Barons Even Series With 6-2 Win Over Blue Wahoos
July 6, 2012
Birmingham plated three insurance runs in the top of the ninth, while right fielder Jose Martinez, shortstop Tyler Saladino and first baseman Andy Wilkins all homered, to lead the Barons to a 6-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the win the Barons now own a 9-6 mark in the second half, while the Fish also sport a 9-6 record since the All-Star Break after the loss but remain in a tie for first in the Southern League’s South Division with Montgomery. It was the 28th capacity crowd in Pensacola’s inaugural season, while the club also welcomed before the game the 200,000th fan to enter the ballpark. In 41 home openings, the Fish have hosted a total of 200,270 fans in 2012.
Both teams got on the board with a single tally in the first, with Martinez exiting the yard with a homer to left for the Barons, his fourth of the year. Pensacola answered with a score of their own in the bottom half of the inning when CF Ryan LaMarre drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single, before taking advantage of a Birmingham error to even the contest at 1-1.
The Barons however, would go ahead in the third thanks to Saladino’s shot to left for his fourth of the season and move ahead 3-1 three innings later when Wilkins blasted his team-leading 12th longball to left. Blue Wahoos OF Yordanys Perez then narrowed the margin to one in the bottom of the frame with a solo big fly to deep center field just to the right of the batter’s eye, but Birmingham pulled away with a three-run ninth.
3B Erik Morrison was hit by a pitch to start the rally and subsequently scored on C Luis Sierra’s RBI triple, before 2B Dan Wagner drove Sierra home with a run-scoring single to left. CF Jared Mitchell brought home the final tally of the evening with an RBI double to left to bring home Wagner and end the scoring.
Blue Wahoos starter J.C. Sulbaran (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-6 after allowing three earned runs on six hits in six innings, while Birmingham RHP Matt Heidenreich (8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory in his Double-A debut and yielded two runs, one of which was earned, on six hits in eight frames. Reliever Ryan Kussmaul (1.0 IP, 1 SO) fired a scoreless ninth frame in a non-save situation.
Saladino (2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Morrison (2-3, 1 R) each collected a pair of base knocks for the Barons in the winning effort, while Perez (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) was the lone Pensacola hitter to record a multi-hit effort. Perez has gotten off to a nice start in the second half, batting .343 (11-32) in his eight games since the Southern League All-Star Break.
With the series even at one, the two teams will face off in a rubber match Friday night to decide the series, with the Fish scheduled to give the nod to RHP Tim Crabbe, while Birmingham is expected to counter with RHP Cameron Bayne. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top:Yordanys Perez blasted his fourth longball of the year in the Fish’s 6-2 loss. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Benefit Account Established For Family Of Girl Killed In Atmore Fire
July 6, 2012
A bank account has been set up to help the family of a young girl killed earlier this week in Atmore.
Nyamiah Weeks died in the fire on Beck Street late Tuesday night. A fund has been established at Regions Bank to help the family with final expenses. Donations can be made to an account in Nyamiah’s name.
For more information on the fire, click here for an earlier story.
Pictured inset: A fire late Tuesday night on Beck Street in Atmore claimed the life of a young girl. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Passes Away Days After June 30 Wreck
July 5, 2012
A Cantonment man has passed away as the result of injuries he received in a traffic crash on June 30.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 31-year old David Karrick was pronounced deceased at 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The head-on crash happened about 10:30 a.m. on Highway 297A at Eight Mile Creek Road, just northwest of the Nine Mile and Pine Forest Road intersection.
For a photo gallery, click here.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 20-year old Tyler Moore was eastbound on Highway 297A in a 2003 Toyota Tundra when he veered into the lane occupied by a 200 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Karrick of Cantonment.
Karrick’s car came to rest upright in a ditch next to the roadway. It took first responders from multiple stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, including a special operations team, about 45 minutes extricate Karrick from the car. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight.
Tyler Moore was seriously injured in the crash, while his passenger, 17-year old Kayla Moore of Cantonment, received minor injuries. The brother and sister were transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital.
