Fitterer Fantastic Again As Blue Wahoos Blank Barons
May 11, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Evan Fitterer produced a special delivery.
Fitterer wove another gem, working six scoreless innings in near-flawless fashion, then got a pair of home runs from teammates in Pensacola’s 3-0 victory Friday night against the Birmingham Barons to wow a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Fitterer set a record for most scoreless innings (20.1) by a Blue Wahoos pitcher since becoming a Miami Marlins affiliate in 2021. In his past three starts, Fitterer, 23, a Mission Viejo, California native, has allowed just seven hits and had 15 strikeouts in the stretch.
“It’s really special for me. Obviously, it’s great to go out there and never give up runs,” said Fitterer, who threw 50 strikes in 85 pitches Friday. “To start the year and the ERA is in double digits, you want to see that go down. So, throwing 20 scoreless (innings) really helps that, so that feels good.”
The Blue Wahoos (18-13) have now opened a first-place divisional lead after taking three of the first four games from Birmingham (20-10), which entered this series as the Southern League’s top team and North Division leader.
“The mood is ecstatic,” Fitterer said. “It’s as good as you would expect. It’s a long season and everyone has their routines and that really doesn’t change whether you are winning or losing, but everyone has been happier.
“The pitchers, especially, have been happy that everyone has been throwing the ball really well.”
In a pitching duel against the Barons’ Mason Adams, the Blue Wahoos gave Fitterer a lead when shortstop Harrison Spohn hit a one-out homer in the fifth inning, his third of the season.
In the sixth inning, Joe Mack doubled home Nathan Martorella, who had reached on a swinging bunt that became a three-base throwing error. In the eighth, fellow newcomer Jakob Marsee joined with his impact – blasting a solo homer over the right field wall.
Fitterer faced his toughest situation when the Barons had runners on first and third the sixth inning. But he painted the edge of the plate with a perfectly located fastball to fan dangerous designated hitter Tim Elko, a former Ole Miss star, to end the inning.
“It was a big situation,” Fitterer said. “Sometimes, I feel like it’s a little bit easier to hit your spot when you know you have to hit it. Those are the situations I love. I love pitching in high pressure.”
The game was a sprint, completed in just two hours, eight minutes.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to clinch the series win on Saturday
Man Shot Friday Morning In Century
May 10, 2024
An adult male was shot Friday morning in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the man was shot in the abdomen about 10:15 a.m. on Hilltop Road.
Spokesperson Morgan Lewis said his wounds were not considered to be life threatening.
ECSO were working to determine exactly what occurred at the home. No suspect has been named.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview, Ernest Ward, Bratt, Byrneville Closed By Weather; Northview Suffers Damage
May 10, 2024
Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Bratt Elementary, and Byrneville Elementary schools were closed Friday following early morning storms.
Superintendent Keith Leonard said some students were picked up by school buses this morning, but the buses were turned around the students were returned home.
For more photos from Northview, click here.
There was obvious damage at the Northview High School campus — trees were downed, the school sign was destroyed, sports equipment was tossed about, and ag equipment was overturned. Northview and Bratt had power, but Byrneville and Ernest Ward did not.
All other schools in Escambia County delayed start times by one hour and were dismissed on a regular schedule this afternoon.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EREC Reports 75% Without Power; Restoration May Take Days
May 10, 2024
About 75% of all Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers were without power as of at 1 p.m. Friday, and it may be days before power is fully restored.
EREC reported 3,148 members without power in Escambia County and 7,689 in Santa Rosa County.
Updates will be posted as available.
Pictured: Snapped and downed power poles on Highway 97 and North Highway 99 near Walnut Hill Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Storms Leave Trail Of Damage Across Northern Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
May 10, 2024
Fast moving storms left a trail of damage across northern Escambia and Santa counties early Friday morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a second photo gallery, click here.
For a gallery from Northview High School, click here.
Tens of thousands were left without power. Trees, power lines and power poles were reported down across the area, including Highway 99, Highway 99, Nokomis Road, Byrneville Road, Morristown Road, Highway 99A and others. Highway 97 was completely closed by downed power lines, and one vehicle reportedly collided with a downed power pole. Additionally, a vehicle reportedly hit a tree that was down on Highway 29 near the paper mill in Cantonment. and a vehicle hit a downed tree on in the area of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road (pictured below).
There have been no injuries reported.
