M-Braves Sweep Blue Wahoos
July 22, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The weather broke favorably all weekend for the Blue Wahoos.
That became the best fortune of a rough return home.
The Mississippi Braves completed a three-game sweep Sunday, erupting with four runs in the 11th inning for a 5-1 win that included a pair of unwelcome records in Pensacola’s first homestand in 16 days at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
They struck out 22 times, surpassing the Blue Wahoos franchise record of 20 whiffs, which occurred twice – the last time in 2021.
A crowd of 4,737, just shy of a third consecutive capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium, watched the M-Braves righthander Drue Hackenberg – the Atlanta Braves’ second round draft pick in 2023 — produce his best professional outing. He struck out 16 of the 25 batters he faced, allowing just three hits and no walks in seven innings.
It was two strikeouts shy of the Southern League record set in 1979 by former long-time major league veteran Mike Boddicker. Hackenberg’s 16 Ks marked the most strikeouts against the Blue Wahoos by an opposing starter in franchise history.
Hackenberg, whose brother, Christian, was a former Penn State star quarterback who played in the NFL, and another older brother, Adam, is now in Triple-A with the Chicago Cubs organization, threw 67 strikes in 90 pitches.
Sunday’s game became a pitching-defense duel. Blue Wahoos starter Adam Laskey had a quality outing with five hits allowed in five innings with six strikeouts and no walks. The next four relievers who followed all put up zeroes.
But a familiar malady was the Blue Wahoos’ inability to get run production.
After the M-Braves scored a first-inning on a double by Cal Conley and Justin Dean’s single, Laskey got out of the inning with a double play and then did not allow two base runners in any inning the rest of his day.
The Blue Wahoos’ best inning at the plate occurred in the third. Sean Roby led off with a single. Dalvy Rosario followed with a single and Jacob Berry drove home Roby with his single. Berry had two of the Blue Wahoos’ five hits in the game.
Austin Roberts gave the Blue Wahoos a chance to win in walkoff style after recording two strong scoreless innings. When that didn’t work out in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos failed to deliver in the 10th with placement runner Zach Zubia stranded on third base with two outs.
In the 11th, the M-Braves scored their go-ahead run on a stolen base and wild pitch from reliever Matt Pushard. And then, M-Braves designated hitter Tyler Tolve followed with a three-run blast off Pushard to provide the insurance runs.
The Blue Wahoos (49-40) will now turn attention to their next home series, a six-game set against the Biloxi Shuckers who have the best second-half record in the Southern League.
Despite the sweep, however, the Blue Wahoos had the weather break in their favor each of three days after morning and early afternoon thunderstorms gave way to sunshine and calm conditions.
Sunday’s game featured “Dino Day” with costume and dinosaur figures throughout the ballpark.
Two-Time Super Bowl Champ Inspires Local Youth Athletes (With Photo Gallery)
July 21, 2024
Two-time Super Bowl champion and Century native Anthony Pleasant returned to the park that bears his name for a youth football fundraiser Saturday, offering potentially life changing advice to young athletes.
Pleasant, a 1986 graduate of Century High School, played defense for the New England Patriots when they won two Super Bowls.
He told the youth following a flag football game that it does not matter that they attend a small school and live in small towns. He said success in football — and life — is about a willingness to work hard and be dedicated.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“When you are playing football, you’ve got to be committed,” he said. “To play this game, you’ve got to be fully committed.
Pleasant urged the youth to always compete at their best, and listen to their coaches.
Before the NFL, Pleaseant through the would go through college playing basketball, but his coaches convinced him that he was better at football.
And they were right.
“Your coaches see things in your that you don’t see in yourself. They may see the potential you have, and you don’t even see it.” Pleasant said. “Anytime your coach is trying to tell you something, listen to him because he may see something in you. You don’t know what coach in your life career is going to speak to your destination.”
Pleasant attended a Century Blackcats youth football fundraiser at Anthony Pleasant Park, where he held a meet and greet. He’s in town for an upcoming Century High School reunion, spent time with high school classmate reminiscing about this time as a Century Blackcat.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Charged With Meth Possession After Traffic Stop
July 21, 2024
A Century woman was charged with meth possession after a traffic stop for a defective tag light.
Lisa Ann Martin, 56, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office pulled Martin’s vehicle over on North Century Boulevard for an inoperative tag light. A Flomaton Police Department officer with a K-9 responded, and the K-9 alerted on the vehicle. A probable cause search located of the vehicle located a purse containing a silver tube containing five grams of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe with residue.
Martin remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday morning with bond set at $3,000.
For Escambia, Alabama, Deputy Charge With Federal Civil Rights Violation
July 21, 2024
A former Escambia County, Alabama, deputy has been charged with a federal civil rights violation.
Eric Glenn Lambeth, Jr. was charged with deprivation of rights under color of law for allegedly having sex with a female he had arrested and was transporting to jail, according to court records. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Lambeth was arrested and charged with custodial sexual abuse and a felony ethics violation in April 2023. He was released from jail on a $45,000 bond.
