Wahoos Win Over B’ham
September 5, 2016
This time it was Sebastian Elizalde who doubled in three runs with one out in the top of the ninth to deliver a second consecutive victory Sunday for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in its last at bat against the Birmingham Barons.
This time, Pensacola won, 5-4, over Birmingham at Regions Field, after scoring four runs in the ninth on Saturday to beat the Barons 6-2. The Blue Wahoos have won four of the five games against the Barons with the final game at 12:30 p.m. Monday.
The Blue Wahoos entered the ninth inning Sunday, trailing 4-2, when pinch-hitter Phillip Ervin singled to third base to start the inning, catcher Joe Hudson hit a single back up the middle. They both moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Jeff Gelalich. Then Pensacola second baseman Alex Blandino walked to load the bases with one out.
That’s when Elizalde hit his bases clearing double on a fly ball to center field for the 5-4 lead. Elizalde went 2-5 with one run scored and three RBIs. In four games in the five game series against Birmingham, Elizalde is 10-20 or .500 with four runs scored, a double and six RBIs.
The 24-year-old left-handed hitter has had four-straight multi-hit games and now has 35 multi-hit games on the season to lead Pensacola, plus he leads the team with a .298 batting average.
Pensacola then brought in closer Alejandro Chacin, who was the only Blue Wahoos player named to the post season Southern League All-Star team, then sewed up the victory. Chacin earned his franchise record 30th save, striking out one in one inning of work. On the season, he has 75 strikeouts in 60.2 innings and is 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA.
Sal Romano, the hottest starter for Pensacola in the second half, tossed six innings giving up four runs on five hits and one walk. The Cincinnati Reds No. 17 ranked prospect had four strikeouts giving him 144 this season, which is good for second in the Southern League.
Meanwhile, Pensacola, which won the first half Southern League crown, improved to 39-30 (80-59) for second place during the second half, putting pressure on division leader Mississippi (39-28, 73-63) to beat the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday.
Pensacola jumped out in front of Birmingham Sunday. Blue Wahoos shortsop Zach Vincej singled to center in the first inning to knock in Elizalde for a 1-0 lead. On the previous play, Pensacola center fielder Jeff Gelalich was thrown out at home when left fielder Brandon Dixon bounced back to Birmingham pitcher James Dykstra, who threw home to catcher Sean O’Connell to catch him.
With the bases loaded in the third inning and no outs, Vincej drove in his second run of the game for Pensacola when he grounded out to first, allowing second baseman Alex Blandino to score to put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-0.
Vincej was 2-5 with two runs batted in Sunday for his 27th multi-hit game of the season. He is also hot in the series against Birmingham, going 9-18 (.500) and two walks and driving in six runs for 47 RBIs this year.
However, Birmingham came back in the fourth inning when right fielder Keenyn Walker doubled, his 16th of the year, and scored when DH Courtney Hawkins hit a ground ball to third base. Barons left fielder Marcus Lemon singled to drive in Hawkins to tie the score, 2-2.
In the sixth inning, Birmingham then went ahead, 4-2, when first baseman Keon Barnum hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Barons second baseman Joey DeMichele. Lemon then hit a line drive single to center field to score Hawkins with Birmingham’s fourth run.
Meanwhile, Birmingham starter James Dykstra and reliever Colton Turner combined for five shutout innings. Turner pitched two scoreless innings, allowing no hits, while walking one and striking out three. Pensacola scored all three runs to win the game off of Barons closer Brian Clark.
Area Sees Fewer Business ‘Births’ During Latest Recovery
September 5, 2016
by Allison Tyler Romer
Researchers frequently highlight the role geography plays in our lives, whether that is the likelihood of upward mobility, our overall health or the cost of raising a family.
A recently released study by the Economic Innovation Group emphasizes the changing geographic landscape of new business establishment growth during the nation’s three most recent economic recovery periods.
The authors used data from the U.S. Census Bureau to analyze business establishment growth in the five years following the last three major recessions (1992-96, 2002-06, and 2010-14). Their findings present alarming trends for communities across the country – including the greater Pensacola community.
