Tate Aggies Beat Fletcher, Advance To Regional Semifinals
April 27, 2025
The Tate Aggies beat the Fletcher Senators 8-3 on Saturday afternoon in game three of a best-of-three series in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals in Neptune Beach.
With the win, Tate took the series 3-0,0-8,8-3.
The No. 4 Tate Aggies (16-12) will travel to Gainesville on Wednesday, April 30 for the first game in a best-of-three regional semifinal series with the No. 1 Buchholz Bobcats (28-1). The third game, if necessary, will move back to Cantonment.
Lance Brady earned the win for Tate, giving up four hits and three runs in a full seven inning game, while striking out two and walking four.
Kaden Posta went 2-for-5 with three RBIs for the Aggies. Cal Foxworth went 2-3, and Tate also had one hit each from Kaleb Posta, Nathan Ozuna, Brayden Beck, Griffin Cook, and Connor Dethlefs.
In other regional semifinal action, No. 2 Pace will host No. 3 Tocoi Creek on April 30.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Historic Four-Homer Inning Lifts Wahoos To Fourth Straight Win
April 27, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
If you’re going to set franchise records for home runs in an inning, as the Blue Wahoos did in this game, doing it on Fireworks Saturday is perfection.
In an all-time memory, three consecutive Pensacola hitters blasted bombs, then a fourth homer followed two at-bats later in a five-run third inning that carried the Blue Wahoos to their 6-3 victory against the Knoxville Smokies, delighting a massive sellout crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the first time since the Blue Wahoos began in 2012 with a trifecta of back-to-back-to-back homers. The four homers in an inning were also a team record.
In five other games in their history, the Blue Wahoos had three homers in an inning, but none were in a trio succession and never were four homers hit in the same inning.
“As they say, hitting is contagious, and when you watch the guys go up there and do it in front of you, it makes you feel a little easier and you want to follow suit,” said Blue Wahoos second baseman Johnny Olmstead, whose 2-run homer completed the fab four of homers in the third inning. “So, I had to go up there and see a good pitch, and it went out.”
That inning further energized a Saturday crowd that watched the Blue Wahoos (15-5) clinch the series with their eighth win in the last 10 games. They have the best record to start the 2025 season among all 30 Double-A teams across three leagues in Minor League Baseball.
This game began with a festive scene. It featured nine ceremonial first pitches. Three different youth league teams with kids ran out with Blue Wahoos starters.
Most of the crowd remained when the post-game fireworks capped the evening.
“We got the best fan base in minor league baseball, so let’s keep it rolling,” said Olmstead in the post-game, on-field interview with the Blue Wahoos’ Carter Bainbridge.
The Blue Wahoos will get a chance to do just that in Sunday’s series finale. This will be the third of four 1:05 p.m. Sunday starts to begin the season.
Another fast start occurred Saturday. In the first inning, Jake Thompson walked and scored when Nathan Martorella’s hard single got under the glove of right fielder Parker Chavers for a two-base error that allowed Thompson to provide a 1-0 lead.
In the eventful third inning, it was bombs away.
Thompson started things off with a no-doubter off the scoreboard in right field that exited his bat at 107 mph. Alderman then clouted a pitch over the left-center wall for a 3-0 lead. Nathan Martorella then set the club record with his line drive into the right field berm.
All of these homers were off Smokies’ starter Grant Kipp, who had a 2-0 record and 0.60 earned run average entering the game. The Blue Wahoos’ Tony Bullard tripled with one out and Olmstead’s homer ended the outing for Kipp with his two-run blast.
That also got Olmstead doused with ice water, of course, as he was trying to explain his big night.
“Yes it does,” said Olmstead, laughing, when asked if the ice bath felt good. “Ice water is always good. That means we won, so can’t complain about anything. Feel good at the dish and I’m just trying to keep it going.”
The Blue Wahoos carried a 6-0 lead through five innings behind starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, who earned his second win with his best night.
But a defining part of Saturday’s game occurred in the sixth inning. The Smokies had scored two runs off reliever Justin King, who became injured, forcing Dale Stanavich to be summoned for the second time in three games.
After rapidly warming up from the mound, he faced a situation with two on and two out when he struck out Hayden Cantrelle on a sweeper to end that inning.
In the seventh inning, after the Smokies scored their third run, Stanavich faced another jam with two on, one out. He struck out Smokies touted prospect Pablo Aliendo on a 96 mph fastball and ended the threat by a strikeout of Corey Joyce on a 3-2 slider.
Jesse Bergin pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos will close out this homestand on Sunday with left-hander Luis Palacios (0-0, 2.45 ERA) on the mound against the Smokies’ right-hander Antonio Santos, who is scheduled to make his second start of the week.
