Blue Wahoos Sweep Doubleheader Against Montgomery
June 20, 2021
The day began with some of the worst imaginable tropical weather hitting Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It ended 12 hours or so later Saturday night with the Blue Wahoos producing a pair of memorable wins.
Peyton Burdick created first-game euphoria with his two-run, walk-off homer for a 4-2 win against the Montgomery Biscuits, following a strong start by Miami Marlins touted pitching prospect Edward Cabrera.
Jake Eder followed with six-inning shutout and Josh Roberson earned his first save for the Blue Wahoos in a 2-0 win to complete a doubleheader sweep before the fireworks show. Both games were 7-innings, following Friday’s rainout.
The win clinched another series for the Blue Wahoos (26-16), who now have the best record in the Double-A South and have lost just one series this season.
“It’s good to see how we got the goose eggs on the board, playing some defense and pitching, timely hits and game over,” said Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel. “We finished up a long day and glad we finished up on top.”
On Juneteenth, now a national holiday, the Blue Wahoos paid homage to the Pensacola Seagulls, a member of the Negro Southern League, which had its final official season 70 years ago in 1951.
The Blue Wahoos players wore the Seagulls uniforms for the second game of the doubleheader. The jerseys were then auctioned for the Southern Youth Sports Association during the game.
All of this, of course, happened after Tropical Storm Claudette caused morning wrath and early afternoon uncertainty. And then, like magic, the nasty weather parted into a colorful sunset.
“Once we started coming in about 10:30 (morning), we realized how bad this thing and we sent out a text (to players) that said don’t come in till about 2 o’clock,” Randel said. “Everything moved out, the field held up, the field looked immaculate after all that rain and we had to strap it on real quick and get going.”
Incredibly, after the storm made landfall early Saturday less than 200 miles west, thus creating a series of rain squalls, high winds and tornado warnings, the sky then broke into late afternoon sunshine in late afternoon and it became a beautiful night at the ballpark.
“We woke up and it was like a hurricane outside. The tarp crew did a great job. Our field is great, it drains great.. When we got that little window (of dry weather), there was no doubt we were going to play.”
Burdick ended the first game in dramatic fashion with his blast on an 0-2 slider over the left field fence The ball traveled 419 feet and so high that the Biscuits left fielder Garrett Whitley never looked up to see it. He just broke into a slow trot off the field.
“We had opportunities before that and I had opportunities myself to tack on a couple extra runs,” Burdick said. “And I hit on top of it and ran into double play (in fifth inning) and kinda screwed us out of a couple runs.”
The Blue Wahoos had the bases-loaded in the sixth inning of the game with none out and came up empty as well when Riley Mahan hit into a double play.
But in the seventh with two out and catcher Jhon Nunes on third base, following his leadoff double and throwing error on a pickoff attempt, Burdick produced the team’s fourth walkoff win.
“We just have a bunch of competitors up there. We all go out there and try not to make the last out,” Burdick said. “It’s been up and down the lineup abd people have been putting together good at bats, so we are never out of it.”
Two years ago, on July 31, 2019, Edward Cabrera was pitching for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp – then the Marlins Double-A affiliate, when he earned a win against the Blue Wahoos.
Saturday, he made his first start for the Blue Wahoos on an expected road to the big leagues. He was projected to be part of the Marlins’ starting rotation this year before an injury in February.
His first pitch Saturday clocked at 100 mph and he finished four innings and a 65-pitch limit with seven strikeouts, one walk and one earned run allowed. Colton Hock got the win in the seventh with a scoreless inning.
“He’s with us building up his pitch count… he threw the ball well, coming in hot,” Randel said. “But I think the story was his changeup. It got him right back in count
In the second game, Bubba Hollins produced a two-run single in the second inning and that held up. Eder worked six innings, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts. He got out of a two-on, none out jam in the fourth inning, then retired the last batter in the sixth on a base-loaded situation.
In that inning, JJ Bleday made a spectacular diving catch in right field to rob Biscuits’ shortstop Jake Palomaki of a hit.
