Ignoffo’s Walk-Off Salvages White’s Great Night In Wild Wahoos Win
May 9, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played through rain to beat the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Friday night, surviving a late ninth-inning collapse to win 5-4 on a Ryan Ignoffo walk-off single.
On an evening devoted to a bobblehead giveaway of 2025 staff ace Thomas White, it was Brandon White who wowed the crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The righty allowed just a single and a walk over 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out a career-high 11 batters.
As steady rain accumulated, the Blue Wahoos took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an Emaarion Boyd double and Ignoffo sacrifice fly. They added another run in the fourth on a Jay Beshears double and Gage Miller RBI groundout.
White was flawless aside from a first-inning walk and third-inning Mac McCroskey single, and struck out the side in the top of the fifth to make the game official. The Blue Wahoos doubled their lead in the bottom of the fifth against Rocket City starter Ryan Costieu, as Fenwick Trimble hit an RBI double and Ignoffo hit an RBI single for a 4-0 advantage.
White became the first Blue Wahoos starter to work into the seventh inning this season as he finished his outing with a strikeout of Matthew Lugo, his career-high 11th of the night.
The Trash Pandas got a run back in the eighth with a Raudi Rodriguez sacrifice fly off Luis Palacios, though Nigel Belgrave (W, 1-2) entered to strike out Matthew Lugo as the potential tying run with two men aboard. Belgrave couldn’t quite shut the door in the ninth, however, as the Trash Pandas collected three consecutive two-out hits to tie the game 4-4. Pinch hitter Gustavo Campero singled to keep the game alive, and Kyren Paris followed with a pinch-hit, two-run triple. Wade Meckler tied the game with an infield RBI single, though he was stranded at second as Belgrave struck out Tucker Flint to stop the rally.
The Blue Wahoos got their leadoff man on in the bottom of the ninth against Trash Pandas closer Kenyon Yovan (L, 2-1), as Boyd reached on catcher’s interference. He stole second, took third on a groundout, and came in on Ignoffo’s two-out RBI single to center field.
The victory marked Pensacola’s first walk-off win of the season, and Ignoffo’s first of his Blue Wahoos career.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Saturday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Five Scholarships
May 8, 2026
The Barrineau Park Historical Society recently presented five scholarships.
Recipients were:
Carter Hayden was the recipient of a $1,000 Barrineau Park Historical Society scholarship. He will attend Mississippi State University.
Austin Jackson was the recipient of a $1,000 Barrineau Park Historical Society scholarship. He will attend the University of West Florida.
Ava Jacobi was awarded a $1,000 Lynda Minchew scholarship. She will attend the University of West Florida.
Sa Dayveon “Davy” Bradley was alwarded a $500 Mildred Haupert scholarship. He will attend Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.
Ayden Crabtree was awarded the $500 Louis Crabtree, Jr. scholarship. He will attend the University of West Florida.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mississippi Man Killed In Fiery I-65 Crash North Of Flomaton
May 8, 2026
A Mississippi man was killed in a fiery crash on I-65 in Escambia County, Alabama.
The two-vehicle crash occurred about 6 a.m. Monday on I-65 approximately 18 miles north of Flomaton, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said on Thursday.
Brandon G. Wascom, 46, of Carriere, Mississippi, was fatally injured when his 2018 Chevrolet Silverado struck the rear of the 2001 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Jaron K. Bush, 34, of Mobile. After the initial impact, the pickup caught fire. Wascom was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Reader submitted photo.
Lewis Jr. Homers In Wahoos 7-3 Loss To Trash Pandas
May 8, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Rocket City Trash Pandas by a final score of 7-3 on Thursday night.
Pensacola was playing catch up early, when two runs scored on a ground ball that ate up Wahoos shortstop Payton Green off the bat of Rocket City leadoff hitter Wade Meckler, Green’s first error of the year.
The Blue Wahoos would answer back in the fourth inning, when Dillon Lewis walked with one out and Ian Lewis Jr. would send one over the right field wall for a 2-run homer, his third blast of the year. Two batters later, Payton Green would hit his team leading 8th double of the year and would eventually score on a Ryan Ignoffo go ahead RBI single, giving the club a 3-2 lead. Ignoffo had entered the game in the second inning, filling in for an injured Spencer Bramwell.
