More Blue Wahoos Walk-Off Dramatics As Hostetler’s Game Winning Hit Decides In Tenth
May 10, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Cody Morrisette gave Pensacola a big hit it lacked in the early innings to tie the game.
And then Bennett Hostetler followed on good fortune in extra innings to get a bigger one with a two-strike, liner hit to score Joe Mack for a 5-4 comeback victory against the Birmingham Barons on Mullet Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Before a crowd of 4,116, it was this team’s fourth walk-off win in 18 home games this season
Talking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets, they rallied from a 3-1 deficit when the left-handed hitting Morissette, who played a big role in Wednesday’s matinee game win, went opposite field with an eighth-inning fastball he blasted over the left-field wall for a two-run, game-tying homer.
They again tied the game in the ninth on an errant pickoff throw that led to Jakob Marsee scoring from third base.
In the 10th, a wild pitch sent automatic runner Joe Mack from second to third. On a two-strike slider, Hostetler made perfect contact with a gap-liner to win the game.
“I was just trying to do whatever I could to get Joe to third, and once he got to third, just trying to put the ball in play,” Hostetler said.
It pushed the Blue Wahoos (17-13) to a 7-2 record in one-run games and gave them a lead in the week-long series against the Barons (20-9), who have the best record in the Southern League.
Marsee gave Pensacola a first-inning lead when scoring on Mack’s RBI single. But the Blue Wahoos stranded four runners in the first three innings, along with hitting in a double-play in the second inning against Jake Eder, who pitched for the Blue Wahoos in 2021.
Eder was part of the dynamic duo with former Miami Marlins first round pick Max Meyer that season. Both wound up with elbow issues. Eder’s injury occurred later that 2021 season and led to him missing all of 2022, then being traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Jake Burger last summer.
Wednesday night in his return to Blue Wahoos Stadium, Eder survived a rocky five innings, allowing six hits, but just one run and struck out six.
Pensacola starter Valente Bellozo worked six solid innings. His only mistake was yielding a two-run homer to the Barons’ Wilfred Veras in the sixth inning. The Barons got another run in the seventh for a 3-1 lead.
In the ninth inning, Barons reliever Gil Luna was trying to protect a 4-3 lead when he threw an errant two-out pickoff attempt at first base that allowed Marsee to easily score the tying run from third. Marsee had reached on a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and moved to third on a two-out single by Zach Zubia.
Blue Wahoos reliever Lincoln Henzman was sensational in the 10th against his former team, stranding the automatic runner by recording three consecutive outs with a strikeout and two soft ground outs.
The Blue Wahoos will try take a two-game lead in the series with the fourth game of the series on Friday. Pregame activities and ceremonial first pitches will begin at 5:40 p.m. with the official first pitch and game start at 6:05 p.m.
$7 Million In ARPA Projects Approved For Devine Farm, West Roberts Roads
May 9, 2024
The Escambia County Commission recently approved $11.25 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Projects, including $7 million for two District 5 stormwater projects in North Escambia.
The approval included $4 million for the replacement of the Devine Farms Road Bridge over an unnamed branch between South County Road 97 and I-10. Escambia County Engineering plans to replace the bridge to meet current and future needs and realign Devine Farms Road east of the bridge within the existing right of way.
A total of $3 million was approved for West Roberts Road from Highway 29 westward to Sutton Place. to improve drainage, which is anticipated to reduce flooding in surrounding neighborhoods, and safety improvements to the roadway. The intent is to widen the West Roberts Road from Highway 29 to Pine Forest Road to two 12-foot travel lanes with 5-foot shoulders. The drainage system will be realigned to accommodate the wider roadway and upgraded to current standards within the current right-of-way.
Other projects included $2 million for Oakfield/Belle Meade Pond and stormwater, $1.15 for Deerfield Drive drainage upgrades, $850,000 for Olive Road improvements and $250,000 to demolish an old county building at 2251 North Palafox Street.
Pictured; West Roberts Road on Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscamba.com photos, click to enlarge.
For The Third Time In A Week, Vehicle Collides With School Bus In Escambia County
May 9, 2024
For the third time in a week, a driver has collided with a school bus in Escambia County.
About 3:25 Wednesday afternoon, A SUV driven by an 84-year-old Pensacola man failed to yield to a school bus when making a left turn onto Interstate Circle east of Pine Forest Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said the school bus was traveling west on Interstate Circle approaching Pine Forest Road at the time. The front of the school bus collided with the right side of the SUV.
