Wahoos Top Shuckers
July 28, 2017
Little did Biloxi know that the first inning solo homer by Blake Allemand would be the last hit and last run the Shuckers would earn off Pensacola Blue Wahoos starter Deck McGuire in his seven innings of work.
Behind McGuire’s right arm and right fielder Aristides Aquino’s two-run homer, Pensacola defeated Biloxi, 5-1, Thursday in front of 4,000 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Blue Wahoos, whose game was delayed by rain Thursday for one hour, 40 minutes, leads the series, 2-1,
McGuire has now allowed six runs, five earned in 46 innings for a 0.98 ERA over his last seven starts since his June 24 outing against Chattanooga.
The 6-foot-6 former 2010 first round pick worked seven innings, allowing one run on one hit, gave up four walks and struck out three to improve his record to 9-7 with a 2.58 ERA.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said the 28-year-old minor league journeyman stepped up to take on the mantle of the Blue Wahoos with the loss of Tyler Mahle and Austin Ross.
“He just stepped up and took on the number one role on our staff,” Kelly said. “There are a lot of scouts here and a lot of places you can pitch. The opportunity is there. He’s opening some eyes.”
McGuire credited his battery mate and defense for his performance Thursday.
For McGuire, who has bounced around with five organizations in his seven seasons, he just wants to keep playing somewhere and hopefully one day impress his toddler. With a 4.58 ERA for his minor league career, he is having one of his best seasons with Pensacola. At the end of this season, he will have pitched in all 30 Double-A ballparks.
“The most important thing for me is keeping a jersey, keeping a job,” McGuire said. “I want to make (my son) proud. Hopefully, I’ll play long enough that he’ll understand, ‘Hey, dad has a pretty great job’.”
The Blue Wahoos lineup, which had only scored 12 runs over McGuire’s last six starts, broke out for five runs for him Thursday.
Pensacola didn’t wait to score on Biloxi. Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino went 65 at bats between his ninth and 10th home run but just five at bats until he blasted his team-leading 11th over the wall in left center. The two-run homer, his second in three games, in the second inning gave the Blue Wahoos a, 2-1, lead.
Kelly credited Aquino for continually trying to improve his swing. He worked with Cincinnati Reds roving instructors — Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, former Red Eric Davis and Milt Thompson — this year to make adjustments at the plate.
“He may be (frustrated) inside but he never shows it on the outside,” said Kelly of the No. 6 prospect in the Reds organization who is batting .214 but leads the team with 11 homers and is tied for the lead with 41 RBIs. “He is one of the most confident kids I have ever seen.”
Pensacola scored two more runs in the inning when shortstop Blake Trahan smacked a deep fly ball to the left center gap that both the left fielder and center fielder dived for but missed, allowing Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson to make it a, 3-1, game. Blue Wahoos center fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a sizzling grounder into left field that drove in Trahan to put Pensacola ahead, 4-1.
Aquino, who was 3-4 and scored twice Thursday, also showed off his ability to slap a single to the opposite field when the Biloxi infield shifted left, playing him to pull the ball.
The 22-year-old then stole second and took third on the Biloxi catcher Jacob Nottingham’s throwing error trying to nail him. Aquino scored on a wild pitch by Shuckers reliever Hiram Burgos to put Pensacola ahead, 5-1 in the third inning. Aquino did all that with two outs and Hudson at bat
Century Chamber Director: ‘I’d Really Like To Talk To The Mayor’
July 27, 2017
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce needs the support of the Escambia County Commission but is missing the support of the town’s mayor — that was the word from the chamber’s executive director during a Wednesday night economic development summit held by the commission.
The major economic development players in the county appeared before the commission — including Florida West, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Improvement Board and United Way — to discus the direction and pace of economic development in Escambia County. The meeting was held in advance of a Thursday meeting in which the commission will discuss their budget to fund several of the groups, including nearly 100 percent of the Century Chamber.
“I want to know about Century. I want to know what I need to be doing differently in the conduct of my job here,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said. “The Century Census tract is on that really need to be focused on…This is an opportunity for the five of us to understand what we can be doing better to fix the social ills, the economic aspect of the social ills in Century.”
“We are the gateway to Alabama and Florida,” Etheridge told commissioners as she stressed the transportation infrastructure service the town such and road and rail. “We are positioned very well to become a hub…areas that we have in Century could easily be pitched to companies that want to have an ‘inland port’ because we are so close to rail and highways.”
Etheridge said Century did take a hit in the January 2016 EF-3 tornado that struck the town.
“We’ve got to find a way to get Century out of poverty. We have so many residents that are in poverty, so many,” she said.
The group discussed possible collaboration efforts between the Century Chamber and the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce.
