Wahoos Lose To Jackson
August 23, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos let a game slip away when Jackson Generals left fielder Jamie Westbrook crushed a homer into Pensacola Bay in the eighth inning.
The game-winning home run gave the Generals a, 3-2, victory over Pensacola, which fell to 20-26 on the season in one-run games.
Pensacola had chances to add more runs Tuesday in the second, third and eighth innings but left six runners on base and went 0-6 with runners in scoring position.
After scoring 8.5 runs a game and hitting .294 during its five-game win streak, the Blue Wahoos have scored seven runs in its last four games.
“If I knew that I wouldn’t be managing in Double-A,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly when asked about the Blue Wahoos offense. “We jumped on them early but didn’t do anything after that.”
Pensacola third baseman Nick Senzel broke his 1-for-14 slump by hitting a high fly ball that barely sailed over the right field fence into Hill-Kelly Hill with second baseman Arismendy Alcantara on base to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 lead.
The 22-year-old, who was the second overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, has belted 10 homers in the second half for the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola drew 3,567 fans to Tuesday’s game at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The ballclub has 14 sellouts of 5,038 this season and has reached 267,230 total fans for the year.
To keep its streak alive of drawing more than 300,000 fans a season since its inaugural year in 2012, Pensacola must average about 4,100 fans in the last eight games of its current 10-game homestand.
Also in the crowd Tuesday was Hall of Fame coach Tony La Russa, the Arizona Diamondbacks chief baseball analyst. Jackson is the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate. La Russa and Walt Jocketty, the Cincinnati Reds executive advisor to the CEO, took in the game together.
Kelly said he admires La Russa, the third winningest coach in baseball history, four-time manager of the year and three-time World Series champion. Kelly credits La Russa, then a White Sox manager, for advising him to take a pitching coach position with organization’s rookie league team in 1984.
“I’ve always looked up to him,” said Kelly, who has taken Pensacola to the playoffs three straight seasons. “I’ve read all his books and used some of his philosophies and incorporated them into my strategies.”
Kelly is trying to manage the Blue Wahoos to win its fifth straight half, which would be a Southern League record. Under Kelly, Pensacola is now tied with the Tennessee Smokies, which won four straight halves between 2009 and 2011.
The Blue Wahoos dropped to 27-30 in the second half and are 3.5 games out of first place in the Southern Division behind the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Jackson improved to 26-31 in the Northern Division
After the Blue Wahoos took the early lead, Jackson came right back to tie the game. Generals right fielder Kelly Dugan ripped a double over the center fielder’s head to drive in Jackson catcher Michael Perez to trail Pensacola, 2-1.
The Generals tied the game up, 2-2, in the fourth inning when shortstop Vladimir Frias smacked a hard liner into center field with two out to drive in Westbrook. Westbrook was 2-4 with two runs scored, a solo home run and RBI.
Meanwhile, in his last outing against the Mississippi Braves, Pensacola right-hander Keury Mella snapped a streak of 10 starts without a win. He failed to get his first win in 12 starts at home Tuesday but threw a season-high 103 pitches and gave the Blue Wahoos six strong innings. Mella, 3-10 with a 4.69 ERA, allowed two runs on five hits, three walks and tied his season-high with seven strikeouts — three Ks came in the fourth inning.
Molino Man Leads Deputy On Short ‘Pursuit’ Home
August 23, 2017
A Molino man was jailed after fleeing from a deputy at the local Tom Thumb.
Michael Sanchez, age 22 of Effie Road, was charged with felony fleeing or eluding police, knowingly driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession. He also received traffic citations for an expired registration and attaching a validation sticker unlawfully.
An Escambia County deputy reported seeing Sanchez travel through the parking lot of the Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Highway 97 with an expired tag. The deputy initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot with lights and siren, but Sanchez continued traveling, heading north on Highway 97 at speeds of 50 to 55 mph. He then turned on Effie Lane, traveling at 11 mph, until he stopped at his residence on Effie Lane. The deputy approached the vehicle with his gun drawn and removed Sanchez from the vehicle, according to an arrest report.
The deputy noted the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and reported finding marijuana with the vehicle, along with three capsules containing a white powder substance that will be lab tested.
Sanchez was also arrested on two outstanding warrants. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Vehicle Destroyed By Fire
August 22, 2017
Fire destroyed a passenger vehicle near Century Monday night.
The fire was reported about 10:20 p.m. on West Highway 4 near the entrance to Lake Stone. The vehicle was fully engulfed when the first firefighters arrived on scne.
