Blue Wahoos Walk Off With 2-1 Win Over Jacksonville
April 16, 2012
Pensacola first baseman Joel Guzman walked with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the ninth to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 win over the Jacksonville Suns in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola’s multi-use stadium.
The win gives Pensacola a 1-0 lead in the five-game series, while the capacity crowd was the sixth in as many games at the Blue Wahoos’ bayfront stadium.
Pinch hitter Miguel Rojas, shortstop Didi Gregorius and third baseman Henry Rodriguez all singled in the final frame to set the stage for Guzman with two outs. The native of the Dominican Republic then drew a game-ending free pass on four pitches to cue the celebration and give the Blue Wahoos their second walk-off win at home this year.
Rodriguez started the scoring for Pensacola with a solo home run to left, his second of the year, to grab a 1-0 lead. Jacksonville however, drew the contest even at 1-1 when second baseman Jeff Dominguez brought home catcher Kyle Skipworth with a run-scoring single in the subsequent frame.
Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) earned his second victory of the year after striking out the side in the ninth, while Suns reliever Wade Korpi (1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss after allowing the final run, along with three hits in 1.2 innings of support. Pensacola starter Pedro Villarreal (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) pitched well but did not receive a decision despite yielding just a lone earned run on only five hits while fanning five in six frames.
Gregorius (2-5), Rodriguez (2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and second baseman Brodie Greene (2-4) all tallied multi-hit games for the Blue Wahoos, while right fielder Jake Smolinski (2-4, 1 2B) was the lone Suns batter to tally two hits. Despite his game-winning walk, Guzman saw his eight-game hit streak come to an end, though he has now reached base in his first nine contests.
Pensacola and Jacksonville meet again Monday night for the second game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm. RHP Curtis Partch is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Blue Wahoos, while the Suns are expected to send RHP Bryan Evans to the mound.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: First baseman Joel Guzman delivers a bases-loaded walk to push Pensacola to a 2-1 win over Jacksonville on Sunday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Heavy Lifters: Northview, Tate Athletes Compete For State Titles
April 16, 2012
Two North Escambia athletes will compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state weightlifting championships Friday and Saturday in Kissimmee, Fla.
Northview High School senior Andrew Farrow lifts in the 219 pound weight class. His best total of the season is 600 pounds. He will compete in the Class 1A finals on Friday.
Tate High School senior Chase Carroll lifts in the 183 pound weight class. With a 650 pound total lift, he’s the top ranked lifter in the class, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association. It’s the third trip to the FHSAA finals for Carroll, who also excels off the bench. He has a 3.7 GPA, and is in the National Honor Society, BETA Club, Rho Kappa, FFA, is FCA president and has participated in football and track.
Pictured: Northview High School senior Andrew Farrow. Pictured left: Tate High School senior Chase Carroll. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Wants Casino, Poarch Creeks To Pay Up
April 15, 2012
An Alabama county is looking to force the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to start paying property and other other taxes on tribal lands in Atmore — including the Wind Creek Casino — because they don’t legally qualify to operate tax free.
We are now posturing ourselves to no longer ignore,” “We are going to fish or cut bait.”
Their actions stem from a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that said essentially that under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, the federal government had no right to create land trusts with tribes that were not recognized by 1934. Federal recognition for the Poach Creeks did not come until 1984.
That’s 50 years too late, according to David Stokes, chairman of the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission. The commission is demanding that U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar determine if the Tribe has protective status. If not, the county will begin the process of assessing and billing property and other taxes to the Poarch Creeks.
“Does the tribe want to cooperate with the tax assessor and have property be assessed and valued,” asked Bryan Taylor, attorney for Escambia County and an Alabama state senator. “Or does the tribe maintain the position that the Supreme Court decision doesn’t apply to them?”
Man Charged Last Month In Wheelchair Rampage Arrested Again
April 15, 2012
The Century man that allegedly went on a wheelchair rampage in a convenience store last month is back behind bars.
Curtis Edward Smith, age 55 of the 3000 block of Highway 168, was due to appear in court Thursday on two counts of aggravated battery and criminal mischief property damage. But according to court records, he was a no show before Judge Jan Shackelford.
A failure to appear warrant was issued for his arrest Friday, and he was booked into the Escambia County Jail early Saturday morning with bond set at $1,100. He is awaiting another hearing on April 20.
Smith was charged after an incident just before sunrise March 19 at the Bindu Food Mart on Gulf Beach Highway.
Smith allegedly approached the clerk and demanded to speak to the manager, who was not in the store at the time. The clerk told deputies that Smith then began yelling and ripping his shirt, claiming he had been attacked. Smith began to chase the clerk around the store in motorized wheelchair, hitting her once on the shin, and threw potato chip racks at her and around the store, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The clerk said Smith then began ramming his wheelchair into the store’s door, shattering the glass. Another witness corroborated the clerk’s story and also claimed the Smith called him racial obscenities and hit him with the wheelchair.
