Biloxi Rallies Over Pensacola
July 9, 2017
The Biloxi Shuckers rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday to overcome the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 11-6, at MGM Park.
Pensacola entered the eighth inning ahead, 6-4, and got the first two outs of the inning before the Shuckers mounted their comeback. Biloxi sent 11 batters to the plate and earned four hits, two walks, a hit batter and one error.
Biloxi second baseman Wendell Rijo and pinch hitter Javier Betancourt scored the first two runs of the inning when center fielder Johnny Davis singled them both in to tie the score, 6-6. Shuckers right fielder Michael Choice doubled in two runs when Betancourt and Davis scored to go up, 8-6. The final three runs scored when left fielder Clint Coulter smashed a three-run homer to left field, his 10th this season, that scored Choice and catcher Jacob Nottingham to make the score, 11-6.
Pensacola relievers Zack Weiss and Brennan Bernardino pitched the eighth. Weiss gave up six runs, one earned, and got the loss, while Bernardino gave up one run on the homer to Coulter.
The rally spoiled a good start by Pensacola, which had a six-run inning of its own in the fifth inning that gave them a 6-1 lead.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Keury Mella doubled to drive in the first two runs in the fifth. Third baseman Josh VanMeter singled to score Mella. First baseman Nick Longhi, who the Cincinnati Reds picked up from the Boston Red Sox seven days ago, doubled to center field with the bases loaded in his first start for the Blue Wahoos to drive in left fielder Tyler Goeddel, VanMeter and center fielder Gabriel Guerrero.
Pensacola starter Keury Mella gave up just one run in the first five innings but then gave up three in the sixth inning that pulled Biloxi within, 6-4. Mella gave up hits to the first three batters he faced in the sixth inning, including Dustin DeMuth’s two-run homer, his fifth of the season.
Mella ended up scattering eight hits and one walk over five innings and giving up four runs, while striking out five.
Biloxi relievers Jorge Lopez and Matt Ramsey held the Blue Wahoos hitless and scoreless over the last three innings and combined to strike out four. Lopez got both victories in relief against Pensacola in the series and is 5-6 this season.
Six People Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Crash In Molino
July 8, 2017
Six people, including three juveniles, were injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Molino.
The crash occurred just after noon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 78-year old Edna Taylor of Molino was in a Lincoln MKZ northbound on Highway 29 in the left turn lane to Highway 97 when she turned directly into the path of a southbound Toyota Prius driven by 22-year old Brittany Neighbors of Queen Creek, AZ.
The MKZ came to rest in the intersection; the Prius crashed into a deep concrete culvert in front of a Tom Thumb store.
Taylor was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. Neighbors, and her passengers — 50-year old Jeane Hux of Pleasant View, TN, and children ages 6, 10 and 11 — were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Taylor was cited by the FHP for violation of right of way when making a left turn.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputies Found Justified In Cantonment Fatal Shooting
July 8, 2017
The State Attorney’s Office has found that two Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies were justified in the shooting death of a man that fired a gun at them in a Cantonment neighborhood earlier this year.
Marcus Antoine Williams, 34, was shot and killed as he struggled with deputies Jake Bandurski and Katrina Ivins on April 1 in the 2500 block of Southern Oaks Drive.
The deputies responded to a domestic violence complaint involving Williams about 6:30 p.m. and a decision was made to arrest Williams. He fled the scene on foot with both deputies in pursuit. They caught up with him in a yard on Deniro Court, where both deputies gave multiple commands for Williams to get on the ground. He did not comply, with Bandurski deploying his taser as Williams ran toward a tree line, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Bandruski was able to push Williams to the ground.
“Mr. Williams continued to struggle with both deputies as they attempted to handcuff him. Deputy Bandurski then fired his taser striking Mr. Williams with the probes but with no obvious affect. Mr. Williams then began standing up and pulled a small silver semi-automatic handgun from his pocket and fired in the direction of the deputies. Both Deputy Bandurski and Deputy Ivins returned fire striking Mr. Williams multiple times. Mr. Williams died as a result of these wounds,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said in his findings.
A Ruger semi-automatic pistol was later located under Williams’ body.
“Under these facts, Deputy Bandurski and Deputy Ivins were justified in the use of deadly force in this matter. Probable cause existed for the deputies to believe that Mr. Williams posed a threat of serious physical harm when they fired their weapons,” Marcille concluded. “For these reasons, we will take no further action in this matter.”
Pictured: The scene of a fatal deputy-involved shooting April 1 on Deniro Court in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Prison On Heroin Charges
July 8, 2017
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to prison on a heroin charge.
Tristan Fairley, age 33, was convicted of trafficking in heroin over 28 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. Immediately following the verdict, Circuit Judge Scott Duncan sentenced Fairley to 27 years in state prison.