Tyler Moore was cited by the FHP for failure to maintain a single lane.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: A Cantonment man has died as a result of this two vehicle crash June 30 on Highway 297A at Eight Mile Creek Road. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Charged With Davisville BP Burglary
July 5, 2012
A Flomaton man has been arrested in connection with a June burglary at a Davisville convenience store.
Curtis Charles Black, 29, was charged with burglary, petit theft and criminal mischief property damage. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,500.
The entire June 7 burglary at the Korner Kwik Stop (BP) on Highway 97 in Davisville was caught on video, and it was that video posted on NorthEscambia.com that first led deputies to Black as their suspect only a few hours after the crime.
An anonymous tipster saw the video and told deputies that they recognized Black from the video — and the Facebook page where a photo of the getaway vehicle was posted. Later, fingerprints recovered at the scene also fingered Black as the suspect.
The video shows a white male, allegedly Black, busting out the window of the store about 9:20 p.m., just after the store closed at 9 p.m.
- To watch the survellience video, click here.
- For a photo gallery showing the burglary and the investigation, click here.
The video shows Black arriving in a light colored extended cab pickup truck with an emblem over the front windshield. He parks in front of the store and spends several minutes in the truck. Black then exits and takes a hammer to break out the window. He also tried unsuccessfully to break out the door glass. He then jumps through the broken window, rummages around behind the counter and tosses cigarettes and rolls of coins outside. Black also tries unsuccessfully to push buttons in order to open the cash register…all while leaving fingerprints behind.
While inside the store, he is seen using what appears to be towel in his hand in attempt not to leave fingerprints, but he often forgets to cover his hands.
At one point, a towel slips off his head showing most of his face on the video.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician recovered blood samples from broken glass and removed multiple fingerprints from the scene.
One Dead In Fiery Escambia Crash
July 5, 2012
One person was killed in fiery traffic crash late Wednesday night in Escambia County.
The accident happened about 11:07 p.m. on Muldoon Road south of Cerny Road. The driver of a 2004 Cadillac lost control for unknown reasons and slammed into a tree. The vehicle was fully involved in flames when first responders arrived on scene and was completely destroyed.
The name of the driver has not yet been released.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Flame Broiled? Lightning Temporarily Closes Burger King
July 5, 2012
A little more than Whoppers were smoking late Wednesday afternoon at the Burger King in Cantonment.
Restaurant employees reported an electrical burning smell in the building about 5:45 p.m. — about an hour after employees said the building was struck by lightning.
Firefighters from Cantonment, Molino and Ensley responded and did find a burnt electrical plug and other evidence of a lightning strike. Power to the building was cut, temporarily closing the restaurant for the evening.
There was no major damage found and no injuries.
Cutbacks Planned For Century Post Office
July 5, 2012
There will be cutbacks at the Century Post Office next month, but postal officials say the public won’t notice — unless an upcoming study recommends more drastic changes.
Effective August 11, rural mail carriers working out of the Century Post Office will instead work out of the Jay Post Office. The retail window and post office boxes in Century will remain unchanged in the short term.
“We will then evaluate the Century Post Office in September to determine the best future use of resources,” Sam Bolen, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service said.
That evaluation, Bolen said, could result in no changes, decreased hours of service or even closure. In the event any changes recommended to retail hours or post office boxes at the Century Post Office, a public meeting will first be held for community input.
That meeting could happen at any point between September 2012 and September 2014. Adequate public notice of any meeting will be given, Bolen said. Any decision about the post office would not come until 15 to 30 days after a public meeting.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Employee Dies In Virginia Wreck
July 5, 2012
A Gulf Power employee working to restore power to a storm battered area in Virginia was killed when she lost control of her vehicle due to brake problems and slammed into another vehicle, authorities said.
Jacqueline R. Green, 57, of Milton, was pronounced dead a the scene of the crash on Route 7 near Bluemont, VA. A fellow Gulf Power worker, Jonathan Powell, was transported to the Winchester Medical Center.
Green was driving a 2004 Freightliner bucket truck pulling a service trailer northbound on Blue Ridge Mountain Road about 7:20 p.m. Tuesday when there appeared to be a problem with the vehicle’s brakes, according to the Loudoun County (Va.) Sheriff’s Office.
