Blue Wahoos Take Series Over Generals
April 26, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finally gave Amir Garrett his first Double-A victory by knocking three dingers and scoring nine runs Monday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Garrett left the game to a standing ovation from the crowd of 3,512, as he retired the last 12 batters he faced in the Blue Wahoos third straight victory over the Jackson Generals, 9-3.
“I didn’t even know what to do,” Garrett said sheepishly. “Do I throw my hands up and wave to the crowd? The Blue Wahoos fans really love baseball and they really love the Blue Wahoos. I appreciate that.”
Garrett, who is 1-2 in four starts with a 1.46 ERA, finally got some run support from his teammates this season. The southpaw, who is the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect, has allowed four earned runs in 24.2 innings pitched but the Blue Wahoos have backed him up with just three runs until Monday’s outburst.
“It’s a big thing to get that first win in Double-A,” said Garrett, who had season-highs of 6.2 innings pitched and nine strikeouts. He allowed just two hits. “I’m really happy. When we get on the board first, I’m very confident I can win the ballgame. These guys will come around most of the time for me. I’ll bet on that.”
The floodgates opened Monday with Pensacola winning its third straight game by having its first multiple home run game of the season. They blasted three with center fielder Tony Renda, right fielder Phillip Ervin and left fielder Sebastian Elizalde all knocking it out on a windy night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he’s confident with the team’s strong starting rotation that the Blue Wahoos can’t lose, if they hit like they have this series. The Blue Wahoos clinched the five-game series with Jackson by going up, 3-1, after breaking out with 32 hits in 102 at bats for a .314 batting average the past three games. That comes after hitting .167 in its last series against the Biloxi Shuckers on the road.
“With our pitching we just need a few runs,” Kelly said. “(Garrett) was super. He got stronger as the game went along.”
One of Garrett’s biggest strikeouts came in the fifth inning when he showed some emotion after striking out Jackson catcher Steve Baron after five foul balls and eight pitches. His career-high is 12 strikeouts, which he did last year with the High-A Daytona Tortugas and for the first time in 2013 with the Low-A Dayton Dragons.
“I threw everything at him but the kitchen sink,” Garrett said. “He was pushing my pitch count up. He’s a great hitter. These guys are more advanced. They don’t swing at too many pitches.”
Elizalde, who went 2-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs, said he was happy that the offense came through for Garrett. Elizalde, who hit his second home run this series, extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine games this season and is now 9-22, batting .409 during his streak.
“(Garrett) was really aggressive early in the count and was in a good groove,” said Elizalde, who extended his hitting streak to nine games. “I’m definitely happy we could help him get that first win.”
Pensacola right fielder Phillip Ervin started a two-out two run rally in the bottom of the first inning when he lined a stand up double to left field. Third baseman Eric Jagielo followed with a walk. That’s when left fielder Elizalde crushed a fly ball over Jackson center fielder Guillermo Heredia head that he chased down at the warning track, allowing both Ervin and Jagielo to score and put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-0.
Again in the second inning the Blue Wahoos scored two runs with two outs. Pensacola shortstop Calten Daal, playing in his first game after suffering a concussion in the season opener when a pitch hit him in the head, singled to center field. Center fielder Tony Renda then sent the ball over the left field wall for a two-out, two-run homer putting Pensacola up, 4-0.
Pensacola’s Ervin generated a run in the third inning when he walked to lead off the third inning, stole second base, went to third on a Jagielo sacrifice fly ball to right field, and scored when Elizalde hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, giving the Blue Wahoos a 5-0 lead.
Atmore Police Detail High Speed Chase That Ended With Wreck On Bratt Dirt Road
April 25, 2016
[UPDATED] A high speed police chase that began in Atmore Sunday night ended with a rollover crash on a dirt road in Florida.
The Atmore Police Department reportedly chased the Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck into Florida at speeds reaching up to 100 mph on North Highway 99 just before 11 p.m.
Atmore Police said they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Colorado on Highway 31 West for an expired tag, no seat belt and no tag lights. Additionally a check of the tag revealed it was on the wrong vehicle. After attempting to initiate the traffic stop, the vehicle sped off at a high rate of speed.
The driver swerved into patrol units several times attempting to run them off the road, according to Atmore Police, while continuing at a high rate of speed and ignoring traffic controls.