Sheriff Heath Jackson said his office received a complaint that Lambeth had sexual contact with an inmate who was being transported to jail.
“Lambeth was terminated from his position and transported to the Escambia County Detention Center,” Jackson said following the incident.
The sheriff said Lambeth previously worked at the jail and was transferred to patrol after attending the law enforcement academy in 2022.
The state custodial sexual abuse and a state felony ethics violation charges are still pending in Escambia County District Court.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Snapper Size, Gopher Tortoises
July 21, 2024
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
(No reports were submitted from Escambia County.)
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Brown observed a vessel with fishing equipment returning to the boat ramp. Officer Brown made a vessel stop to conduct a resource inspection and located an undersized red snapper. One of the subjects on the vessel took ownership of catching and keeping the undersized red snapper. The subject was cited appropriately.
Officers Wilkenson and Burkhead in coordination with Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an enforcement effort at Marques Bayou Boat Ramp. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the FWC have been receiving a high number of complaints regarding illegal activities at the boat ramp. Over the course of a day officers arrested two individuals and cited several other individuals for a variety of illegal activities including boating safety violations, fishing violations, and vessel registration violations. Arrests included driving while license revoked and a felony warrant for grand thief and criminal mischief.
Officers Wilkenson and Burkhead responded to a complaint of land being developed that possibly contained active gopher tortoise burrows. The officers found areas of the property had been disturbed, several pieces of heavy land clearing equipment, and an active gopher tortoise burrow. The officers located the individuals responsible for the property and its development and found they did not have the proper gopher tortoise permits in place to continue working. The officers successfully stopped the work on the property, documented the incident and referred the subjects to the FWC’s gopher tortoise program.
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots
July 21, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) Resurfacing, from south of Interstate 10 (I-10) to south of Hyde Park Road – Scenic Highway is closed just north of Manolete Street through Thursday, Aug. 1 as crews reconstruct a portion of the roadway. Signage is in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Langley Avenue, Spanish Trail and Summit Boulevard.
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the bridge over Eight Mile Creek through mid-2025 as crews replace the Eight Mile Creek bridge. Signage is in place to direct drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange Monday, July 22 through Thursday, July 25 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Crews will be placing concrete barrier wall.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts as crews perform paving operations, barrier wall installation and bridge demolition activities:
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- Inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Monday, July 22 through Thursday, July 25 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
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- Inside lane closures on Nine Mile Road between the I-10 ramps, Monday, July 22 through Thursday, July 25, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will be shifted to the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street, beginning Thursday, July 25. One travel lane in each direction will be open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes. The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through the summer. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through late 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (North 9th Avenue) Routine Utility Maintenance from East LaRua Street to East Jackson Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, July 22 through Friday, July 26 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- S.R. 289 (North 9th Avenue) Routine Utility Maintenance from East Desoto Street to East Strong Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, July 22 through Friday, July 26 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- S.R. 289 (North 9th Avenue) Routine Utility Maintenance from East Jordan Street to East Moreno Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Tuesday, July 23 through Wednesday, July 31 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
- S.R. 291 (North Davis Street) Routine Utility Maintenance from East Cervantes Street to East La Rua Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, July 22 through Friday, July 26 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for manhole repairs.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, July 22 through Friday, July 26 as crews perform paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, July 21, through Friday, July 26, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Drone Show Wows Sellout Crowd in 5-1 Wahoos Loss
July 21, 2024
by Bill Vilona
The game itself evolved with the Blue Wahoos limited to few opportunities in a 5-1 loss against the Mississippi Braves.
But Saturday night’s sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium remained in their seats to become wowed by a Sky Elements Drone Show, one of the few of its kind shown at a Minor League Baseball stadium nationwide and the first in this region of the country.
Blue Wahoos owners Quint and Rishy Studer became enamored with the idea of bringing such an experience to Pensacola, along with the Beloit Sky Carp’s ABC Supply Stadium in Wisconsin, which hosted a show July 10.
The Studers wanted to provide both communities a drone show event that has primarily occurred, so far, only at Major League Baseball ballparks.
They made it happen two weeks apart.
After the Sky Elements company performed a show Friday in Orlando, the company’s production team stopped in Pensacola on its way back to its Fort Worth, Texas headquarters to produce Saturday’s show at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The 15-minute display featured an outline of a Blue Angels plane, which drew a loud cheer, and an outline of Florida with a baseball stopping at Pensacola’s location.
It became another unique event for the ballpark, featuring approximately 100 drones staged on the grass fronting the amphitheater located behind right field on the bayfront.
The show followed a game where M-Braves starter Lucas Braun held the Blue Wahoos to one hit and four walks in his six innings of work to record his second win. Braun was the Atlanta Braves’ sixth round draft pick in 2023 out of Cal State-Northridge.