When deputies arrived, Smith was still inside the store, yelling, “Call the [obscenity] police and take me to jail”, the arrest report states. As the deputy tried to calm Smith, he attempted to roll toward the deputy, demanding that the officer purchase him a drink and some food. The deputy ordered Smith to turn off the wheelchair, but he began to roll around the store.
Smith was later stopped and transported to West Florida Hospital to be treated for injuries to his feet caused by shattering the glass door of the store.
Grand Champions Named In Annual Livestock Show
April 15, 2012
The 19th Annual 4-H and FFA Youth Livestock Show and Agricultural Exposition wrapped up Saturday at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Beulah.
The show provides an opportunity for local 4-H and FFA members to show their steers, swine, goats, lambs, heifers, rabbits and poultry. In addition, many of the steers and swine in the program were auctioned off.
This year’s Grand Champion Steer was exhibited by Donald Cunningham (pictured left). The 1,233 pound steer sold at auction for $4,007.25 ($3.25/lb) to Dr. Tom Lampone. Donald, age 14, is a member of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club. In addition to showing steers, he enjoyes swimming, NJROTC, basketball, football, working and being a Boy Scout. He is the son of Lewe and Beth Cunningham. He attends Pace High School.
The Reserve Champion Steer belonged to Ashley Cunningham, a 16-year old Northview High School Student and member of the Northview FFA. Her steer, at 1,250 pounds, sold at auction for $4,500 ($3.60/lb) to Hill Kelly Dodge. Ashley is the daughter of Andy and Christina Cunningham. She is a Northview High cheerleader and a member of the Northview dance, weightlifting and track teams. She enjoys going to the beach and Harry Potter movies.
The Grand Champion Market Swine was exhibited by Matthew Smith (pictured left), a 13-year old seventh grader at Ransom Middle School. Matthew, the son of Randal and Ginjer Smith, also enjoys band, hunting, fishing and trail raiding. The Barrineau Park 4-H Club member’s 260 pound pig sold for $962 ($3.70/lb) to Gulf South Automotive.
This year’s Reserve Champion Market Swine belonged to Dylan Livingston, a seventh grader at Ransom Middle School. The 13-year old 4-H club member’s 237 pound pig sold for $592.50 ($2.50/lb) to Todd Timko and Blooming Geri. Dylan enjoys video games and basketball. He is the son of Patty and Erick Livingston.
Complete and final results from the 19th Annual 4-H and FFA Youth Livestock Show were not available Saturday night; NorthEscambia.com will publish complete results and more photos later in the week.
If you have photos from events other than the swine and steer sales, please email them to news@northescambia.com for inclusion in a photo gallery.
Pictured top and top inset: Donald Cunningham and his $4,007.25 Grand Champion Steer. Pictured bottom inset: Matthew Smith and his 260 pound Grand Champion Market Swine. Pictured below: Dylan Livingston and his 237 pound Reserve Champion Market Swine. Not pictured: Ashley Cunningham was not available for a photograph with her Reserve Champion Steer. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kindergarten Registration Begins April 30 In Escambia County
April 15, 2012
Kindergarten registration for Escambia County students will begin on April 30.
Students who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2012, are eligible to register for the 2012-2013 school year. Registration will occur at the school which serves the student’s residence.
At the time of registration, parents/guardians should bring the following:
- Child’s birth certificate
- Child’s social security card
- Proof of residence (electric bill or rent receipt – telephone and cable bills are not accepted)
- Immunization record (Florida blue card provided by the health department or family physician)
- Physical form completed by family physician
To a child’s school, visit www.myescambiaschools.com and click on “Find Your School”.
East Kingsfield Re-opens
April 15, 2012
East Kingsfield Road was back open Saturday afternoon being closed for 10 days. It was closed April 3 from Highway 29 to Pompano Street for a construction project.
Pictured: Contractor Roads, Inc. works Friday to finish a project on East Kingsfield Road at Highway 29. Northescambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Wahoos Cap Series With 6-1 Victory Over Mobile
April 15, 2012
Blue Wahoos right fielder Yordanys Perez cleared the bases with a three-run double in the fourth inning, while starting pitcher J.C. Sulbaran fired 5.2 shutout innings to give Pensacola a 6-1 win over the Mobile BayBears on Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. The BayBears won the series 3-2, clinching the series with their 6-5 victory Friday night.
Sulbaran (5.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 SO) turned in the best outing for a Blue Wahoos starter thus far in 2012, limiting Mobile batters to just two hits while striking out four in his 5.2 innings of work as he earned his first win of the season. After giving up a lead-off walk, Sulbaran retired the next 11 hitters of the contest before yielding a free pass in the fourth. BayBears starter Tyler Skaggs (5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year after allowing three earned runs on seven hits while fanning eight in five frames.
After shortstop Didi Gregorius scored on an error and second baseman Brodie Greene walked to load the bases, Perez brought in Greene, in addition to third baseman Henry Rodriguez and left fielder Joel Guzman with a double down the left field line to make it 4-0. Pensacola added two more scores in the seventh courtesy of an RBI double from Greene, and a run-scoring single off the bat of first baseman Mike Costanzo.
