White Dominates Early, Rataczak Delivers Late In Walk-Off Wahoos Win
August 17, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
Eric Rataczak delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, leading the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a memorable 5-4 win over the Birmingham Barons Saturday night.
With a runner on third and one out, the Blue Wahoos left fielder poked a pop-up beyond the drawn-in infield against Tyler Davis (L, 0-7), allowing Mark Coley II to score the winning run.
“We were seeing him good, and I was just trying to go one pitch at a time,” Rataczak said. “I was just trying to pass the stick again, and sometimes you get a little bit of luck.”
Luck was indeed on the side of the Blue Wahoos in the 5-4 win, and it started with left-hander Thomas White on the mound.
White dazzled Saturday night in what turned out to be his best start at home with Pensacola, despite working with what he described as his “C-plus stuff.” Over 5.0 innings, MLB Pipeline’s top left-handed pitcher racked up nine strikeouts, while allowing only one run on four hits.
“I think [the Barons] are the best hitting team in Double-A, or at least in our league,” White said. “So to have my C-plus stuff and get a good outing from it is good for my ego and good for the brand.”
White’s ability to work through difficulty was a large part of Pensacola’s 58th victory.
“Honestly, not a lot was working for me tonight,” White said. “I didn’t really have my best stuff at any point. I made the big pitch when I needed to, and we took home the win, which is all that matters.”
The 20-year-old showed a strong ability to get out of tricky situations in the start, stranding runners on second and third in the fourth after striking out the side. White finished off his escape in the fourth inning with a backdoor sweeper to sit Michael Turner down looking to end a 10-pitch at-bat.
The Marlins’ No. 1 prospect topped the fourth inning by treating a sellout crowd of 5,038 to another Houdini act to end the top of the fifth. White stranded the bases loaded by punching out Braden Montgomery on a fastball and Caden Connor with a full count breaking ball.
“The breaking balls were what I was most confident with putting in the zone in that moment,” White said. “Sometimes you don’t have your best stuff, and that’s how it is. That’s what I trusted the most at that point, so I kept throwing it.”
Birmingham got the scoring started in the top of the second, as designated hitter Wilfred Veras hit a solo home run out to left-center against White. This was only the second homer given up by White this year between Beloit and Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos took the lead in the bottom half of the second after a pair of RBI doubles down the left field line. Fenwick Trimble picked up his seventh double of the year to score Ryan Ignoffo, and later crossed the plate on a Coley double.
Coley extended the Pensacola lead in the bottom of the fifth, blasting a solo home run for his third of the season. The round-tripper was his second in two days after a seventh-inning home run that proved to be the game-winner Friday night.
Pensacola’s two-run lead didn’t last long, as Birmingham tied things up at 3 apiece against Evan Fitterer. Veras led off the inning with his second solo home run of the night, and Turner tied it with an RBI double to right field.
The Blue Wahoos found themselves in front again with a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh after Michael Snyder singled to center against Dalton Roach to score Coley.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Sam Antonacci tied it at 4-4 with an RBI double to right field against Wahoos closer Josh Ekness (W, 4-1).
Pensacola’s division lead has grown to 3.5 games, as the Montgomery Biscuits lost both games in a doubleheader against Chattanooga and the Columbus Clingstones fell 12-3 in Biloxi. The Blue Wahoos’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot now sits at 23 games.
The Blue Wahoos and Barons will square off in the final game of the series on Sunday with a 4:05 first pitch. Jacob Miller (3-4, 4.73 ERA) will make the start for Pensacola, while Birmingham sends out Tanner McDougal (3-1, 1.94 ERA) for the second time this series.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m
Costco On Nine Mile Road Could Be Approved Next Week
August 16, 2025
Plans for a new Costco store on Nine Mile Road are sent for a final application review next week by the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC). Approval is the final review step before building permits can be issued.
The first conceptual plans were filed back in June 2024 for a Costco at 225 East Nine Mile Road, the site of a Planet Fitness that will be moving and previously a Kmart store.
Since that time, additional plans have been filed in response to DRC feedback. Without a development order, the project can’t move forward.
What’s new?
Updated site construction plans were filed in mid July, and on August 11 Costco filed landscaping plans with the county. Now, the entire project is set for potential approval next week.
When is the meeting?
The Escambia County Development Review Committee meets at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20 at the Escambia County Central Complex Building at 3363 West Park Place to consider the final DRC application for Costco.
How long does it take to build a Costco?
The architectural firm MG2, which has partnered with Costco for 30 years on over 780 locations, says it takes under four months to build a new store.
“Costco Wholesale has set the bar by creating and maintaining the platinum standard in optimized rollouts: It takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members” MG2 said. That means a new Pensacola Costco, if approved, could potentially open by the end of the year if construction beings soon.
What do the latest plans show?