When asked by Commissioner Steven Barry, Etheridge said she has received assistance from economic development agency FloridaWest, but not from the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce.
“Any issue you bring forward for economic development in Century you’ll find support from me,” Commissioner Luman May told Barry and Etheridge.
Etheridge told commissioners that what she most needs is support from Century Mayor Henry Hawkins.
“What I could use from the county is for the county to touch base with the new mayor. He’s a member of the chamber, but he’s not attended any of the chamber meetings except for one that I know of,” she said. “We would like to see more participation from our mayor. I’ve reached out to him, but he’s not returned my phone calls.”
“I’m going to call the mayor of Pensacola and see if I can get him to city council meetings, and see if I can get the mayor of Century to go to the chamber meeting,” May said with laugh. “I don’t know if I’m going to be successful, but I will try both of them.”
“I’m not trying to be a tattle-tale,” Etheridge said. “I’d really like to talk to the mayor.’
Pictured Century Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Etheridge addresses the Escambia County Commission Wednesday night in Pensacola. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lightning Strike Sparks House Fire
July 27, 2017
A lightning strike sparked a house fire Wednesday night in Cantonment.
Residents of the home on El Camino Drive reported that their home was struck by lighting and that they thought the fire was out. But the first firefighters on scene from the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue found that there was a small working fire in the attic.
The fire was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
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Northview JV Cheerleaders Earn All American Status
July 27, 2017
Northview High School’s junior varsity cheerleading squad recently participated in a home cheer camp. Abigail Nelson (pictured left) and Emily Stabler, both upcoming freshmen, tried out and were chosen as All American Cheerleaders. They will have the opportunity to participate in the Thanksgiving Parade at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County In Alabama Lands 300 New Tech Jobs
July 27, 2017
A multi-million deal will bring hundreds of jobs to Escambia County in Alabama.
The Brewton City Council has finalized a $6.5 million deal with Provalus and its parent company Optomi, LLC that will mean about 300 jobs for Brewton.
Optomi, LLC, a tech-staffing firm, will construct three buildings totaling 60,000 square fet on about 10 acres at the former Dogwood Hills Golf Course. Construction on the first building will begin once the company hires 50 employees.
Brewton will become Optomi’s ‘flagship U.S. facility’, according to Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero.
“What sold us on Brewton was its people,” Ruggiero said. “The first person I met was Mayor Yank Lovelace of Brewton and he represented the city very well. We have so much gratitude towards Mayor Lovelace for helping us along in this journey.”
The project will include $1.5 million from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s discretionary fund.
“Gov. Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” Lovelace said. “This project was a culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”
Applications are currently being accepted in the company’s current location in the former Cracked Pot on Belleville Avenue.
Most of the current IT jobs have been outsourced to other counties such has India, but Ruggiero said his company is on a mission to bring those jobs back to the United States.
“Provalus is on a mission to bring these jobs back,” he said. “And specifically we want to bring these jobs back to rural areas like Brewton.”
Ruggiero said Brewton was tops on the company’s list after an extensive search in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas.”
Pictured top: Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero addresses the Brewton City Council (pictured below). Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Pitches Law Enforcement Pay Raises
July 27, 2017
As he eyes a run for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday unveiled the first piece of his pending election-year budget proposal: a $30 million pay raise for state law-enforcement officers.
The initiative would provide the boost in the budget year that begins in July 2018. It would come on top of a 5 percent increase for law enforcement officers in the current budget year.
Speaking at a Florida Highway Patrol office in Jacksonville, the governor said that many law enforcement officers were grateful for the latest salary bump.
“But we cannot stop there,” Scott said. “The brave men and women who serve Florida as members of our state law-enforcement community work every day to keep Florida communities safe. And while I was proud of this important achievement, it’s clear that we must continue to build on this year’s pay raise.”
The next budget Scott proposes will be the last before he leaves office because of term limits in January 2019. At the same time, he is ramping up an expected challenge to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, an incumbent Democrat up for re-election in 2018.
In the meantime, the governor has been sprinting across the state and highlighting politically popular measures like the recent raise for law enforcement officers.
Heads of the state’s major law-enforcement agencies, on hand for Wednesday’s announcement, said the proposed raises would help them hire and keep employees that they now sometimes lose to local police forces.
“We can’t afford to continue to train these highly qualified young men and women to go out and defend the streets and the public safety for the state of Florida, only to lose them to other states, other agencies within the very near future just because they’re not making enough money,” said Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said the increases could help him hire the more experienced personnel that his agency seeks.
“It’s getting more and more difficult to recruit those seasoned investigators when local agencies are paying more than the state investigative agency,” Swearingen said.
