Newcomer Richardson Shines Again, Bullpen Seals Third Consecutive Wahoos Win
June 8, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos turned another game into a battle of the bullpens.
That scenario has worked well for them.
After twice tying the game from 2-run deficits, the Blue Wahoos manufactured an eighth-inning run and had dominant closer Josh Ekness finish the night for a 5-4 victory against the Columbus Clingstones, delighting the usual capacity crowd (5,038) on a Fireworks Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In a game where each team’s pitching staff struck out 13 batters, the difference was Pensacola’s three relievers tossing scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, two baserunners and seven strikeouts in the final four innings.
The other difference-maker was new Blue Wahoos outfielder Grant Richardson. His two-run homer tied the game in the fifth inning and his eighth-inning single set up Mark Coley II producing a go-ahead single for the winning run.
Richardson, 25, began the season in the New York Yankees organization before getting released. He was back home in Fishers, Indiana this week when the Miami Marlins called to sign Friday to a free agent contract.
Richardson, a former 17th round draft pick by the Yankees from Indiana University, then drove from Indiana to Pensacola and was called into play Friday night when Blue Wahoos left fielder Shane Sasaki got injured when leaping for a ball against the left field wall.
After producing a pair of hits Friday, he was in the starting lineup Saturday and helped change the game. He now has four hits in two days.
“It’s awesome to be part of this,” he said during the on-field, post-game interview. “These guys have welcomed me in with open arms since I got here and being around the clubhouse and all the guys, I’m very blessed to be able to be here and be with all the fans and be so welcomed by everyone.”
While in the Yankees organization, he was managed in 2022 by Rachel Balkovec, now the Marlins director of player personnel, who became the first woman in history to manage an affiliated minor league team connected to Major League Baseball.
“It’s an opportunity and I am going to try and capitalize on every opportunity I get,” Richardson said. “And I’m very thankful the Marlins are giving me this opportunity, so it is an unreal feeling.”
The win became the Blue Wahoos’ third consecutive victory – the first time that has happened since April 25 – clinched the series. It got the Blue Wahoos back to a .500 overall record (28-28) following their 11-game losing streak last week.
Columbus scored the game’s first run off Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton in the second inning. The Clingstones, the new Atlanta Braves affiliate from Columbus, Ga., made it 2-0 in the fifth after a leadoff walk and run-scoring double by right fielder Stephen Paolini.
But in the bottom of the inning, Johnny Olmstead drew a one-out walk and Richardson blasted a pitch from starter JR Ritchie over the left-center wall. It was the Blue Wahoos first hit in the game.
After Columbus got two more runs off Fulton in the sixth, reliever Jesse Bergin was summoned with two outs and the bases loaded. He struck out Cody Milligan to end that inning in what became a pivotal moment.
In the seventh, the Blue Wahoos tied the game with a pair of walks, two stolen bases, an RBI groundout by Jared Serna and a two-out single by Cody Morissette.
Olmstead’s two-out walk in the eighth began the winning sequence. He moved to second on Richardson’s single, then scored on Coley’s single to center.
Ekness retired the Clingstones in order in the ninth to earn his sixth save and create a jubilant mood for the fireworks show.
The Blue Wahoos are now 5-1 on Fireworks Saturday games.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday. 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Former Beulah Middle Teacher Convicted Of Sex Crimes With Student
June 7, 2025
A former Beulah Middle School teacher was convicted this week on sex crimes involving a student.
A jury found 63-year-old Winston Hezekiah Foster guilty of two counts of lewd and lascivious battery and two counts of unlawful activity with certain minors. When he is sentenced in August, he faces up to 60 years in prison.
The State Attorney’s Office received a complaint from the victim who alleged Foster, her former middle school art teacher, had a sexual relationship with her from October of 2017 when she was 15 years old until September 2019 when she was 17 years old. She said Foster was her art teacher for sixth, seventh and eighth grade while she attended Woodham Middle School.
She told investigators that it was not uncommon for art students to visit Foster before school. She said Foster “started to be more forward with her and made comments that she thought were ‘weird’ for him to say,” according to an arrest warrant, before inviting her to do things outside of school. She said he invited her for sushi, and they went back to his house to eat. She said he kissed her, but that was it. In 2017, he allegedly took her to see a movie in about October 2017 before taking her to his house and having sex, the warrant obtained by NorthEscambia.com states.
