Wild 10th Inning Gives Wahoos Much-Needed Win Aas Magic Number Drops To 3
September 5, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos turned a pitchers’ duel into an extra-inning slugfest on Friday night, outlasting the Columbus Clingstones 8-6 in 10 innings.
The win grows Pensacola’s division lead over the Clingstones to 5.5 games with 8 to play in the regular season. Their magic number to clinch the second half South Division title drops to three, with a postseason clinch possible as soon as Sunday if they win their two remaining games in Columbus this weekend.
The game began as a low-scoring affair, as Orlando Ortiz-Mayr worked 5.0 scoreless innings for Pensacola and Drue Hackenberg turned in a career-high 8.0 innings of one-run ball for the Clingstones. The Blue Wahoos took the game’s first lead in the third inning when Hackenberg uncorked a wild pitch to score Adrian Santana from third base, and that 1-0 score held up until the late innings.
Blue Wahoos reliever Nigel Belgrave struck out the side in order in the sixth, but surrendered a game-tying homer to Dixon Williams to begin the bottom of the seventh inning.
The game remained tied 1-1 until the top of the ninth, when new arrival Max Williams launched a go-ahead homer with two outs for his first hit in his Double-A debut and a 2-1 Blue Wahoos lead. Tasked with protecting the newfound edge, Pensacola reliever Justin Storm (W, 1-0) served up a leadoff homer to Alex Lodise to tie the game 2-2 and force extras.
In the top of the 10th, the Blue Wahoos exploded for six runs against reliever Blane Abeyta (L, 1-4) to take an 8-2 lead. Colby Shade reached on what was intended as a sacrifice bunt and Ryan Ignoffo walked to load the bases for Jay Beshears, who laced an RBI single to center field. Though Shade was thrown out trying to score from second base, the Blue Wahoos re-loaded the bases for Aiva Arquette when Adrian Santana was hit by a pitch. Arquette blasted a two-run double off the left field wall for a three-run inning, and three additional runs came into score on a Dillon Lewis fielder’s choice, Williams RBI single, and Cristian Hernández RBI groundout.
The Clingstones put up a fight in the bottom of the 10th, loading the bases against Storm before Tristan Stevens entered and gave up a grand slam to John Gil to cut the lead to 8-6. Though Stevens hit Eric Hartman to bring the tying run to the plate, Lodise grounded into a game-ending double play to seal the Blue Wahoos win.
The Blue Wahoos improved to 10-1 in extra-inning games this season, and snapped a four-game losing skid with the victory.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer
State Prison Inmate Gets Max Sentence For Fatally Choking His Cellmate
September 5, 2026
A state prison inmate will serve an additional 15 years behind bars after a Santa Rosa County jury convicted him of manslaughter in the death of his cellmate.
Tavis Ernest Williams was found guilty this week. Immediately following the verdict, Santa Rosa Circuit Court Judge Clifton Drake handed down the statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
Because Williams was designated a prison releasee reoffender, he must serve the entire sentence day-for-day, without eligibility for gain time or discretionary release.
The 15-year term will run consecutively to the prison sentence Williams is currently serving for prior convictions out of Miami-Dade County for first degree murder and robbery.
The conviction stems from an incident on May 27, 2022, inside the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton, where Williams and the victim shared a cell. Following a brief physical altercation, Williams placed the victim in a chokehold and refused to let go until the man stopped breathing.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the homicide and filed the arrest charges.
Federal Trial Delayed For Molino Suspect Accused Of Sex Trafficking, Money Laundering
September 4, 2026
Trial has been continued for a Molino man indicted in June and arrested in July on multiple federal charges including sex trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering.
Javier Cyree Tyrell Brown, 28, of Blueberry Lane, was indicted in federal court on one count of commercial sex trafficking, one count of financially benefiting from commercial sex trafficking, one count of using a facility for purposes of racketeering, one count of coercion and enticement for interstate prostitution, one count of interstate transportation for prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
His unopposed motion for a continuance was granted by District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II to allow time for his defense attorneys to review “voluminous discovery from the government.” His new trial is set for mid-October, where he faces up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts.
The charges stem from an alleged multi-year commercial sex trafficking and money laundering operation. According to court documents, the alleged offenses occurred between January 1, 2023, and June 16, 2026, in the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere.
Federal prosecutors charged Brown with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, alleging he recruited, harbored, transported, advertised, and solicited a victim knowing that force and coercion would be used to cause the person to engage in commercial sex acts. He is also charged with financially benefiting from the venture.
