Late Wahoos Rally Falls Short In 3-2 Loss To Birmingham
April 23, 2023
he Blue Wahoos had set a ninth-inning stage Saturday to create their first walk-off win.
But they were unable to complete it.
Birmingham reliever Caleb Freeman threw a trio of wicked curve balls to strike out José Devers with the bases-loaded, preserving the Barons 3-2 victory before an overflow, sellout crowd on a fireworks night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Nearly all of the fans remained in the ninth when the Blue Wahoos got a one-out single by Dane Myers, then had Norel González reach on a walk. After J.D. Orr struck out, catcher José Estrada in his Blue Wahoos debut walked to load the bases and keep the crowd energized.
Devers, however, was unable to make contact with any of Freeman’s breaking pitches.
This night became the Blue Wahoos’ third consecutive capacity crowd on a perfectly clear night at the bayfront ballpark.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher M.D. Johnson had one blemish Saturday on his otherwise solid start. He did not allow a hit in the first four innings.
But the Barons (5-9) punched through against Johnson in the top of the fifth, after it looked like he might pitch out of a jam.
He gave up a lead-off single, then a walk, then a bunt single to load the bases. Duke Ellis hit a flyout to left, but not deep enough to score a run. Taylor Snyder hit a ground out that Blue Wahoos third baseman Myers turned into a force out at the plate.
Moises Castillo followed and delivered a bases-clearing double into the outfield gap for the 3-2 lead, which held up for the finish. From this point, both teams’ bullpens took over and did not allow another run.
The game began well for the Blue Wahoos (6-8).
Johnson issued four walks in the first four innings, but picked off one runner in the third inning, then Estrada threw out another runner on a steal attempt in the fourth inning.
Estrada produced the Blue Wahoos’ first run when hitting a one-out double in the third inning. He then scored on a two-out single by second baseman Nasim Nuñez.
In the fourth inning, Troy Johnston led off with a triple. Victor Mesa Jr. followed with an RBI single. Dane Myers then singled. But with none out, the Blue Wahoos missed the opportunity for a big inning and it proved costly.
Barons starter Christian Mena battled back to retire the next three batters without allowing a ball out of the infield. He struck out Norel Gonzalez and retired Orr and Estrada on ground outs.
Blue Wahoos relievers Brady Puckett and Austin Roberts each had two shutout innings to keep the game in reach. Barons relievers Gil Luna and Freeman combined to pitch three shutout innings.
The Blue Wahoos will close out the homestand with the Barons on Sunday with Zach King (0-1, 4.26) making his second start this week against the Barons’ Chase Solesky (0-0, 2.57) in the final meeting of these teams in Pensacola this season.
written by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Sexual Abuse Of Three Children
April 22, 2023
An Escambia County man found guilty of molesting three children in his care has been sentenced to life in prison.
James Randall Moehle, 65, was convicted on six counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim between 12 and 16 years old.
“During the trial, it was revealed that James Moehle had been sexually abusing three minor children over several years,” the State Attorney’s Office said.
Escambia County Private Sector Employment Up 4.2% Over The Year
April 22, 2023
The Escambia County unemployment rate held steady last month, according to data released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The area’s private sector employment grew 4.2 percent (+6,800 jobs) over the year in March 2023. The industries gaining the most jobs were education and health services, increasing by 2,200 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, increasing by 2,100 jobs.
The unemployment rate in the Pensacola metro area was 2.6 percent in March 2023, unchanged from February and a 0.3 percentage point decrease from 2.9 percent a year ago in March 2022. The Pensacola area labor force increased by 8,120 over the year, a 3.5 percent increase.
In March 2023, Florida’s unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the third consecutive month, which is 0.9 percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent. Florida’s labor force climbed by 250,000 (+2.3 percent) over the year and the unemployment rate has remained lower than the nation’s for 29 consecutive months.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Tuesday Afternoon In Cantonment
April 22, 2023
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon, April 25 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Northview Suffers 5-4 Senior Night Loss To Pensacola Catholic (With Gallery)
April 22, 2023
The Northview Chiefs fell short on a comeback attempt in a senior night 5-4 loss to Pensacola Catholic Friday night in Bratt.
Aubrey Stuckey went for a complete game, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out six.
Chloe Ragsdale went 2-3 at bat to lead the Chiefs. Emma Gilmore and Allison Flowers added one hit each.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Before the game, the Lady Chiefs honored two seniors — pitchers Emma Gilmore and Aubrey Stuckey. On the first play of the game, Gilmore started at catcher. During her high school career, she had played every position on the field during a game except catcher.
Northview will host W.S. Neal Thursday at 6 p.m. in their last home game of the regular season.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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Monteverde Masterful In 12-1 Wahoos Win
April 22, 2023
Troy Johnston has described hot hitting like riding a wave.
He caught another one Friday in helping the Blue Wahoos to a 12-1 win against the Birmingham Barons before another sellout crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Johnston drove in three runs with a pair of doubles, as the Blue Wahoos batted around in back-to-back, explosive innings while rolling to an easy win.
Their 14-hit attack combined with another impressive performance from starting pitcher Patrick Monteverde, who earned his second win with a 10-strikeout, three-hit effort in six innings.
With Monteverde, this is now a trifecta of exceptional.