“During the summer months, when Foster was off and his wife was at work, he would pick her up from her home and take her back to his house,” according to the warrant. The victim also alleged they had sex in a supply closet in his classroom at Woodham Middle School in 2017 and then at Beulah Middle School in 2018 and 2019. She also stated they had “virtual sex” through an app while Foster was in Houston visiting his very ill daughter.
According to school district documents, Foster was an art teacher at Beulah Middle School and previously at Woodham Middle School. His employment was later terminated.
Foster remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond as he awaits sentencing.
Escambia EMS Hiring 10 Paramedics To Meet Growing Demand
June 7, 2025
Escambia County EMS is hiring 10 new paramedics and one supervisor to meet current call volume and demand, and to prepare for expansion of services due to an increasing population in the County and increasing demand for EMS services.
The Escambia County Commissioner this week approved the new hires.
The cost for the remainder of this fiscal year includes regular salaries and fringe benefits projected at $376,174. The ongoing fiscal impact is estimated at $1,148,164 annually. The country said there are sufficient funds in EMS reserves to meet the budgetary requirements.
As of Friday, Escambia EMS has been dispatched to nearly 41,000 calls this year. Just last week, EMS transported almost 1,100 patients to the hospital, went on-scene with 45 cardiac or respiratory arrests, responded to 87 motor vehicle accidents, and 36 overdoses.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Free Movie At The Century Library: ‘Spy Kids’ This Afternoon
June 7, 2025
The “Spy Kids” movie will be shown at the Century Branch Library at 1 p.m. Saturday.
In the 2001 PG rated movie, two kids become spies in attempt to save their ex-spies parents from an evil mastermind. Armed with a bag of high tech gadgets, Carmen and Juni will bravely crisscross the globe on a mission to save their parents and maybe even the world. It is the first movie in the Spy Kids series.
“Spy Kids II” will be shown on Saturday June 21 at 1 p.m.
Century’s Splash Pad Is Now Repaired And Open Thanks To Neighborly Help
June 7, 2025
Sometimes you just need a little help from your friends and neighbors.
“Guess what?” Century Mayor Ben Boutwell texted NorthEscambai.com Friday afternoon, followed by a short video and a few photos of the town’s splash pad now up and running after around a year of downtime.
As we have reported a couple of times in the past few weeks, the splash pad was left non-functional without electricity following a small fire in an electrical control panel at a nearby softball left the town unable to make repairs to the water feature.
But Friday, two Town of Flomaton employees — on their day off — worked to restore the power, diagnose and repair the splash pad.
“We have a mutual aid agreement with Flomaton where we can help each other out with equipment and other needs,” Boutwell said. “Shaun Moye and Chris Barrow from Flomaton were able to help us today, and the splash pad is running thanks to their hard work.”
At their last council meeting, the town council decided to hire a contractor to fix the splash pad, but Century was able to avoid the expense with Flomaton’s help.
The splash pad was also cleaned and disinfected on Friday afternoon.
The Century splash pad, located at Showalter Park on Kelly Field Road, is open from sunrise to sunset. The park also features a playground.
Pictured: After about a year, the Century splash pad was repaired on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scattered Afternoon Showers Today, Otherwise Sunshine For Saturday
June 7, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 87. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 87. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 87. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Live Honey Extraction Demonstration Today At The Molino Library
June 7, 2025
Ever wondered how honey goes from hive to jar?
There will be a free live honey extraction demonstration Saturday afternoon at 2:00 at the Molino Library.
The Molino Library is located in the Molino Community Center on Highway 95A.
Olmstead Homers Late And Dashes Home for Wild Walk-Off Wahoos Win
June 7, 2025
With a 5-4 walk-off win in the tenth inning, Friday night’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Columbus Clingstones turned out to be the Johnny Olmstead show.
With runners on second and third with no one out in the bottom of the tenth, Clingstones right-hander Luis Vargas sailed a pitch that ran inside to Wahoos newcomer Grant Richardson, getting by catcher Chandler Seagle and allowing Olmstead to score the winning run.
“We’re just counting on Grant (Richardson), our new guy who we just got today, to do his job,” Olmstead said. “Once I saw it hit the backstop, I just took off and won the game.”