Gregorius led all hitters with three hits, while Rodriguez also recorded a multi-hit game. BayBears first baseman Kyle Greene led Mobile with two of the team’s three base knocks in the contest. Guzman extended his hit streak to nine games with a single in the second, while Costanzo has now reached base in nine straight contests with his seventh inning base knock.
The Blue Wahoos now return home to Pensacola for a five-game series with the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, with the series opener set for Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Pedro Villarreal to the hill, while the Suns have yet to announce a starter.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Didi Gregorius recorded three hits in Penascola’s 6-1 win Saturday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senate Argues For Its New Redistricting Map
April 15, 2012
The second draft of the Legislature’s redistricting plan for the state Senate answered all of the objections of the Florida Supreme Court to the first proposal and should get justices’ approval, according to a Senate brief in the case.
The brief, filed in response to complaints by the Florida Democratic Party, a coalition of voting-rights groups and the NAACP, came a week before oral arguments on the plan before the court. Also on Friday, the justices issued an order dividing two hours of arguments among the Senate and the groups opposing the plan.
Lawyers for the upper chamber argued in the 100-page filing that the new plan, approved by the Legislature after justices rejected the first draft, “addressed each of the flaws this Court found.”
The court threw out the Senate maps as part of its first review of redistricting proposals under the anti-gerrymandering Fair Districts standards, approved by voters in a November 2010 referendum.
The brief also flayed the arguments raised by the opponents, saying that many of them attempt to draw the court into reconsidering districts that passed in the first review.
“The issue is whether the Legislature complied with the Court’s specific mandate, not whether other districts that this Court either did not find invalid or specifically found valid comply with constitutional standards,” the brief says.
The brief is signed by Raoul Cantero, a former Supreme Court justice who is representing the Senate.
Some of the arguments revolve around Central Florida, where the court specifically rejected an “appendage” to a district that would have prevented Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, from facing Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland, in a primary.
Opponents have argued that the new plan simply adds the appendage to a different district. And while it would pair Gardiner and Simmons, critics say, that is an illusion because Simmons has said he would move to a different district to avoid the face-off.
“But the Senate cannot confine Senator Simmons to his current residence or disable him from seeking reelection,” the brief argues. “Indeed, a number of House incumbents who were paired in the House plan the Court approved will move and seek reelection in different districts.”
Senate lawyers also contend that there is no way to completely dismantle the appendage without blending the white voters who reside there into one or both of the minority districts that border it. That would weaken the ability of the minority communities in those districts to elect candidates of their choice, violating another constitutional standard.
The brief also lashes out at plans proposed by the coalition of voting-rights groups — which includes the League of Women Voters of Florida, Common Cause Florida and the Hispanic advocacy group National Council of La Raza — and the Florida Democratic Party. Both plans, it says, are actually gerrymandered to give Democrats a better chance to take the Senate than they would have under the Legislature’s proposal.
And those proposals are unnecessary, the Senate argues, because its map is good enough.
“The voters who approved Amendment 5 never intended to transform redistricting into a tournament, or place every competitor that enters the arena on equal footing with the Legislature,” the brief says.
The court must rule by early May.
By The News Service of Florida
Escambia Special Olympics Held At Tate (With Gallery)
April 14, 2012
The big race was almost over. Everyone had crossed the finish line, except for a young lady named Kailee that had not even started. Kailee just sat in her wheelchair, not going along with plans of her Special Olympic “buddies”. They wanted her run the race. She wanted no part.
But the crowd began to chant her name. “Kailee, Kailee.” The confidence begin to build. Over and over, the crowd called her name louder and louder. “Kailee, Kailee!”
She, albeit cautiously, stepped up from her wheelchair with the help of a buddy.
She tapped her white cane on the track. That confident look disappeared from her face. Visually impaired, Kailee could not see what was ahead; she latched onto a buddy. Fear in her wandering eyes. The crowd continued their encouragement. “Kailiee! Kailee!”. She was center of attention in her corner of Pete Gindl Stadium.
Kailee picked her foot up high and stepped ahead. She felt around with her white cane. Solid ground, perhaps not so bad. She began to smile and went ahead. As she gained speed, her smile grew.
Her blond hair began to wave in the wind and she headed step after step toward the finish line. Beaming and grinning, she crossed the finish line. The crowd roared, smiles everywhere. A man watching the race wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
Kailee’s total time in the 30 meter? It really didn’t matter that it was probably five minutes. She was a big winner.
That’s the special part of the Escambia County Special Olympics held Friday at Tate High School — everybody, no matter their physical or mental disability, was their own winner.
Over 500 athletes from 18 schools took part in Friday’s event, showing off their competitive skills in a variety of events. Hundreds of Tate High students also took part, running event and serving as volunteer “buddies” for the athletes.
The day included track and field events, softball and tennis ball tosses, and other competitive events — plus fun events like fishing games, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, face painting and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top series: Kailee, a visually impaired student, takes part in the Escambia County Special Olympics Friday morning at Tate High School. Pictured inset and below: More scenes from the event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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