Wahoos Clinch Series Against Jackson
May 26, 2015
If you believe 11-year veteran minor leaguer Ray Chang, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos victory over the Jackson Generals was never in doubt.
Trailing 6-0 after four innings, the 31-year-old Chang and his teammates just had a feeling they weren’t going to lose.
With four runs in the eighth, Pensacola pulled out an improbable, 8-7, series clinching win over the Generals in front of 4,149 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Memorial Day.
Kyle Skipworth scored on a wild pitch thrown by Jackson reliever Matt Anderson to score the winning run, after Ryan Wright had tied the game, 7-7, with a one-out, bases loaded double into the gap in right center.
“We looked at each other after (pitcher) Wandy (Peralta) got hurt and the game had a weird feeling to it,” said Chang, who went 2-4 with two singles and scored twice. “We just looked at each other and knew we were going to win this ball game. It was such a great feeling to come back from that deficit.”
Chang is now hitting .366 in May (15-41) for the Blue Wahoos and .321 this season to be among the Pensacola hitting leaders.
The win improved the Blue Wahoos to 20-25 on the season headed into a crucial 10-game road trip against Mississippi Braves and Mobile BayBears, who lead the Blue Wahoos in the Southern League South Division standings.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said his team needed Monday’s victory after losing the past two games on late-inning heroics by Jackson. The Blue Wahoos scored four runs in the fourth to cut the lead and then four more in the eighth to win it.
“That’s why you play nine innings,” Kelly said. “Wandy gets the first two outs on four pitches and then loses it.”
In fact, Peralta ended up allowing four runs on three hits, two walks and an error in the first inning. The big hit came by left fielder Dario Pizzano who singled in Jordy Lara and D.J. Peterson.
However, in the top of the third inning Jackson center fielder Gabby Guerrero, who’s eighth inning single gave the Generals a, 6-5, win Sunday night, led off with a bullet off of Peralta’s left pitching hand. He threw some test pitches after a walk around the infield but Kelly called in reliever Layne Somsen.
Somsen pitched four innings giving up four hits, three walks and two runs, including a solo blast by Jabari Blash to left field to lead off the sixth inning that made the score, 7-4.
“(Peralta) felt like he could pitch but that’s a very valuable left arm,” Kelly said. “I didn’t feel like it was worth it.”
Chang was the instigator of getting shaving cream all over Wright in the post-game celebration when he walked off the field. Wright, who went 2-5 with a double and drove in three runs, has a nine game hitting streak. Wright is batting .325 (13-40) with eight RBIs two doubles.
Wright ended the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 0-22 hitless streak with the bases loaded Sunday and then got a double again Monday with the bases loaded for the Blue Wahoos, who are now 2-28.
“He has been so clutch all year,” Chang said.
Kelly said lucky for the Blue Wahoos the wind shifted around the sixth inning carrying Wright’s ball away from the Generals’ Guerrero in center and more to right toward Lara where it dropped in.
“If he drove the ball to right center with the wind blowing in we might not have scored,” Kelly said. “Guerrero was catching everything. But Lara didn’t have a good jump on it.”
Three Bikers Injured In Memorial Day Ride Crash
May 25, 2015
Three people on a Memorial Day motorcycle ride were injured when they lost control and crashed north of Molino Monday.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 34-year old Joseph R. Gobeil of Smiths Station, AL, was northbound on Highway 29 approaching Barth Road on his 2013 Victory motorcycle. The rear tire of his motorcycle hydroplaned, causing it to overturn as it left the roadway and entered the median.
Shawn R. McGlone, age 28 of Phenix City, AL, was also traveling northbound on a 2006 Harley Davidson. He attempted to swerve and miss Gobiel. McGlone landed in the inside northbound land of Highway 29. McGlone was then struck by a 2009 Harley Davidson driven by 30-year old Ryan J. Parkansky of Phenix City, causing Parkansky’s Harley to overturn.
Gobeil received minor injuries. Parkansky also received minor injuries and was transported to Jay Hospital. McGlone was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital.
Gobeil was cited for failure to use due care, according to the FHP
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
One Person Injured In Old Chemstrand Crash
May 25, 2015
The driver of a Chevrolet Camaro was injured in single vehicle crash Old Chemstrand Road Monday morning in Cantonment. The adult female was briefly trapped in the upside down vehicle until being extricated by members of Escambia Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station. The driver was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Lightning Causes Damage At Davisville Home
May 25, 2015
There were no injuries and no major damage when lightning reportedly struck a home on Meadows Road in Davisville, just off Highway 97, Monday morning. The lighting strike reportedly damaged a fan motor in the home’s heating and cooling system, causing the smell of smoke. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the incident. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Remembering The Fallen At Wall South (With Gallery)
May 25, 2015
Hundreds of people attended the Veterans Memorial Park Foundations annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Wall South in Pensacola Sunday.