On October 6, 2016, officers with the Pensacola Police Department Vice and Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on Fairley’s residence in the 1000 Block of North “M” Street. During the search of Fairley’s residence, officers recovered 45 grams of heroin and a digital scale.
Tristan Fairley was on federal probation for the sale of cocaine at the time he was arrested for this offense.
Tate Graduate Savage Completes Military Basic Training
July 8, 2017
U.S. Air Force Airman Phillis K. Savage graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Savage is the daughter of Sheila and Phillip Savage of Pensacola, sister of Patrick Savage of Pensacola, and Michael G. Jackson of Rockaway, N.Y.
She is a 2016 graduate of Tate High School in Cantonment.
Work Begins Monday On Temporary Bridge On Arthur Brown Road
July 8, 2017
Beginning next week, work crews will start clearing trees and shrubs in preparation to construct a temporary road and bridge on Arthur Brown Road near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church. A new bridge over Boggy Creek will then be constructed, with 11-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge replacement project is estimated to take eight months, weather permitting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Looking To Grow Hydrangeas In The Sun?
July 8, 2017
Looking to grow hydrangeas in the sun? The “Limelight” hydrangea is a beautiful specimen that grows well locally in the sun, according to the Escambia County Extension Service. For more information, contact Escambia County Extension in Cantonment at (850) 475-5230.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Application Period Is Now Open
July 8, 2017
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program will accept applications from non-industrial, private forest landowners through July 31.
The southern pine beetle (SPB) is one of the most economically devastating forest pests of the southeast, with periodic outbreaks leading to deaths of millions of pine trees. In 2016, 222 SPB infestations were reported in Florida, killing trees on over 1,100 acres. Those numbers are small compared to the last major outbreaks that occurred in Florida from 1999 to 2002, which resulted in an estimated $59 million in timber losses.
The program, supported through a grant by the United States Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning and offers partial cost reimbursement for activities such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than the loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species.
Since it was first offered in 2005, the program has supported these practices on more than 167,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, the known range of the southern pine beetle. Qualified landowners can apply for up to two different practices per year and funding requests may not exceed $10,000. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/SouthernPineBeetle/Prevention.
Wahoos Win Second Straight Over Biloxi
July 8, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos added third baseman Nick Senzel and first baseman Gavin LaValley to its rosters to start the second half of the Southern League season.
All they’ve done since coming up from High-A Daytona Tortugas is deliver clutch hits for the Blue Wahoos, including each smashing solo shots in a 3-1 victory Friday over the Biloxi Shuckers at MGM Park. The victory captured the series for Pensacola, 3-1, with the fifth game set for 6:35 p.m. Saturday.
Senzel’s line drive over the left field wall was his second for Pensacola in 15 games. It gave Pensacola a, 2-1, lead in the sixth inning. The Cincinnati Reds first round pick in 2016 and top-rated prospect has now hit in nine straight games, including 10 of his last 11.
LaValley’s deep fly ball to left center field in the ninth inning was his third for Pensacola and the 18th this year. Ranked the No. 26 Reds prospect, he has hit in seven of his last 10 games.
Meanwhile, four Pensacola pitchers combined to work nine innings and allowed one run to Biloxi on six hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts. The Blue Wahoos bullpen combined to throw 6.2 scoreless innings.
Blue Wahoos right-handed starter Austin Ross pitched the first 2.1 innings and allowed the single run by the Shuckers before coming out of the game for Blue Wahoos reliever Robert Stock.
The 25-year-old Stock tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, gave up one hit and struck out four. Geoff Broussard relieved him with 2.1 scoreless innings, one hit and a strikeout. Closing out the game with his third save for Pensacola was Carlos Gonzalez who walked one and struck out two in one inning of relief.
On the mound for Biloxi was the Milwaukee Brewers No. 19 ranked prospect, righty Freddy Peralta. Peralta, who was starting his third game in Double-A, threw six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, a walk and he struck out eight. He is now 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA.
Biloxi’s only run of the game came when second baseman Wendell Rijo doubled in first baseman Dustin DeMuth in the second inning.
Pensacola is now 8-7 and a half game behind the South Division leader the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, whose game was postponed Friday because of bad weather. Pensacola is 48-37 overall.
Escambia Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash
July 7, 2017
An Escambia County man was killed in a single vehicle traffic accident Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 25-year old Keith Smith was eastbound on Marcus Pointe Boulevard near Enterprise Lane about 9 p.m. when he failed to properly negotiate a curve. His Suzuki motorcycle struck a concrete curb before continuing into the median and hitting a concrete utility pole.
Smith was wearing a helmet, according to the FHP.