Wahoos Win A Thriller For First Win Of The Season
April 11, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos notched their first win of the season in thrilling fashion Friday night, edging out a 5-4 win over the Biloxi Shuckers. Pensacola improved their record to 1-5 while Biloxi fell to 4-3.
Catcher Ryan Ignoffo had an eventful first inning, catching Dylan O’Rae trying to steal second base, and then making an athletic play to nab Jesús Made at first base on a groundball in front of the plate.
The Wahoos followed that up with three runs in the top of the second inning while sending 9 batters to the plate. The scoring came on an error by the shortstop, Eric Brown Jr., on a batted ball by Emaarion Boyd, and a two-run single from Gage Miller.
The offense output continued into the third inning, when Michael Snyder brought Ian Lewis Jr. home on an RBI groundout. And the fourth was no different, as the good guys tacked on one more run, courtesy of a Fenwick Trimble sacrifice fly.
The Shuckers did make it interesting though. They scored twice in the fourth inning on RBIs from Mike Boeve and Matthew Wood, and twice more in the fifth inning on a throwing error from Cristian Hernández, and a bases-loaded walk from Wood again.
From then on, both bullpens would go scoreless. Pensacola would lean on Luis Polacios (W, 1-0), Justin King, and Samuel Vásquez to go the final 4.2 innings, while Biloxi went to Tanner Gillis and Mark Manfredi Sr. to finish the final 6.0 innings.
Wahoos starter, Brandon White, went 3.2 innings and allowed two runs in a no-decision. Shuckers starter, Bishop Letson (L, 0-2), went 1.1 innings and allowed 3 runs in his second loss of the season.
Ian Lewis Jr. left the game in the seventh inning with an apparent leg injury after grounding out to second-base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Walnut Hill Man With Manifesto Sentenced To Federal Prison
April 10, 2026
Thursday afternoon, a Walnut Hill man who accidentally shot himself in July 2025 was sentenced to federal prison.
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 was sentenced to 48 months on each count to be served concurrently. After release, he will be on federal supervised release for three years on each count.
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.
Jazz By The Books Fills Century Library; Molino Performance Is Next Week
April 10, 2026
Attendees at the Century enjoyed a mid-day musical treat with Jazz By The Books on Thursday, and those in Molino have their own performance to look forward to next week.
The live jazz performances by the Jazzabouts, presented by Jazz Pensacola and the West Florida Public Libraries, were held Thursday at the Century Branch Library.
The music continues next week on Wednesday, April 15, from 1-3 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library. The event is free.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Woman, A Convicted Felon, Charged With Selling Husband’s Guns For Divorce Money
April 10, 2026
A local woman is facing a felony charge after allegedly selling her husband’s firearm collection while he was out of town, despite being a convicted felon herself, to fund a divorce.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Deadria Jean Smith, 42, was arrested following an investigation into the missing weapons. Her husband told deputies he returned from South Florida to find that his wife had “pawned” his guns to acquaintances.
Witnesses told deputies that Smith was reportedly angry because she suspected her husband of seeing another woman and intended to use the money to pay for a divorce.
The investigation revealed that Smith allegedly sold a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle and a crossbow to a neighbor for $230. A relative tod deputies he later paid Smith $700 for remainder of the collection, about 15 additional guns, simply to keep them from being sold to strangers before the husband returned.
While Smith claimed she never physically touched the weapons to avoid violating her status as a felon, witness statements and game camera footage contradicted her account, according to an arrest report. Investigators said that Smith has a 2011 felony conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Smith was charged with possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
Forecasters Predict Slightly Below Average 2026 Hurricane Season
April 10, 2026
A forecast released Thursday by Colorado State University is calling for a slightly below average hurricane forecast.
The forecast is due to a robust El Niño as a primary factor for their prediction of 13 named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes), of which they anticipate six to become hurricanes and two to become major (Category 3, 4, or 5) hurricanes. These numbers are below the long-term seasonal average of 14, seven and three, respectively.
El Niño, a recurring climate pattern that is characterized by warmer than normal water in the eastern and central tropical Pacific, tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic. These winds result in increased vertical wind shear which is unfavorable for Atlantic hurricane formation and intensification.
The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate Team is part of the Department of Atmospheric Science in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at CSU and is one of the top ranked Atmospheric Science programs in the world.
Tate Celebrates Senior Night With Walk-Off Win Over Washington (Gallery)
April 10, 2026
Tate 8, Washington 7
The Tate Aggies celebrated Senior Night with a dramatic 8-7 walk-off win over the Washington Wildcats on Thursday night in Cantonment.