As the pursuit continued south on Highway 99, the driver turned onto Cecils Road, a dirt road about 1.2 miles south of the state line in Bratt. The driver, later identified as 36-year old Tabatha Faye Boutwell of Walnut Hill, lost control on the sandy road and overturned into a field about 400 feet later.
The pickup was occupied by Boutwell and two juveniles, all of which initially refused medical treatment. Over an hour after the crash, Boutwell began to complain of injuries and was transported to by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital. The two juveniles were taken to a nearby relative’s home.
Boutwell was treated and released into the custody of the Florida Highway Patrol on a charge of reckless driving with property damage. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola with bond set at $2,500. It was later determined that the pickup was stolen earlier in the week from Escambia County, AL.
Charges are pending against Boutwell in Alabama for attempting to commit murder, receiving stolen property, attempting to elude a police officer and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County EMS, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the incident.
Pictured above and inset: A high speed chase by Atmore Police into Florida ended with this rollover crash on a dirt road near Bratt Sunday night. Pictured immediately below: The female driver (in a plaid shirt) is questioned by law enforcement after the accident. Pictured bottom: More of the accident scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Molino Shed
April 25, 2016
Fire destroyed a storage shed in Molino Sunday afternoon.
The blaze was reported as being behind the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office in the Molino Community Complex, but it was actually about 2,000 feet away near a wooded area. Fire trucks had a difficult time reaching the blaze down a long, narrow driveway over 1,500 feet of Molino Road.
The cause of the fire was not known.
The shed was totally destroyed. It was located on a piece of property off the 6300 block of Molino Road.
Ransom Middle’s Grant Gill Named Escambia Student Volunteer Of The Year
April 25, 2016
The Escambia County School District Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year is Grant Gill from Ransom Middle School. Gill volunteers at McArthur Elementary School.
For the past three years, Grant has started each school day two hours early before catching his bus to Ransom for the day. At McArthur, he volunteers with a very special group - Amanda Jansen’s Pre-K class for students with autism.
Grant begins each day by greeting the students at their bus and assisting them to their classroom to unpack and prepare for the day. He helps in the cafeteria with their breakfast and returns with them to their class.
“Grant has one special boy who has become very attached to him. Dorian and his mom are here today to celebrate Grant’s award,”Marty Stanovich, executive director of The First Tee of NW Florida, said. Stanovich led a recent program to honor Grant and other volunteers in the Escambia County School District. “The two are inseparable and his mother is so very grateful for the work he has done for her special little boy. Grant says he may pursue a career in teaching special education.”
Pictured top: (L-R) Escambia County School Board members Jeff Bergosh and Bill Slayton, Grant Gill and his friend Dorian, and Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured inset: Escambia County School District Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year Grant Gill from Ransom Middle School and his special friend Dorian. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Walnut Hill Crash
April 25, 2016
There were no injuries in a single vehicle accident near Walnut Hill late Sunday night.
Just after 11 p.m. the driver of a pickup truck lost control on Highway 97A near Corley Road, left the roadway and struck several trees. All three occupants of the refused medical treatment at the scene.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Weaver Receives National FFA Collegiate Scholarship
April 25, 2016
Northview High School senior Haylee Weaver has been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from through the 2016 National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program. Weaver is the daughter of Archie and Cheryl Weaver of Molino. She is the current president of the the Northview High School FFA chapter. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Cleans Up
April 25, 2016
A community clean up event was held over the weekend in Barrineau Park in honor of Earth day.
The annual event is co-sponsored by the Honeysuckle Garden Club and the Barrineau Park Historical Society with the assistance of Clean and Green of Escambia County.
Each of 26 volunteers selected an area to clean, was given gloves, a vest to wear, trash bags and bottled water, and then sent out to pick up the litter. All the trash was piled up under an oak tree at the community center, to be picked up by Clean and Green. The volunteers were then served a free lunch, funded by Kenneth Gibbs and prepared by Honeysuckle Garden Club.
“Because of the efforts of these volunteers, Barrineau Park is a cleaner place to be enjoyed by all,” organizers said.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Over Jax
April 25, 2016
Pensacola scored four runs in the fourth inning with Ray “The Mayor” Chang getting the clutch double that put the Blue Wahoos ahead for good Sunday, 3-2, against the Jacksonville Generals at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
His game-winning hit came in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038, who watched Pensacola go on to win 6-3 and improve to 11-7 this season. Pensacola now has sold out five of its eight home games and four in a row.
