Fitterer Fantastic As Blue Wahoos Pitch Shutout Against Smokies
April 25, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos broke out one-time uniforms Thursday night and a specialty theme.
What didn’t change was the outstanding pitching and defense which has been the hallmark of this team’s fast start.
With Evan Fitterer continuing superlative ways, some new players in pressure roles also shined as the Blue Wahoos blanked the Knoxville Smokies 3-0 on Pensacola Navy Days Night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game took only 2 hours and 11 minutes to complete, delighting a crowd of 4,023 on a Thursday normally reserved for the alternate identity as Pensacola Mullets.
In this case, the Blue Wahoos (13-5) wore brown, bomber-jacket design jerseys indicative of U.S. Navy pilots with a Navy Days logo on one sleeve, and commemorative patch on the other. The actual Navy Days in Pensacola will be May 9-11 when the team is on an extended road trip.
In his fourth start, the 24-year-old Fitterer set the narrative by going six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. In 86 pitches, an array of array of fastballs, sinkers, sliders and changeup, he threw 55 pitches for strikes.
“It was great,” said Blue Wahoos catcher Spencer Bramwell, who made his first start and produced in a big way. “(Fitterer) was around the (strike) zone, he was attacking the plan, he was executing everything. He’s a fun guy to catch, so it was a good time.”
Bramwell, a California native like Fitterer, had a good time in his first start of the season. In the second inning, he blasted an opposite-field homer into the right field grass area. First at-bat, home run, which also became the only run the team needed.
“It felt great,” he said, speaking to Blue Wahoos broadcaster Carter Bainbridge in the on-field interview. “I have been waiting for an opportunity to play, so I had to come out and show out. I got the pitch I was looking for and glad it worked out.”
Beside that swing, Bramwell made a statement by throwing out two Smokies runners on back to back steal attempts in the second inning. The Smokies (9-8) didn’t attempt another steal in the few other times they had a baserunner.
Fitterer faced just 21 batters – three above the minimum in his six innings of work. When he exited, relievers Nigel Belgrave and newcomer Jesse Bergin were equally impressive.
Belgrave pitched two flawless innings with two strikeouts and no hits. In the ninth, Bergin made his Double-A debut after joining the team Monday from the Beloit (Wisc.) Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins High-A affiliate.
Bergin topped 98 mph with his fastball, striking out two batters around a walk to end the game. He painted a fastball to cleanup hitter Haydn McGeary to end the game.
Josh Zamora, the Blue Wahoos star in Wednesday’s walk-off win, drove in the second run Thursday with his one-out single that scored Kemp Alderman, who led off with a double.
Alderman followed in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly to score Jared Serna, who walked, stole second, then stole third to continue the Blue Wahoos baserunning prowess. They lead the Southern League with 44 stolen bases.
The win was Pensacola’s fourth in the last five games and provided a 2-1 series lead as the weekend trio of games await. Adam Laskey, who has an 0.79 earned run average, takes the mound Friday for the Blue Wahoos.
“We are close knit group,” Bramwell said. “We’re having fun, so as long as we keep having fun and doing the small things right, we’re going to be successful.”
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos had a live auction Thursday for the game-worn jerseys. Team president Jonathan Griffith was the auctioneer.
— A color guard from Naval Air Station-Pensacola presented the flags for the National Anthem. The singer was Sierra Brown, the chief air traffic controller on the base.
— The Navy Days weekend (May 9-11) will take place outside Blue Wahoos Stadium at the Community Maritime Park and will be an open public festival to help honor the community’s vast military connections will all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Friday Thru Sunday.
GAME TIMES: Friday and Saturday games all start at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 1:05 p.m.
Lithium-Ion Battery Suspected Of Causing ECUA Recycling Facility Fire
April 24, 2025
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority suspects a lithium-ion battery is to blame for causing a fire on Wednesday afternoon in their Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at the Perdido Landfill.
ECUA said their staff quickly responded to the fire and suppressed it. Escambia County Fire Rescue responded at 1:17 p.m. and declared the fire under control by 1:47 p.m.
