Selling Stellar In 4-1 Wahoos Win Over Columbus
April 17, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos evened up their first road series of the season at one game apiece on Wednesday night, beating the Columbus Clingstones 4-1 thanks to a dominant outing from Robby Snelling.
Snelling (W, 2-0) worked 6.0 scoreless innings of one-run ball, striking out six and walking only one, to earn his second win. He outdueled fellow ace Drue Hackenberg (L, 1-2), who pitched 5.2 effective innings for the Clingstones but struggled with his command at critical moments.
The Blue Wahoos (8-3) jumped ahead early in the second inning, as Nathan Martorella drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third base on a pickoff throwing error and wild pitch. Jake Thompson drove him in with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Pensacola lead.
A similar progression followed in the fourth inning, as Joe Mack coaxed a leadoff walk from Hackenberg before scoring on a Josh Zamora sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. The Blue Wahoos lineup went only 1-for-10 with men in scoring position, but provided enough offense for Snelling to pitch comfortably.
The Clingstones (5-5) scratched across their lone run on an Adam Zebrowski RBI single in the fourth, but Snelling dug deep to retire Zebrowski with two men aboard in the sixth to end his night on a high note.
Thompson added an insurance run in the sixth inning with a two-out RBI double after Josh Zamora had reached on an unusual catcher’s interference call, and Dalvy Rosario forced in Pensacola’s fourth run in the ninth inning with a bases-loaded walk. The Blue Wahoos drew eight walks as a team on the evening, including three leadoff walks that all came in to score.
Josh White pitched a scoreless seventh before Dale Stanavich (S, 2) entered in the eighth and got the final six outs to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Thursday night. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET/6:05 p.m. CT.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Slams Local Rep. Michelle Salzman Over Higher Ed Bill; She Fires Back
April 16, 2025
During a Pensacola press conference Tuesday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired the first shots in what has since erupted in a war of words between the Republican governor and fellow Republican District 1 Representative Michelle Salzman.
Salzman, who said she was not even invited to the presser, is firing back.
During the press conference at Pensacola State College, DeSantis said both local representatives, Salzman and Alex Andre, were “behaving like Democrats”.
DeSantis’ beef with Salzman, who represents all of Escambia County except for the more southern end, is over a bill she filed. HB 1321 will remove the governor’s office from searches university presidents and puts the process back into the sunshine under Florida public records law.
DeSantis claimed Salzman’s bill is “cosponsored by the most flamboyantly left-wing Democrat”.
“She had been a very good, good ally for many years. She had a good conservative record. And I think what happens is these people go to Tallahassee, and they go native,” DeSantis said in an apparent slight to Salzman’s Native American heritage. She is a member of the Santa Rosa Creek Band of the Lower Muscogee.
“She’s doing the bidding of the leadership and the staff. She’s not doing what you sent them there to do. You did not elect her to undo our conservative reforms in higher education because I’m confident if she ran on that, you wouldn’t have elected her in the first place,” the governor said.
Salzman said DeSantis did a statewide phone callout across the state Monday night, asking Floridians to flood her office with phone calls. She said the call only prompted eight people to call her office, and only three of those were from her local district, and they support her bill.
Salzman said she and her supporters were not allowed to attend the press conference, with the only elected officials there being from Santa Rosa County. Escambia County Chairman Mike Kohler, a Republican, said he was also turned away.
In a lengthy exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com, Salzman explained her bill and responded to the governor. To hear her complete response, see the video below or visit the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
Century’s New $35,000 Sign Has Been Installed
April 16, 2025
The Town of Century’s new $35,000 sign has been installed.
Last December, the town council approved the purchase from Plastic Arts Signs in Pensacola for the new sign, which includes an electronic message center. According to an agenda item by then-Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., the sign will “enhance community visibility and branding” with a more modern design than the town’s non-functioning brick-based electronic sign. The brick sign has been removed.
Century funded the sign with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
The old sign (pictured bottom) also included the Century Branch Library. Gomez said in December that the town was in discussions with the West Florida Public Libraries, a system owned and operated by Escambia County, about potential cost sharing for the sign. The library is not on the new sign.
Pictured: A new sign outside the Century Town Hall on Tuesday, April 15. Pictured bottom: The town’s former sign, which has now been removed. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The One With The Home Runs: Tate Destroys Escambia; Jay Tops Northview
April 16, 2025
In high school softball on Tuesday night, it was a night of home runs for the Tate Aggie as they beat Escambia, and Northview and Jay each recorded a home run as the Royals came out on top.
Tate 15, Escambia 1
The Tate High School Lady Aggies were on fire Tuesday night as they destroyed the Escambia Gators 15-1 in mercy-ruled five innings.
The hits just kept on coming from the Aggies. In the second inning, Jordyn Banks hit a grand slam to center field. Kara Wine homered to right field to score two runs, and Carlyn Ham hit a solo home run to center field. In the third inning, Madison Smilie hit ad solo home run to left field.
Peyton Womack earned the win for Tate. In five innings, she surrendered three hits and one fun, walking two and striking out five.
Carlyn Ham went 2-3 for Tate at bat.
In JV action for Tate, freshman Bailey Parden also knocked a homer on Tuesday.
Jay 5, Northview 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell to Jay 5-3 Tuesday night in Jay.
The night saw two home runs — a solo home run to left field from Jay’s Mylee Frazier in the bottom of the fourth inning and a solo homer to center field by Northview’s Avery Stuckey in the top of the firth.
Jamison Gilman pitched four innings for the Lady Chiefs, allowing two runs (one earned) and one hit while walking one and striking out two. Mikayla McAnally went two in the circle for Northview, allowing three runs and walking two and striking out four.
Layna Lowry went a complete seven innings for the Royals, surrendering three runs on eight hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out nine.