Pensacola starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr would be taken out of the game in the 5th after allowing back-to-back singles to Kyren Paris and Gustavo Campero. Mason Vinyard would be the first arm called on out of the pen, and while he would retire three consecutive batters, a flyball and a ground out would move Paris to third and home, tying the game at 3-3.
That score would hold until the top of the 7th, when Pensacola reliever Logan Whitaker (L, 2-1) would allow two runs on a two run bomb off the bat of Rocket City’s Matthew Lugo, giving the Pandas a 5-3 lead. They would add to that lead in the top of the 8th, when Nick Rodriguez would send the first pitch he saw into left field for a two out, two run single, making it a 7-3 game.
The offense would threaten in the 8th, but ultimately come up empty before going down quietly in the 9th, finalizing the 7-3 loss. Trash Pandas reliever Camden Minacci (W, 1-2) was credited with his first win of the season and Luke Murphy locked down his third save of the season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Friday evening.
written by Charlie Hobert
Jim Allen Elementary Students Among Hundreds Attending Blue Wahoos Education Day Game
May 7, 2026
Students from Jim Allen Elementary School were among hundreds who attended a Pensacola Blue Wahoos Education Day game on Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
American Idol Top 3 finalist Keyla Richardson made a surprise appearance at the game.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Consider Accessory Dwellings, ‘Backyard Apartments’
May 7, 2026
The Town of Century will consider a new accessory apartment ordinance to expand housing options available to all property owners in the Town.
The town already allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which it calls accessory apartments. The town council will consider modifying the existing ordinance to allow more structures to qualify as accessory dwellings, with clear objective standards that town staff could administer. The current ordinance limits ADU size to 25% of the main structure size, subject to setback requirements (the minimum distance from property lines).
Accessory dwellings are commonly known as granny apartments, in-law suites, and backyard apartments.
According to Century Town Council President Dynette Lewis, current housing ordinances were written in the early 1990s and need to be updated, and council member Donnie Bass said he agrees.
It is estimated that the updates to the town’s housing ordinance will cost about $1,500 from the Emerald Coast Regional Council, which serves as the town’s planning organization. The final cost will be determined by the number of revisions and meetings needed for a final version. The town has applied for a grant to update all of its ordinances, but it’s not yet known if the grant will be awarded to the town.
“The Council should understand that expanding this provision would be a meaningful change to the character of Century. A larger accessory apartment allowance would affect every residential property in Town and could result in a significant number of new units over time. The Council should think carefully about what standards would apply including: lot size minimums, setback requirements, utility connections, maximum size, and whether the unit must be attached or could be detached,” planner Eric Christianson of ECRC wrote in a memo to the town.
It is estimated that the process could take three months or more.
The move to consider a new ADU ordinance came after applicants Dewane Thomas and Mary Jo Thomas Clark first requested to place a 14×54 mobile home next to an existing home at 354 Hilltop Road, a lot with a total size of 1.6 acres, and connect the mobile home with a breeze way to the existing 874 square foot primary home.
They told the council that they wanted to use the second structure for their elderly mother, who is suffering from serious medical issues. Their mother is currently living in Michigan, and they wanted to move her to Century during winter months to escape the “brutal” cold.
They requested a medical hardship exemption to allow the second structure, but no provision for a medical hardship exists in Century’s current ordinances. Christianson said adding a medical hardship process to the town’s ordinances would come at significant cost and time.
Pictured top: The Century Town Council considers options after receiving a request to permit an accessory dwelling unit. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Charged With Trafficking Meth, Heroin, And Fentanyl
May 7, 2026
An Escambia County woman was arrested on a list of felony drug offenses after a traffic stop in Ensley.
Misty Melissa Barfield, 49, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking heroin, trafficking fentanyl, intent to sell marijuana, possession of cocaine and a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Her arrest followed an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office traffic stop on Ensley Street. Deputy said they located fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and various narcotics.