“(Eder) really had to battle,” Randel said. “His fastball command wasn’t there again. He just grinded out there. We gave him another inning.
“One of those things where he had to just grind it out and figure it out. But it was a good day for him.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
I-10 Bridge Reopened Across Escambia Bay
June 19, 2021
The Florida Highway Patrol has reopened the I-10 bridge in both directions across Escambia Bay as of 12:05 p.m.
The bridge was closed earlier due to high winds from Tropical Storm Claudette.
Pictured: The I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay at 12:05 p.m. Saturday. NorthEscambia.com image.
Over 22,000 Lost Power Due To Tropical Storm Claudette; Majority Restored By Early Afternoon
June 19, 2021
Over 22,000 lost power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties due to Tropical Storm Claudette.
Gulf Power Company reported that they had restored over 17,000 customers by about 1 p.m. Saturday. There were about 1,150 Gulf customers without power in Escambia County and about 330 in Santa Rosa County at 2 p.m.
At one point, Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported about 5,000 of their 11,596 customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties without power due to the tropical storm. By about noon, that number had been reduced to 650. By 2 p.m. Saturday, EREC reported service had been restored to customers in Escambia County, while just under 300 remained without power in Santa Rosa County.
Pictured: Escambia River Electric Cooperative crews (above) and Gulf Power crews (pictured below) worked throughout Tropical Storm Claudette to restore power as fast as possible. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Reports 61 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week
June 19, 2021
There were 61 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate; the number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities has been removed.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,084 (+61)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 2.7%
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,482 (+41)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 7.0%
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 2,310,881 (+10,629)
Case positivity rate: 3.2%
Deaths: 37,555 (+43)
Tropical Storm Warning: Local Need To Know Information
June 18, 2021
Escambia County is under a tropical storm warning. Here is the local need to know information from Escambia County:
Potential for minimal tropical storm force winds (mainly in gusts of 40-50 mph) along the coast. Flooding and life threatening surf/rip currents are the primary threats with this system.
Escambia County Emergency Management is taking preparatory actions by up-staffing Public Safety for the next 36 hours. If flooding occurs residents should take pictures of flood water lines on their residences for documentation as soon as its safe to do so.
“Escambia County Emergency Management would like to continue to remind residents to prepare now for possible flooding and rip currents with this system,” said Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “Additionally, we would like visitors to take the red flag warning seriously and stay out of the water due to possible life-threatening rip currents. Please listen to the local lifeguards and officials to remain safe.”
For safety purposes, the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) has canceled the Pensacola Beach Island Trolley services on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19.
Free Sand Available
Escambia County is offering free sand for residentsliving in flood-prone areas. The sand is available on a first come. Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels to one of the following locations:
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Travis M. Nelson Park - 4541 Highway 4, Bratt
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297A
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St., Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School -available on northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
Flooding Safety Tips
- With possible flooding forecast for our area, please do not drive into hazardous flood water and remember to Turn Around Don’t Drown®. Follow these flood safety tips:
- Get to higher ground – Get out of areas subject to flooding.
- Do not drive into water – Do not drive or walk into flooded areas. It only takes 6″ of water to knock you off your feet and 2 feet of water to carry away a vehicle.
- Stay informed – Monitor NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com on Facebook, local radar, television, local radio, or weather radio.
Water Safety Tips
Red flags are flying – DO NOT GO IN THE WATER TO SWIM OR WADE – The water is closed to swimmers.
How Much Will Terminated Administrator Gilley Get In Severance Pay? And Here’s What She Thinks Of Her Job Performance
June 18, 2021
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday afternoon to immediately terminate Administrator Janice Gilley.
Under her contract, Gilley will receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 20 weeks of her $185,000 salary. That equates just over $71,150. The county will also provide for her health and detail insurance for six months under the sames terms as if she were an employee, in addition to any coverage that might be available under COBRA.
Before the commission’s 4-1 vote to end her contract about a year early, Gilley distributed a 16-page self-authored handout highlighting her accomplishments over the past two years. The document is below.