Santos pitched 3.2 innings in Tuesday’s series opener, allowing three hits, one run, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Following Sunday’s game, the Blue Wahoos embark on a back-to-back set of six-game road trips. They will travel to face the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday through May 4. They will then return home for an off day, before traveling to face the Biloxi Shuckers in a six-game series starting May 6.
The next Blue Wahoos homestand begins on May 13 against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Homestand Finale
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Century Community Mourns Passing Of Longtime Educator William ‘Edsol’ Smith
April 27, 2025
The Century community is mourning the loss of a longtime educator and community member Edsol Smith. He was 97.
William “Edsol” Smith was a graduate of Jay High School, the University of Florida and Mississippi College. He had a lifelong passion for learning — and his beloved Florida Gators.
He devoted his life to education, serving as a visiting teacher, classroom teacher, coach, and principal. Generators of Century Blackcats were shaped by his mentorship, guidance, and leadership.
His service extended beyond the classroom. Edsol was a dedicated deacon of First Baptist Church of Century, a proud member of the Century Lion’s Club, Masonic Lodge, and Kappa Delta Pi. He gave generously to causes focused on youth wellness, missionary work, and supporting those in need.
Funeral services for William “Edsol” Smith will be held at noon on Tuesday, April 29 at Jay Funeral Home Chapel, following visitation from 10 a.m. until noon. Interment will follow at Cora Baptist Cemetery on Chumuckla Highway in Jay.
For the complete obituary, services and contribution in lieu of flowers information, click here.
Forest Service Celebrates National Arbor Day With Tree Giveaway In Century (With Gallery)
April 26, 2025
The Florida Forest Service held a tree giveaway Friday morning to celebrate National Arbor Day.
A line formed before the 10 o’clock start time at the community center on West Highway 4.
Over 125 tree were available — including sycamore, red maple, Chickasaw plum and common persimmon in one gallon containers — with a limit if two trees per person.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
Forest Service personnel were on hand to share helpful planting information for the free trees, or to answer other tree-related questions.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $125,000 Sold In Beulah
April 26, 2025
Someone is over $120,000 richer after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Beulah.
The ticket, which was not a Quick Pick, was sold at the Publix at Nine Mile Crossing in Beulah. It was the only winning ticket in the Friday evening drawing and is worth $121,663.84. The winning numbers were 4-11-16-19-26.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Over 2,200 High School Students In Escambia County Have Now Received CPR Training
April 26, 2025
Over 2,200 Escambia County students have received hands-on CPR and and AED training.
Escambia County Public Schools, in partnership with Nemours Children’s Health and the American Heart Association provided the state-required basic first aid training, which includes hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction.
The program reached 2,200 students after training was conducted this week at West Florida High School, the seventh and final high school in this year’s program.
For more photos from CPR training at Northview High School, click here.
According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. With more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside of a hospital setting each year, bystander intervention plays a crucial role in clinical outcomes.
Florida statute requires students in 9th and 11th grade to participate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
Pictured: Students receive CPR training at Northview High School earlier this year. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On Multiple Felony Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
April 26, 2025
A windows tint violation led to a traffic stop and arrest of a Century man on multiple drug-related charges.
Joseph Edward Campbell, 39, was charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a schedule 2 controlled substance, all felonies.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed Campbell driving a black Chevy Silverado with heavily tinted windows along Century Boulevard. After pulling the vehicle over at the Century Kwik Stop, the deputy noted the strong odor of burnt marijuana.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, deputies found a black magnetic box under the driver’s seat containing illegal substances, according to the arrest report. Items reported seized included 3.43 grams of methamphetamine, 18 Amidon Metadona pills, several pills testing positive for fentanyl, Buprenorphine and Naloxone sublingual films, and a glass smoking pipe with residue. The substances were packaged separately, a method commonly associated with drug distribution, according to the ECSO.jos
Campbell was detained without incident. A search of his wallet revealed $598.75 in cash, mostly in small and large denomination bills, the report states. Deputies also seized his iPhone and the 2023 Chevy Silverado he was driving.
Campbell was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $45,000 bond.
Pictured: Campbell’s truck was seized and towed from the Century Kwik Stop. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Laskey Bears Down Against Former Team, Delivers Latest Wahoos Win
April 26, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
It didn’t take long for pitcher Adam Laskey to feel the ice water again dumped on his head, after once again being the Blue Wahoos’ latest star on the mound. “Just as cold,” he said, laughing.
In reality, so far this season, nothing has chilled nor fazed his performance.
Laskey, 27, a former Duke University star lefthander, continued an eye-opening start to his season, earning his first win after working five strong innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 4-2 victory Friday against the Knoxville Smokies before a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The win gave Pensacola (14-5) a 3-1 lead in the series as it heads into the weekend. The players wore their Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms in an alternate identity night — the first of three this season as part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa La Diversión initiative to honor the game’s origins.
Laskey’s outing lowered his earned run average to 0.55 in four starts. This one came against the team he pitched for in 2023. The Chicago Cubs made him available in the Rule 5 Draft that December, and the Miami Marlins selected him.
