Palacios Twirls Gem In 4-2 Wahoos Win
July 20, 2023
Luis Palacios made his 10th start this season with the Blue Wahoos a near-perfect one.
He was then backed by Zach McCambley’s first save of his pro career.
The dynamic delivery on Wednesday equated into Pensacola’s 4-2 victory against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, pushing the Blue Wahoos to their 50th win in 85 games.
After the Blue Wahoos knocked out Trash Pandas starting pitcher John Swanda with a four-run first inning, Palacios painted the strike zone throughout his best performance. It made for a crisp, 2-hour, 15-minute game on “Winning Wednesday’ that included baseball bingo and was capped by a mid-week fireworks show provided by game sponsor Covenant Care.
Palacios, a 23-year-old lefty from Venezuela, allowed just four hits, matching the fewest he allowed this year. He struck out five without walking a batter, and improved to 6-3 in a smooth, seven-inning outing that matched his longest of the season.
It was the first time he threw up seven zeroes on the scoreboard. He continually stayed ahead of hitters and consistently threw strikes – 64 strikes in 85 pitches. It was the first time in his Double-A career he did not allow a walk.
McCambley, 24, a righthander, who has shifted to a reliever role that will further enhance his own future, worked a clean ninth inning. He ended the game on a called strikeout with a fastball on the outside part of the plate.
As things turned out, the game was decided in the first inning. Nasim Nuñez and Miami Marlins outfielder Avisail Garcia, continuing his injury rehab assignment, started the rally with walks. Nunez advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
With two outs, Will Banfield laced an RBI single to left, José Devers singled and Cody Morissette followed with a two-run double to complete the rally. Banfield and Norel González both went 2-for-3 as the Blue Wahoos pounded out eight total hits.
Rocket City, the Los Angeles Angels affiliate, got its runs on a pair of solo homers off Pensacola reliever Eli Villalobos in the eighth inning. After the second blast, pitching coach Dave Eiland met on the mound and Villalobos retired the next two batters to end the frame.
Following the game, specialty jerseys worn by the Blue Wahoos in pregame Wednesday and decorated in sponsor Covenant Care design, were delivered to auction-bidding fans by Blue Wahoos players in front of the home team dugout. The auction began in the sixth inning.
The series continues Thursday on Mullet Thursday as the Blue Wahoos become the Pensacola Mullets.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate High Alumni Group Donates To Molino Food Pantry
July 20, 2023
The Tate High School Alumni group recently made a donation to the community food pantry ministry at the Crossroads Thrift Store in Molino to benefit local families. Grace Paulchek presented the food on behalf of the alumni association. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Silver Alert Canceled For Missing, Endangered Escambia County Man
July 19, 2023
UPDATE: This individual has been located.
A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for a missing endangered Escambia County man.
Arthur Gregory Stiers, 76, was last seen about noon Wednesday in the 5000 block of Port St. Joe Street off Blue Angel Parkway. He was driving a white Volkswagen Golf, Florida tag #Y71RAM. The vehicle has a roof rack.
He is 6-foot, 1-inch tall, 185 pounds, and last seen wearing an off-white short sleeved button-down shirt, white shorts, and tan boat shoes
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or 911.
Rabies Alert For Escambia County Expires After No New Cases Reported
July 19, 2023
A Rabies Alert for Escambia County has now expired.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH-Escambia) issued the alert in May after three people were exposed to one rabid fox and one person was exposed to a rabid bat.
No additional cases have been reported as of Tuesday, the health department said. The alert was allowed to expire Tuesday after being in effect for two months.
NorthEscambia.com reported in May that the rabid fox bit or otherwise made physical contact with three individuals at locations in the area near Northview High School and Travis Nelson Park in Bratt.
Tate Aggies Baseball Head Coach Karl Jernigan Has Resigned
July 19, 2023
Tate High School head baseball coach Karl Jernigan has resigned.
“Coach Jernigan resigned to spend more time with and focus on his family,” Principal Laura Touchstone told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday night. “Coach Jernigan has been very transparent with me through this process, and I support his decision. Most importantly I support the Tate baseball program and will continue to do so. We are actively searching for a coach to fulfill the position and uphold the legacy of Tate baseball.”
Jernigan was hired as Tate’s head coach during the summer of 2017.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Century Postpones Action On Payment Plan For Past Due Utility Customers
July 19, 2023
The Century Town Council Tuesday has postponed action on a payment plan agreement for utility customers with past due accounts.
The proposed standardized policy for water, wastewater, and/or natural gas customers would allow customers to pay one-half of their balance over a period of up to six months. Under the plan, one-half of the balance would be due immediately in order to qualify. The remaining half of the outstanding bill would be due alongside regular bills.
Tuesday night, the council opted to hold a workshop on some of the plan details before a final vote.
Under the plan, as proposed:
Customers would be limited to two payment plan requests in a 24 month period.
If not paid by the due date of the 24th of each, the agreement would be voided, services would be disconnected, and the full balance would be due before reconnection.
We reached out to two other public utilities in Escambia County to see how they handle customers unable to pay their full balance.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority said they will “work with” customers unable to pay their full balance due. ECUA offers water, wastewater and sanitation services in most of Escambia County.