The latest plans filed with Escambia County show the 172,580 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 830 parking spaces at 225 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of the current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The plans show the existing Dairy Queen, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Wells Fargo to remain, with a Costco gas station constructed between Sam’s Seafood and Wells Fargo in an area that is currently a parking area for the old shopping center. The current Planet Fitness building will be demolished to make room for the new Costco if it’s approved.
What happens to Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness and the rest of the old shopping center will be demolished. As we previously reported on July 1, a new Planet Fitness is under construction at 312 East Nine Mile Road, next door to Aldi. It is in the remainder of a former Winn Dixie grocery store space that was converted into an Aldi with a smaller footprint, which opened in March.
What is currently the nearest Costco to Pensacola?
The nearest currently open Costco to Pensacola is in Mobile, Alabama.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
Pictured top: The Costco in Montgomery, Alabama, earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Moody, Patonis Urge Floridians Prepare As We Enter Peak Hurricane Season
August 16, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, Senator Ashley Moody and others officials stood together Friday in Defuniak Springs to use Floridians to prepare for early for potential tropical storm risks. Friday marked the start of peak hurricane season, and from August to October, 93% of hurricane landfalls on the U.S. Gulf and East coasts occur. They encouraged Floridians to not wait until a storm is imminent to make safety plans to protect their families or property.
“As the topics get busy and we draw closer to the height of hurricane season, the time is now to prepare for major storms. With record numbers of new Floridians who call our state home, be a good neighbor and check in on your those living next to you, especially new residents, to ensure they don’t need extra assistance in case of an evacuation,” Patronis said. “During an evacuation, don’t forget to make a plan for your pets as well – they’re part of the family, too. Our first responders work 24/7/365 to keep Floridians safe. Show your appreciation or them by ensuring they don’t have to come to your rescue because you chose not to heed local warnings and make the appropriate disaster preparations. Follow the tips below to ensure that you and your family are prepared for anything this hurricane season.”
“Floridians know well the destruction and devastation that a hurricane can inflict upon our communities,” Moody said. “Today is the first day of peak hurricane season, and I am urging everyone to make preparations now to ensure their families and homes are ready for a potential strike. When Florida is prepared, we can weather anything that comes our way.”
So far in the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, there have been five named storms, including Hurricane Erin. According to recent meteorology reports, Hurricane Erin is projected to make a turn away from Florida and have minimal impact, if any at all, on the Eastern U.S. Seaboard. NOAA projected an above-average active season this year, with 13 to 19 named storms, six to ten being hurricanes. NOAA also has predicted that there will be three to five major hurricanes.
Friday Nights More Like Friday Night Lightning As Preseason Games Are Canceled
August 16, 2025
The first Friday night lights of the season were more like Friday night lightning as the weather canceled preseason games at both Northview and Tate.
The games were first put on hold and spectators sent to their cars, but persistent lightning, some of it just a few hundred feet from the stadiums, led to eventual cancellations for safety reasons.
The high schools in Escambia County have WeatherStem systems on campus that provide real-time weather data, including the distance of lightning strikes. If the lightning is within 10 miles of a school, outdoor activities must end and everyone is moved to a safe location, such as inside a building or their vehicles. Everyone must be completely within the designated safe locations by the time the lightning is a six miles away from the school. The all clear is given 30 minutes after the last nearby lightning strike.
Northview and Ernest Ward Middle School were set to host Baker in a Kickoff Classic on Friday night. Now, the Chiefs will move forward into the regular season with a road trip to Destin at 7 p.m. on August 22. Their first home game back in Bratt is on August 29 against Opp.
Tate had planned to take on Pine Forest Friday night. Next Friday night, August 22, the Aggies will begin a three-game homestand against Fort Walton Beach, followed by Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Their first road trip will be September 12 at Milton.
Pictured top: The WeatherStem station on above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Fire At Grain Elevator In Walnut Hill
August 16, 2025
Fire broke out at Tensley Grain in Walnut Hill on Friday afternoon.
The fire was contained to a tower dryer—essentially a metal silo that is external to the main grain storage silos. The gas-powered dryer is designed to remove moisture from the corn before storage.
The Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the fire along with a tower truck from the Atmore Fire Department shortly before 4 p.m., but most responding units were canceled prior to arrival.
Firefighters stood by and grain elevator employees worked to move the grain into a “pit” and remove any burning corn from the dryer. Firefighters were on scene for nearly four hours.
There were no injuries reported.
Tensley Grain is the former Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Heat Advisory, Scattered Afternoon Showers And Storms For Saturday
August 16, 2025
A heat advisory is in effect with heat indices expected to reach up to 110 degrees on Saturday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Photos: Shelf Cloud Over Ernest Ward Middle School
August 16, 2025
An impressive shelf cloud was visible Friday afternoon over Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill as strong storms rolled into the area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wait Out Rain, Coley Comes Through In 2-1 Win
August 16, 2025
A clutch home run and a dominant appearance out of the bullpen gave the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a 2-1 win over the Birmingham Barons on a rainy Friday night in downtown Pensacola.
