Big Inning Not Enough As Wahoos Fall 10-6 In Montgomery
April 13, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finally broke through offensively on Friday night, but a five-run third inning was quickly erased in a 10-6 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Biscuits pitching staff had allowed only five earned runs all season before Bennett Hostetler doubled off Logan Workman and Dalvy Rosario singled to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead. Paul McIntosh followed with an RBI groundout and Zach Zubia blasted his first career Double-A homer to highlight what became a five-run third inning and a 5-0 Blue Wahoos lead.
Staked to an early lead in his Blue Wahoos debut, starter Valente Bellozo (L, 0-1) allowed RBI singles to Dominic Keegan and Tanner Murray before a two-run homer from Heriberto Hernandez tied the game 5-5 in the bottom half of the third inning.
Bob Seymour broke the 5-5 tie in the fourth with a two-run single off Jeff Lindgren. Javier Sanoja singled in the top of the fifth against reliever Sean Hunley (W, 1-0) to draw to within a run, but that was as close as the Blue Wahoos would get.
Montgomery added a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Dru Baker, his fourth hit of the night, and a homer from Keegan in the sixth for a 10-6 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery against the Biscuits on SaturEditday. First pitch of game one from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 4:00.
Update: Woman Dead, Man Critical After Pickup Hits Their Motorcycle in Highway 29 Construction Area
April 12, 2024
A woman was killed and a 21-year-old Molino man critical after their motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck in a construction area on in Molino.
The crash happened on Highway 29 near the Highway 97 intersection at about 10:50 p.m.
A 21-year of Molino man was traveling north on Highway 29 on a yellow Honda motorcycle. He was travelling with a woman who has not yet been identified, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The motorcycle entered a roadway construction area lane closure and proceeded to stop,” the Florida Highway Patrol stated in their report.
A 43-year-old Century man was also traveling north on Highway 29 approaching the construction area in a gray pickup truck towing a utility trailer.
FHP said, “the front of the Toyota pickup struck the rear of the Honda motorcycle”.
The man and woman from thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the roadway. The pickup truck came to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
The woman was pronounced deceased on the scene, and the man was airlifted to an area hospital by MedStar AirCare helicopter. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
No further information has been released as troopers continue their investigation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Aggies Defeat Crestview ; Smilie Homers In JV Win
April 12, 2024
Tate 12, Crestview 4 (Varsity)
The highway has been kind in Atmore to the Tate Lady Aggies as earned their second consecutive road win 12-4 over Crestview Thursday night.
The Aggies entered Tuesday’s contest following a 10-5 win Tuesday at Navarre.
Kate Balagbagan earned the win for Tate, giving up three his and no runs, striking out three and walking two in five innings. Jordan Smith pitched two innings in relief, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out none and walking none.
Kara Wine led the Aggie at bat, going 3-4 wine one RIB. Kaylie Mitchell was 2-3 for Tate, and Peyton Womack was 2-4 with three RBIs.
The Aggies will host Niceville Friday at 6 p.m.
Tate 16, Crestview 6 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Tate came from behind to defeat Crestview 16-6. Madison Smilie had a home run for the JV Lady Aggies.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Groundbreaking Held For Tiny Home Manufacturing Facility Inside The Century Prison
April 12, 2024
Prisoners at the Century Correctional Institution will soon be building tiny homes inside the facility to help with affordable housing in the local area.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday at the facility on Tedder Road with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) and PRIDE Enterprises — PRIDE is an acronym, which stands for Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises. PRIDE is a not-for-profit corporation created by the Florida Legislature in 1981. It receives no state appropriations.
A few years ago, PRIDE Enterprises Board Chairman James Reeves had a vision for PRIDE to expand operations into the Panhandle area.
Reeves identified a need for more affordable housing in the Panhandle, and in 2023, he guided the PRIDE Staff and board to adapt a plan to move forward with a PRIDE business inside the Century Correctional Institution that will manufacture tiny homes. They will be built by trained and certified inmates in a manufacturing environment.
Most of these homes will be sold in the region to meet the growing need to make housing affordable for the underserved people and families in the area.
Each inmate in the 40-student program has made a commitment to stay in the eight-county region when they reach the end of their sentence, so they can become a productive member of society using the skills obtained in the work program.
In January of 2024, Pride was awarded a Triumph Gulf Coast BP Oil Spill grant of $923,745 to reimburse for training and certification services provided by Pensacola State College. PRIDE is also contributing $521,000 to build a new 11,250 square feet facility at Century CI.
It is expected that the production facility with be complete by mid-2024 with tiny home production beginning in 2024.
