Berry’s Blast, Strong Pitching Lift Blue Wahoos To Win
August 16, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Along with taking on their usual alternate identity Thursday as the Pensacola Mullets, the Blue Wahoos recreated what has always worked so well.
They got a strong start on the mound. Flawless relief pitching. And one big hit.
The summation became a 3-1 win against the Montgomery Biscuits on “Mullet Thursday” that was much needed, following the first two games of this homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Yeah, we’re kinda in a race right here to make the playoffs, obviously that’s the goal, and we’re just trying to play our best brand of baseball,” said Jacob Berry, whose two-run homer in the fourth inning was the decisive hit in the game.
“Just top to bottom it was great baseball.”
Evan Fitterer set the early tone by tossing three scoreless innings with runners on base each time. His only run allowed was on a fourth inning ground out. He worked five innings to earn the win, improve to 6-4 and lower his earned run average to 3.60 for the season.
Fitterer had six strikeouts in his quality start.
The game was decided in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Graham Pauley reached on a single. Berry timed a one-strike cutter from Biscuits starter Sean Hunley that was low in the strike zone, but launched high into the right-center berm for his eighth home run.
It continued a hot bat that Berry has swung this week, after collecting five hits in seven plate appearances the first two games.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it too much, just trying to stick to my positives,” Berry said. “Just trying to put a good swing on it. I feel like I got a good pitch to hit.”
Later in the inning, Paul McIntosh drove in the third run on a grounder that scored Nathan Martorella, who singled and advanced to third on Joe Mack’s double.
From that point, the Blue Wahoos bullpen took over in a way that didn’t happen on previous nights.
Adam Laskey earned his seventh hold by shutting out Montgomery the next three innings, allowing just two hits and getting two strikeouts among the 12 batters he faced. The pivotal moment occurred in the sixth inning when Laskey entered the game.
The first two Biscuits batters reached on a hit by pitch and single. Laskey then got a lineout to shortstop Jared Serna, struck out the next batter and ended the inning on a ground out to first baseman Nathan Martorella.
That set things up for Justin King to get his first save in a Blue Wahoos uniform. King gave up a leadoff single in the ninth, but ended any drama by striking out the next two batters and having a fly out that Jacob Marsee tracked in left-center to end the game.
Catcher Joe Mack began clapping as he ran to congratulate King with a hug as the Blue Wahoos finished a game played in two hours, nine minutes.
They will now try to even the series on Friday, a Giveaway Friday where the first 1,000 fans will receive a refillable drink container. It will be the first home start for newcomer Jacob Miller, who has made two effective road starts since being promoted from High-A Beloit at the beginning of the month.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos are now 8-2 on Thursdays wearing the Pensacola Mullets jerseys.
— Unfortunately for Jacob Serna, who had produced at least one hit in each of his 13 games since joining the Blue Wahoos, his streak ended Thursday with an 0-for-4 night.
— During pregame ceremonies, Clay Pyle, the “Jean Lafitte LXIX” of Pensacola’s Krewe of Lafitte, presented a $5,000 check on behalf of the Krew and the Krewe of Lafitte Foundation to the local chapter of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Pensacola’s Krewe of Lafitte is celebrating its 70th anniversary since being founded in 1954.
The Krewe partnered with the Blue Wahoos for its “KOL Pirate Takeover of Blue Wahoos” on Thursday night and helped bring awareness and raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
— The All Sports Association, based in Fort Walton Beach, had its group outing Thursday night. The organization was formed in 1970 and is the sports association for the Fort Walton-Destin and Walton County area, headlined by its annual awards banquet in February.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Pensacola High School Assistant Principal Charged With Sex Offense
August 15, 2024
The assistant principal at Pensacola High School was arrested on a sex offense Wednesday night.
Sean Clark Roby, 55, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a felony charge of video voyeurism by an offender age 19 or older, according to jail records.
The victim, now 23, alleged the crime occurred back in 2019 when she was 17-years old. The incident did not occur on the school campus or involved any student, according to police.
Roby was listed as “Assistant Principal: School Operations” on Pensacola High School’s official website. His information has since been removed from the site.
Escambia County Public School released the following statement: “We can confirm the arrest of one of our employees yesterday, and are fully cooperating with our partners in law enforcement as their investigation unfolds. Out of respect for their investigative process, and in accordance with our policies as negotiated in our Employment Master Contract, we will not be able to provide further information at this time, other than to say this individual is suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Roby’s bond was set at $15,000 at a Thursday afternoon hearing.
One Injured, Dozens Left Without Power In Cantonment Rollover Crash
August 15, 2024
One person was injured, and dozens of area residents were left without power for hours in a single vehicle rollover crash Wednesday night on Pine Forest Road in Cantonment.
