Pace Walks Off With With District Title 4-2 Over Tate
April 17, 2026
With a dramatic three-run homer, Pace walked off with the 6A District 1 championship 4-2 over Tate on Thursday night at Pace. It’s the sixth consecutive district title for the Patriots.
The Aggies outhit Pace six to five and held a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Pace’s Cheshire hit a home run to left field to score three runs.
Nathan Connors went 3-4 with one RBI to lead the Aggies at bat, while Kaden Posta was 1-3 with one RBI.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Lance Brady pitched six and two-thirds innings for Tate, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out one and walking none.
The Aggies are 20-7 overall, 2-2 in the district, and will have a likely slot in the regional quarterfinals. Pace is 23-4, 4-1 as they move into regionals with a guaranteed home field advantage.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Compost Available At Escambia County Equestrian Center
April 17, 2026
The Escambia County Equestrian Center has announced the availability of free compost for local residents. The material, which consists of horse manure and wood shavings, is being offered exclusively for personal use.
The program is structured as a self-service initiative. Interested individuals are required to bring their own shovels and containers, as the facility does not provide loading assistance.
Operational Guidelines
To ensure the orderly distribution of the material, the Equestrian Center has outlined several specific regulations:
- No Heavy Machinery: The use of personal or facility equipment, such as tractors or skid steers, is strictly prohibited. All loading must be done manually.
- Non-Commercial Use Only: The compost is intended for private residential use; commercial hauling and the resale of the material are not permitted.
- Material Restrictions: Officials stated that the public is only authorized to remove compost. Taking any other materials from the property is strictly forbidden.
Location and Access
The compost is located at the rear of the property in a large clearing within the wooded area.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com click toe enlarge.
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Grand Opening Date Set For Improved Beulah Regional Park
April 17, 2026
A grand opening date has been set for the Beulah Regional Park.
The public is invited to a grand opening and ribbon cutting event on Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the park, located at 7820 Mobile Highway.
“I’m very excited to reopen Beulah Regional Park to the public, which is now better than ever after numerous upgrades and new amenities,” District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger said. “This park is a staple in the Beulah community, and I look forward to seeing families and children of all ages enjoy the new splash pad, pickleball courts, basketball court upgrades, and the many other improvements we’ve made throughout the park. I’d like to thank our Parks and Recreation staff for their hard work on this project, along with the public for their patience as the work was completed. I hope the Beulah community is proud of their new and improved park and will enjoy it for many years to come.”
Improvements to Beulah Regional Park include four new pickleball courts, a new splash pad, new basketball goals, new picnic table pavilions and grills, new fencing, and more. Several ADA upgrades were also made throughout the park, including the addition of two new ADA-compliant parking spaces, sidewalks to and from the parking lot, and improved connectivity to the existing amenities.
Drainage enhancements were also completed throughout the park to minimize areas with standing water and improve overall park aesthetics.
Additional upgrades were completed at the Beulah Senior Citizen Center, including a new basketball court, playground, and walking track resurfacing.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Carnival Is Today
April 17, 2026
The Molino Park Elementary School PTA Spring Carnival will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday at the school on Highway 97.
There will be games, multiple food trucks, local vendors, a live and silent auction, and much more.
Wristbands are $15 at the event.
Sunny And Warm Friday And Saturday, Chance Rain And Cooler For Sunday
April 17, 2026
The North Escambia area will see a transition from summer-like warmth to more unsettled conditions this weekend. Friday remains bright and warm with highs reaching the mid-80s, but moisture returns Friday night in the form of patchy fog. While Saturday stays mostly dry and warm, a weak cold front arrives late Saturday night into Sunday morning, bringing a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Expect a noticeable cooldown Sunday as breezy north winds take hold, dropping highs into the upper 60s before a beautiful, sunny stretch returns for the early part of next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Becoming sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Saturday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 84. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a chance of showers between 10am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Northview Dominates Baker To Advance To District Final Against Jay
April 17, 2026
The Northview Chiefs dominated the Baker Gators 14-2 on Thursday afternoon in the Rural District 1 semifinals. Grayson Burns earned the win for the Northview Chiefs, surrendering three hits and two runs (zero earned) over five innings, striking out four and walking none.
Grayden Sheffield led the Chiefs at the plate, going 3-for-3. Cole Davis and Burns each had three RBIs for Northview.
No. 1 Northview will take on No. 2 Jay in the district final on Friday at 7 p.m. at Central High School. Jay held off Central 7-5 Thursday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Varsity And JV Defeat Jay (With Gallery)
April 17, 2026
Northview 7, Jay 2
Mikayla McAnally earned the win for Northview in seven innings, giving up three hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven and walking none. Samford took the loss for Jay in seven, surrendering six hits and seven runs (five earned), walking six and striking out two.
McAnally led at the plate, going 2-4. Burkette and Stuckey each had two RBIs.
Up next, Northview will host Niceville on Monday.
For JV action photos, click here.
Northview 15, Jay 6 (JV)
The Northview junior varsity defeated the Jay Royals 15-6 on Thursday afternoon in Jay.