Braun’s teammates gave him a 2-0 lead. Justin Dean scored an unearned run in the fourth inning after reaching on an infield error and scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Dean scored again in the sixth inning when he singled, stole second and scored on Keshawn Ogans’ single off Blue Wahoos starter Patrick Monteverde.
It was a hard-luck loss for Monteverde (1-1, 4.76 ERA), who allowed no walks, struck out five and was effective in his six innings, but received no run support.
The M-Braves broke open the game in the ninth inning by scoring three runs against Blue Wahoos reliever Woo-Suk Go, a 25-year old from South Korea, pitching for the first time in Pensacola. He was among the four prospects sent to the Miami Marlins from the San Diego Padres in exchange for MLB star and former Blue Wahoos player (2019) Luis Arraez, who has won the American League and National League batting titles.
The Blue Wahoos got a run in the ninth on Cody Morissette’s double that scored Zach Zubia.
The win enabled the M-Braves (42-46 overall, 11-9 in second half) to win the weekend series against the Blue Wahoos (49-39, 11-9) heading into Sunday’s series finale.
GAME NOTABLES
— The crowd Saturday broke into loud cheers for 6-year-old Abraham (Bram) Cook, who circled the bases on his “Home Run For Life” to celebrate being cancer-free after being diagnosed with stage 3 Burkitt Lymphoma, an aggressive form of lymphoma which affects white blood cells.
After four rounds of treatment at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, which occurred last December, Cook returned home on Christmas Eve after showing good progress. In March, Bram rang the bell, surrounded by family and friends, to celebrate the end of his treatment. He is now in remission and was even able to return to school to finish Kindergarten with his classmates.
With his mother, Ashley, and father Aaron hugging and coaxing him into rounding the bases, Cook began running as players from both teams lined the baselines to high-five and congratulate him. It was a special moment at the end of the fifth inning.
— The Freeport Little League Association had a group outing of 100 people, including team members who were part of the on-field pregame events and ran out with players.
— Pensacola Christian College led a wide variety of faith organizations attending Saturday’s game with a 100-member group. Five church organizations were also in attendance.
— The sellout crowd of 5,038 was Pensacola’s 22nd capacity crowd in 43 home games.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Costco Nine Mile Road Plans Set For Development Review Meeting
July 20, 2024
Plans for a new Costco on Nine Mile Road are now set for their first public approval meeting.
NorthEscambia.com was first to report in June that preliminary plans were filed Monday for a new Costco on Nine Mile Road.
Now, the plans are set for a pre-application meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, before the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
The plans filed with Escambia County show the 161,780 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 885 parking spaces at 235 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of a current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store.
The plans show the current buildings being demolished for the new Costco on seven parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The outlying parcels with Well Fargo Bank, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Dairy Queen will remain with the Costco gas station between Sam’s Seafood and Well Fargo.
Thomas Engineering Group of Tampa filed the plans with Escambia County.
The development must go through numerous other steps before a building permit is issued.
NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Applications Still Open For Pine Beetle Assistance And Prevention Program
July 20, 2024
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program for non-industrial, private forest landowners. The program runs through July 26 and includes 44 northern Florida counties – the southern pine beetle’s known range.
“Pine forests are vital to Florida’s economy and our natural environment, and the southern pine beetle is one of the most economically devastating forest pests in the southeast” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “This program protects our important timber resources by assisting the small, private landowners who manage almost half of our state’s forest lands.”
First offered in 2005, the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program has been implemented on more than 210,000 acres and helped thousands of Florida landowners.
“Active and preventative forest management programs like this are the most effective way to prevent losses and outbreaks,” said Rick Dolan, Director of the Florida Forest Service. “These same management practices also benefit timber growth, wildfire prevention, and wildlife habitat.”
Previous outbreaks have destroyed thousands of acres of timber. Florida’s last major southern pine beetle outbreak caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses on over 24,000 acres between 1999 and 2002.
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the U.S. Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who have overstocked pine stands and need to conduct a first thinning. In addition, it offers partial cost reimbursement for activities that can mitigate southern pine beetle activity, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, visit: FDACS.gov/SPBPrevention.
Here Are The 2024 Escambia County School Supply Lists
July 20, 2024
The Escambia County Public School on Friday released this year’s school supply list for elementary schools in the county.
Middle and high school students are typically informed of needed supplies during the first week of school or at orientations. However, we have middle school lists for Ernest Ward and Ransom below.
A master supply list for all Escambia County Public School elementary schools is below. Also below, there is separate list for Byrneville Elementary School, which is a charter school and has different items listed.
For any specific questions about your school’s supply lists, contact the school. It’s also a good idea to check the school’s website and/or their social media pages for any deviations from the master list.
- For printable supply list pdf for Escambia County Elementary Schools, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Byrneville Elementary School, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Ernest Ward Middle School, click here.
- For a printable supply list pdf for Ransom Middle School, click here.