Unlike the previous two recovery periods, business establishment growth during the 2010-14 recovery period was much slower nationwide, growing only 2.3 percent over five years. While the most recent recovery period has been characterized by much slower growth rates than the two preceding recovery periods, what is perhaps most striking is how geographically concentrated the recovery has been. Haas Center staff analyzed the data to see how Escambia and Santa Rosa counties compare to counties in other parts of the country.
Historical data shows us Santa Rosa County has fared better than Escambia County during periods of economic recovery, typically experiencing growth rates much higher than both the state and national level. While Santa Rosa continued to outpace both the nation and Escambia during the past recovery period, the county’s rate of growth was noticeably lower than previous recovery periods.
It is possible that population growth rates may explain some of this trend. The population growth of Santa Rosa County was 1.3 percent per year in 2010-14, compared to 3.6 and 2.6 percent per year during 1992-96 and 2002-06, respectively.
The geographic concentration of establishment growth continued to shrink during recent recovery periods. Astonishingly, 50 percent of the nation’s new establishment growth from 2010 to 2014 can be attributed to a total of 20 counties. Disproportionately, these counties only represent 17 percent of the U.S. population. Four of these counties are located in Florida (Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, and Orange counties), none of which are located in Northwest Florida.
Additionally, the number of counties experiencing a decline in establishments increased.
Approximately 59 percent of counties, representing nearly one-third of the nation’s population, saw a decline in the number of establishments between 2010 and 2014. Comparatively, only 17 percent of counties, representing 14 percent of the U.S. population, saw a decline in establishments between 1992 and 1996.
Furthermore, only 25 percent of counties saw a growth rate of establishments that matched or exceeded the national level. These counties are home to approximately 48 percent of the nation’s population.
Florida as a whole fared better than most states, with approximately 82 percent of its population residing in a county that experienced positive growth equal to or greater than the national rate.
A decline in new startups is one reason for the slow business establishment growth rate during the most recent recovery, according to EIG. A company is distinct from an establishment in that an establishment is the physical location out of which a firm operates. For example, the Drowsy Poet coffee shop would be counted as a company creation in the year it started for Escambia County. Each new store is credited as a new business establishment for the county where it is located.
For the Pensacola area over the most recent recovery period of 2010-14, there was a net loss of 203 firms, meaning there were more firm deaths than births. The previous recovery periods of 1992-96 and 2002-06 saw net increases of 678 and 1,046, respectively.
Because the Pensacola-area business establishment growth rate was positive from 2010-14, despite a net loss of firms, we can conclude that the establishment growth can largely be attributed to the expansion of existing firms.
Allison Tyler Romer serves as economic development coordinator at the Haas Center in Pensacola.
Man In Wheelchair Killed In Escambia County Crash
September 4, 2016
A man in a wheelchair was struck and killed Saturday night in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 32-year old Gerald Desota was eastbound on Fairfield Drive approaching Pace Boulevard in 2012 Chrysler 200 when a man in a wheelchair, identified as 59-year old Steven Carl Travis of Hardy, AR, entered Fairfield directly in his path.
Travis was transported to Baptist Hospital where he later died from the injuries sustained in the crash. Any charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation.
Driver Misses Molino Stop Sign, Hits Distant Tree
September 4, 2016
A driver traveled hundreds of feet and hit a treee after missing a stop sign in Molino Saturday.
About 9:50 p.m., the drive of a pickup truck was westbound on Crabbtree Church Road when he failed to stop at the intersection with Sunshine Hill Road. The vehicle crossed Sunshine Hill Road, ran off the roadway and continued about 350 to 400 feet before striking a tree. The driver refused transport to the hospital.
The homeowner said this is not the first time someone has missed that stop sign and traveled past their home into the tree line.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
UWF Football Rolls To Historic 45-0 Victory In Program Opener
September 4, 2016
The UWF football program got everything it could have asked for on Saturday in its first-ever intercollegiate game – 500 yards of total offense, a defensive shutout that held the opposition to 105 yards and a happy group of close to 200 Argonaut fans, including the university president.
UWF (1-0) got off to a slow start, failing to score on its first three possessions before a pair of 50-plus yard scoring drives to close the half put the Argonauts up for good.
