Tate Aggies Shut Out Milton In District Lacrosse Quarterfinals
April 9, 2026
The Tate Aggies delivered a dominant performance on Wednesday, shutting out the Milton Panthers 12-0 in a the varsity girls a 2a District 1 lacrosse quarterfinal matchup.
Tate’s offense was firing on all cylinders, led by a standout six-goal performance from Kira Bigalow. Isabella McNeill added a hat trick, while Tori Sappington contributed two goals and Taelyn Hubbard rounded out the scoring with one. The Aggies’ precision was evident throughout the contest, as the team converted 12 of their 16 shots on goal.
Defensively, Tate was impenetrable. Goalkeeper Carly Helmig anchored the unit, recording six saves to preserve the shutout. The Aggies also controlled the tempo of the game on the ground, with Lily Meteiver and Taelyn Hubbard leading a physical effort that secured 16 ground balls.
The Aggies will look to continue their momentum as they face No. 1 Gulf Breeze on on Friday at 6 p.m. in Gulf Breeze.
Wahoos Run Wild, But Run Out Of Time In Loss To Shuckers
April 9, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swiped a season-high six bases and put themselves in position to collect their first win of the year Wednesday night in Biloxi, but found clutch hits elusive in a 6-3 loss to the Shuckers.
Dillon Lewis connected with his first home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning, but the Blue Wahoos went 1-for-14 with men in scoring position as they fell to 0-4 on the young season.
Alex Williams (L, 0-1) took the loss for Pensacola, cruising through three innings before running into trouble in a seven-hit, five-run fourth. Mike Boeve broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single, Matthew Wood laced a two-run homer, and Dasan Brown and Jesús Made added RBI singles to put the Shuckers ahead 6-1.
That would be more than enough run support for Manuel Rodriguez (W, 1-0), who scattered five hits over 5.2 innings to earn the win for Biloxi.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away with an RBI double from Ryan Ignoffo in the sixth, but left the bases loaded in both the fifth and eighth innings. Jesús Broca (S, 1) let in an inherited runner on a wild pitch in the eighth before retiring Cristian Hernández and Ignoffo with the tying run at first base to escape further trouble. He returned for the ninth and set down the Blue Wahoos in order for a 6-3 final.
Relievers Livan Reynoso and Kade Bragg combined for 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings of relief for Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer
Century Secures Finances To Rebuild Long-Closed Freedom Road Bridge
April 8, 2026
As of January 29, 2026, the Freedom Road bridge in Century had been closed for six years, and the town has finally solved a funding crisis and awarded a construction contract. But its funding may fall short just shy of opening the bridge.
The town council voted Tuesday night to award the $1,612,966.06 contract to low bidder F&W Construction Company, but the town only has about $1 million remaining.
The 2023-24 Florida budget included a $1,257,000 Legislative appropriation to replace a town-owned bridge, and the acceptance contract was inked in early October 2024. After design and permitting, about $1,067,788 remained for construction when bids were opened October 2025.
Now, consultant engineer Dale Long has worked with F&W to lower the costs. Once the contract has been awarded, a change order will be issued to cut the total bid by $325,716.47 to lower the construction cost to $1,287,249.59. Long and Mayor Ben Boutwell worked with Escambia County to secure a $300,000 pledge.
The remaining grant funds, reduced contractor cost, and $300,000 from the county will be enough money to demolish the existing bridge, build the new bridge, and maintain or relocate existing utilities owned by the town. But it will not be enough to open the bridge to the public.
As required by the state grant, the town will be responsible for contracting with an engineering firm for the Construction Inspection (CEI) at an estimated cost of $100,000 to $200,000.
Additional funds will be required to construct the roadway and site improvements before the bridge could be opened to the public. However, the partial funding approach will allow the town to utilize the grant funds that are available before they expire and would pay for the costliest portion of the construction.
“The hope would be that additional funding could be secured to complete this work in the near future,” Long said.
“We are going to help, but we’re going to try to keep working the number down as much as possible,” District 5 Escambia County Commissioner told NorthEscambia.com just minutes before Tuesday’s Century Town Council meeting.
Pictured: The Freedom Road bridge in Century, which has been closed for over six years, as seen in April 2026. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured lower photos, conditions that prompted the bridge to be closed six years ago.
Tate High School FFA Chapter Named One Of ‘Florida’s Finest’
April 8, 2026
The Tate High School FFA chapter has been named one of “Florida’s Finest” chapters.
The selection of these chapters is based upon the completion of the National Chapter Award program application.