For more details on Gilley’s termination, click or tap here.
This Century Bridge Was Closed About A Year And A Half Ago. The Town Can’t Afford To Fix It.
June 18, 2021
A Century bridge remains closed nearly a year and a half after it was discovered to be near collapse, and the town can’t afford to fix it.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or have extreme deterioration.
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
Interim City Manager Vernon Prather said at a recent town council meeting that Century simply does not have the money to fix the bridge. Repair costs have been estimated to be more than $300,000.
Century is set to receive $780,000 from the American Rescue Plan, a federal COVID-19 stimulus program. The town will receive half the money this year, and the other half with another year. Prather told the council they could allocate those funds for repairing the bridge, but no formal action has been taken.
“We haven’t forgot about it,” Prather said. If there comes an opportunity for a grant or other COVID money, we will certainly present that to the council.”
In January 2020, Mott McDonald engineers conducted a limited inspection of the bridge and found the following problems:
- A backwall has deflected toward the water, pushing piles toward the water and causing them to rotate, split and no longer bear weight.
- One bridge piling has a split at the top of the pile, but it is providing some support.
- A second pile has been pushed completely out and no longer supports the bridge.
- A third pile has split, and only half the pile is providing support.
- A fourth pile has deterioration with only a three-inch diameter section remaining about six feet below the bridge. The outer pile section has broken.
- There is soil loss behind a backwall.
- There is a large void underneath the roadway on the east side the bridge
“We cannot predict when the…backwall lateral loads will complete fail…causing the bridge the collapse,” engineer Bart Hendricks wrote in his report. “We also cannot predict when the roadway over the void on the southeast corner will collapse”
The age of the bridge was not provided to the engineer, but he determined the timber pilings may be at or beyond the typical life of 30 years. “A better long-term financial decision may be to replace this structure rather than perform repairs,” Hendricks wrote.
Photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are Some Rainy Weekend Summer Reading Resources From The Escambia County School District
June 18, 2021
The Escambia County School District is encouraging students to read over the summer, and they are offering some resources to help find that perfect summer reading material for our rainy tropical weekend.
The district has set a goal to have students collectively read 200,000 minutes. They are encouraging students to record their reading minutes in Beanstack and help their school win the nation-wide Level Up! Summer Reading Challenge.
For the ECSD’s summer reading resources for students of all ages, click or tap here.
Mahan, Bleday Drive in 5 Runs In Wahoos Win
June 18, 2021
Max Meyer pitched on a tightrope, putting himself in difficult situations with seven walks and his earlier-than-planned exit.
But as another progressive sign in his rookie pro career, he didn’t give up a run and his Pensacola teammates, led by fellow top pick JJ Bleday responded at the plate to build a lead that held up for a 5-3 victory Thursday night against the Montgomery Biscuits.
With this being a Thursday, Pensacola transformed into the Mullets with their colorful uniforms in a nod to the fans’ No. 2 choice for a name back in the inaugural 2012 season.
A crowd of 4,403 watched the Blue Wahoos rebound from a 7-3 loss Wednesday and entertain on Thirsty Thursday.
Meyer, 22, the third overall pick in the 2020 draft from Minnesota, threw a pro-career high 90 pitches in just four innings, but only 40 of those were strikes.
It led to those seven walks, plus he hit a batter in the second inning. A week ago against Chattanooga, Meyer’s four walks were his season high.
But despite his erratic location, Meyer battled his way through the four innings, giving up just one hit. In three of those innings, the Biscuits had two baserunners.
That was proved pivotal as the Blue Wahoos improved to 23-16 and took a 2-1 lead in this homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium
The Blue Wahoos scored runs in the first, second and fourth to build a lead, then added two more in the seventh.
Bleday and second baseman Riley Mahan had big night, both going 2-for-4 at the plate and accounting for all five RBI. Bleday’s two-run single in the seventh-inning proved decisive.
Dylan Bice followed Meyer on the mound with three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit to earn his third win. Colton Hock threw a clean eighth inning.