Olmstead’s heroics didn’t start there for the Blue Wahoos, who were donning their red Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok jerseys inspired by the Copa series.
Trailing the Clingstones 3-1 in the seventh, Olmstead came to the plate with runners on first and second as the first batter to face right-handed reliever Blane Abeyta.
Abeyta entered after starting pitcher Blake Berhalter went six shutout innings, before allowing three hits in a row in the seventh, one of which was an RBI single from catcher Ryan Ignoffo for his first Double-A hit.
On the second pitch Olmstead saw from the Clingstones’ new arm, he sent a ball around the left field foul pole to vault the Wahoos to a 4-3 lead.
“When you can put together some team at-bats and come through for the boys, there’s nothing better,” Olmstead said.
This was the third three-run homerun in June for the Blue Wahoos, after hitting only one in the season’s first two months.
Prior to the Wahoos’ four-run frame in the seventh, the game had been all Clingstones. They got on the board in the fourth against Pensacola starter Adam Laskey, as Stephen Paolini hit a two-run home run to left to open the scoring. The longball was the first Laskey had allowed in 2025.
After a scoreless fifth from Laskey, the Clingstones struck once again against left-hander Luis Palacios. Third baseman David McCabe reached on a double to left-center after Mark Coley II missed a diving attempt, and was driven in by Geraldo Quintero.
After the RBIs from Olmstead and Ignoffo in the seventh, the Clingstones knotted it up at four in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Drew Compton to right field, scoring Cody Milligan after he reached on a leadoff double.
Pensacola’s Dale Stanavich navigated the ninth and tenth, providing two scoreless innings of relief while tight-roping a bases-loaded situation in the extra frame.
“Those kinds of games are the ones you want to win,” Olmstead said. “Just trying to keep the good vibes going now and keep on rolling.”
With a 3-1 series lead, the Blue Wahoos will send lefty Dax Fulton to the mound tomorrow night, taking on JR Ritchie for the Clingstones.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The game on Saturday starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
Boil Water Notice Lifted For Central Customers Along Portion Of West Highway 4
June 6, 2025
A boil water notice was lifted Friday afternoon for Central Water Works customers along and near West Highway 4 in and near Century.
Water service in the area was interrupted on Wednesday for a water main repair.
Friday, Central said the repairs are complete, and two consecutive days of satisfactory test results that show the water is safe to drink.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia County Finally Approves Sale Of OLF-8 For $42.5 Million
June 6, 2025
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission unanimously approved the sale of the OLF-8 property in Beulah for $42.5 million. The sale comes after nearly a dozen offers and years of discussion, public input, and negotiations.
Tri-W Development and Chad Henderson Enterprises of Pensacola II are purchasing the entire 540.89 acres of the property on Nine Mile Road. Tri-W is a partnership between Jim Wilson & Associates (JWA), a Montgomery, Alabama, based commercial real estate developer, Chad Henderson, CEO and founder of Pensacola-based Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate, and former Pensacola mayor Ashton Hayward, now a real estate developer.
“I’m excited. I think we’ve got the right partner in place for what will be a transformational and generational long-term project,” Commissioner Steven Barry said.
“I am impressed, and I believe that you will do a fantastic jog out there,” District Commissioner Steve Stroberger.
“I am truly excited for this tonight,” added District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler. “I didn’t honestly think we were going to get here…it’s a big deal for the board, but it’s bigger deal for the community.”
“Not everything can happen downtown” Kohler said.
The motion to approve the sale was made by Stroberger and seconded by Barry before the unanimous vote and a round of applause from the audience.
“All of confidence (the commission) and the community has put in us is not lost,” Henderson said “It’s a great honor to try to move this project forward…We don’t take the confidence that you have placed in us and how important this is lightly.”
Following a six-month inspection period for engineering testing, title searches and the like, Tri-W will make a single $42.5 million payment.
Under the agreement, the OLF-8 Master Plan (DPZ Design Code), as it may be amended before closing, will be included as a restrictive covenant on the deed.
The final DPZ master plan approved in July 2021 is a combination of commerce, residential and amenities. It allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, day care and community garden.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County. The county hired DPZ CoDesign to develop the best plan for OLF-8, and the firm presented four plans ranging from a commerce park-based concept to designs with a mix of commerce, residential and green space on the 500 plus acre site along Nine Mile Road in Beulah.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.