In his three starts, Monteverde, 25, has been one of the best pitchers in the Miami Marlins minor league system with just five hits and one run allowed in 19 innings with 29 strikeouts. The Pittsburgh native began the year as the Marlins’ No. 30 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
“It’s incredible,” said Johnston. “When I was facing him in spring training – whenever I would see I was facing him – I almost would give my at-bat up, because I did not want to face him. That is how good he is. He is showing what he is capable of and he is an absolute bulldog on the mound.”
Monteverde faced the minimum nine batters the first three innings before allowing a one-out double to Moises Castillo, one of the Barons’ top prospects, who later scored their only run on a double steal.
The Blue Wahoos answered with a thunderclap of runs.
After coaxing five walks and two hits, but zero runs after three innings, against Birmingham starter Hunter Dollander (0-3), the Blue Wahoos exploded in their next at-bat.
Seven of the first eight batters reached in a six-run, fourth inning. Jose Devers tripled home two runs. Johnston later followed with a bases-clearing double.
“I hope I can ride the wave, but it’s a long season and I’m just going to try to do the best I can every day.”
In the fifth, nine Blue Wahoos batted, including Johnson’s second double, in a five-run inning. In all, every Blue Wahoos batter reached base. Eight scored runs. Seven of the nine batters had multiple hits.
Devers, Nasim Nunez and Victor Mesa Jr. all had two RBI apiece.
“It is a testament to what we have been doing. We have been working really hard,” Johnston said. “I know things haven’t been clicking all the time, but as you can see in the fourth and fifth inning, it clicked. Hopefully we can run with it.”
Jefry Yan pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to follow Monteverde and Sean Reynolds pitched the ninth as Blue Wahoos pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts Friday.
Game five of this homestand is set for Saturday, with the Blue Wahoos’ M.D. Johnson (0-0, 3.38 ERA) going against Birmingham’s Christian Mena (0-1, 6.43).
written by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Highway 29 Project In Century Halted After Discovery Of An Unknown Water Main
April 21, 2023
Work has come to a temporary halt on a Highway 29 construction in Century after the discovery of an unknown water main that must be relocated.
Early this year, two northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane were closed between Harries Boulevard and East Cottage Street with traffic shifted into just two lanes. It was that a normal traffic pattern would return by the end of April, but for now that’s on hold until about the end of May.
“There will be extension of the work timeframe. During excavation, an unknown Town of Century water main was discovered,” Kohen Johns Brannon, public information specialist for the Florida Department of Transportation, told NorthEscambia.com on Thursday. “The water main is expected to be relocated in approximately two weeks.”
Brannon said the contractor is scheduled to be on site next week doing preliminary work to facilitate the relocation of the pipe. Construction on the resurfacing project will continue after the water main is relocated.
Century’s engineer said the problem pipe is a 2-inch water main, and there are no service disruptions anticipated during the work.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Bratt Rollover Crash
April 21, 2023
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
The driver of a Chevrolet Silverado was southbound on North Highway 99 when he apparently lost control as coming out of an S-curve about 3:35 p.m.. The pickup truck left the road, struck a culvert, went airborne and overturned. The pickup came to rest upright in a ditch about 110 feet from the culvert.
The driver was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that did not appear life threatening. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional information.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Gets Senior Night 14-4 Win Over Central (With Gallery)
April 21, 2023
The No. 4 state ranked Northview Chiefs celebrated senior night with a run-ruled 14-4 win over Central Thursday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first inning.
Northview had one hit each from Kaden Odom, Luke Bridges, Josh Landis, Jamarkus Jefferson and Rustin Pope.
Odom earned the win on the mound for the Chief. In three innings, he allowed one hit and three runs while striking out five. Grayden Sheffield threw two innings in relief, allowing one hit and one run while striking out seven.
For game action photos, click or tap here.
Before the game, Northview honored 10 seniors — Rustin Pope, Cason Burkett, Kaden Odom, Josh Landis, Trent Knighten, Ethan Collier, Jamarkus Jefferson, Luke Bridges, Aron Chavira, and Tyler Shaw.
For senior night photos, click or tap here.
Northview will travel to Milton on Monday before hosting Niceville in the final game of the regular season on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sex Offender Sentenced For Illegally Voting In 2020, Submitting Voter Registrations
April 21, 2023
An Escambia County sex offender has been sentenced to probation for voting illegally in the 2020 election and completing multiple voter registration applications over a two year period.
Michael DeWayne Collins entered a plea of no contest to one felony count of election fraud for voting in the 2020 presidential election and four felony counts of perjury for completing voter registration applications four times between August 2020 and October 2022.
Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Collins to a total of 36 months probation for all five counts.
In June 2001, Collins was convicted of lewd or lascivious battery on a victim age 12-16, a second degree felony sexual offense, making him ineligible to vote. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Collins affirmed on each application that he was not a convicted felon when, in fact, he was and his voting rights had not been restored.
Court records show the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office notified Collins by mail that they had no records and that he was ineligible to vote. Collins told investigators he did not contact the Supervisor of Elections because it was “time consuming”, and he filed out additional applications because he forgot that he received the letters, according to FDLE.
Collins told FDLE that he received a letter in 2019 from an unknown group or organization trying to get people to vote, and the letter stated he was still eligible to vote. FDLE said the letter was not from the state.