In the ninth, Tyler Mitzel, who joined the Blue Wahoos from the High-A Beloit Snappers, hung on after hitting a batter and giving up a two-run single.
The series is set to continue Friday with Edward Cabrera, the Miami Marlins No. 4 rated prospect, set to make his Double-A debut in Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos are constantly monitoring the tropical weather system in the Gulf of Mexico that is expected to impact the Pensacola area.
As of early Friday morning, the expectation is to complete the weekend series as scheduled.
The Blue Wahoos gave Meyer immediate support.
With one out in the first inning, Peyton Burdick walked, then went to third on an errant pickoff throw from Biscuits starter Tabias Meyers.
Bleday followed with a run-scoring single to left field.
In the second, Lazaro Alonzo doubled down the left field line. Mahan followed with a RBI single to center.
In the fourth inning, Mahn had an RBI double. He was robbed of a three-hit night in the eighth by a diving catch from left fielder Cal Stevenson.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
Escambia County Commission Terminates Administrator Janice Gilley Effective Immediately
June 17, 2021
The Escambia County Commission has terminated Administrator Janice Gilley, two years into her three year contract.
Commissioner Steven Barry made a motion during a meeting Thursday afternoon to consider Gilley’s employment contract concluded immediately. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jeff Bergosh.
The motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner Doug Underhill voting no.
“I’ve had the honor of serving for the past two years,” Gilley said after the vote, praising the county staff. “While much has been accomplished, there is still much to do to bring this county and its operations into the 21st century. I do look forward to watching that progress. As I have stated many times before, this is my home, and I love it.”
Gilley will receive severance pay as provided in her contract.
On a motion by Barry and a second by Bergosh, the commission voted 4-1, with Underill dissenting, to make Public Works (Roads & Bridges) Director & Deputy County Administrator Wes Moreno as acting county administrator. Moreno has been employed by Escambia County since 1987.
“I’ve come to the opinion that sometimes things don’t work out like you hope,” said Barry, who said no one issue led to his decision. “I believe wholeheartedly that she went into it with the best of intent…I know that I went into this with the best of intent. ”
“From my point of view, it’s just not a good fit, and it’s just not working out,” Barry continued. He offered no specifics, instead saying, “I don’t have interest in airing complaints — dirty laundry.”
“She’s always been willing to work with me,” Commissioner Bergosh.
“I’ve lost some confidence based upon the way people are treated,” Bergosh continued, referring to personnel issues and several large legal settlements. “There’s no doubt that Administrator Gilley has done a lot of things right…but there’s been other issues that’s really dragged us into areas were we didn’t have to be dragged into. ”
“You are the single greatest threat to the way we have always done business in Escambia County,” said Commissioner Underhill, praising Gilley for making tough decisions and changes to the status quo. “I applaud you; that’s what we hired you for. That’s exactly what we said we wanted a couple of years ago. You are that threat; your team is that threat.”
“I’m sensitive to having personnel discussions in a public forum…I will not publicly evaluate anyone,” Commissioner Lumon May said.
Bergosh previously noted that the only way commissioners could collectively discuss the administrator would be in an advertised public forum due to the Sunshine Law.
Commissioner Robert Bender responded only with a simple “no” when asked if he had any comments about Gilley’s performance.
“We have been friends nearly 20 years, and I still consider Janice a friend. I sincerely wish her the best with what the future has in store for her. Even having the best of intentions, sometimes things do not work out like you hope,” Barry told NorthEscambia.com after the conclusion of the meeting.
“I am honored to have had the past two years to lead this amazing team of Directors and hundreds of employees in support of services for our community,” Gilley said in a written statement following the meeting “For that I thank the Board. While there are many stories and memories, I will never forget asking for live munitions to scuttle a barge headed for the I-10 Bridge during Hurricane Sally. Or the joy experienced at each celebration for the summer youth program – to see the hope for the future in those young people. While much has been accomplished, there is still much to do to bring the County and its operations into the 21st Century. I look forward to watching that progress, as I have stated many times before, this is my home, and I love it and only want what is best for everyone here.”