Katie Jones went 3-3 for Northview at bat to lead the Chiefs. Brooklynn Allen, Natalia Morales, Kiley Webb, and Brooklynn Bowen each added one hit for Northview.
Allen was in the circle for two innings for Northview, giving up two hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out five and walking two. Sophia Ikner went for one inning, surrendering one hit and three runs (one earned), walking one and striking out three.
For Jay, Henie Macht took the loss in seven, allowing seven hits and 15 runs, striking out one and walking five.
Raegan Land, Macht, and Caroline McLellan each had one hit for the JV Royals.
Photos by Mary Land for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wildness Costs Wahoos in 10-9 Loss to Smokies
April 17, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw a big early lead slip away late on Thursday night, falling 10-9 to the Knoxville Smokies.
Protecting an 8-2 advantage, the Blue Wahoos surrendered six runs in the eighth inning on six walks, a catcher’s interference call, a sacrifice fly, and an infield single. After retaking the lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Pensacola bullpen again surrendered two runs with two outs in the ninth for a heartbreaking defeat.
Playing for the first time this season as the Pensacola Mullets, the Blue Wahoos got their longest start of the campaign from Orlando Ortiz-Mayr. The veteran righty became the first Pensacola pitcher to complete 5.0 innings in 2026, scattering four hits and striking out four.
Knoxville struck first in the second inning, as Edgar Alvarez launched a solo homer before Carter Trice and Andy Garriola hit back-to-back doubles.
The Blue Wahoos answered back in the bottom half of the inning, as Dylan Jasso lined an RBI single to center field off starter Nick Dean (L, 1-1) and Garret Forrester launched a two-run homer, his first at the Double-A level, to take a 3-2 lead.
The Blue Wahoos added on against reliever Erian Rodriguez in the fifth, racking up five runs thanks to three hits, two walks, and a throwing error. Fenwick Trimble hit an RBI single, Brendan Jones laced a two-run triple, and Cristian Hernández drove in a pair when his chopper back to Rodriguez was thrown away down the right field line.
Staked to an 8-2 lead, Blue Wahoos reliever Kade Bragg contributed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief before the wheels fell off in the eighth. Colby Martin struggled to find the strike zone in his season debut, issuing three walks and allowing a batter to reach on catcher’s interference before departing. Samuel Vásquez fared little better, walking two more batters before departing with an apparent injury. Justin King entered with the bases loaded and no outs protecting an 8-5 lead, surrendering a sacrifice fly, infield single and RBI groundout before escaping the nightmare inning with an 8-8 tie game.
The six walks issued in the inning marked a franchise record for the Blue Wahoos dating back to 2012.
Trimble and Jones hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the eighth against Tyler Ras (W, 1-0) to put Pensacola in front again 9-8. Nigel Belgrave (L, 0-2) came on for the save, but issued a pair of singles before Alex Ramirez laced a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to center field on the ninth pitch of his at-bat to put Knoxville ahead 10-9.
Michael Snyder drew a leadoff walk against Vince Reilly (S, 1), but pinch-runner Emaarion Boyd was caught stealing second and Forrester struck out swinging to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Friday.
written by Erik Bremer
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mary Graham Haas
April 17, 2026
Mary Graham Haas passed away on April 16, 2026 at 100 years and five months of age.
Born November 15, 1925 to Walker A. Graham and Nancy Lula Graham in Mt. Olive, Alabama, she later became a longtime resident of Cantonment, Florida where she had a career in nursing.
Mary was a faithful member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church of Cantonment, as well as an active member of the Pensacola Quilter Guild. Among her enjoyments were sewing, crocheting, knitting, and the delight of sharing fresh blueberries with her families and friends.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, William Haas.
Mary is survived by her nieces and nephews, Faye Abbs, Margie Wolfe, Jerry Graham, Linda Morris, Tommy (Liz) Graham, Cheryl Booker, Peggy (Chuck) Folmar, Wayne Baldwin, James (Brenda) Graham, Nancy Davis, and Alfred Graham; her granddaughter, Janet Cavallaro; her great-nieces; her great-nephews; and her friends and neighbors.
A funeral service will be held at 11: 00 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Bishop Holley officiating. Burial will follow in Spruell Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to service.
Janice Carolyn Smith
April 17, 2026
Janice Carolyn Smith, 94, of Molino, Florida, passed away on April 13, 2026. She was born in Andalusia, Alabama on May 26, 1931 to Ray Gardner and Lois Wood Gardner. She was married to Julian Smith for 42 years. Mrs. Smith spent her time working as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service and was a member of Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church. She was passionate about traveling, drawing, and singing with the Grace Notes Musical Group.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lois Gardner; husband, Julian Smith; brothers, Wayne and James Gardner; sons, Byron and Mitchell Smith; granddaughter, Dawn Smith; grandson, Jessie Smith; and great-grandson, Johnny Funkhouser.
She is survived by her daughters, Judy Smith Dean and Lisa Smith Harman; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.