Mark Coley II came up big for the Blue Wahoos, launching a solo home run over the left field wall to give Pensacola the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
“I was just trying to get the head out, be more on time,” Coley said of his second home run of the year. “First at-bat, I was kind of late, so just adjustments again, catch everything out in front.”
Coley was certainly on time, pulling a breaking ball from Birmingham’s Jordan Mikel (L, 2-2) 111 mph down the left field line to give the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the series after three lopsided losses to start the week.
Birmingham struck first for the fourth time in four games, scratching across a run on an RBI single from Mario Camilletti to score Braden Montgomery in the second inning.
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr turned in a solid 4.2 innings for the Blue Wahoos, allowing one earned run while striking out three hitters. Ortiz-Mayr exited the game in the fifth with the bases loaded, but right-hander Jesse Bergin escaped the jam after inducing a groundball to second of the bat of DJ Gladney.
After the end of the fifth inning, the game entered a 34-minute rain delay with Birmingham leading 1-0.
Left-hander Justin King took the mound for the Blue Wahoos to begin the sixth inning coming out of the delay, striking out the side in order.
Birmingham’s Riley Gowens hurled 5.0 innings of shutout, one-hit baseball, including five strikeouts on 67 pitches. Though the Barons starter warmed up after the delay, the length of the break caused an early end to his night.
Ryan Ignoffo tied things up in the bottom of the sixth at one apiece for the Blue Wahoos, sending a ground ball by the glove of a diving Jason Matthews at third base, allowing Kemp Alderman to score from second.
After King was removed with an apparent injury, Nigel Belgrave (W, 5-1) entered on short notice and had a strong outing for the Blue Wahoos. With 3.0 innings of shutout relief, Belgrave earned the win after striking out four Barons on the way to the Blue Wahoos’ 57th win of the year.
Pensacola’s win keeps their division lead of 2.0 games intact, as second-place Montgomery defeated Chattanooga 2-0 Friday night.
The Blue Wahoos and Barons will square off Saturday night in what is projected to be a battle of highly touted left-handers. Thomas White (1-1, 2.05 ERA), the number one prospect in the Marlins organization, will make the start for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Shane Murphy (8-4, 1.32 ERA) with a 6:05 first pitch.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
And Then There Were Four – Century Interviews Town Administrator Candidates
August 15, 2025
On Thursday evening, the Century Town Council interviewed four applicants to be the next Century town administrator, and announced that a fifth candidate had withdrawn from consideration.
The council conducted all interviews virtually, regardless of where the candidate resides, in an effort to not favor local area candidates.
The council interviewed former state representative and businessman Dave Murzin of Pensacola; former Treasure Island, Florida, administrator Charles Anderson, who noted he is now living in Navarre; Baldwin County grants director Brian Underwood of Fairhope; and Peter Cavalli of Tampa, a businessman and former town manager for Kenneth City, Florida.
A fifth applicant, Timothy Day of Cape Coral, Florida, informed the town Thursday that he was withdrawing from consideration.
The council also, dissolved the selection committee, which had consisted of Mayor Ben Boutwell and council members Henry Cunningham and John Bass. The dissolution allows the mayor to speak with each member of the town council individually about their applicant choices. Boutwell, Cunningham, Bass and council Sparkie Harrison attended the meeting in-person, while council members Dynette Lewis and Shelisa Abraham were out of town and attended virtually.
Under the town charter, the mayor must make the employment recommendations to the council for approval or disapproval; the council is unable to otherwise approve someone. Boutwell is expected to make his recommendation at the regular council meeting next Tuesday.
Pictured first below: The four remaining applicants for Century town administrator (the images are poor quality, photographed unenlarged on a TV screen during virtual interviews). Other photos; Members of the Century Town Council interview administrator applicants Tuesday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Charged With Child Cruelty
August 15, 2025
A McDavid man was charged with child cruelty after an alleged family altercation.
Govan Shane Alexander, 53, was charged with a single count of felony child cruelty. According to an arrest report, Alexander, the victim and another family member had been fighting, and he told the victim to meet him outside. A witness told deputies that the Alexander held the victim down by his hair on the ground.
The victim told deputies that Alexander charged him, punched him in the face, blooding his nose and held him down. Deputies noted in their report that the victim had blood on his arms and his shirt was stretched, consistent with his statements.
Alexander appeared to be under the influence of alcohol to deputies, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. His statement to deputies and the child’s age were redacted from the report.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
Alexander was release from the Escambia County Jail late Thursday night on a $5,000 bond.