The Vietnam & Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club led a procession of bikers to the ceremony, where the keynote address was given by Duane Thiessen, president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and president of the National Flight Academy.
Photos by Andrew McKay, NewsRadio 1620, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Class Of 2015 Holds Baccalaureate Service (With Photo Gallery)
May 25, 2015
The Northview High School Class of 2015 held their Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
“Class of 2015, turning the page into a new chapter of life, the decisions you are making right now, and those that you will make as you leave for college or move out from your home and become independent, those decisions are shaping your future, and they are setting the quality of your life for the next 50 plus years. Don’t forget your Creator in these moments,” guest speaker Rev. Glenn Weber said during the student-led program.
“Great joy comes from remembering your Creator, and pursuing Him first, and then chasing with great passion all those things He has placed in your heart,” Weber said.
The program also included scripture, prayer and music provide by the Northview Senior Class Ensemble.
Graduation for the Northview High School Class of 2015 will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at the school.
Pictured: The Northview High School Class of 2015 Baccalaureate service Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Unpaid Property Taxes Must Be Paid By Friday
May 25, 2015
All 2014 unpaid real estate taxes must be paid to avoid a tax certificate being issued, which is a first lien against the property, by Friday. Over 11,000 accounts totaling $10 million remain unpaid, according to Tax Collector Janet Holley.
Payments must be received and processed by close of business on Friday, May 29:
- in person at one of three branch offices;
- online at www.escambiataxcollector.com; or
- through the phone service center (850) 438-6500 ext. 3252.
Late payments will be returned for additional fees.
Drive thru service and drop boxes are available at all locations:
- Downtown, 213 Palafox Place
- Molino, 6440 Highway 95A, Suite A
- Marcus Pointe, 6451 North W Street
Taxpayers may check the status of their taxes online at www.escambiataxcollector.com or call (850) 438-6500 ext. 3252 for more information.
Barrineau Park 4-H, Other Groups Honor Those In Barrancas National Cemetary
May 25, 2015
Members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club joined other volunteers from local Boy Scout groups and other organizations in placing flags in Barrancas National Cemetery. A flag was placed on each the graves – about 33,00 of them – in the cemetery on board Pensacola Naval Air Station for Memorial Day. All of the flags were placed in about one hour.
“It was beautiful morning to honor those who have served our country,” said Allison Woodfin, president of the Barrineau Park 4-H.
The flags will remain on the graves until at least 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Pictured: Members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club joined other volunteers in placing about 33,000 flags on graves in Barrancas National Cemetery. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Kids Offer Memorial Day Appreciation
May 25, 2015
The children at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center in Century gathered recently for this photo to show their appreciation for Memorial Day. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jackson Beats Pensacola Again
May 25, 2015
One of the reasons the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are two-games above .500 in May is that they never stop trying to score more runs.
It’s what first year manager Pat Kelly said he likes about his team that’s 19-25 and in fourth place in the Southern League South Division. The Blue Wahoos are now 13-11 in May, after starting April 6-14.
“The thing I really like about this team is the way we keep coming back,” Kelly said. “That’s something you didn’t see the first month.”
The Blue Wahoos fell a run short Sunday, 6-5, to the Jackson Generals in front of 4,502 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
However, Pensacola came right back in the seventh to tie the game, 5-5, when catcher Kyle Skipworth hit a deep fly ball to right field to score first baseman Marquez Smith from third. Jackson scored its winning run in the eighth when center fielder Gabby Guerrero knocked a single to score third baseman Jody Lara.
One of the stars for Pensacola has been Seth Mejias-Brean, who is hitting .333 (16-48) the past 13 games after going 3-5 with an RBI and stolen base. He also turned a great double play flagging down a bad hop, stepping on third and whipping it to first.
“The toughest thing is keeping steady,” said Mejias-Brean, who’s now hitting .244 on the year. “You could be hitting the ball really well and still not get any hits. You could be hitting like crap and still go 3-for-3.”
Ryan Wright ended the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 0-22 hitless streak with the bases loaded when he singled sharply to center and scored both first baseman Ray Chang and shortstop Zach Vincej to put Pensacola up, 4-0, in the second inning. Although Pensacola had failed to produce a hit until Wright’s, it did have 10 RBIs before adding two more.
Wright has an eight game hitting streak, batting .314 (11-35). He has driven in five runs and doubled.
Kelly chafed when about the team’s batting average with the bases loaded, calling it an “overrated stat.”
“A lot of things don’t show up in the average,” he said, lobbying for a new statistic. “If you’re knocking in about 50-60 percent of runs with men on third, then you’re doing pretty good. Batting averages are evil anyway.”