The indictment further alleges that Brown used interstate facilities, including cellular phones and the internet, to carry on an illegal prostitution enterprise under federal and Florida law. In addition, prosecutors accuse Brown of enticing and transporting an individual across state lines to engage in prostitution.
Brown is also charged with money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he conspired with others to channel the illicit proceeds of human trafficking and prostitution into financial accounts and through digital payment platforms, including Cash App, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Chime, in an attempt to disguise and conceal the funds.
The federal government is also seeking forfeiture of any real and personal property, proceeds, and assets connected to the alleged offenses.
Brown remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service without bond in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
State Revenue In Florida Just Under Forecast
September 4, 2026
State general revenue collections for July came in slightly below expectations.
The Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research reported Wednesday the state collected $3.68 billion in net general revenue in July, $16.3 million under the amount projected in a revenue forecast set in January.
The panel of economists known as the Revenue Estimating Conference increased state general revenue projections by nearly $1 billion on Aug. 14. The amount is considered relatively minor as Florida annually takes in about $50 billion in general revenue.
The revised figures will be used starting with the August revenue collection report, according to the legislative office report.
General revenue is closely watched because it plays a major role in funding education, health and prison programs.
The July report showed sales tax, which makes up the bulk of the revenue, accounted for $3.2 billion, $166.8 million more than anticipated. Corporate income taxes totaled $199.2 million, which was $48 million over the forecast.
Earnings on state investments totaled $114.1 million, $7 million more than expected.
Meanwhile, revenue from documentary stamp taxes on real estate transactions came in at $53.6 million or $14.8 million below the forecast.
The beverage tax also fell short of the forecast, totaling $20.7 million for the month, $2.1 million less than anticipated.
by The News Service of Florida
Tate Aggies Push No. 1 Gulf Breeze To The Limit In Hard-Fought District Clash; Northview Falls To Jay
September 4, 2026
The Tate Aggies volleyball squad gave the state’s top-ranked team everything it could handle Thursday night, battling wire-to-wire in a high-octane district showdown before falling 3-1 to the visiting Gulf Breeze Dolphins.
Gulf Breeze, ranked No. 1 in Florida Class 5A, entered Cantonment sporting a 9-1 record to challenge an unbeaten No. 4 ranked Aggies team at 7-0. The match lived up to every bit of the heavyweight billing, delivering relentless momentum swings, gritty defense, and clutch net play in front of an electric home crowd.
The opening two sets set the tone for the night, with both sides trading explosive scoring runs. Gulf Breeze edged ahead late to claim set one 25-21, but Tate answered right back with furious intensity in the second. The Aggies pushed the Dolphins to the brink, matching them point-for-point past regulation before Gulf Breeze squeaked out a dramatic 26-24 set win.
Refusing to back down, Tate kept up the attack in the third frame. Feeding off timely kills and defensive stops at the net, the Aggies rallied through another fiercely contested finish to seize the set 25-23 and pull within striking distance.
The Dolphins managed to regain control in the fourth set, pulling away 25-14 to seal the match, but not before the Aggies proved they can run shoulder-to-shoulder with the tops in Florida.
For Tate, Torrie Garrett paced the front line with 117 kills on the season, while Myla Manoso anchored the defense above the net with 16 total blocks. Jacey Stuart added firepower from behind the line with 17 aces, Harper Leopard anchored the back row with 88 digs and 94 receptions, and Bailie Merritt orchestrated the offense with 208 assists.
With the hard-fought battle behind them, the Aggies (7-1) will look to bounce right back next week when they host the Washington Wildcats (3-3) on Tuesday. And, coming up later in the season, Tate will travel to Gulf Breeze looking for vengeance on September 29.
Jay Sweeps Northview
In varsity volleyball actin, the Jay Lady Royals swept the Northview Chiefs 3-0 in varsity action and 2-0 for junior varsity. Jay improved to 10-1 on the season, while Northview slipped to 2-3. Next Tuesday, Jay will host Central and Northview will head to Flomaton.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff: Two Jailed After Escambia Traffic Stop Nets Enough Fentanyl To Kill Over One Million People
September 4, 2026
A traffic stop in Escambia County led to the arrest of two men with enough fentanyl to kill over one million people, according to Sheriff Chip Simmons.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped the vehicle in Wedgewood for a tag violation, and a K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.
When deputies searched the vehicle, they reported finding 2,145 grams of fentanyl, along with $22,874 in cash.
“According to the DEA’s benchmark, two milligrams can potentially be a lethal dose,” Simmons said. “That means over a million people could conceivably have been killed with this amount of fentanyl.”