A driver lost control of their vehicle on Pine Forest Road near Amanda Lane and crashed into a utility pole at the entrance to the Pine Forest Oaks Townhomes. The vehicle overturned and came to rest upside down in the front yard of nearby residence.
The driver was trapped in the vehicle for about 11 minutes until being extricated by Escambia County Fire Rescue. They were transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The townhomes complex was without power well into the early morning hours of Thursday while Florida Power & Light made repairs to restore service to an estimated 40 residences.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Application Pending For Borrow Pit On Highway 95A In Molino
August 15, 2024
A conditional use change application is pending before the Escambia County Board of Adjustment for a borrow pit in Molino.
According to Escambia County, a borrow pit is where material like gravel, soil, clay or sand is excavated for use at another location. Borrow pits can be enclosed or open, and both types require a permit in Escambia County.
The applicant, Justin Patterson, Ironhorse Cattle, Co., is proposing the 44-acre borrow pit on 52.88 acres zoned AG (agriculture use) at 5595 Highway 95A, west of Highway 95A and just south of Cedartown Road. Escambia County Land Development Code (LDC) requires conditional approval use approval for any borrow pit or reclamation activity with 1,000 feet from any residential use or zoning.
“The proposed use can be conducted and operated in a manner that is compatible with adjacent and surrounding properties. The subject property is largely surrounded by undeveloped property,” the application states, noting that there is one residential structure to the south of the proposed pit site, which will become a lake overlooked by a single-family residence when after excavation is complete. Operation is planned for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday, as allowed by the LDC. A 25-foot landscape buffer is proposed around the fenced-in pit.
Single access to the pit property is proposed for a driveway off Highway 95A across from Josh Lane.
The developer’s application says noise will be limited to the daylight hours and with pit’s sidewalls acting as a sound barrier, and a dust suppression system will be used to prevent airborne materials.
“The use will not generate unreasonable noise, glare, dust, smoke, odor, vibration or other nuisances or hazards,” the application states. “The excavation activity is temporary.”
According to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, there are no permitted potable water wells with 500 feet of the property; however, the permitting program did not exist until the late 1970s, and records are incomplete before the late 1980s.
A neighbor previously objected to the proposed use based on a private irrigation well in the vicinity of the project. An attorney for the applicant asserted that protections do not exist around any private or non-potable (drinking) water well.
Escambia County Development Review staff have recommended approval of the conditional use of the property.
“Staff recommends approval of the Conditional Use as submitted with the enhanced buffering as detailed on the submitted site plan. DRC site plan approval and BCC approval of the reclamation plan are required,” was the staff findings as submitted.
The Escambia County Board of Adjustment will consider the application at meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place.
A similar conditional use change request for the property was denied by the Board of Adjustment in April 2022.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Over 19,000 Votes Already Cast In Escambia County As Early Voting Continues
August 15, 2024
Voters in Escambia County had cast 19,294 ballot by the end of the day Wednesday.
Of those, 12,799 vote-by-mail had been received, and there were 6,493 early voters for the 2024 Primary Election in Escambia County.
Early voting begins continues through Saturday in Escambia County at 10 locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse, 7500 N. Century Blvd, Century
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, Room 235, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street, Pensacola
Voters may choose any one of the 10 locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device.
If voters have requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot, they must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day. Voters may drop-off a vote-by-mail ballot during early voting hours at any of the ten area locations. The USPS recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date. Vote-by-mail participants may track the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.gov.
The third option for voters is to cast a ballot at their precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, August 20. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
In Florida’s closed partisan primary elections, you are only eligible to vote in primary contests for the party in which you are registered.
A Universal Primary contest occurs when all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation. These contests appear on every voter’s ballot. Voters in ECUA District 1 (Republican) and ECUA District 3 (Democratic) will have these contests on their ballot regardless of party affiliation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
District 5 Cantonment, Farm Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Day Is Next Wednesday
August 15, 2024
Residents of a portion of Cantonment and Farm Hill can dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge during a District 5 Neighborhood Cleanup next Wednesday, August 21.
During neighborhood cleanups, Escambia County departments team up to bring services to residents in an effort to keep local neighborhoods clean and safe. Participating is easy: Residents in the cleanup area simply leave eligible items at the curb to be disposed of free of charge by Escambia County and partnering agencies.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of residences in the area by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Tires and paint cans should be separate from all other debris. Debris piles should not be placed under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. All items, including containers, will be collected.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area are able to participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected.
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
The neighborhood cleanup initiative involves an aggressive cleanup effort, targeting different neighborhoods throughout the county, with crew members and volunteers picking up a variety of debris and waste, including electronics, furniture and household items.
Since 2016, more than 6,915 tons (13,830,000 pounds) of debris were collected and disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program.
