Seven Run First Dooms Wahoos, Biscuits Win 7-1
April 22, 2012
The Blue Wahoos struck first Saturday night, but the lead was short lived as the Montgomery Biscuits responded with seven runs in the home half of the first and held on for the 7-1 win andeven the five-game series at a game apiece in Montgomery.
Ryan LaMarre continued his hot hitting with a single to open up the game for the Blue Wahoos and scored from second on a base hit by Joel Guzman to give Pensacola the early advantage. LaMarre added a triple later in the game for his sixth multi-hit game of the season. Guzman also had a two-hit performance with a second single in the sixth.
The Biscuits responded with seven run in the bottom of the inning. Blue Wahoos starter Curtis Partch (L, 0-2) walked the first three batters he faced before back to back doubles by Henry Wrigley and Michael Sheridan. After another walk, Kyeong Kang blasted his third home run of the year to give the Biscuits a 7-1 lead. Neither team crossed the plate the rest of the way as three Blue Wahoos relievers combined to work 4.1 scoreless innings.
Partch bounced back and went 3.2 innings allowing the seven runs on three hits. He walked six, four in the first inning, and struck out two in the losing effort. Shane Dyer (W, 2-1) worked five innings in the winning effort for the Biscuits. He gave up just the one first-inning run, he walked two, allowed five hits and struck out two.
The series continues in Montgomery on Sunday evening with first pitch slated for 5:05 p.m. Right-hander Daniel Corcino (0-1, 4.61) will take the mound against Biscuits lefty Frank De Los Santos (1-1, 2.38).
Jay Holds Relay For Life (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2012
The 2012 Jay Relay for Life began Friday night at Jay High School. A few hundred participants took part in the annual Relay to raise money for cancer research.
There were 16 teams registered to take part in the all-night event. A Luminaria ceremony was held Friday night as participants remembered friends and loved ones that have lost the battle against cancer and honored those currently fighting cancer.
Hundreds of people enjoyed a variety of entertainment, food fun and fellowship throughout the night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the 2012 Jay Relay for Life, click here.
Pictured top: The Survivor’s Lap at the 2012 Jay Relay for Life. Pictured inset: Benny Barnes, honorary Century chairperson at the Jay Relay For Life. Pictured below: Survivor’s Lap Friday evening at Jay Relay.
Century CI Inmates Graduate With GED, Ready To Work Certificates
April 21, 2012
Century Correctional Institution held a graduation ceremony Friday morning for inmates receiving their GED diplomas while behind bars.
“I began to challenge my thoughts, feelings and beliefs,” said Century CI Class of 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe, earning his GED at age 30. “I am able to receive my diploma today because I made a choice.”
Ashe is about six months away from finishing a two-year prison sentence for cocaine possession, passing forged bills, trafficking in stolen property and grand theft in St. Johns County. He readily admits that he made very bad choices that landed him in prison, but he said his newly earned GED will open a whole new world of opportunity once he is released.
“I can and will make a difference in my community when I leave out of here,” Ashe said. He thanked God for the opportunity to earn his GED behind bars, and he acknowledged Florida’s tax payers for funding what he called a worthy program.
Henry Jordan, class valedictorian, is serving a 3.5 year sentence for a weapons and felony driving without a license charges from Duval County. His said his days at Century CI were once filled with working out “to look good at the beach” upon his release. But then, he said, he got his priorities straight.
“I decided to join the GED program instead of working out,” Jordan said. “I decided to focus on my GED…a GED increases my odds of making something of myself.”
Four other inmates received their GED diplomas during a graduation Friday morning inside Century Correctional Institution. They were: Joshua Moynihan, Alex Lichtenberger, Karey Murphy and Dachua Oliver. Earning the GED meant passing a five-part test consisting of reading/language and writing (including an essay), math, social studies and science.
“I watched another guy get up and walk out of the GED test because he thought the essay was too hard,” Jordan told fellow inmates at the graduation ceremony. “Don’t y’all give up. Everything is worth it.”
For a photo gallery from the prison’s graduation ceremony, click here.
Also Friday morning, 11 Century Correctional inmates received their Florida Ready to Work certificates. Florida Ready to Work is an innovative state-funded workforce education and economic development program that provides student job-seekers with a standard credential that certifies their workplace readiness and ability to succeed on the job.
Inmates receiving Ready to Work certificates were: Shawn Ashe, Steven Kelly, Robert Brantley, Jraron Lasseter, Vonsha Marshal, Joshua Monynihan, Erving Rogers, Brandley White, Timothy Curd, Alex Lichtenberger and Dachua Oliver.
Century CI Warden Richard Comerford said 16 more Century Correctional inmates will take their GED tests in next few days.
Guest speaker for event was Mark Whitacre, the highest corporate-level executive to ever become a FBI whistleblower, uncovering a massive price fixing scheme at Archer Daniels Midland (AMD) in the 1990’s. He served nearly a decade in federal prison. Whitacre was the subject of the 2009 movie “The Informant!” in which he was portrayed by Matt Damon. Monday morning on NorthEscambia.com, we will bring you Whitacre’s story.
Pictured top: Century Correctional Class 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe addresses fellow inmates Friday morning. Pictured top inset: Ashe and Valedictorian Henry Jordan. Pictured below: GED graduates in their “class photo” with Century Correctional staff members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bond Set For Zimmerman
April 21, 2012
A Seminole County circuit judge on Friday set bail at $150,000 for George Zimmerman during a hearing in which the accused shooter of Trayvon Martin told the boy’s family he was sorry for their loss.