Nathalie Bowers, ECUA public information officer, said all recycling operations will continue on Thursday.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Indecent Exposure, Drug Possession
April 24, 2025
A Cantonment woman and a Laurel Hill man were charged after allegedly having sex on the beach in public view.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office charged 24-year-old Emily Ann Smith and 26-year-old Corey Shaun Labauve with indecent exposure. Smith was also charged with felony drug possession.
Deputies responded to public complaints about the couple having sexual intercourse under a tent directly behind The Dock on Casino Beach Boardwalk. According to deputies, the act appeared to be ongoing when they arrived.
A witness told deputies that Smith and Labauve were “full on having sex”, and it outraged her sense of public decency.
Smith told deputies that she had been drinking, and she knew it was a bad choice, according to an arrest report. Labauve, the report continues, claimed there was no sexual contact and that Smith was simply “twerking on him”
Deputies located six alprazolam pills along with five partial alprazolam pills inside Smith’s bag, according to the arrest report.
Smith was released from jail on a $3,000 bond. Labauve remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $500.
High Schoolers Attend Northwest Florida Construction Career Days
April 24, 2025
Over 1,300 high school students from across the area rolled up their sleeves at the 2025 Northwest Florida Construction Career Days Tuesday and Wednesday at the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds.
Students had the opportunity to operate heavy equipment and learn about bridge inspections, paving, concrete, traffic control, engineering, and more. Students were also introduced to the large number of career paths available in the transportation, structural, engineering, and building industries, and were able to interact with representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), as well as various engineering firms, and contractors looking to hire in the Northwest Florida area.
High school seniors who attended in-person or virtually are eligible to receive a portion of up to $50,000 in scholarship funds that will be awarded this year.
For more photos, including Northview and Tate high school students at the event, click here.
“FDOT District Three is working diligently to create a pipeline of workforce and economic opportunities for the next generation. Not only does this event give students a unique chance to explore career opportunities that have substantial benefits and add tremendous value to their communities, but it also allows FDOT and its industry partners to connect with young people of all backgrounds and skill levels,” FDOT said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Shut Out Fletcher 3-0 In Regional Playoff Opener (With Gallery)
April 24, 2025
The Tate Aggies shut out the Fletcher Senators 3-0 Wednesday night in game one of a best-of-three series in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals.
Zane Warrington earned the home win for Tate. In seven innings, he allowed three hits and no runs, walking three and striking out six.
Taite Davis went 3-3 for the Aggies, while Nathan Ozuna and Kaden Posta each had multiple hits for Tate.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In game two, Tate will host Fletcher on Thursday at 7 p.m. If a third game in necessary, Tate will travel to Neptune Beach near Jacksonville to face the Senators on Saturday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Finish Regular Season Strong with 9-2 Win Over Escambia (With Gallery)
April 24, 2025
The Tate Lady Aggies closed their regular season with a solid 9-2 win over the Escambia Gators Tuesday night.
Kara Wine homered to center field to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth for Tate. It was a literal dinger that “dinged” off the scoreboard at Charlene Varnell Field in Cantonment. Wine went for 2-4 at bat for the Aggies. Peyton Womack and Kaylie Mitchell each added two RBIs.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
For a youth night photo gallery, click here.
Mykamia Padgett earned the win for Tate with three innings of no run, no hit softball as she recorded six strikeouts and no walks. Peyton Womack was in the circle for four innings in relief, surrendering two hits and two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out four.
Up next for the Tate is the district tournament with a schedule that is to be announced.
Wednesday night was Youth Night for the Lady Aggies as they hosted and recognized area youth softball teams including the Diamond Krushers, Lady Rockies Kids wearing jerseys were admitted at no charge and received a free hot dogs, chips and a drink.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dozens Of Violations, Arrests And Citations In Joint Traffic Operation
April 24, 2025
Last Friday, the Florida Highway Patrol, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and Pensacola Police Department conducted a joint DUI and traffic safety operation in Escambia County.
During the enforcement effort, there were 69 overall violations, 10 DUI arrests, two drug arrests, 31 speed citations and six misdemeanor criminal traffic-related offenses.