There were 17 students on the school bus at the time.
There were no injuries reported.
This was third crash attributed to other drivers with a school bus in Escambia County during the past week.
On May 3, a school bus and a tractor collided near Walnut Hill. FHP said the tractor operator failed to yield to a passing school bus while making left turn from Highway 164 to Wilman Road (pictured top). There were two dozen students on the bus.
On May 8, a school bus and pickup collided on Highway 29 near West Roberts Road. FHP said the driver failed to yield to the empty school bus when crossing the northbound lanes of Highway 29 (pictured below).
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Ernest Ward Middle’s Maria Willis Named County Math Teacher Of The Year
May 9, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School’s Maria Willis was named the Middle School Math Teacher of the Year by the Escambia County Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Risk Of Severe Weather Thursday Evening Into Friday
May 9, 2024
A cold front will bring potential rounds of severe weather on Thursday evening into early Friday morning.
There is a level 2 of 5 risk, according to the National Weather Service. Damaging winds of 60-70 mph and large hail remain the main threats.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 80. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Firefighters Attend Grain Bin Rescue Course
May 9, 2024
Escambia County Fire Rescue took part in a grain bin rescue course Wednesday.
The Jay Fire Department hosted the Farm Bureau Insurance specialized rescue class.
The classroom was followed by hands-on practice with a grain bin prop, used to show how quickly someone can become trapped. The course also demonstrated the best practices to ensure safe removal for first responders and the victims.
Escambia County has a regional Urban Search and Rescue Team that provides this type of specialized response for our residents, visitors, and neighbors.
Pictured: Escambia County Fire Rescue attended a grain bin rescue course hosted by the Jay Fire Department. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Get Education Day Win Over Birmingham Barons
May 9, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
When Cody Morissette was growing up in New Hampshire, some of his favorite memories were the school day field trips to take in a professional baseball game.
He was thrilled to watch two players for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who are now among the biggest stars in Major League Baseball.
“It was the best trip ever,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Blue Wahoos second baseman dazzled in his own way to create some special memories for area kids.
Morissette followed a leadoff double with a steal of third base, then stole home, to ignite a 2-run rally in the sixth inning that helped the Blue Wahoos to a 5-1 win against the Birmingham Barons, thus delighting a crowd of 4,063 in a matinee Education Day game filled with thousands of area school children at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“We don’t play many 11 a.m. games, so it’s a tough game for us to wake up for, but once we get out there… I remember being those kids,” Morissette said. “I’m happy to have all those kids in the stands.
“We all go out there and try to give them our best energy. Trying to give them a good show during the day. They take time out of their school day to come watch us play and hopefully we can inspire a few kids to want to do what we do one day.”
There were about 2,300 kids from 25 schools represented from five counties, including Baldwin County in Alabama, attending the second of two Education Days.
The first one on April 24 also resulted in a win that day against the Biloxi Shuckers.
They watched the Blue Wahoos (16-13) take an immediate lead on Joe Mack’s sacrifice fly in the first inning to score leadoff batter Jakob Marsee, who reached on the first of his four walks in the game.
After missing chances in the second and third innings, stranding seven runners during a three inning span, the Blue Wahoos provided a textbook way to manufacture runs. They took a 2-1 lead on Jacob Berry’s RBI single to score Paul McIntosh, who reached on an error and advanced on Nathan Martorella’s single.
That was part of another impact game from Martorella, who joined the Blue Wahoos with Marsee on Tuesday following the Luis Arraez trade between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
Marsee scored on a balk after Martorella’s single moved him to third. Martorella then drove in the fifth run on an eighth-inning single.
That was plenty enough production for the Blue Wahoos pitching staff, which has carried this team to its first-place position. Starter Luis Palacios allowed just three hits in five innings against the Barons (20-8). Three relievers, Adam Laskey, Anderson Pilar and Raffi Vizcaíno followed with scoreless relief, issuing just one walk and yielding three hits.
“This team we’re playing, we know they’re a good team, so we know we have to scrap across runs whenever we can,” Morissette said. “Especially (Wednesday), the pitchers were throwing it well, so we had to find a way to get a run across.
“Being able to hit a double (in the sixth), I wanted to make it easier for the guy behind me. I was able to get a good jump at second and take third.”