Attendees at Thursday’s groundbreaking include FDC Secretary Ricky Dixon, PRIDE Enterprises President Blake Brown, PRIDE Enterprises Chairman James Reeves, Florida State Sen. Doug Broxson, Florida State Rep. Michelle Salzman, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, and other FDC leadership and officials.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wednesday Storms Blame For Century Sewage Spill
April 12, 2024
The Town of Century reported a small sewage spill due to the severe weather on Wednesday.
The town reported an electrical breaker for side stream lift station at the wastewater treatment was turned off or tripped, “likely caused by severe weather”.
The town reported 100 gallons of untreated sewage was spilled, of which 90 gallons were recovered. Lime was applied to the area, and it was washed down.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys Tennis Ends Regular Season With Win Over Pace To Head Into Districts Monday
April 12, 2024
The Tate Aggies boys tennis team defeated Pace High 5-2 Thursday afternoon during a Pink Out match for breast cancer awareness. With the win, the boys finished their regular season at 12-2 to head into the district tournament on Monday.
The Aggie girls pushed through injuries this season and are hoping for an overall bid into districts
The district tournament begins Monday at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Suffer Heartbreaker In Game 1 Playoff Loss
April 12, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers played the style they wanted, the effort they needed and got exceptional goaltending to be on verge of a stunning, playoff opening upset.
All of this, only to absorb a gut-punch with just 70 seconds left in the first, sudden-death overtime.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Peoria winger, Cayden Cahill, gained a fortuitous bounce off the boards, leading to a breakaway that he finished with a wrist flick into the net that gave the Rivermen a 3-2 victory in the delayed Game 1 of this quarterfinal series at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The game featured a combined 91 shots on goal and standout play from both teams’ goaltenders the entire game. That made the ending even more difficult for the Ice Flyers for their hopes in this short series.
“We talked before the game that the effort was the most important thing,” said Ice Flyers coach, Gary Graham. “When you go into the playoffs, I’ve always told my playoff teams this: You really want to look yourself in the mirror and know as a man that you gave everything you could.
“And I thought the guys did that (Thursday). The game is about bounces and you need a little bit of luck sometimes. I looked down and was getting ready to make a line change and I looked up and I didn’t see where the puck was at and I see two (Peoria) guys behind every one of ours.
“I’ve never seen that in overtime. They made us pay.”
More rough luck hit the Ice Flyers after Ivan Bondarenko tied the game less than three minutes into the second period. He later got hurt off a check and couldn’t play again.
“He was buzzing,” Graham said. “He was the best player on the ice until he got hurt and we lost him for basically two periods. And that hurt. He’s a big part of our team. But the guys still continued to work hard and gave the effort…
Earlier this week, tall and physical centerman Sean Gulka was hurt in practice.
“It has just been one of these weird couple weeks with guys dropping like flies,” Graham said. “But as long as the guys are giving a 100-percent and they are, we have a chance.”
Both teams left immediately after showering and dressing for an all-night, all Friday morning, 14-plus hour bus trip to Peoria, Illinois where the Ice Flyers will seek to keep their season alive on Saturday night in the second game.
A recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The Rivermen scored the game’s first goal less than three minutes into the game.
Jordan Ernst one-timed a centering pass from Braydon Barker, who set it up from the side boards, past Stephen Mundinger, who wound up stopping 44 Peoria shots in the game.
Two minutes later, the only power play of the period gave the Ice Flyers a tying chance after Chase Spencer was whistled for tripping. Peoria thwarted that opportunity.
The Ice Flyers tied the game when Dale Deon, who began the season with Peoria, rifled a shot through traffic from inside the blue line that got past Nick Latinovich and had the crowd dancing with 5:54 left in the period.
That energy surge was short-lived, however.
Peoria answered just 27 seconds later when Tristan Trudel, son of Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel, pounced on a loose puck amid traffic and wristed a shot into the net.
The period ended with the Ice Flyers having an 18-9 edge in shots on goal.
SECOND PERIOD
The best scoring chance of the period occurred less than three minutes into play, and Ivan Bondarenko didn’t miss on finishing a 2-on-1 rush.
He took a perfect pass from Mitch Atkins, skated alone on Latinovich and flicked a backhand shot into the upper corner to tie the game.
And that’s how the period ended.
But there were plenty of other opportunities for both teams. Peoria penalties four minutes apart gave the Ice Flyers an edge to take the lead, but it didn’t happen. Peoria then had two power play chances with Mundinger making saves and limiting rebounds.
The period ended after Peoria retiring captain Alec Hagaman was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct with 1:11 left, leading into a 49-second carry-over on the power play to start the third period.
The Ice Flyers carried a 25-24 edge in shots at the intermission.
THIRD PERIOD
No scoring, but plenty of big saves on both ends. The Rivermen thought they had a scored a go-ahead goal with 5:42 left, but the officials had blown the whistle to stop play and immediately waved off the goal.
After a video review, the officiating crew again signaled no goal.
Peoria then hit a goal post with a shot with 2:49 left.