A witness said the vehicle had been parked on the shoulder of the road for over two hours prior to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century To Seek Public Input On Oil Spill Money Projects
August 22, 2017
The Town of Century is working on five project ideas to submit for possible funding from oil spill money through Triumph Gulf Coast.
Town consultant Debbie Nickles said the town received a letter from Escambia County Commission Chairman Doug Underhill soliciting the five proposals from the town by September 15.
The Gulf Coast Economic Corridor Act signed by Gov. Rick Scott on June 2 directs $1.5 billion to be spent over a 15 year period in eight counties in Northwest Florida that were impacted by the oil spill. The act directs Escambia and other seven other counties to seek proposals from other local governing boards withing their county.
Activities eligible for funding include ad valorem tax rate reductions, workforce skill development, local funding match requirements, public infrastructure projects, equipment and personnel for local disaster action plans, promotion of tourism and workforce and educational career development programs.
The Century Town Council decided Monday night to hold a joint workshop with the Century Area Chamber of Commerce at 6 p.m. on August 24 to received project ideas from the chamber and the public. The council will then hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. to vote on five projects to submit to the county for possible funding.
Further details on the meeting will be published on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: Town consultant Debbie Nickles addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Students View Eclipse (With Photo Gallery)
August 22, 2017
A small group of students at Northview High School were able to watch the solar eclipse on Monday.
Using approved eclipse glasses, they were able to watch most of the eclipse up until just before the 1:35 p.m. maximum time when clouds rolled over the sun.
Teachers and staff were also able to use an 8-inch telescope with proper filter to observe the eclipse.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Photos: The Great Solar Eclipse
August 22, 2017
The Great American Eclipse was viewed by thousands Monday in the North Escambia area..while many others missed their shot due to clouds and rain across a portion of the area.
NorthEscambia.com had two photographers taking close-up photos of the eclipse.
The photo above was taken about by NorthEscambia.com’s William Reynolds at 1:30 p.m., five minutes before cloud cover over the 1:35 p.m. maximum at Northview High School in Bratt.
The photo below was taken by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com at 1:30 p.m. in Atmore. The photo at bottom shows the unique shadows cast on a sidewalk in Bratt during the eclipse.
For more NorthEscambia.com photos, click here.
For reader submitted photos, click here.
Editor’s note: The color difference in the photographs is due to the type of solar filter used.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man That Crashed Jeep Into ER Charged With Cantonment Battery
August 22, 2017
The Cantonment man who crashed his Jeep into the lobby of the Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Room last week has been arrested.
Kevin Wayne Pryor, 25, was charged with battery by strangulation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for an incident that reportedly occurred in Cantonment before he drove into the ER.
The victim told deputies that she and Pryor were involved in a verbal argument when he became agitated and grabbed her by her arm. Pryor then took her car keys and attempted to get the victim into a vehicle, according to an arrest report. She said she struggled on the ground with Pryor at which time he choked her until she lost consciousness.
She told deputies she agreed to get into the Jeep with Pryor to calm him down, and he drove from Cantonment to Sacred Heart Hospital and through the doors of the emergency room.
The victim, according to an arrest report, told deputies that she believed Pryor was possibly trying to harm himself and her by driving through the building.
Pryor and the victim were not able to give sworn written statements at the time due to their injuries, the report adds.
Pryor was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond. He is expected to face additional charged from the Pensacola Police Department for the incident at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $700 Million
August 22, 2017
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing has grown to an estimated $700 million; the largest in the nation and second largest in the game’s history.
Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize. To receive the cash option of an estimated $443.3 million, jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the drawing.
Players who want the chance to become Florida’s 13th POWERBALL jackpot winner can purchase tickets at any of the more than 13,000 authorized Florida Lottery retailers across the state. Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing will be held at 9:59 p.m. North Escambia time. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. to be eligible for this drawing.
Update: Story updated noon 8/21 to reflect an increase in the jackpot from $650 million to $700 million.
Pictured: The State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 in Davisville, which sold an $80 million winning Powerball ticket in 2015 to an Alabama woman. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Emergency Bridge Closure Ordered For Crabtree Church Road Bridge
August 22, 2017
The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered an emergency bridge closure on Crabtree Church Road in Molino after structural deficiencies were found during a routine inspection.
The bridge over Alligator Creek, west of Sunshine Hill Road, is closed effectively immediately .
There is currently no recommended detour route from the county. A completion date for repairs is not known as the closure notice was just received by the county.
Lightning Sparks Brush Fire
August 22, 2017
Lightning is believed to have started a brush fire near McDavid Monday afternoon. Firefighters from the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were able to quickly extinguish the fire as it burned in a ditch alongside Highway 168 west of Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