Century Reports 400 Gallon Raw Sewage Spill
August 15, 2024
The Town of Century reported a 400 gallon raw sewage spill Wednesday, none of which was recovered.
The spill happened on B Street, just off Mayo Lane about 2:20 p.m. and was ongoing for about 10 minutes.
A manhole overflowed due to a lift station failure, according to a report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The report stated that cleanup was completed by applying lime.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Molino Crash Involving Significant Fuel Spill
August 15, 2024
A crash involving a vehicle and a truck injured two people and caused a significant diesel fuel spill Wednesday morning in Molino.
The crash happened about 8:05 a.m. on Highway 95A at Bet Raines Road.
According to Escambia County, two people were transported to area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
Approximately 35 gallons of fuel spilled, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Escambia County Road Department provided three dump truck loads of dirt to contain the spill. DEP said the dirt was removed from the roadway and placed on the side of the road for disposal.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash. Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
File photo.
Blue Wahoos’ Big Lead Erased In 12-8 Loss To Montgomery
August 15, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
A night after their most lopsided home loss this season, the Blue Wahoos experienced the most deflating.
After taking an 8-0 lead into the fourth inning, the big lead and feel-good dugout vibe Wednesday eventually dissolved into a ninth inning collapse and 12-8 loss against the Montgomery Biscuits at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With the Blue Wahoos leading 8-5, newcomer reliever Nigel Belgrave had his home debut in the top of the ninth melt down without getting an out.
He gave a leadoff double, then plunked two batters with another base hit in between, had a walk, uncorked a wild pitch and was lifted with the Biscuits up 9-8.
Tyler Eckberg came in and was tagged for a two-run double. A deep flyout scored the other run. The half-inning lasted 26 minutes and required more than 60 pitches before the Biscuits’ onslaught stopped.
It put a glum ending to a game that began so well for the home team.
Pensacola took on its alternate identity, along with uniform change, as the Pensacola Pok-ta-Pok, in the final of a quartet of games this season as part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión initiative.
For the first time in 53 home games, this one began late, following a 41-minute rain delay
.
All that pent-up energy in seeking to erase Tuesday’s 18-5 loss began well for the Blue Wahoos. They jumped on Biscuits starter Trevor Martin for four runs in the first inning.
Jakob Marsee led off with a single, the stole second. Shortstop Jared Serna extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single. Jacob Berry singled. And with two out, Joe Mack blasted a moon shot over the stadium’s right field party deck area and out of sight somewhere behind the ballpark.
In the third inning, Nathan Martorella blasted a three-run homer to score Serna and Berry, who had both singled. For Serna, he’s had at least one hit in each of his 13 games since the former New York Yankees rising prospect joined the team in a trade.
Mack then followed a solo homer, giving him a team high 19 for the season.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios appeared in line for his 19th career win for the Blue Wahoos, which would have tied the franchise career record set by Daniel Wright set during his time in 2015-2018.
Even after Palacios gave up a two-run homer in the fourth inning, then back-to-back homers in the sixth, he still had a three-run lead.
Reliever Dale Stanavich then retired all seven batters he faced to get the Blue Wahoos to the ninth inning with a 3-run lead.
But Belgrave could not find the strike zone and wasn’t close with many of his pitches. He had made four relief appearances during the Blue Wahoos’ two-week road trip since joining the team from the Class-A Beloit Sky Carp. He had allowed just two runs and three hits during that span.
This time, however, Belgrave couldn’t get into a groove. He was a 15th round pick by the Miami Marlins and the first member of their 2023 Draft class to reach Double-A.
The Biscuits pounced on his mistakes, scoring seven runs total in the inning.
The Blue Wahoos will now try and get back into the homestand series on Thursday with Evan Fitterer on the mound against the Biscuits’ talented righthander Sean Hunley (4-2, 1.79 ERA).
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos grounds crew, led by Gordon van Weyhe, raced to combat a pop-up storm late Wednesday afternoon. Once the tarp was on, then eventually removed, it took just 45 minutes to get the field ready for a first pitch and kept the Blue Wahoos’ string of home games without a postponement intact. This season, there had not been a game delayed by pregame rain until Wednesday.
— The Blue Anchor Belles performed the National Anthem.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Motorcyclist Critically Injured In Highway 29 Crash Near Cantonment Post Office
August 14, 2024
A motorcyclist was critically injured in a rash near the Cantonment Post Office Wednesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 41-year-old Cantonment man was northbound on Highway 29 approaching the post office on his motorcycle.
A seden driven by a 77-year-old Pensacola woman was exiting the post office to go south on Highway 29, troopers said, and the motorcycle collided with the car.
The motorcyclist was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with critical injuries.
Both northbound lanes of Highway 29 were temporarily closed by the crash.
This investigation is ongoing.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