And then his steal of home was the second of his Blue Wahoos career and the seventh steal of home in franchise history. Marsee was on first base when the Blue Wahoos pulled off the double steal. Barons reliever Garrett Schoenle tried to pick off Marsee, who beat the throw as Morissette took off.
“We actually ran that same play last year in Mississippi when I stole home,” Morissette said. “And Smoke (manager Kevin Randel) said, ‘Start creeping (down the third base line) and as soon as (the reliever) picks over to first, take home and it was able to get my arm in on the slide.”
The third game of the homestand, matching the two first place teams in the Southern League, will revert back to a night game at 6:05 p.m. Thursday and with a unique twist. Former Blue Wahoos pitcher Jake Eder, a star lefthander from the 2021 season, will now be the opposing pitcher to face his former organization. Eder is 0-1 with a 5.18 ERA and will go against the Blue Wahoos’ Valente Bellozo.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos’ Jessica Voigt, a group sales trainee, performed the National Anthem for the third time this season and received a loud ovation that included a salute from Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel.
— The schools attending this game were as far east as Bonifay and west to Bay Minette. In addition, the Bayview Senior Center had 27 of its residents attending the game and those fans sat right behind home plate and stayed through the hot weather to see the final out recorded.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Dealing Disruptions Due To ‘Cyber Security Event’
May 8, 2024
Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola is dealing with disruptions today in a “cyber security event”.
Escambia County EMS is diverting some patients to other hospitals.
Reports indicate the data breach has impacted Ascension properties across the country.
Ascension released the following statement
“On Wednesday, May 8, we detected unusual activity on select technology network systems, which we now believe is due to a cyber security event. At this time we continue to investigate the situation. We responded immediately, initiated our investigation and activated our remediation efforts. Access to some systems have been interrupted as this process continues”
“Our care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible. There has been a disruption to clinical operations, and we continue to assess the impact and duration of the disruption.
“We have engaged Mandiant, a third party expert, to assist in the investigation and remediation process, and we have notified the appropriate authorities. Together, we are working to fully investigate what information, if any, may have been affected by the situation. Should we determine that any sensitive information was affected, we will notify and support those individuals in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal guidelines.
“Out of an abundance of caution we are recommending that business partners temporarily suspend the connection to the Ascension environment. We will inform partners when it is appropriate to reconnect into our environment.
“This is an ongoing situation and we will provide updates as we learn more.”
Updated: No Students On School Bus Involved In Highway 29 Crash
May 8, 2024
There were no students on an Escambia County Schools bus that collided with a pickup truck Wednesday morning on Highway 29.
A 62-year old Milton woman failed to yield to the school bus when crossing the northbound lanes of Highway 29, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The front of the pickup collided with the side of the bus
The crash occurred about 9:20 a.m. on Highway 29 near West Roberts Road.
The driver of the pickup was taken to Baptist Hospital via ambulance due to minor injuries. The driver of the school bus, a 55-year old Molino woman was taken to West Florida Hospital via ambulance with minor injuries.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Council Approves Mayor’s Request For Transcriptionist But Not Interim Town Clerk
May 8, 2024
Tuesday night, the Century Town Council approved the mayor’s request to spend perhaps as much as $40,000 for transcription services but did not approve his request to hire an interim town clerk.
Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said the town has fallen behind in the timely producing meeting minutes as required by Florida law. He said minutes need to be completed for about 40 meetings.
The council voted with council 3-1 member Sandra McMurray-Jackson absent and Shelisa Abraham against to allow Gomez to negotiate and execute a contract with Susan Owens, MPA, MMC, for provisional transcription services for the town. No bids were openly solicited for the services, and agenda materials did not state where the individual is located.
The council’s motion did not specify a dollar limit to be considered before allowing Gomez to execute the contract.
A “proposal summary” provided to the council states about 6,000 minutes needs to transcribed at a total estimated cost of $11,940. The proposal includes additional fees for document conversions, and low-quality audio, including garbled audio, mumbling, low volume and “people with accents”.
The staff recommendation on the proposal summary states, “Authorize the Mayor to negotiate and execute an agreement in an amount not to exceed $40,000 to retain transcription services.”
Gomez also asked permission to execute a contract with Lakisha Burch, MSL, MMC to provide interim city clerk services during the ongoing temporary leave of Town Clerk Leslie Howington, which is expected to continue about three months.
Burch proposed $26 per hour for up to 30 hours per week, with additional hours billed at $40.
A motion to give Gomez permission to move forward died due the lack of a second.
NorthEscambia.om file photo.