The 32-year-old Chang, who is an 11-year veteran, earned the nickname from his young teammates last season and this year’s young team has made it stick.
Another nickname for Chang could be Mr. Clutch. The first baseman went 3-4 with a run scored, a double and two RBIs Sunday and earlier this season, he had his second walk-off hit for the Blue Wahoos.
After Sunday’s game, The Mayor now leads the Blue Wahoos in batting average at .345 and is second on the team with eight RBIs in 10 games this season, so far.
“It started last year and I guess the more years I come here I’ll here it more often than not,” said Chang, who has four seasons under his belt in Pensacola.
Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly has come to rely on the veteran when the second place team in the Southern League South Division needs a hit.
“That was a big double right there,” he said. “It gives us a lead that we hold on to the rest of the way. Chang today did a really nice job.”
Trailing, 2-0, Pensacola came back in the fourth inning with four runs on four hits and a walk to go ahead, 4-2. DH Brandon Dixon drove in third baseman Eric Jagielo on a liner to left field to make the score, 2-1.
Chang then ripped his double that rolled to left field corner after Jackson’s Leon Landry dived for the ball but missed. Both left fielder Tony Renda and Dixon crossed the plate for a 3-2 lead. Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej added one more run when his sacrifice fly to right field scored Chang for the fourth and final run of the inning.
Pensacola pitcher Nick Travieso took the mound after being reactivated from the disabled list with a pulled groin and three game suspension when umps felt he purposely threw at a batter. He threw four innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out five. His ERA now stands at 2.63 for the season.
“I think he was a little rusty,” Kelly said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Kelly, though, said El’Hajj Muhammad’s 2.1 innings of relief were the most critical, allowing him to rest his other bullpen pitchers.
Muhammad got off to a rocky start allowing three straight singles in the fifth inning by Jackson second baseman Tim Lopes, right fielder Tyler O’Neill and left fielder Leon Landry to load the bases with no outs.
However, Muhammad struck out Generals first baseman D.J. Peterson and then got DH Dan Paolini to hit a bouncer back to him that he threw to catcher Chad Wallach and Wallach threw to first baseman Ray Chang for a double play to end the inning and the scoring threat. Muhammad pumped his fist in excitement after the defensive highlight.
Jackson had scored two runs in the fourth inning to go up, 2-0. The Generals’ Peterson doubled down left field line to score Landry with the first run. Jackson catcher Steve Baron then hit a slow roller that Blue Wahoos pitcher Nick Travieso couldn’t handle, allowing Peterson to score the second run.
Pensacola added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to go ahead, 6-3. Vincej walked to start the inning and scored when Jackson reliever Andrew Kittredge fielded a ground ball and threw wide of first base into the right field bullpen trying to get the Blue Wahoos speedy center fielder Beau Amaral. Second baseman Alex Blandino then hit a grounder into left field that scored Amaral.
Amaral went 0-4 with one run scored to end his eight-game hitting streak. He’s batting .286 on the year.
Escaped Jail Inmate From Cantonment Recaptured Quickly
April 24, 2016
An escaped Escambia County inmate’s freedom was short-lived Saturday.
The inmate, 30-year old Richard Blevins of Cantonment, escaped from a hospital transportation van Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of Davis Highway and Brent Lane in Pensacola before being apprehended by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Blevins was at Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment and escaped while being transported back to the Escambia County Jail after being cleared from the hospital. At about 12:19 p.m., the transporting officer observed Blevins acting erratic and called for assistance. Blevins slipped out of combo restraints and escaped out of the rear of the van by pulling off the grate and kicking out the window.
The corrections officer pursued Blevins a short distance while backup was responding. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office immediately established a perimeter around the area and conducted a search. Blevins was apprehended at about 1:34 p.m. and was transported back to the Escambia County Jail where he is being held without bond.
Blevins was arrested Friday, April 22 on numerous drug charges. He received numerous other charges — escape, obstructing police, resisting an officer and smuggling contraband – in connection with Saturday’s escape.
Photos: Blue Jacket Jamboree
April 24, 2016
The annual Blue Jacket Jamboree was held Saturday at the 4-H Center in Molino with arts and crafts, kids’ activities, food, a car show and more. All proceeds from the event benefited the Northview High School FFA and FFA Scholarship Fund.
For Blue Jacket Baby Contest results and photos, click here.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree was sponsored in party by NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