Jail officials haven’t said when Zimmerman could be released from custody under the arrangement which includes electronic monitoring.
“I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Zimmerman, 28, said from the stand during the hearing as the family sat in the courtroom. “I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. And I did not know if he was armed or not.”
Zimmerman could face a life sentence on the second degree murder charge.
Martin, who was 17, lived in Miami but had been suspended from school and was spending the time with his father in Sanford. He was unarmed when Zimmerman shot him, telling police he looked suspicious.
Zimmerman has claimed self defense.
By The News Service of Florida
Northview’s Farrow Places In State Weightlifting Finals
April 21, 2012
Northview High School senior Andrew Farrow finished 10th in the state Friday during the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state 1A weightlifting championships in Kissimmee. Farrow’s total lift in the 210 pound weight class was at 575 pounds with a best bench of 305 and a best clean & jerk of 270.
Pictured: Northview High School’s Andrew Farrow lifts during the state 1A weightlifting finals Friday afternoon in Kissimmee, Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Numbers Improve, Florida Unemployment Biggest Drop In 20 Years
April 21, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed good news in the three-county North Escambia area — as Florida’s unemployment rate made its biggest monthly decline in nearly two decades as the state’s jobless rate fell to 9 percent in March.
Escambia County’s unemployment dropped from 9.1 percent in February to 8.2 percent in March. There were 1,051 fewer reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 11,251 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.4 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment slipped from 8.6 percent in February to 8.4 percent in March. Santa Rosa County had a total of 6,073 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.8 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment dropped from 9.4 percent in February to 8.4 percent in March. That represented 1,234 people unemployed in the county during the month.
Florida’s 9 percent unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than February and 1.7 points lower than the 10.7 percent recorded in March 2012. It was the largest monthly drop since October 1992.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 7.3 percent in March, was down from February’s rate of 7.5 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 9.3 percent.
Tate Wins Softball District; Aggies Baseball Falls In Last Regular Season Game
April 21, 2012
The Tate Lady Aggies won the girls District 1-6A district championship Friday night with a 2-1 win over the Escambia Gators. The Lady Aggies will next face Mosley (Lynn Haven) next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Pitching the win for Tate was Heather Schaff (11-7; 7 IP, 1 R, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB).
Tate hitters included: Rachel Dunsford 1-2, RBI; Marina Cobbs 1-3, run; Heather Schaff 1-3, RBI; Kimberly Baker 1-3; Bailey Burk 1-2, run.
BASEBALL
Rutherford 8 — Tate 1
Rutherford defeated the Tate Aggies 8-1 Friday night at Tate. With the loss, the Aggies finished the regular season at 20-4.
Next up for the Aggies is the district tournament next week.
Flomaton Wins Playoff Round One (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes defeated Zion Chapel in a double header Friday to advance to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
The Hurricanes won the first game 6-3. Joseph Parker (8-1) earned the win for the Hurricanes, and Ethan Lott took the loss for Zion Chapel. The Hurricanes won the second game 10-1. Zack Watson (8-2) took the win while Justin Lee took the loss.
In round two, Flomaton will host the winner of Cottage Hill Christian at Samson Friday, April 27 at 4:30 and 7:30 with a Saturday game at noon, if necessary.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery as Flomaton beat Zion Chapel Friday, click here.
Wahoos Open Road Trip With 5-3 Win
April 21, 2012
After a three-run second inning, the Blue Wahoos cruised to victory over the Montgomery Biscuits 5-3 in Montgomery, AL on Friday night to open up the 10-game road trip. Pedro Villarreal (W, 1-1) turned in the longest start by a Blue Wahoos starter this season, and earned his first win of the season after going 6.2 innings.
The Blue Wahoos took advantage of three straight walks to begin the second inning by Biscuits starter Jim Paduch (L, 0-2). After the Blue Wahoos got their first run on double play ball, Mark Fleury doubled down the right field line to score Josh Fellhauer from third, one of two runs he would score in the game. Fleury came home a batter later on a Ryan LaMarre single.
Montgomery pulled within a run when Michael Sheridan hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the fourth inning. Pensacola created some breathing room with another pair of runs in the sixth inning. Miguel Rojas singled home Fellhauer right before Fleury executed a perfect bunt on a suicide squeeze to plate Cody Puckett from third. The Biscuits added another run in the seventh against Villarreal, but the bullpen held the rest of the way to give the Blue Wahoos the win.
Fellhauer led the way offensively for the Blue Wahoos in his first game back from the disabled list. The right fielder went 3-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. LaMarre also had a pair of hits in the contest.
Villarreal allowed all three Biscuits runs on five hits, he walked just one and struck out five in the winning effort. Paduch was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on five hits over four innings. Donnie Joseph recorded the final four outs for the Blue Wahoos to earn his fourth save of the season.
The series continues on Saturday with the Blue Wahoos sending right-hander Curtis Partch (0-1, 6.92) to the mound against Biscuits righty Shane Dyer (1-1, 3.75). First pitch is set for 7:05 from Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium.
By Tommy Thrall
Mail Truck Fire?
April 20, 2012
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded Friday afternoon after the U.S. Mail truck seen in this photo was reported to be on fire as it traveled along Highway 29. Multiple people reported that the trailer of the truck was on fire. When the vehicle stopped and firefighters caught up with it, they discovered the excessive smoke was an engine issue, not a fire. Reader photo by Bradd Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.