OVERTIME
There were two sequences of off-setting minor penalties that made for 4-on-4 hockey and then the Ice Flyers had a power play with 3:27 left. They won faceoffs and had some open shots that were either thwarted by Latinovich or missed the mark.
GAME NOTABLES
After the first period, Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris presented a $32,000 check from the team’s foundation to Covenant Care and its “My Wish” initiative. The program provides those with a serious or terminal illness with a special event or activity to boost spirits.
The playoff game occurred exactly 10 years after the Ice Flyers set an SPHL record on this date with a nine-goal barrage in a playoff series opener against the former Columbus (Ga.) Cottonmouths.
The Ice Flyers will head to Peoria’s Carver Arena where the Rivermen compiled a 24-1 home-ice record with three OT losses in the other games. It is the highest home win percentage in SPHL history.
QUOTABLE: Ice Flyers Coach Gary Graham
“It’s a three-game series. They got the first one. We don’t focus on Sunday (potential deciding game), we don’t focus on the next round, you focus on what’s in front of you. You focus on a good first period, getting the team prepared and from there, once the puck drops anything can happen.”
WHAT’S NEXT
SCENARIO: Game 2 of SPHL Quarterfinal Playoffs
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Peoria Rivermen
WHEN: Saturday, 7:15 p.m.
WHERE: Carver Arena, Peoria, Illinois
Escambia County Warns Of Sunpass Text Scam
April 12, 2024
Escambia County has received reports of fraudulent text messages targeting the public from persons claiming to represent SunPass. The messages are requesting prompt payment to avoid fees and contain a link to a fraudulent website in an attempt to collect information.
The county said do not click any links in the fraudulent text messages. These messages are not sent by SunPass or Escambia County.
SunPass does not ask customers via text to make a payment or to take immediate action on their account. Messages from SunPass will come from the following email address or text number:
Email: customerservice@sunpass.com or noreply@sunpass.com
Text: 786727
Escambia County does not send text messages to SunPass or Pensacola Beach Annual Pass holders seeking information or action regarding their account balances or fees owed.
$9 Million Donated For New UWF Football Stadium
April 12, 2024
The University of West Florida has received a $9 million donation to kickstart the construction of a 7,500 seat football stadium in the area of the current football field.
The announcement cam Thursday night as the college launched the public phase of the “Here for Good capital campaign,” the largest campaign in University history. President Martha D. Saunders announced the campaign at a gala held at the Field House on UWF’s Pensacola campus.
“The Here for Good campaign is a proclamation — a promise to expand the passion of our people and unleash the best of UWF,” Saunders said. “We are telling our community and our world that UWF is here today and here to stay.”
UWF enters the campaign already having raised $65 million and has a fundraising goal of $90 million. At the gala, Saunders announced a transformative gift of more than $9 million from Darrell and Debbie Gooden to break ground on the Darrell Gooden Stadium. This represents the largest gift from a living donor in the history of the University. The gift will help fund the construction of a football stadium. Darrell Gooden, a Pensacola native, studied accounting at UWF and said he attributes much of his professional success to his college education.
“I am thrilled and honored to be able to give this donation on the ‘Capital Campaign Launch’ and towards the new football stadium to be built on campus,” Gooden said. “Today is a fun and great time to be an Argo with the new football program and now our very own stadium. It is an honor to have the new stadium and field named after me, and I also would like to thank all the numerous people that have worked so hard in getting football to this point! Again, I am very blessed today to be able to give this gift to the University to give back what they have given me. Thank you and Go Argos!”
Guests heard remarks from Howard Reddy, vice president for the Division of University Advancement; James Hosman, UWF Foundation Board Chair; and Gail Dorsey, former UWF Foundation Board Chair. Inspiring videos played during the event and showcased how far UWF has come since 1967 while promoting its future success.
Key focus areas of the campaign include people, programs, place and community. UWF leadership shared how meeting the fundraising goal would impact each area of the campaign:
- People – Every undergraduate student at the University of West Florida would have access to a scholarship.
- Programs – UWF would bolster or create more high-impact programs for students and continue to earn national recognition for academic achievements, athletic accomplishments and groundbreaking research.
- Place – UWF would enhance its physical environment through named facilities and new technology.
- Community – UWF would make an even greater impact on Northwest Florida. With a successful campaign, UWF would have the opportunity to grow a larger footprint in the area such as expanding the UWF Historic Trust offerings, making more archaeological discoveries along the Gulf Coast and expanding the reach and resources of WUWF.
To make a gift, or for more information, visit uwf.edu/hereforgood.
Highway 29 Crash Slows Morning Commute Traffic
April 11, 2024
A Highway 29 crash slowed morning commute traffic Thursday.
The crash involving a car and pickup truck happened on Highway 29 near between Roberts Road and 10 Mile Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released additional details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