Big Inning Downs Wahoos For Second Straight Game
May 7, 2026
The Blue Wahoos dropped their second straight game against Rocket City by a final score of 10-1.
Pensacola starter Alex Williams (L, 0-4) worked around a bases loaded jam in the top of the second before the ‘Hoos offense gave him a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, courtesy of a Fenwick Trimble RBI single that scored Emaarion Boyd.
That lead would last until Pensacola’s defensive woes would impact the top of the fifth inning. After a leadoff single from Mac McCroskey, Wahoos shortstop Cristian Hernández would drop a routine pop up off the bat of Arol Vera. Both those runners would come around to score on a couple of RBI fielder’s choices from Kyren Paris and Gustavo Campero.
Tucker Flint’s RBI single would drive Williams from the game after 4.1 innings. Luis Palacios would be immediately greeted by another dropped flyball, this time by Fenwick Trimble on a Raudi Rodriguez batted ball, scoring the fourth and final run of the inning.
The Trash Pandas would add six more runs the rest of the way, scoring one in the sixth and five in the ninth, batting nine while doing so. The Pensacola offense would go quiet for the remainder of the game, sealing their fate. Jose Rodriguez (W, 2-1) earned the win for Rocket City after going 6.0 innings and allowing just one run while striking out nine.
The bright spots came from Fenwick Trimble, who doubled and walked while going 3-3, and Colby Martin, who had his best outing of the year, pitching two scoreless innings on one hit and one walk.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Thursday evening.
written by Charlie Hobert
Transportation, Development And Concurrency Dominate North Escambia Community Forum
May 6, 2026
Transportation, development, and concurrency led the issues in a North Escambia community forum Tuesday evening at the Molino Community Center.
Nearly 60 people attended the forum where they had an opportunity to ask Florida Department of Transportation panelists about state road projects and transportation issues.
Residents asked questions and expressed their viewpoints on an April 28 NorthEscambia.com article about the proposed projects on the Regional Rural Transportation Plan (RRTP) 2026 Transportation Project Priorities list, including a feasibility study on six lanes for Highway 29 and potentially four lanes for Highway 97.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Many residents expressed concerns about the lack of concurrency—a growth management strategy ensuring that necessary public infrastructure—such as roads, water, sewer, and schools—is available to support new development at the time of, or shortly after, its construction.
Rep. Michelle Salzman said she found little appetite among her colleagues to mandate concurrency from the state-level.
“The meaningful response was that’s a local decision that a lot of counties opt into, and they do that,” she said. “I can promise you that it is on my priority list, but I am one of 120… I agree with you.”
In addition to Salzman and FDOT, officials and agencies attending included ECUA Board Chairman Kevin Stephens, ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody, Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, Molino Utilities, and Cottage Hill Water Works.
Noticeably absent, and drawing the ire of a large number of attendees, was Escambia County District 5 Commissioner and Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization Chairman Steven Barry. Salzman told the crowd that he was coaching T-ball.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested In Molino For Alleged Abuse Of Teen Girl Over Several Years
May 6, 2026
A man arrested in Molino remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond for allegedly sexually assaulting an underage victim over several years.
Brandon Lee Everette Doss, 36, was taken into custody at a residence on Fairground Road by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, according to his arrest report. He faces three felony counts of sexual battery by a custodian on a victim between the ages of 12 and 17.
According to the arrest report, the investigation began after a school resource officer was alerted to the possible abuse by a guidance counselor. The victim provided sworn statements detailing a pattern of abuse that allegedly began when she was 13 years old.
The reported incidents, according to the report, include an initial assault occurring when the victim was 13, during which she was unable to defend herself due to a physical injury, an incident around the victim’s 16th birthday in 2025, and a recent assault on April 19. The victim told investigators that she would tell him to stop, but he did not.
Deputies noted that the victim became visibly distressed, shaking and crying, while recounting the events. Investigators determined the case met domestic violence criteria, as Doss lived with the victim “as if a family.”
Doss denied the allegations against him at the time of his arrest.