50th Anniversary Celebrated: Tate Aggies 1976 State Champion Baseball Team
February 28, 2026
Before Friday night’s matchup between the Tate Aggies and Escambia Gators at Blue Wahoos Stadium, 1970s state championship teams from both schools were honored.
Tate was the home team and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 1976 Class 4A team. Escambia honored its 1972 and 1974 Class 4A championship teams. At the time, 4A was the highest classification in Florida.
Ronnie Stryker, who was a senior on the 1976 state championship Tate Aggie team, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
There were 21 players from the Tate team committed to attend the 50-year anniversary, along with former coaches. One of those former players was a sophomore named Mike Killam, now the longtime metro director of the Northwest Florida chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
It was Killam’s brainchild to honor the 1976 team he played on.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“I got to thinking, hey, Tate is playing Escambia in this game. Let’s invite former players from Escambia’s 1972 and ’74 championship teams,” said Killam, whose FCA leadership has enabled thousands of area high school kids to get recognized at awards banquets, a golf tournament, and other special events his organization has staged.
“I figured, let’s make this really special,” Killam said. “Let’s just have a big night to celebrate these teams and these schools and all the baseball accomplishments.
“I’m so honored to have the response we’ve had.”
The former players first reunited Friday at the Pensacola Yacht Club with a luncheon event.
1976 Tate High Class 4A State Championship Team
Seniors
- Scott Madison
- Ronnie Stryker
- Ray Conti
- Steve Webb
- Bruce West
- Jimmy Dunlap
- Wes Connor
Juniors
- Keith Conley
- Richard Waters
- Randy Kitrell
- Johnny Wells
- Rocky Peoples
- Danny Minton
- Herb Brewer
Sophomores
- Danny Karp
- Mike Killam
- Robert Hicks
- Ken Cannon
- Mike Bennett
- Freddy Killam
Freshman
- John Dunlap
Staff & Coaches
- Equipment Manager: Lester (Killer) Rawls
- Head Coach: Danny Burke
- Assistant Coach: Floyd Adams
- Assistant Coach: Woodrow McCorvey
A list of names for the Escambia High teams was not available at publication time early Saturday morning.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested For Lewd Act Near Cantonment Bus Stop 11 Days After Jail Release For Sex Crime
February 28, 2026
An Escambia County man was arrested on Friday for a lewd act near a Cantonment school bus stop, just 11 days after he was released from jail for another sex crime.
Errice Lewis Rutledge, 36, was charged with indecent exposure and lewd and lascivious behavior in the presence of a victim under the age of 16.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said a juvenile and their mother witnessed Rutledge perform a lewd act not far from a school bus stop on Milestore Boulevard. He was arrested walking into a thrift store on Nine Mile Road a short time later.
“These are felony charges as a result of a similar arrest and conviction in December of 2025,” the ECSO said in a statement.
In 2025, Rutledge was convicted of exposure of sexual organs after he was caught pleasing himself in the lobby of Dunkin’ Donuts on Nine Mile Road while in public view of a 3-year-old child under age 16 and three adults. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail with 179 days credit for time served. He was released from jail on February 16, just 11 days before Friday’s alleged school bus stop incident.
According to jail and court records, Rutledge has been arrested 21 other times in Escambia County since 2010 on a multitude of charges.
Final Night For Tate High School Theatre’s Shrek the Musical (With Gallery)
February 28, 2026
Tonight is the end of a six-performance run of Tate High School Theatre’s Shrek the Musical.
The production is a showcase of student talent and dedication. Every aspect of the show has been created entirely by students, including set construction, costume design, props, lighting, makeup, and wigs. The result is a fully student-designed theatrical experience that highlights the creativity, craftsmanship, and collaborative spirit of Tate’s thriving theatre program.
In addition, the production features double casting for the roles of Fiona, Dragon, Pinocchio, and Gingy. Each cast will perform on alternating nights, offering audiences the opportunity to enjoy unique interpretations of these beloved characters.
Tickets are $10 and will be sold at the door (cash only).
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring-Like Warmth Continues Through Monday With Highs Near 80
February 28, 2026
A warm and mostly sunny weekend is ahead with highs approaching the 80s. A light breeze and clear skies continue into early next week before a slight chance of showers returns by Thursday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Patchy fog before 3am, then patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Escambia Public Schools ‘Podcastapalooza’ Is Today
February 28, 2026
Escambia County Public Schools is hosting its third annual “Podcastapalooza” event a Washington High School today from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Based on the success of its ‘Voices United In Education’ podcast series, ECPS is inviting the public to learn more about the various resources, agencies and opportunities available to area families.
Guests will have the opportunity to browse vendor booths, each associated with a podcast episode. Families will receive information on scholarships, mental health resources, summer camps and year-round clubs, and tutoring and mentorship opportunities.
Additionally, Animal Tales will give a live presentation complete with various animals and audience participation. Two graduates of West Florida High School, the owners of BAM! Snoballs, will also be serving up their famous snow cones for attendees to enjoy. Food trucks will also be on site.
One lucky guest will win a $250 Amazon gift card! Everyone will pick up fun prizes and great tips on how to help their child succeed in school and in life.
Wahoos Stadium Win: Tate Aggies Shut Out The Escambia Gators
February 28, 2026
The Tate Aggies shut out the Escambia Gators 10-0 Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium
Conner Dethlefs and Cooper Halfacre had three hits each for the Aggies. Halfacre and Cook had three RBIs, and McNair went 2-3.
