, Pensacola lefthander Chandler Jozwiak forced a groundout to end the threat. The Wahoos piled on four combined runs in the eighth and ninth innings to put the game out of reach.
With the victory, the Wahoos clinched their second consecutive series win and the second series win in two meetings with Mississippi so far this year.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday for their first series of the year versus the Birmingham Barons. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Large Crowd Attends Annual Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show
May 5, 2024
A large crowd attended the annual Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show in Century on Saturday.
The day included entertainment, free history museum tours, grilled hamburger meals, crafts, free exhibits, a car show and more.
For a photo gallery from the car show and the festival, click here.
NorthEscambia.comp photos, click to enlarge.
Mostly Sunny, About 86 Sunday
May 5, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Pictured: A Saturday afternoon shower over McDavid as seen from Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: UWF Holds Spring Commencement
May 5, 2024
The University of West Florida held their Spring Commencement at the Pensacola Bay Center on Saturday. UWF recently celebrated their 100,000th graduate in December.
This spring marked the university’s largest graduating class.
The commencement speaker was Mark Faulkner, president and CEO of Baptist Health Care.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
These Are The Road Construction Spots To Watch Out For This Week
May 5, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9 as crews place barrier wall.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews perform median work:
- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Tuesday, May 7 through Thursday, May 9 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Traffic on I-10 is shifted to the outside and will be in place until early 2025.
- Traffic on Nine Mile Road has shifted to the inside and will be in place until mid-2024.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- The left turn lane from Pace Boulevard to Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signs are in place to direct drivers traveling on Palafox Street to Pace Boulevard.
- The left turn lane from Palafox Street northbound to Pace Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signage is in place to direct drivers traveling northbound on U.S. 29 destined for Massachusetts Avenue or Pace Boulevard.
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) from north of I-10 to Davis Highway – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews perform construction activities:
- Alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway, Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Traffic flaggers will be present to safely guide drivers through the work zone.
- The right turn lane on Scenic Highway at the Olive Road intersection will be closed Friday, May 10 through Thursday, May 16. Drivers will use the through travel lane to turn right onto Olive Road.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing from S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) to North of Champion Drive – Motorist may encounter alternating daytime lane closures Monday, May 6 through Sunday, May 19 for paving operations.
- U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Routine Maintenance near the Palafox Street Intersection – Motorist may encounter alternating nighttime lane closures Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for routine maintenance.
- S.R. 291 Coring Operations from Bloodworth Lane to North of University Parkway – Motorist may encounter alternating nighttime lane closures Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for coring operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Westbound over Blackwater River Resurfacing Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent I-10 westbound lane closures, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (Exit 28) to the east end of the Blackwater River Bridge, Sunday, May 5 to Thursday, May 9, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for construction activities and paving operations. Drivers are reminded the I-10 westbound travel lanes are currently shifted slightly toward the inside of the roadway. The shift is expected to remain in place through early May.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 10 as crews perform paving and earthwork operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street - Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform roadway widening and sidewalk reconstruction work.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, May 5, through Friday, May 10, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- Motorists traveling along U.S. 98 in Santa Rosa County will encounter new temporary traffic patterns. Traffic turning onto Gondolier Boulevard from U.S. 98 will remain one lane, and traffic turning onto U.S. 98 from Gondolier Boulevard will be reduced to one lane. Additionally, traffic turning onto North College Parkway from U.S. 98 will remain one lane, and traffic turning onto U.S. 98 from North College Parkway will be reduced to one lane. These temporary traffic patterns are required for crews to complete turn-lane radius widening operations at both locations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County EMS Chief Resigns
May 5, 2024
Escambia County EMS Chief David Torsell III has submitted his resignation.
Torsell’s last day will be August 1.
Torsell joined Escambia County EMS in June 2021, coming from a district chief position at Alachua County Fire Rescue.
In February, the local EMS union executed a vote of “no confidence” in Escambia County’s EMS leadership
Baseball, Softball Regionals: Here’s Which North Escambia Teams Are In, and Which Are Out
May 5, 2024
Here’s which North Escambia team are in, and which ones are out as regional baseball and softball tournaments begin this week.
Region 1-1A Softball
No 1. seed Northview (21-4) will host the No. 4 Freeport Bulldogs (16-8) at 6 p.m. Thursday in Bratt. District champions and No. 2 seed Jay (14-9) will host the Holmes County Blue Devils (14-13), at 7 p.m. Thursday. The winners will advance to the regional finals on May 14 at the higher seed.
Region 1-6A Softball
The Tate Lady Aggies received an at-large bid to the regional quarterfinals. As the No. 7 seed, the Aggies (15-11) will travel to Oviedo, Florida, just northeast of Orlando, to face the Hagerty Huskies (21-5) at 7 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday. Meanwhile, back in the Panhandle, the No. 1 seed and district champion Pace Patriots (23-2) will host the No. 8 Oviedo Lions (12-12) from Oviedo, Florida.
Region 1-1A Baseball
Thursday, No. 1 Central (21-3) will host No. 4 Paxton (11-9) and No. 3 Jay (15-10) travel to No. 2 Holmes County (16-9) in the regional semifinals. Both games are at 7 p.m. The Northview Chiefs (21-4), which beat Central 11-1 ina run-ruled semi-final game, did not make the playoffs.
Region 1-6A Baseball
In our area, the No 4. Pace Patriots (19-6) will host No. 5 Fleming Island (18-10) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Tate Aggies (11-14) are out.