Addysen Bolen and Avery Stuckey both had two hits for Northview with one RBI each. Riley Brooks added one Chief RBI.
Mylee Frazier had three runs batted in for Jay as she went 1-2.
Northview will host Baker Thursday in a district matchup, and Jay will travel to Crestview.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview And Tate Fall In Baseball District Playoffs
April 16, 2025
Both the Northview Chiefs and the Tate Aggies fell Tuesday night in district playoff action.
Jay 2, Northview 1
Jackson Bridges went five and two-thirds innings for Northview, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits, walking four and striking out three. Landon Golden started for Jay, surrendering five hits and one run in seven innings, striking out eight and recording one walk.
Brady Smith went 2-4 for Northview, and Jase Portwood had home RIB as he went 1-3.
Cam Pierce went 1-2 with one RBI for the Royals.
No. 1 Central and No. 2 Jay will play for the Rural District 1 Championship on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Crestview 11, Tate 4
In the 6A District 1 semifinals, the Tate Aggies fell 11-4 to Crestview.
Zane Warrington went five and two-thirds innings for Tate, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out six.
Kaleb Posta had three RBIs for Tate as he went 1-3. Taite Davis and Kaden Posta also had a hit apiece.
No. 3 Crestview will face No. 1 Pace on Wednesday for the district championship.
Vehicle Destroyed By Fire Outside Cantonment Dollar General
April 16, 2025
Fire destroyed a vehicle outside of a Cantonment Dollar General Store on Tuesday night.
The fire was reported in a parking area on the side of the Dollar General at 1429 South Highway 29 at Tate School Road.
There were no injuries reported and no major damage to the building. Upon arrival, Escambia Fire Rescue was able to quickly bring the fire under control.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and submitted photos by Candace Huddleston, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Blanked In Columbus Opener
April 16, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their road schedule with a loss on Tuesday night, falling 3-0 to the Columbus Clingstones in the first game at the newly-renovated Synovus Park.
In front of an eager sellout crowd of 5,041 fans, the Clingstones (5-4) christened their new home with a combined four-hit shutout of the Blue Wahoos (7-3). Starter Blake Burkhalter (W, 1-1) was the star, fanning eight batters over 5.2 innings and leaving six Pensacola runners on base to squander early threats.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Jacob Miller (L, 0-2) did his best to counter, becoming the first Pensacola pitcher to complete 6.0 innings this season, but surrendered a leadoff walk to second baseman David Fletcher in the third that came in to score on a subsequent wild pitch for the only offense the Clingstones would need.
Columbus added two more runs in the seventh with RBI singles from Carlos Rodriguez and Cal Conley against reliever Ricky DeVito, extending their lead to 3-0. They then handed things off to nine-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel, who struck out a pair in a scoreless eighth in front of the delighted crowd. Kimbrel, 36, was added to the Columbus roster on Monday in his attempt to return to the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves.
Hayden Harris (S, 1) finished off the Blue Wahoos in the ninth, ending a memorable night for the Columbus fans. Synovus Park, formerly named Golden Park and originally opened in 1926, underwent an extensive renovation to meet modern MiLB standards and lure a Double-A franchise back to town for the first time since 1990.
Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack collected the first hit in the stadium with a single in the first inning. Jared Serna extended his hitting streak to a team-high eight games with a single in the seventh. Mark Coley II made a sprawling catch in the left field corner in the bottom of the seventh and rob Adam Zebrowski of a potential two-run double.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Wednesday night. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET/6:05 p.m. CT.
File photo.
Have You Seen The New FHP Corvette C8 Stingray?
April 16, 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol’s new sports car can go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and reach speeds up to 194mph.
Let’s say that again. 0-60 in 2.9 seconds.
It’s a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray unveiled by the FHP on Tuesday. And no, it was not purchased with taxpayer dollars. The car was seized by the FHP in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force.
FHP said the Corvette “will be utilized to support the Florida Highway Patrol’s mission of keeping our roadways and highways safe”. It will also be used at outreach and educational events and in recruitment efforts.
You won’t likely see the car on the roads in Escambia County anytime soon. It’s stationed with Troop F in Fort Myers.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also has seized Corvette. The ECSO 2016 Corvette Z06 C7 was a felony seizure from local drug dealers.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Roberts Road $4.6 Million Drainage, Widening Project Begins
April 15, 2025
An Escambia County $4.6 million West Roberts Road widening and drainage improvement project is now underway.
The widening and drainage improvements will be along a 1.75 mile stretch of West Roberts from the Highway 29 intersection west to the southernly turn to Sutton Place. The project intent is to widen the roadway to two 12-foot-wide travel lanes with 5-foot-wide shoulders from Pine Forest Road to Highway 29. The roadway from the southern turn to Pine Forest will be resurfaced and striped.
The $4,635,298.30 project funded the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was awarded to contractor C.W. Roberts, Inc.
The county said access to adjacent properties will be maintained, although there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance is blocked.
Pictured: West Roberts Road near Stallion Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
IRS Tax Deadline Was Extended For All Florida Residents
April 15, 2025
Taxpayers in Florida have until May 1 to file with the IRS.
Due to hurricanes that hit the state last summer, the IRS extended the tax deadline for all Florida residents and businesses until May 1, 2025. That gives residents of Florida, and other states including Alabama, a couple more weeks to file beyond the traditional April 1 deadline.
The IRS extended the tax filing deadline to May 1, 2025, for all Florida residents and businesses due to hurricanes Debbie, Helene and Milton that hit the state in 2024.
The automatic deadline extensions apply to all Florida counties and cover individual, corporate, estate, trust, partnership, S corporation, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns, along with other types of returns.
For more information from the IRS, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.