Ramon Becerra-Urbie, 24, and Adrian Medina-Ortiz, 25, were both charged with trafficking fentanyl and booked into the Escambia County Jail. Urbie (pictured left) was in the country illegally, according to the sheriff.
Man Arrested In Connection With Fatal 2025 Hit-And-Run Crash
September 4, 2026
A Milton man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash that occurred late last year in Santa Rosa County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Jarod Christian Phelps, 36, was taken into custody following a lengthy investigation by the FHP Traffic Homicide Unit.
Authorities said the incident occurred on November 20, 2025, between 4 and 6 a.m. Old Bagdad Highway near Rice Road. Investigators determined that a red 2016 Ford Explorer struck a female pedestrian and fled the area.
The pedestrian was later found deceased from injuries suffered in the collision.
Troopers eventually tracked down the red Ford Explorer at a home located at 4513 Elm Tree Drive and identified Phelps as the driver.
After securing a warrant through the Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, an FHP trooper assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force located Phelps leaving his workplace in Milton and placed him under arrest.
Phelps has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He was transported and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail where he remains without bond
Wahoos Powered Down by Clingstones in 4-1 Defeat
September 4, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos waited out a lengthy stadium power outage on Thursday night, but couldn’t charge up enough offense in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Clingstones.
The loss, Pensacola’s fourth in a row after a torrid 19-3 stretch, drops their division lead over the Clingstones to 4.5 games with 9 to play in the regular season. Their magic number to clinch the second half South Division title remains at 5.
Blue Wahoos ace Eliazar Dishmey breezed through a 1-2-3 first inning, but proceedings screeched to a halt in the top of the second when an area power outage impacted the lights and scoreboard at Synovus Park. The game wouldn’t start back up for another 90 minutes, preventing Dishmey from picking up the game upon its resumption.
The Clingstones struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning against reliever Jaydenn Estanista (L, 2-1), taking a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch and bringing home another on a Luke Waddell sacrifice fly. Though Payton Green answered for the Blue Wahoos with a solo homer in the third against Shay Schanaman (W, 5-7), the Clingstones would tack on additional runs with a fifth-inning RBI single from Eric Hartman and sixth-inning solo homer from Dixon Williams.
The Blue Wahoos got at least one runner on base in all nine innings, but hit into three double plays and went 0-for-3 with men in scoring position. Tyler LaPorte closed out the game for the Clingstones with a scoreless ninth.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Friday.
written by Erik Bremer
Cantonment Man Sentenced To State Prison Following $100K Stolen Property Investigation
September 3, 2026
A Cantonment man arrested last year after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recovered more than $100,000 in stolen property has been sentenced to state prison.
Colby Chase Myrick entered a plea of no contest and was adjudicated guilty by Circuit Judge John L. Miller, on charges of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted Florida felon, dealing in stolen property, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and resisting an officer without violence.
Judge Miller sentenced Myrick to 24 months in state prison on the three felony counts, with the terms set to run concurrently. On the misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence, Myrick received a concurrent sentence of 11 months and 30 days in the county jail. He was credited with 147 days of time already served, and his driver’s license was suspended for six months on the drug possession charge.
The charges stemmed from an October 2025 operation in which Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the SWAT team executed a search warrant at a Cantonment residence. The warrant was part of an investigation into multiple burglaries, grand thefts, and dealing in stolen property, including stolen motorcycles. In total, authorities recovered over $100,000 worth of stolen items, including motorcycles and lawn equipment.
According to an arrest report, when tactical units arrived to serve the warrant, Myrick ignored verbal commands to stop and ran into a backyard storage shed where he was residing. He secured the door from the inside using a chain. Deputies forced entry and took Myrick into custody after he continued to resist orders.
During a search of the shed, deputies uncovered a Marlin .22-caliber rifle and 17 rounds of ammunition hidden beneath the bed where Myrick slept. Due to prior felony convictions dating back to 2008, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Deputies also located a 2005 Honda motorcycle reported stolen out of Santa Rosa County near the shed.
Escambia Residents Sentenced To Federal Prison For Fentanyl Distribution
September 3, 2026
Two Escambia County residents have been sentenced to federal prison on fentanyl charges.
Adrian Dion Pettaway Jr., 25, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, and Gindy Nicole Lacey, 49, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, tramadol, and fentanyl.
Court records in the separately indicted cases reflect that in November 2024, Lacey sold tramadol pills and methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. In December 2024, Lacey sold 1,000 pills containing fentanyl during an undercover operation. Further investigation revealed that Pettaway had supplied Lacey with the fentanyl pills sold during the undercover operation. Lacey was previously convicted of armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
The cases involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.