Scott’s office said the state’s law-enforcement agencies would work out the details of how the $30 million would be distributed. And the Legislature would still have to approve Scott’s plan in its annual session, which begins in January.
It is likely to have at least some politically powerful allies. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency employs law-enforcement officers and who is running to succeed Scott in 2018, applauded the plan.
“Our state law-enforcement officers deserve all the support we can give them, as they’ve achieved a 46-year crime low and face unprecedented challenges, such as the current opioid crisis,” he said. “Our 240 law enforcement officers with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and their peers at other state law enforcement agencies deserve a raise.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputy Offers Look At Law Enforcement To Kids At Carver Park
July 27, 2017
From blue lights to badges, Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Tipton took the time to explain law enforcement to a group of children at Carver Park in Cantonment. A summer feeding program is available weekdays at Carver Park on Webb Street for children under 18. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Rally For Win
July 27, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Josh VanMeter wasn’t expected to play every day in the Southern League when he turned out to be “the player to be named later” in a trade between the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres at the end of 2016.
However, the 22-year-old has proven indispensable to the Blue Wahoos team. He has played second base, shortstop, third base and left field and with two outs and runners in scoring position he’s the hitter Pensacola wants a t the plate.
Against the Biloxi Shuckers Wednesday, VanMeter delivered the decisive two-out, two-run double in the four-run eighth inning that gave Pensacola a, 4-1, victory in front of 4,358 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
VanMeter said he thrives in the clutch and his hitting statistics bear that out. The .259 hitter’s average balloons to .378 with the game on the line. The new Reds pick up has driven in 23 of his 39 RBIs in that position.
“When I think of good players, I think of clutch players,” VanMeter said. “It shows I’m able to control myself, even in pressure situations.”
Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel hit a high pop up to Biloxi second baseman Blake Allemand, who instead of making the catch to end the inning and preserve the Biloxi lead, 1-0, kept the rally going when it plopped to the ground. The unexplainable error allowed Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan to knot the game, 1-1.
Blue Wahoos first baseman Gavin LaValley then hit a bullet to left field that drove in center fielder Gabriel Guerrero with the go-ahead run, 2-1.
That’s when VanMeter stepped to the plate and delivered his double to the left center gap that scored Senzel from second base and LaValley from first to increase Pensacola’s lead to 4-1 heading into the ninth.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly is a big fan of VanMeter, who recalled hitting a buzzer beating jumper in the Indiana high school basketball 3A Regionals to upset the tournament favorite.
“His hit gives us a three-run lead and gives (closer Zack) Weiss a little wiggle room,” Kelly said.
Blue Wahoos reliever Carlos Gonzalez also played a pivotal role in the win that improved Pensacola’s record to 16-16 in the second half and back into a first-place tie with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern Division. The first half champions are 56-46 overall.
In the seventh inning, the Shuckers loaded the bases on a bunt single, sharp grounder to right field and a swinging bunt single with one out off Blue Wahoos starter Jesus Reyes.
Then rain poured down and delayed the game for 33 minutes, until it resumed at 9:18 p.m. It was the second rain delay of the game with the start pushed back 30 minutes.
When the game started again, Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez entered and got a pop out and strikeout to end the Biloxi scoring threat. His 1.2 innings with one strikeout improved his record in 14 relief appearances to 1-1 with a 1.90 ERA.
“That was a fantastic job,” Kelly said. “Those were five big outs for us.”
Biloxi scored in the first inning, going on top, 1-0, when leadoff batter Johnny Davis hit a grounder up the middle into center field, stole second base and reached third on an infield single by left fielder Angel Ortega deep in the hole to shortstop. Davis finally scored on Allemand’s soft line drive single to the opposite field.
Biloxi starter Jon Perrin threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out five.
“Every team we play is that way,” Kelly said. “They run those good arms at you every night.”
Need A Pig? Sheriff David Morgan Will Sell You One
July 27, 2017
Need a pig? Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan will be happy to sell you one.
A large brown male feeder pig will be sold to the highest bidder at 10 a.m. on August 3 in a sheriff’s livestock sale. The sale will be held at Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Substation at 5844 North Highway 29 in Molino.
For more information, call (850) 436- 9477.
Man Charged With Stealing Water Service From The Town Of Century
July 26, 2017
A Century man has been arrested for stealing water.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 400 block of Barnwell Street where Century Water Superintendent Alicia Jernigan stated that the residence had been connected to the town’s water supply without a meter since 2013. The following day, the utilities department dug in the road and discovered a second water pipe connected from their system to the house.
Jernigan told deputies that $2,847.32 of water had been stolen from the Town of Century.
Willie Owens, Sr., the owner of the residence, was arrested on a charge of theft of utility services. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.