Tim Bellinger scored from a yard out midway through the second quarter before Kaleb Nobles completed a 15-yard pass to Caleb Robinson just before the half ended.
Bellinger rushed 18 times for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the UWF ground game, which finished with 288 yards and four scores.
The teams were set to start the second half but were sent back to the locker rooms when a lightning storm hovered over the area, forcing a 2 hour 15 minute delay.
When play resumed, the UWF offense went into overdrive, scoring on the team’s opening four possessions. Bellinger added crossed the goal line from two yards out, Austin Peffers drilled a 25-yard field goal, Daviante Sayles made the highlight play of the game when he hurdled an AMU linebacker at the 3-yard line and Ishmel Morrow caught an 8-yard pass from Nobles.
Chris Schwarz completed the scoring in the fourth quarter with a rushing TD from four yards.
Nobles finished the game with 235 yards passing on 21-of-29 and two TDs. He and fellow signal caller Grey Jackson combined for 236 yards passing and connected with nine different targets.
AMU (0-1) managed just 105 yards of offense and just two net yards rushing.
UWF will face Missouri S&T in its inaugural home game next Saturday. Kickoff at Blue Wahoos Stadium in downtown Pensacola is set for 6:00 p.m. Central time.
Special Commission Meeting To Address OLF-8 In Beulah
September 4, 2016
A special Escambia County Board of County Commissioners meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 5:03 p.m. to discuss issues concerning OLF-8, or Outlying Landing Field 8.
OLF-8 is the Navy’s 640-acre helicopter field on Nine Mile Road in Beulah, adjacent to Navy Federal Credit Union. Escambia County has planned to trade land it owns in Santa Rosa County for OLF-8. Several groups want to see OLF=8 developed into a commerce park. Meanwhile, many residents of Beulah have called for the development of a master plan to manage the develop of the area, including OLF-8.
The special BCC meeting will be held in the Board Chambers, room 100, in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, located at 221 Palafox Place in Pensacola.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
September 4, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. There will be no planned lane closures on the state road system through 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, September 6 due to the Labor Day holiday. All major roads will be open to normal traffic. In emergency situations requiring a lane or road closure, repairs will continue until all safety issues related to the traveling public have been addressed and the lane/roadway is reopened.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Widening – Intermittent and alternating lane closures on I-10, between State Road (S.R.) 291 (Davis Highway/Exit 13) and U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway/Exit 17), from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 11 as crews place pavement markers.
- I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange – The U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound ramp will be intermittently closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Thursday, Sept. 8 as crews work on the shoulder of the roadway. Traffic will be detoured north to make a U-turn at Broad Street and access I-10 eastbound. The closures will continue Sunday through Thursday nights through September.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening – Alternating lane closures, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Thursday, Sept. 8 as crews continue widening work. In addition, there will be alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange for bridge work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Pictured: The I-10/U.S. 29 construction team removed overhead interstate signs recently. Removing the signs allows crews to continue widening I-10 westbound near exit 10B. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Corrections Officer’s Condition Improving After Holman Stabbing
September 4, 2016
A corrections officer is improving after being stabbed last week a at Holman Prison in Atmore.
The officer was listed in critical condition after the stabbing last Thursday, but his condition was improved to serious condition at last report by the Alabama Department of Corrections. The officer’s name has not yet been released.
The stabbing happened at 12:35 p.m. in the facility’s dining hall during the noon meal.
Prison officials report the inmate assaulted and stabbed the officer in retaliation for being denied an extra tray of food. Correctional officers responded to the incident and were able to restrain the inmate and give aid to the injured officer. The officer was airlifted in critical condition to an area hospital.
Inmate Cleveland Cunningham was detained as a suspect in the stabbing. Cunningham is serving a 20-year sentence on a 2013 first-degree robbery conviction from Baldwin County. Cunningham was segregated from general population without further incident.
No other inmates were involved in the stabbing. The facility was placed on lockdown while ADOC officials investigate the incident.
The ADOC is not releasing the name of the officer pending the ongoing investigation.
Pictured top: NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Score Four In Ninth To Top Birmingham
September 4, 2016
Jackson Stephens last start was, well, very un-Jackson Stephens like.