Pictured: Northview and Jay district championship action May 2 at Central High in Allentown. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mejia Silences Blue Wahoos In 2-0 Loss To Braves
May 5, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were shut out 2-0 by Ian Mejia and the Mississippi Braves on Saturday night, managing only three hits in a quiet defeat.
Mejia (W, 2-0), who was roughed up by the Blue Wahoos in Pensacola on Opening Night a month ago, looked much sharper in his second turn against a similar lineup. The righty allowed two hits over 7.0 scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking only one.
M.D. Johnson (L, 0-3) took the tough-luck loss, turning in his best start of the season only to be failed by defensive miscues behind him. The righty went a season-high 6.1 innings, allowing only two unearned runs on five hits while striking out six.
The only runs of the game were scored by Mississippi in the second, capitalizing on an earlier fielding error by second baseman Cody Morissette to take a 2-0 lead on a Javier Valdes two-run single.
The Blue Wahoos had opportunities late, but went 0-for-8 with men in scoring position. Domingo Gonzalez (S, 2), who took the loss for the Braves in Wednesday’s extra-inning Pensacola win, bounced back by escaping a jam in the eighth and earning a four-out save.
With the loss, Pensacola manager Kevin Randel remains at 218 managerial wins at the helm of the Blue Wahoos. His next victory will make him the winningest manager in franchise history.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and road trip against the Braves on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Push Continues To Widen Full Length Of Highway 164 Following School Bus And Tractor Crash
May 4, 2024
Authorities say the width of the roadway did not contribute to the crash involving a school bus and tractor Friday afternoon, but there is a ongoing push to widen the rural road.
Just two days before the crash, NorthEscambia.com published a story about the dangerously narrow roadway and a county commissioner’s promise to widen it, supported by the Escambia County School district for student safety.
Friday’s collision happened at the intersection of Highway 164 and Wilma Road just after 4 p.m.
RELATED STORY: Bus, Tractor Crash Near Walnut Hill
The Florida Highway Patrol said both the relatively small antique Ford tractor and the Escambia County School District s were traveling east on Highway 164 when the bus driver attempted to pass the tractor in a passing zone.
“The driver of the tractor failed to yield to traffic when making a left turn onto Wilma Road,” FHP said.
The 47-year-old male tractor operator from McDavid was ejected from the tractor. He was airlifted by AirCare helicopter as a “trauma alert” to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. There were two dozen students on Escambia County School District bus 12-22 from Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High schools. A 12-year-old female student was transported to Jay Hospital by Escambia County EMS for evaluation of a minor injury. The bus driver, a 62-year-old female from Century, was not injured.
Highway 164 has been the scene of several near head-on crashes and sideswipes attributed to the narrow roadway. Prior to Friday, Escambia district buses had been involved in three collisions with other motorists on Highway 164 since 2015. Two of those involved mirror-to-mirror collisions with other commercial vehicles, and the third resulted in an overturned pickup truck.
The photograph to the left and just below, both taken Friday afternoon at the school bus crash shows that McDavid Fire Station Squad 9 and an Escambia County EMS ambulance are both wider than the travel lane on Highway 164.
“I’m very sorry to hear about the serious accident on Highway 164,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said after learning of Friday’s crash. ” I’m so thankful to hear that no children were seriously injured, and I’m committed to continue working to secure the funding for widening the portions of the road not currently contracted to be improved.”
The Escambia County Commission recently approved a $1.25 million project to widen about 2.16 total miles of Highway 164 that were identified as having the most accidents between May 2018 and May 2013.
“I promise it’s not the completion of the project, only the first phase including the worst area, and I will keep working diligently to secure the funds needed for additional widening of Highway 164 and for other roads which need these type improvements as well,” Barry said recently.
In letters to NorthEscambia.com, Escambia County School Superintendent Keith Leonard and Transportation Director Darlene Hart supported Barry’s efforts but also urged that the entire 11.5 mile length of Highway 164 be widened from McDavid to Walnut Hill.
“We are fortunate that our county is working to widen a stretch of this highway, but it is imperative that the entire length of Highway 164 be updated to accommodate the width of all vehicles to travel safely,” Leonard said.
“Our district school buses practice extreme caution while traveling Highway 164 for the safety of our students while on board,” Leonard added. “It would be in the best interest of all citizens for Highway 164 to be widened to modern day standards.”
“We appreciate the county’s efforts to widen a portion of Highway 164, which is most frequently used. However, we urge them to consider widening the entire length of the road for the safety of our students,” the transportation director wrote.
The newly funded project will widen Highway 164 to 11-foot wide travel lanes two-thirds of a mile east from Highway 97 and a 1.5 mile stretch that is three-quarters of a mile either side of the Pine Barren Road intersection. (See maps below.) Friday’s crash, which was not caused by the road width, is several miles outside the upcoming project limits.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphics, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With February Homicide
May 4, 2024
A Molino man has been charged in connection with a murder earlier this year in Escambia County.
Alexander George Deloach, 28, was charged with homicide, vehicle theft, marijuana possession, cocaine possession five counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement and fleeing/eluding.
Deloach attempted to flee from deputies but was taken into custody after a PIT maneuver to stop his vehicle near Harbor Square and Breakwater Circle. At one point, according to an arrest report, Deloach accelerated in his vehicle at five deputies, but they were able to quickly get out of the way.
Deloach and D’Angelo Lavan Cook-Humphrey were accused in a February 12 murder on Moore Avenue. Deputies are continuing to search for Cook-Humphrey
Deloach remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.