It was his first start against the Smokies, though he worked 6.2 innings in two relief appearances against them last season without allowing an earned run. His focus Friday didn’t include thinking about his former organization.
“Honestly, just trying to stack good starts on top of each other,” said Laskey, who has done that this season. “Obviously, a lot of good friends over there, but once you’re on the mound, it’s time to attack and pitch as well as you can.”
When Laskey left — allowing one run on four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts — the Blue Wahoos bullpen took over. That group has been just as impressive through 19 games this season as the starters.
Relievers Josh White and Ricky DeVito were each credited with their second hold. Closer Lane Ramsey earned his first save by striking out all three Smokies batters in the ninth. His first strikeout pitch registered 97 mph. The last pitch to end the game was clocked at 99 mph.
After the Smokies took a 1-0 lead, Johnny Olmstead reversed that with one swing in the fourth inning. His two-run homer was a no-doubter over the left-field wall that exited his bat at 108 mph.
The Blue Wahoos added two more runs in the fifth inning on Jake Thompson’s RBI single and Nathan Martorella’s sacrifice fly to score Thompson, who had a big night. The Blue Wahoos left fielder reached base all four times with three hits and a walk. He led a lineup where seven players registered a hit.
The game’s most important sequence occurred in the eighth inning. The Smokies had scored a run and had runners on first and third with one out. DeVito made big pitches — a curveball to strike out Haydn McGeary, the Smokies’ No. 3 batter, and then got cleanup hitter B.J. Murray Jr., the team’s top slugger, to fly out to left.
The Blue Wahoos will have Dax Fulton on the mound Saturday to try to clinch the series against Knoxville on a Fireworks Saturday.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
GAME TIMES: Saturday at 6:05 p.m., Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Six Lanes For Hwy 29? Four Lanes For Hwy 97? Rural Transportation Projects Prioritized
April 25, 2025
Six lanes for Highway 29? Four lanes for Highway 97? Those are just a few of the proposed projects on the Regional Rural Transportation Plan (RRTP) 2025 Transportation Project Priorities list — a list of proposed projects that aim to improve mobility, safety, and connectivity across rural area of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa counties, as well as all of Holmes and Washington counties.
The RRTP Technical Advisory Committee will consider the project priority rankings, possibly changing the priority order, during a meeting on May 21. The list will then be sent to the Emerald Coast Regional Council board for consideration, also on May 21. The final list will be sent to the Florida Department of Transportation for consideration and possible funding.
Proposed projects in Escambia County are listed below by their priority ranking.
In the following list, PD&E notes “Project Development and Environment Study” and PE notes “Preliminary Engineering (Design)”. None of the listed projects have been approved or funded to date.
Capacity Project Priorities
2. Highway 29 FL/AL Connector — widen to six lanes from I-10 to the state line in Century – Feasibility Study
6. Highway 97 — widen to four lanes from Highway 29 to state line at Atmore — PD&E
8. Highway 4 (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa) — widen to four lanes from Highway 29 in Century to Baker – Feasibility Study
Resurfacing Project Priorities
1. Highway 164 — resurface from Highway 97 to Highway 29 (widening not included) – PE
2. Highway 168 — resurface from Highway 99 to Highway 4A – PE
4. Highway 4 — resurface from Highway 97 to Highway 99 – PE
6. State Line Road — resurface 0.4 miles in the Century town limits – PE
7. Molino Road — resurface from Highway 29 to Highway 95A – PE
8. Highway 196 — resurface from Highway 29 to Highway 95A – PE.
Safety Project Priorities
3. Highway 29 & Highway 98 at Crabtree Church Road — high crash area — Safety Study
Bike/Ped/Trails Project Priorities
6. Highway 4 — shared use path from Highway 29 in Century to baker — TBD
Freight Project Priorities
3. Escambia AL & Gulf Coast Rail — track and tie rehab — PE
TA Project Priorities
3. Complete Streets Master Plan — Highway 29 from State Road 4 to County Road 4 –$125,000
4. Freedom Road Safety Enhancement — sidewalks, curb ramps, bike lanes from Highway 4 to Jefferson Avenue — $1.5 million
To see the complete project priority list, including all counties, click here (pdf).
The priorities are submitted annually to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as part of the statewide transportation planning process to support coordination across rural and regional efforts.
Man Seriously Injured In Thursday Night Crash Near Bratt
April 25, 2025
A Century man was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover crash in Bratt Thursday night.
The adult male was traveling westbound on Highway 168 about a half mile east of North Highway 99 when his Chevrolet Silverado cross the centerline and traveled off the roadway. The pickup truck struck a culvert and flipped through a ditch, coming to rest about 150 feet away at another culvert. The man, who reportedly was not wearing a seat belt, was able to exit the truck following the crash.
The man was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
For additional photos, click here.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