This enforcement detail was strategically planned to target high-risk behaviors on area roadways, including impaired driving, aggressive speeding, and other criminal traffic offenses. Officers from all three agencies conducted saturation patrols and mobile enforcement zones at known trouble spots, maximizing visibility and deterrence,” FHP Captain Jason King King said. “This multi-agency effort demonstrates the exceptional synergy achieved when law enforcement partners combine resources and expertise. By working together with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department, we’ve taken dangerous drivers off our roads and sent a clear message that impaired and reckless driving will not be tolerated.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Zamora’s Clutch Swing Gives Wahoos Walk-Off Win
April 24, 2025
by Bill Vilona
Josh Zamora guessed right on the first pitch and connected well.
It turned a game that went from deflating an inning earlier for the Blue Wahoos into a walk-off, 10th inning celebration, after Zamora’s run-scoring hit and 4-3 win against the Knoxville Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Smokies trailed 3-0 and were down to their final out when Pablo Aliendo blasted a game-tying homer deep over the left field wall off reliever Zach McCambley.
But the Blue Wahoos got a terrific relief performance in the 10th inning from Dale Stanavich, who stranded runners in scoring position with one out, by striking out the next two batters to keep the game tied.
“It says a lot,” said Zamora, after being twice doused with ice bucket water moments after his big hit. “Our clubhouse, from top to bottom, the word is resilient.”
The Blue Wahoos rallied with textbook execution to get the run.
In the bottom of the 10th, Mark Coley II was the placement runner on second. Jared Serna was intentionally walked.
Shane Sasaki followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt that forced the only play to first base.
With runners on second and third, Nathan Martorella was intentionally walked and the Smokies chose to bring in an outfielder to have five infielders between bases.
On the first pitch he saw from Smokies reliever AJ Puckett — a fastball — Zamora sent it sailing into left field and the game was over.
“Honestly, I was trying to see a ball up at the plate and put a good swing on it.”
He did. And the Blue Wahoos won a game that seemed headed their way after eight innings.
Starting pitching Robby Snelling was brilliant again in his fourth start. The lefthander pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, struck out nine batters and gave up just one walk.
Snelling, the Blue Wahoos highest-rated prospect, has allowed just one run in three of his four starts and just five runs this season in 21 innings pitched.
But when he exited after throwing 84 pitches, the game was still scoreless.
The Blue Wahoos broke through in the seventh inning. Jake Thompson and Johnny Olmstead hit back-to-back doubles. Thompson had to wait on the ball hit by Olmstead and stayed at third base. With one out, Dalvy Rosario had an RBI single. Coley II hit a grounder that deflected off the third baseman’s glove for an RBI and 2-0 lead.
Sasaki scored after a leadoff walk in the eighth and stolen base, then an errant pickoff attempt to make it 3-0.
But in the top of the ninth, the Smokies got a one-out single, then a walk. McCambley struck out the next batter, Hayden McGeary.
But he left a one-strike pitch against Aliendo, one of the Chicago Cubs top 30 prospects, up in the strike zone and he walloped a no-doubter to tie the game. It was the only mistake McCambley made in three solid innings of relief.
Stanavich’s clutch relief and then Zamora’s heroics produced a good end for the Blue Wahoos to even the series.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos entered the game as the Southern League leader in stolen bases with 40.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Thursday thru Sunday
GAME TIMES: Thursday through Saturday games all start at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 1:05 p.m.
Molino Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Attempted Capital Sexual Battery Of Child
April 23, 2025
A Molino man has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison in a child sex abuse case.
Brannen Lee Bateman, now 31, was convicted of attempted capital sexual battery.
Bateman was sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles to 25 years in state prison to be followed by 25 years sexual offender probation. He was also designated as a sexual predator.
According to court documents, Bateman was 21 years old when he began forcing a 5-year-old girl to have sexual contact with him and watch pornographic video on his phone.
He was also accused of abusing another 6-year-old girl, according to court documents. The girl told her parents, but they did not believe her.
EREC Awards Four Scholarships
April 23, 2025
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced four scholarships awards to students in the utility’s service area.
Four-year Herman D. Johnson Scholarships are being awarded to Colton Criswell from Northview High School and Braden Adams from Jay High School.
EREC Trade/Votech Scholarships are being awarded to Ayden Attalah from Northview High School and Lael Peterson from Jay High School.
The students will be recognized at the EREC Annual Meeting on April 26 at Wallace Lake K-8 School.
Pictured top: Colton Criswell (left) and Braden Adams. Pictured below: Ayden Attalah (left) and Lael Peterson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