At last report, 65% of all EREC customers (6,560) were without power in Santa Rosa County, and 72% of all EREC customers (3,050) were without power in Escambia County. FPL reported 8,953 out in Escambia, 7,945 in Santa Rosa.
EREC CEO Ryan Campbell tells NorthEscambia.com that they have called in outside help to assist with fast power restoration.
This story will be updated with additional information.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Young Child Struck By Vehicle At Century Park
May 10, 2024
A young child was injured when struck by a vehicle Thursday evening at a Century Park.
The child, who was about a year old, was struck at Showalter Park on Kelly Field Road about 7 p.m.
The child was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further information.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Lady Chiefs Top Freeport In Regional Semifinal; Holmes County Defeats Jay
May 10, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat Freeport 6-2 in the1-1A softball regional semifinals Thursday night in Bratt, and Holmes County beat Jay 4-1.
Northview took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Riley Brooks singled, Kylee Langham walked and Mary Clayton Dawson ground out, each scoring one run.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Jamison Gilman earned the win for Northview, giving up three hits and two runs in five innings, striking out four and walking two. Mikayla McAnally tossed to innings of no-run softball in relief, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out two.
McAnally led the Chiefs at bat, going 2-3. Brooks went 1-3 with two RBIs. Makayla Golson was 1-3 with an RBI and two runs. Langham and Dawson were both 1-2.
“It was a good win; we found a way to scratch out a win,” head coach Amy Holland. “We play better than we played tonight.”
Holland attributed the performance to spending a week off without a game.
“Do I think our girls will rise up? I do. We have a very young team. I have only two seniors on the field, four ninth graders and the rest 10th graders…I do believe that we have a great team. I think we’ll rise up. They really want it; they’re hungry.
But Thursday night was not without its strong points, she said.
“Our defense looked better. Our defense had our pitcher’s back…We had a few good hits that they executed.”
Northview will face Holmes County at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the regional final as they seek the first-ever regional softball championship for Northview.
Holland said the Lady Chiefs will be ready.
“I think Tuesday night you’ll see a different team.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ascension ‘Cybersecurity Incident’ Pauses Some Elective Procedures And Appointments
May 10, 2024
Ascension Healthcare and Ascension Sacred Heart have paused some “non-emergent elective procedures, tests and appointments” following a cybersecurity incident.
Late Thursday afternoon an Ascension spokesperson said:
“Systems that are currently unavailable include our electronic health records system, MyChart (which enables patients to view their medical records and communicate with their providers), some phone systems, and various systems utilized to order certain tests, procedures and medications. We have implemented established protocols and procedures to address these particular system disruptions in order to continue to provide safe care to patients. Out of an abundance of caution, however, some non-emergent elective procedures, tests and appointments have been temporarily paused while we work to bring systems back online. Our teams are working directly with any patient whose appointment or procedure will need to be rescheduled. We understand the frustration this may cause and sincerely regret any inconvenience to our patients.
“Due to downtime procedures, several hospitals are currently on diversion for emergency medical services in order to ensure emergency cases are triaged immediately. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact 911 and your local emergency services will bring you to the nearest hospital emergency room.”
The company also said, “We have determined this is a cybersecurity incident. We are working around the clock with internal and external advisors to investigate, contain, and restore our systems following a thorough validation and screening process. Our investigation and restoration work will take time to complete, and we do not have a timeline for completion.
“It is expected that we will be utilizing downtime procedures for some time. Patients should bring to their appointment notes on their symptoms and a list of current medications and prescription numbers or the prescription bottles so their care team can call in medication needs to pharmacies.”
Tate Lady Aggies Fall In Regional Quarterfinal Road Game
May 10, 2024
In the Region 1-6A softball quarterfinals, the Tate Lady Aggies fell to the Hagerty Huskies 15-0 Thursday night on the road in Oviedo, Florida, just northeast of Orlando.
The Huskies jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and the Aggies just could not recover.
Jordan Smith took the loss in the circle for Tate, giving up 10 runs and seven hits in one inning while walking four and striking out none. Kate Balagbagan went for two and a third innings, surrendering five hits and five runs while striking out three and walking one.
The Lady Aggies had no on the night as their season ended with an overall record of 15-12.
In other local Region 1-6A softball quarterfinal action the top seed bet the Oviedo Lions 12-2 to advance to the regional semifinals against No. 4 Niceville Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Pace.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
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.