Mahan’s Ninth-Inning Homer Powers Wahoos to Sixth Straight Win
May 27, 2021
Riley Mahan couldn’t have picked a better time to deliver his first home run of the season. In a 2-2 game in the top of the ninth, Mahan drilled a three-run homer off Jake Cousins (L, 0-1) and the Wahoos held on for a dramatic 5-4 win against Biloxi on Wednesday night for the sixth consecutive victory.
Cousins, who was the fifth pitcher used by Biloxi on Wednesday, entered the game in the ninth with the game tied at 2-2. Nick Fortes led off the inning with a single before Cousins struck out Tristan Pompey. After he walked Lazaro Alonso to put runners on first and second, Mahan crushed a no-doubter to deep left center to put Pensacola up 5-2.
Biloxi put up a fight in the bottom of the ninth against Brian McKenna (W, 3-0), who was in his second inning of relief.
David Fry homered on the first pitch he saw in the ninth to bring the Shuckers to within two. After back-to-back strikeouts, Tyler Fries singled to center before Ryan Aguilar drew a two-out walk.
The next batter was Tristen Lutz, who dropped a run-scoring single into shallow center to make it a 5-4 game. That brought up Brice Turang, who enters this season as the Brewers #1 prospect according to Baseball America. With the tying run at third, Turang flew out to left field to end the game.
The late-game drama in Wednesday’s game distracts slightly from the start of the contest, which featured two of best young pitching prospects.
Jake Eder made his fourth start of the year for the Blue Wahoos and allowed one hit in five innings. He allowed one run that was unearned in the third, after the Wahoos made two separate errors that allowed Friis to both reach base and score.
Outside of that, Eder was virtually untouchable, with Biloxi’s only hit a bunt single that was momentarily misplayed by Alonso in the bottom of the fifth. Eder struck out eight, bringing his season total to 34, which after tonight is the most in the Double-A South.
Biloxi had their #2 pitching prospect (_Baseball America_), Ethan Small on the mound who also struck out eight in five innings of work. He allowed two runs in his start, the first of which came after a first-inning walk to JJ Bleday and then an RBI double to Fortes. In the third inning, Peyton Burdick doubled and eventually scored after a couple of wild pitches.
The road trip continues tomorrow night when both teams will once again send out a couple of lefties on the bump. Brandon Leibrandt gets the nod for Pensacola (0-1, 9.00) while Biloxi will go with Leo Crawford (0-1, 9.26).
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
File photo.
Video: Here’s How Traffic Will Flow On When The Pensacola Bay Bridge Opens
May 26, 2021
The Florida Department of Transportation has created an animation to show motorists what to expect when the Pensacola Bay Bridge opens to traffic. The video is meant to assist motorists in preparing for the traffic alignment on the bridge and instruct motorists traveling into Pensacola on how to navigate the 17th Avenue Flyover.
The bridge, expected to open by next week, will be two lanes for less than a mile on the Pensacola end and four lanes for remainder.
Click or tap here for direct video link.
Man Convicted, Sentenced To Life In Prison For Killing Escambia County Store Owner
May 26, 2021
A Montgomery, Alabama, man was convicted Wednesday morning of killing an Escambia County convenience store owner in 2016. He was then sentenced to life in prison.
Raymond Jerome Pruitt, 44, of Montgomery, Alabama, robbed the A&E Food Mart on Pace Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. on April 26, 2016. During the robbery, he shot and killed 53-year old Chung Lun Chiang, known as “Alan,” while he worked.
Pruitt’s crime spree began on April 5, 2016, in Montgomery when he stabbed his girlfriend and shot her with her own pistol as she tried to escape. Pruitt was soon identified as the prime suspect in five armed robberies occurring in Montgomery, Ozark, Troy, and Prattville, Alabama.
Cantonment Man Facing Weapons, Drug Charges After Allegedly Fleeing From Deputies
May 26, 2021
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after allegedly running from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies as they attempted o arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
Jeffery Jermaine Purifoy, 26, was charged with resisting arrest, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, tampering with physical evidence by concealing, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine and possession of a drug paraphernalia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve a fleeing and eluding warrant on Purifoy at an apartment complex on Massachusetts Avenue. Purifoy allegedly hid a stolen pistol and narcotics before running from deputies.
At the Escambia County Jail, a correctional officer reported finding a bag containing marijuana in Purifoy’s pocket.
New Area Code: The Very First 448 Numbers To Be Available In Century
May 26, 2021
The new 448 area code was official activated for the area last Saturday, and now we are learning that the very first 448 numbers will be available in Century beginning July 17.
The numbers were assigned to Inteliquent, a telecommunications company that provides services to wireless, cable, carriers and communication service providers.
Mandatory 10-digit dialing is effect for existing and new phone numbers in the 850 and the new 448 area codes. This includes landlines, cellphones and other devices. The 850/448 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle, including the cities of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Troopers Seek To Identify Vehicle Involved In Highway 29 Hit And Run
May 26, 2021
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking help to identify a vehicle involved in a hit and run crash Tuesday afternoon.
About 3:40 p.m., a hit and run crash occurred near the intersection of Pensacola Boulevard (Hwy. 29) and Hope Drive. The suspect vehicle, described as a dark colored Mazda hatchback SUV, hit a Dodge Ram on Pensacola Boulevard then fled onto Hope Drive. The Mazda was occupied by a black male with a dreadlocks or a braided style hair, according to FHP.