“Pensacola Energy does not have a delayed payment option. If a customer doesn’t make their payment and they have a good payment history, we will let them go a week late, but then they must pay their bill in full,” City of Pensacola Public Information Officer Kaycee Lagarde said. Pensacola Energy provides natural gas across a wide area of the county.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Live Fire Training With Mock Plane Taking Place At Pensacola Airport
July 19, 2023
Live fire training will take place at the Pensacola airport through Friday, and visitors may see a mock plane and flames.
The Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola International Airport are conducting their annual live fire training drill. Anyone near airport property or flying through the airport may see a mock aircraft with flames coming from the simulator and on the ground nearby. There will also be firefighters in gear and fire trucks spraying the fire during the drill. The training will take place all morning through early afternoon daily through Friday near the east-west runway.
The annual drill is required by the FAA.
Beulah Middle FFA Receives Honors During State FFA Convention
July 19, 2023
The Beulah Middle School FFA chapter and its members received several honors during the recent Florida FFA State Convention and Expo.
- Received an award for 100% FFA membership
- Received trophy for fourth place meats judging team in the state
- Received a trophy for second place aquaculture team in the state
- Colin Duarte competed in the extemporaneous public speaking contest
- Alumni Gabriel Flores came in 4th in the state in the creed speaking competition
- Parliamentary procedure team came in third in the state
- Jayden Williams performed his talent in front of thousands of people on stage at convention
- Mikayle Salvadora competed on state in a music competition
In addition, Beulah Middle FFA was able to donate over 2,300 food items to people in need thanks to generous supporters and friends. They placed second in the annual food drive.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnston’s Historic Night Lifts Blue Wahoos To 8-3 Win
July 19, 2023
The Blue Wahoos followed their most lopsided loss with one of the season’s more complete wins.
Only natural that Troy Johnston helped trigger it.
Johnston continued his run-producing prowess, driving in five runs on a trio of line-drive hits, then was backed up by some highlight-worthy defense from teammates in an 8-3 victory Tuesday against the Rocket City Trash Pandas to open the homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Already a leader in six different Southern League categories, Johnston is now the Blue Wahoos’ all-time single-season RBI leader with 77. Tuesday night he passed Griffin Conine, who had 74 last year to set the franchise record.
The first baseman also has 11 RBI in the past four games. He leads the league in home runs (18), RBI (78), hits (84), extra base hits (40), total bases (164) and runs (64). His batting average has soared to .287.
This game started and finished far differently than the Blue Wahoos’ 15-2 loss Sunday at Birmingham, which ended a post-break, short series with the Barons on a sour note.
That quickly was flushed and replaced Tuesday by Johnston’s first-inning run-scoring single off Trash Pandas lefty starter Ky Bush, rated the No. 3 prospect in the Los Angeles Angels system. José Devers followed with an RBI double for a 2-0 lead.
It stayed that way until Rocket City got back within a run in the sixth inning.
Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer worked into the sixth, giving up three runs. Two of those came before he was lifted in the sixth after leaving a changeup over the plate that Rocket City catcher Edgar Quero blasted for a no-doubt, two-run homer over the right field berm.
But the Blue Wahoos offense answered by batting around in the seventh inning. Johnston had a two-run double and Will Banfield drove in a run on a single as part of the big inning.
From that point, the bullpen took over. Cristian Charle, Matt Pushard and closer Jefry Yan delivered scoreless innings to complete the win on “Doggone Tuesday” where fans were allowed to bring their dogs to the ballpark.
Though Griffin Conine did not get a hit in the game, he made a sensational diving catch in right field in the fifth inning, then got up and threw out the Trash Pandas’ Tucker Flint, who tried to tag up from second, to complete an amazing double play.
Blue Wahoos catcher Will Banfield threw out Rocket City’s Kyren Paris trying to steal and left fielder Dalvy Rosario saved a run with a diving stop on a ball near the foul line. It was all part of textbook defensive plays made in this game.
The series continues Wednesday. The Blue Wahoos will have Luis Palocios (5-3, 6.40 ERA) going against Rocket City’s Fernando Romero in the first series meeting this year between these teams.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Woodland Park Molino Development Opt-Out Cases Dropped For August 3 By Applicant
July 18, 2023
The company looking to build a large-scale development in Molino has dropped pending discussion before the Escambia County Commission on August 3.
Last week, the Escambia County Planning Board denied Exit 3 Investment’s Escambia County Sector Plan opt-out applications for the Woodland Park development. At that time, the investment company withdrew all pending rezoning requests.
The Escambia County Commission was set to consider section plan opt-out denial recommendations from the planning board and make a final ruling on August 3.. They will not be on the agenda or discussed at the BOCC’s August 3 meeting.
According to submitted opt-out and rezoning applications, The Woodland Park development as originally proposed would have had 2,356 townhomes and apartments, 2,065 single family lots, and nearly 100 acres of commercial development in a 1,500 acre area to the south and west of Highway 196 and Highway 29.
RELATED: ‘That Country Way Of Life’ — Residents Unite In Battle Against Big Molino Development
Pictured top: Submitted plans for Woodland Park. Pictured inset: Fred Hemmer of Exit 3 Investments addresses the Escambia County Planning Board last week. NorthEcambia.com images, click to enlarge.