The Aggies, trailing 4-0 in the second, fought their way back.
Keelan Beasley earned the win for Tate, surrendering one hit and one unearned run in four innings while walking one and striking out three. Lance Brady opened on the mound for Tate, giving up five hits and six runs (four earned) in three innings while striking out five and walking two.
Griffin Cook went 2-for-3 at bat for Tate with one RBI. Hunter Clayton, Kaden Posta, Evan Taylor, Cooper Halfacre, and Aydan Nigam also recorded one RBI each.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Look for Senior Night photos at the end of the gallery.)
The Aggies will end the regulars season at home next Tuesday against Crestview.
Before the game, Tate honored senior players:
- Keelan Beasley
- Aiden Bramblett
- Nathan Connors
- Gene Ham
- Bryton McLellan
- Evan Taylor
And the team also honore senior Diamond Girls:
- Mya Beani
- Rieslin Colvin
- Hailey Floyd
- Mary Hauc
- Brooke Holland
- Emily Holmes
- McKenna Lister
- Brooke Macaluso
- Kylie Pelt
- Riley Phelps
- Cherish Simpkins
- A’myiah Williams
- Madison Wise
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
After Tough Niceville Loss, Lady Aggies Look To Rebound In Crucial Games Next Week
April 10, 2026
The Tate Lady Aggies fell behind early and just could not catch up as they lost to the Niceville Eagles 17-3 on Thursday night at Tate.
Niceville jumped out to an 8-0 lead after one inning and added a one-run homer in the top of the second to hold a 9-0 advantage after two innings.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Taylor Robinson and Madison Smillie each had two hits for the Aggies. Sarah Mitchell, Brelynn Morris, and Smillie each had one RBI for Tate.
Up next, Tate will travel to Crestview on Monday before hosting Pace on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Umpire No-Show Forces Postponement Of Jay At Northview Games
April 10, 2026
Thursday’s Jay at Northview varsity and junior varsity games at Northview were postponed because the umpires were no-shows.
The varsity game only between the Chiefs and Royals has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, at Northview.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Outslugged By Shuckers In Lopsided Defeat
April 10, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had a tough go of it on Thursday night, falling to the Biloxi Shuckers for a third straight game by a final score of 15-3. The Wahoos dropped to 0-5, while the Shuckers improved to 4-2.
Pensacola struck first in the second inning with a run-scoring single from Brendan Jones off of Shuckers starting pitcher Ryan Birchard. That lead would last all of one half inning, as the Shuckers answered with 6 runs in the bottom half. Jesús Made, the #4 prospect in baseball, highlighted the inning with a two-run triple off of Pensacola’s Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (L, 0-1). Made would finish the night 3-for-6 with two triples and 4 RBI.
The Shuckers followed that up with 9 runs across the next four innings, aided by two more home runs from Blake Burke, his league-leading 5th and 6th of the season. That, along with 12 walks issued by the Wahoos pitching staff, was enough to seal Pensacola’s fate.
Some bright spots came from Michael Snyder and Brendan Jones, who each hit their first home runs of the season in the late innings. Reliever Stephen Jones put together a nice outing, pitching 3.0 innings and only allowing one run on one hit and no walks. Logan Whitaker pitched a hitless, scoreless frame in the 8th.
written by Charlie Hobert
Heated Debate: Public Safety Director Defends North Escambia Ambulance Coverage Amid Resident Concerns
April 9, 2026
Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore is addressing citizen concerns about the perceived lack of an ambulance to serve the far northern end of Escambia County, including the Century, Walnut Hill, and Bratt areas.
After Century resident Eddie Hammond claimed at a March town council meeting that no Escambia County EMS ambulance was available when his mother fell in Century and the nearby Newman’s Ambulance unit from Flomaton refused to respond, Gilmore addressed the concerns.
The Public Safety director said an ambulance is no longer stationed at Post 50, an EMS substation on Industrial Drive in Century, or in Walnut Hill. An ambulance is instead centrally stationed at the McDavid Fire Department.
“It’s strategically placed there so we can go (Highway) 164, (Highway) 29 northbound, (Highway) 29 southbound, to catch any medical call in northern Escambia County.”
He said when an ambulance crew drove their personal vehicles to work in Century, a non-emergency medical call could mean that no ambulance would be available in Century for three hours, counting time on scene, time at the hospital, and trips to and from Pensacola. EMS crew members now report to work on W Street in Pensacola and drive the ambulance to McDavid.