The Jacksonville Suns knocked him out of the game after 0.2 innings, scoring four runs on three hits and three walks. It was the 22-year-old right hander’s shortest start in his five-year minor league career.
He returned to the old Stephens with a quality start, throwing six innings and allowing two runs, one earned on eight hits, a walk and striking out seven.
Birmingham loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. Barons shortstop Trey Michalczewski singled to center, DH Eudy Pina earned an infield single to second base and first baseman Keon Barnum walked.
Birmingham catcher Chris O’Dowd then hit a ground ball to force out Barnum at second base. But Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej committed a throwing error, his fifth error this season. Both Michalczewski and Pina scored on the play to put the Barons ahead, 2-0.
But Pensacola came right back in its next at bat in the top of the seventh to knot the game, 2-2. Blue Wahoos right fielder Sebastian Elizalde singled to center field with the bases loaded and two outs to score both Pensacola first baseman Eric Jagielo and right fielder Ronald Bueno.
In the eighth inning, Pensacola loaded the bases twice. With one out, Blue Wahoos third baseman Taylor Sparks was forced out at home for the second out. Bueno walked to load the bases again but Pensacola second baseman Alex Blandino grounded out to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos busted out with a four-run inning. Vincej singled to center with one out to drive in Elizalde to put Pensacola on top, 3-2. With the bases loaded, two more runs scored when catcher Chad Wallach grounded to Birmingham third baseman Marcus Lemon, who. threw the ball away. Both center fielder Brandon Dixon and Vincej scored to increase the Blue Wahoos lead to 5-2. Pensacola’s Jagielo then singled on a line drive to right field that drove in Sparks. Bueno then lifted a fly ball to Barons right fielder Keenyn Walker and Wallach tried to score but was thrown out at home.
Meanwhile, Evan Mitchell relieved Stephens and shutdown the Birmingham offense. He threw three hitless innings and struck out six. Mitchell, who was recently selected to represent the Cincinnati Reds in the Arizona Fall League, improved to 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA.
Pensacola benefited from the bats of Elizalde, Vincej and Jagielo. Elizalde was 4-5 with a run scored and two RBIs. He has 50 RBIs on the season and is hitting .296 on the year. He now leads the team with 34 multi-hit games.
Vincej also went 4-5 with one run and one RBI. He has 26 multi-hit games and lifted his average to .279.
Meanwhile, Jagielo got a hit in his fifth consecutive game, going 3-4 with a run scored and he drove in one.
The Mississippi Braves won their fifth straight game and remain in first place in the Southern League South Division. The Braves are 1.5 games in front of the Blue Wahoos in the second half of the season and would have to lose their last two games of the season, while Pensacola won their last two for the Blue Wahoos to add the second half title to its first half title.
Mississippi is 39-28 and 73-63 overall. Meanwhile, Pensacola is 38-30 in the second half and 79-59 overall.
Pensacola and Mississippi will play each other in the first round of the Southern League playoffs on Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium. In the North Division, the playoffs match the Montgomery Biscuits, second half winners, against the Jackson Generals, first half winners.
Century Ballpark Altercation Lands Woman In Jail
September 3, 2016
An altercation between two women at a Century ballpark landed one of them in jail on felony charges.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Anthony Pleasant Park late Thursday afternoon to find the victim sitting in a car bleeding from her head. The victim told deputies that she was having an ongoing issued with the best friend of her husband’s ex-wife, later identified as Kelsey Lauren Therrell, age 24 of McDavid.
The victim told deputies that when she left her home several miles away, she noticed Therrell following her, and then she pulled alongside the victim “giving her the finger”. When the victim exited her car at Anthony Pleasant Park, she said Therrell attacked her, beating her in the face. Therrell then reportedly fled the area. The story was corroborated by a witness.
When deputies located Therrell at an address on Roberts Road, she stated under oath that she was “not involved in her friend’s drama”, an arrest report states, and that the victim tried to run her and her children off of the roadway.
The victim was treated on the scene and then transported herself to an area hospital for treatment of puncture wounds she believed were caused by keys.
The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
Therrell was arrested for aggravated stalking and aggravated battery using a deadly weapon. She was released from the Escambia County Jail Friday on a $5,000 bond.