RELATED STORY: 50th Anniversary Celebrated: Tate Aggies 1976 State Champion Baseball Team
Bryton McLellan was on the mound for six run-free innings,allowing four hits, striking out five and walking one.
Click here for a photo gallery.
Up next, Tate will host Crestview on Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals Finish Historic Season As Rural State Runners-up
February 28, 2026
The Jay Royals girls basketball team wrapped up a stellar season Friday night as the FHSAA Rural Classification State Runners-up.
The Royals fell to Williston 66-49. Jay ended the season at 25-5.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Friday Night: Niceville Edges Tate Softball; Northview Softball and Baseball Drop Away Games
February 28, 2026
Here are North Escambia ara high school baseball and softball scores from Friday night.
SOFTBALL
Niceville 3, Tate 2
Niceville defeated the Tate Lady Aggies 3-2 Friday night.
Mykamia Padgett pitched one inning for Tate, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out one and walking two. Sarah Mitchell pitched five scoreless innings, surrendering three hits, striking out eight and walking two.
At the plate, Mitchell went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Brelynn Morris, Taylor Robinson, and Madison Smillie each also added one hit for the Aggies.
Next up, Tate will host Gulf Breeze on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Orange Beach 10, Northview 2
The Orange Beach Makos defeated the Northview Chiefs 10-2 on Friday night in Bratt.
Mikayla McAnally opened in the circle for the Chiefs, allowing six hits and six runs (five earned) in four innings, walking one and striking out five. Peyton Womack threw for two innings, surrendering five hits and four earned runs while striking out one and walking three.
Riley Brooks and Kylee Langham each had one hit and one RBI for the Chiefs. Addysen Bolen, Daviona Randolph, and Avery Stuckey each added one hit.
Northview will host the West Florida Jaguars on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
BASEBALL
Destin 9, Northview 2
The Destin Sharks beat the Northview Chiefs 9-2 on Friday night in Destin.
Jackson Bridges took the loss for the Chiefs. In six innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs, he struck out six and walked one. Jase Portwood pitched two innings, allowing two hits and four unearned runs while striking out four.
Dane King, Portwood, and Taylor Curtis each had one hit for the Chiefs, while Cole Davis and Grayden Sheffield each had one RBI.
Northview will travel to Pensacola to take on the Escambia Gators on Tuesday.
Ice Flyers Fall To Birmingham (With Gallery)
February 28, 2026
The Ice Flyers fell 4-1 to the Birmingham Bulls on Dino Race Night at the Hangar.
Birmingham opened the scoring when Kyren Gronick found the back of the net, but Pensacola answered quickly as Nicholas Aromatario tied the game at 1-1 heading into the second period. The Bulls regained the lead on the power play when Drake Glover scored after Ethan Price was whistled for a slashing penalty. The Ice Flyers were unable to even things up in the middle frame and went into the third trailing by one.
Birmingham added insurance midway through the third as Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira extended the lead, and CJ Walker sealed it with an empty-net goal to make it 4-1 as the Bulls came away with the win.
The two teams will meet again Saturday to wrap up the weekend series during the 30th Anniversary of Pensacola Hockey Celebration.
Federal Sentencing Delayed For Walnut Hill Man With Manifesto, Killing Spree Target List
February 27, 2026
Federal sentencing for a Walnut Hill man who accidentally shot himself in July has been delayed. His sentencing was previously set for Thursday.
Joshua Dean Hardy, 26, pleaded guilty last year in federal court to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA), specifically two unregistered and unserialized silencers and a destructive device, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Local charges against Hardy were dropped after the federal charges were filed.
He entered the guilty plea to all federal charges before his scheduled trial began.
Hardy’s attorney, Randall Lockhart, asked for at least a 30-day delay on grounds that details were scarce in a draft pre-sentencing report, and he was seeking mental health records and results of a psychological evaluation. The prosecution did not oppose the motion.
Sentencing has now been set for early April. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Federal court documents state that investigators found documents including a multipage document titled ‘Manifesto’ on his laptop.
“This is it, this is my final words of this whole ordeal,” are how the document begins, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, along with a list of names, some of which are known family members.
The document then says**,** “All of these [expletive] pukes seek to destroy my ass in my prime then i’ll give them what they want, it isn’t the so called hidden names like they want but a tombstone like i told them**,”** according to investigators.
“Later in the document, it goes on to explain that he is going to begin his killing spree and identifies the ‘targets**,’**” court records state.
He had been charged locally with three counts of making and/or possession of a destructive device, use of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm with the serial number removed.
Hardy accidentally shot himself shortly after 3 a.m. on July 23 while walking in the woods on family property at 5000 Sandy Hollow Road, just off West Highway 4. His grandmother told deputies that she received a call about 3:15 a.m. from Hardy, stating he had tripped while walking on their property with his rifle and he had shot himself in the leg. She picked him up and drove him to Atmore Community Hospital.
At the emergency room in Atmore, Hardy told deputies that he often walks their 22-acre property because he does not like people there, the report states. He said he stepped in a hole and dropped his rifle, accidentally grabbing it as it fell by the trigger and shot himself. He was adamant that he was not shooting at anyone and had no intent of harming himself.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Hardy suffered a serious gunshot wound that shattered his tibia and fibula and nearly took his left big toe.