According to witnesses, the Freightliner proceeded into the southbound lane of Blue Ridge Mountain Road, steering to the left and passing the first truck in a convoy of utility vehicles. Green continued down the hill towards the intersection with Route 7. Witness accounts indicate that the Freightliner traveled into the eastbound lanes of Route 7 where the driver struck a 2008 Freightliner. That vehicle was pushed into the side of an eastbound 2012 Toyota Tacoma, officials said.
The driver of the pickup and her juvenile passenger were taken to an area hospital where they were treated and released. The driver of semi was also transported to the hospital.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating the brakes on the utility truck as witness accounts indicated that it appeared that Green lost control of the vehicle’s brakes on the downhill grade and that the vehicle gained speed as it continued downhill.
Green was driving in a convoy of three Gulf Power (FL) trucks in the area as part of a mutual aid agreement assisting Dominion Virginia Power crews. The three trucks were headed to nearby staging area.
Virginia official are continuing their investigation.
Fire Damages Atmore Home; Firefighter Injured
July 5, 2012
Two people were left homeless after a house fire in Atmore Wednesday night — the second house fire in the city in less than 24 hours. And, also for the second time in a day, an Atmore firefighter was sent to the hospital.
The fire was reported about 8:55 in the 1100 block of Horner Street, with a 911 caller reporting smoke pouring from an attic vent. No one was at home at the time of the fire; a mother and five-year old child had left the home about an hour before the fire.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
One Atmore firefighter was transported to Atmore Community Hospital due to heat exhaustion.
The Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Fire Department and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the fire, along with Atmore Ambulance the Atmore Police Department.
Late Tuesday night, another Atmore house fire claimed the life of an 11-year old girl and sent five first responders to the hospital. For an earlier story about that fire, click here.
Pictured top: Fire damaged a home on Horner Street in Atmore Wednesday night. Pictured inset: Firefighters work to extinguish the blaze. Pictured below: One Atmore firefighter was transported to Atmore Community Hospital due to heat exhaustion. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge..
Wahoos Beat Barons 7-3
July 5, 2012
Pensacola designated hitter Brodie Greene drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the second, as the Blue Wahoos plated five runs in that frame to top the Birmingham Barons 7-3 in front of another sellout crowd on Wednesday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win is the third straight for the Fish and improves their second half mark to 9-5, while the Barons fell to 8-6 since the All-Star Break. The capacity crowd was the 27th of the year and third straight in 40 home dates in the club’s inaugural season.
After Pensacola plated their first run in the opening frame thanks to an RBI single by LF Bryson Smith, Birmingham answered to even the game at 1-1 in the second courtesy of LF Brady Shoemaker’s solo homer to left.
The Blue Wahoos however would go ahead for good with five runs in the bottom of the frame. 3B David Vidal led off with a single, before he was plated by RF Andrew Means’ RBI triple to make it 2-1. After Means came plateward on an RBI groundout, C Mark Fleury and CF Ryan LaMarre both walked before Greene launched his third home run of the year to left to push the margin to 6-1.
Birmingham and Pensacola would then swap tallies in the sixth, with Barons 2B Tyler Saladino blasting his third longball of the season to right, while LaMarre began the sixth with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out before Greene brought him home with a sacrifice fly for his fourth RBI of the evening. The Barons got their last run of the game in the eighth when DH Seth Loman drove in a run with an RBI single.
Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Corcino (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) earned the win after yielding just two earned runs on four hits in his six innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.2 IP, 1 H) notched his sixth save of the year after tossing the final 1.2 innings. Birmingham starter Matt Wickswat (3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 7 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-6 after allowing six earned runs on six hits while walking seven in three frames.
LaMarre (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB) Smith (2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Vidal (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B) all recorded two hits for the Fish, while Saladino (2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Shoemaker (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI) collected multi-hit efforts for the Barons.
With the Wahoos leading the series 1-0, the two teams will meet again Thursday night at 7:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. RHP J.C. Sulbaran is scheduled to take the hill for Pensacola, while Birmingham LHP Pedro Hernandez is expected to toe the rubber.
By Andrew Green
Pictured; Brodie Greene homered & drove in four in the Wahoos’ 7-3 win Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.