The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. The chapters improve chapter operations using a program of activities that emphasizes growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.
Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership. The chapters will be recognized during the 98th Florida FFA State Convention & Expo to be held at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando this summer.
DUI Arrest: Molino Man Accused Of Battery On Pensacola Officer Following Crash
April 8, 2026
A Molino was charged following a single-vehicle crash and an alleged violent altercation with Pensacola Police.
Michael Tabium Watts, 35, ws charged with DUI influence of alcohol or drugs, refusal to submit to dui testing, battery on an officer, depriving an officer of means of protection or communication, resisting an officer with violence, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and possession of marijuana. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $22,000 bond.
Watts was arrested near the intersection of B and Cervantes Streets after officers followed a fluid trail from a damaged median wall at E Street. According to the arrest report, Watts’ black BMW SUV was found disabled in the roadway with severe front-end damage.
Responding officers noted that Watts smelled strongly of alcohol, had slurred speech, and struggled with basic motor skills. A passenger in the vehicle reportedly told police that Watts had been drinking vodka and smoking marijuana earlier in the night, ignoring her pleas to stop driving.
The situation escalated during field sobriety exercises when Watts became aggressive. Police say Watts resisted arrest, pulling away from officers and eventually grabbing an officer’s radio, turning it off and preventing a call for emergency backup. Officers were forced to use physical strikes to gain control and placed Watts into a patrol vehicle.
Tate’s Morris Homers As Aggies Fall To Navarre
April 8, 2026
Navarre 5, Tate 1
The Tate Lady Aggies fell 5-1 to Navarre on Tuesday night.
Tate’s Sarah Mitchell struck out 10 Raiders in six innings, giving up two hits and one run while walking four.
Brelynn Morris hit a one-run homer to left field, which tied the game at one in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Aubree Gorum and Peyton Wilson also recorded one hit each.
Tate will host South Warren from Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Wednesday and Niceville on Thursday.
McLellan Throws Seven-Inning No-Hitter As Tate Shuts Out Escambia
April 8, 2026
Tate 5, Escambia 0
Tate’s Bryton McLellan threw a seven inning no-hitter as the Aggies shut out Escambia 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Evan Taylor, Nathan Connors, Kannon Ham, and Cooper Halfacre each had one hit for the Aggies. aylor, Cook and Halfacre recorded one RBI apiece.
The Tate Aggies will host Washington on Thursday.
Enjoy Jazz By The Books At The Century And Molino Libraries
April 8, 2026
Enjoy Jazz by the Books this Thursday in Century and next Wednesday in Molino.
The live jazz performances by the Jazzabouts presented by Jazz Pensacola and the West Florida Public Libraries will be held:
Thursday, April 9, at noon until 2 p.m., at the Century Branch Library
Wednesday, April 15, 1-3 p.m., at the Molino Branch Library
The event is free.
Shuckers Stymie Wahoos In Pensacola’s Road Opener
April 8, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in their first road game of the 2026 season on Tuesday night, falling 8-2 to the Biloxi Shuckers.
Payton Green provided Pensacola’s only offense, collecting a single in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh.
Pensacola starting pitcher Jacob Miller (L, 0-1) was rudely greeted in the first inning by Biloxi’s Blake Burke, who extended his Southern League lead in home runs with a solo shot, his fourth in as many games to start the season.
The Shuckers added two runs in the second inning on an RBI single from Dasan Brown, and two more in the third inning on a Damon Keith double.
Five early runs would be more than enough for Biloxi’s Jaron DeBerry (W, 1-0) who worked around four walks to pitch 5.0 scoreless innings and earn the win in his season debut.
Biloxi added three runs off Pensacola’s bullpen, tacking on a pair of unearned runs in the seventh thanks to an RBI triple from Dylan O’Rae and an RBI single from Jesús Made. An RBI groundout from Keith in the eighth gave the Shuckers their last run in an 8-2 final.
Relievers Logan Whitaker and Samuel Vasquez each made their Blue Wahoos debuts out of the Pensacola bullpen.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Tuesday
written by Erik Bremer
Monday Night Cantonment House Fire Claims One Life
April 7, 2026
A Monday night house fire claimed one life in Cantonment.
The fire was reported just after 8 p.m. on Arena Road, about a quarter of a mile west of County Road 97.
The house was involved with heavy fire when firefighters arrived a few moments later, and the adult victim was located inside the brick home. There was no one else inside, but a dog and a cat were also found deceased.
For additional photos, click to enlarge.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire, and additional details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