The victim followed the suspect vehicle after it fled the scene and obtained the picture of the vehicle (above). FHP said the suspect began driving recklessly, passing a stopped school bus, and driving toward oncoming traffic.
Troopers said the suspect vehicle will have damage to the driver’s side front and rear passenger door. Anyone with information regarding the suspect, is asked to contact Trooper Knowles at *347 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
UWF Campus To Host First Argos Football Game In September
May 26, 2021
The University of West Florida Argonauts will play their first-ever regular season football game on the UWF Pensacola Campus, hosting Southwest Baptist at Pen Air Field on Sept. 11, 2021.
The Argos will host the Bearcats for a special, one-time only, on-campus game. The UWF campus will be buzzing with activity leading up to the 6 p.m. kickoff.
“I’m looking forward to hosting Argo fans on our beautiful campus,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “It will be a grand event and, as always, the best party in town.”
The Argos play their home games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. But this first home game for 2021 will be moved to the UWF Pensacola Campus due a conflict with the Blue Wahoos’ schedule.
“This is a great opportunity to create a college game day atmosphere on our beautiful campus,” explained UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott. “We have accomplished several firsts with football, but this will be the first-ever Argonaut Football Game on campus, at Pen Air Field, and the ticket will be something Argo fans will want to hang on to.”
The game will be a campus-wide event with involvement from a variety of organizations.
The first-ever, on-campus game will be another opportunity to celebrate the Argos’ 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship with the greater Pensacola community. The event will also showcase the UWF Football facilities in the Darrell Gooden Center and on Pen Air Field.
“We are looking forward to sharing this historic day on Pen Air Field with our great fans,” said UWF Head Coach Pete Shinnick.
The Argos are 35-17 in four seasons under Coach Shinnick. UWF is 13-7 at home during those first four seasons.
Season tickets for the UWF Football 2021 schedule are on sale now. Season ticket holders who renew their tickets by July 16, 2021 will have this game included in their season ticket price.
Those with UWF Football parking passes will be able to use their pass for this on-campus game as well.
Single game tickets will go on sale August 1.
Three Blue Wahoos Homer In 4-1 Series Opening Win Over Shuckers
May 26, 2021
Max Meyer (W, 2-1) twirled five shutout innings against the Shuckers and three different Wahoos homered en route to a 4-1 series opening win at MGM Park on Tuesday.
Meyer, who dazzled in his previous outing against Rocket City, continued his dominant pitching against a veteran Biloxi team. Meyer scattered two hits across his five scoreless innings, and walked only one while striking out three. Over Meyer’s last two outings, the Marlins #3 prospect has not given up a run over 10.2 innings of work.
Offensively, the team with the fewest home runs in the Double-A South slugged their way to win.
Lazaro Alonso doubled his home run tally in the second when he led off the inning with an opposite-field homer off Bowden Francis (L, 3-1) to put the Wahoos up 1-0. After Bleday doubled the Wahoos lead in the third with an RBI groundout, Nick Fortes launched his first home run of the season to make it 3-0.
The reigning Double-A South hitter of the week, Peyton Burdick, continued his hot streak when he belted his fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning to make it 4-0.
It was a true boom-or-bust night for the Wahoos, who set a new season high for home runs in a game, but also struck out 16 times.
The bullpen was excellent again for the Blue Wahoos. Despite the fact that Zack Leban was touched up for one run in two innings of work, Sean Guenther delivered a scoreless eighth inning and Colton Hock worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to capture his fourth save of the season. Over the bullpen’s last 31.1 innings of work, the pitchers have only allowed seven earned runs (2.01 ERA) and have issued four walks compared to 44 strikeouts.
The series continues tomorrow evening at 6:35 PM CT in Biloxi. LHP Jake Eder (1-1, 0.60) will face LHP Ethan Small (1-1, 5.25).
File photo.
Two Teens Arrested, Third Suspect Wanted For Burglarizing Vehicles At Dealership
May 26, 2021
Two teens were arrested and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a third suspect after vehicles were burglarized at a Car City dealership.
Zacharias Jackson-Holley, 17, and Darrian Jenkins, 17, were both charged with attempted burglary and resisting arrest without violence. Jackson-Holley was also charged with use or display of a firearm during a felony.
Sgt. Tony Godwin spotted three juvenile suspects burglarizing vehicles at the Sandy Sansing Nissan dealership on Pensacola Boulevard. As Godwin approached the suspects they took off running.
Deputy James Morris and K-9 Rocket began tracking the suspects. K-9 Rocket located Jackson-Holley and Jenkins near the retention pond on the west side of the dealership.
A handgun was located on suspect Jackson-Holley, according to the ECSO.
The third suspect is described as a younger black male with dreads, wearing black shorts and a white shirt. Anyone with information about his identity is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Arrest Made In Hit And Run Crash Involving Quint Studer
May 25, 2021
Pensacola Police have made an arrest in the Saturday night hit and run crash involving Pensacola entrepreneur and philanthropist Quint Studer on Bayfront Parkway.
Terrance Juwann Myles, 25, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury, careless driving, and driving while license is suspended. The vehicle involved in the crash (pictured) was found at Myles’ home, according to police.
Studer was riding his bicycle along Bayfront Parkway near Bartram Park about 9 p.m. May 22 when he was hit. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Pictured top: The vehicle allegedly involved in the crash. Pictured inset: Myles in May 2 mug shot.