Now, when an ambulance responds to a call from the McDavid Fire Department, another EMS unit is automatically moved to McDavid to stand by — there’s no waiting for the first ambulance to return from the hospital. If there’s any lapse in moving an ambulance to McDavid, a rapid response vehicle with a paramedic supervisor is sent north. That paramedic with a fully stocked vehicle, Gilmore said, can provide any care that can be provided by an ambulance except the physical transport.
“Just yesterday,” Gilmore said Tuesday, “we had four different ambulances up here in Century… we were not waiting three hours to get an ambulance up here.”
Last week, the Escambia County Commission approved hiring five more paramedics and five more EMTs on the way to having 42 ambulances on the road in the county to answer an increasing call load. Last year, Escambia County EMS responded to 80,000 calls, an average of over 200 calls per day.
“The end game is that we will put the truck (ambulance) back at Post 50 (Century), and in Molino,” he said.
In addition, Newman’s Ambulance, which has two units stationed in Atmore and one sometimes two in Flomaton, is now responding to the Walnut Hill and Century areas if an Escambia County ambulance is farther away, or if more than one ambulance is needed at a scene. However, Gilmore said Newman’s will not respond to Florida except in critical emergencies if it will leave them without an available unit in Alabama. He said Newman’s is working towards a second ambulance stationed in Flomaton soon. Conversely, Escambia County EMS will respond to Flomaton if needed under a mutual aid agreement.
During Tuesday’s meeting, when Gilmore said an ambulance was stationed in McDavid at that time, Hammond responded, “That’s not true.” Several people in the audience rebuked Hammond, saying they saw the EMS unit in McDavid.
No volunteer firefighters?
Hammond (pictured left) also claimed that Century does not have any volunteer firefighters.
A paid Escambia County fire crew is assigned to Century from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Otherwise, volunteers respond.
“It was said we don’t have any volunteers,” the Public Safety director said. He said from January 2025 to April 7, 2026, the Century fire station ran over 1,600 calls — only 349 by the paid crew.
“You ain’t got no volunteers now,” Hammond interrupted.
“We do have volunteers,” Gilmore responded, adding that with time, planning and money, ECFR would like to have 24-hour paid crews in Century, but one 24 hour four-man crew costs $1.3 million annually
Hammond asserted that when a pedestrian was struck on North Century Boulevard last month, there were no volunteer firefighters, claiming that Gilmore responded from his home over 10 miles away and got on a fire truck in Byrneville. Gilmore again disagreed, saying that volunteer firefighters did respond, and he was in his pickup truck in Century when the call was dispatched.
“Mr. Hammond, that’s a lie right there,” Gilmore said of the claim. “I was with (Century Assistant Chief) Shane Moye, (Century Chief) Chris Barrows and two engine companies sitting out there (at the accident site).”
“No volunteers,” Hammond said.
Gilmore told NorthEscambia.com that Century currently has 10 volunteers, eight of which are certified firefighters.
As Gilmore continued to address the town council, Hammond continued to interrupt, saying that the Public Safety director was not telling the truth.
“Newman’s (Ambulance) has been turning Century down, coming over here, and now he’s telling us that they are always on, and that’s not true,” Hammond said. “He’s always telling us there’s always an ambulance in McDavid. That’s not true.”
“There’s one there right now,” a member of the audience said.
“There’s not one right there right now, Eric,” Hammond argued.
“It’s hardly ever there,” Hammond continued. “It gets called to Pensacola and they spend all day trying to rotate another one up here.”
Was there an ambulance really in McDavid?
As the council meeting continued Tuesday, sirens could be heard passing the Century Town Hall. The Century fire volunteers responded with two engines to two emergencies dispatched within one minute — a critical medical emergency on Pond Street and a traffic accident with three possible injuries on East Highway 4. The Escambia County EMS ambulance that was, in fact, posted at McDavid responded to the Pond Street call and was canceled by authorities before continuing on to the traffic crash. At the same time, a second Escambia EMS ambulance was sent north on Highway 29 from Cantonment until the number of injuries was determined. The second unit was kept north until the first ambulance could make a transport to Jay and return.
Pictured top: Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore addresses the Century Town Council this week. Pictured first inset: Century resident Eddie Hammon disputed most everything Gilmore said. Pictured bottom inset: An Escambia County EMS ambulance stationed outside the McDavid Fire Station in a file photo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.