Lewis Jr., Boyd Lead Doubles Derby as Wahoos Win Series Finale
April 20, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos salvaged a series split with the Knoxville Smokies on Sunday afternoon, riding a six-run second inning to a nail-biting 7-6 victory.
Ian Lewis Jr. was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three stolen bases for the Blue Wahoos, while Emaarion Boyd added a pair of doubles and two RBI of his own in the homestand finale.
One night after a seven-run sixth inning broke the game open for Pensacola, a similar offensive outburst got the Blue Wahoos ahead early. Ryan Ignoffo led off the second inning with a single, and scored on a throwing error from Knoxville starting pitcher Tyler Schlaffer (L, 0-2) on a comebacker to the mound. Gage Miller followed with an RBI single before Boyd laced a two-run double to the wall in left-center. Lewis Jr. rapped a double to bring home Boyd, and scored on an RBI groundout from Dillon Lewis for a 6-0 edge.
Blue Wahoos starter Will Schomberg, who departed his previous start in the third inning with an apparent injury, worked 2.0 scoreless innings before another early exit. Jake Smith took over in relief, allowing two unearned runs in the third inning as Cristian Hernández made a fielding error at shortstop and Edgar Alvarez brought home a run with a sacrifice fly.
Luis Palacios (W, 2-0) protected the Pensacola lead through the fifth and sixth innings, ultimately extending his franchise record with his 26th career victory in a Blue Wahoos uniform.
The Blue Wahoos added another run in the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles from Boyd and Lewis Jr. to extend their lead to 7-2, and the run would prove vital. The Smokies answered back in the top of the seventh, plating four runs with an RBI single from Jordan Nwogu, a catcher’s interference call against Ignoffo, a bases-loaded walk to Ariel Armas, and a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Karson Simas. Stephen Jones struck out Ed Howard with runners at the corners to preserve the 7-6 lead.
Nigel Belgrave (S, 1) kept things interesting on his way to earning a six-out save, but Ignoffo threw out Alex Ramirez trying to steal second base in the eighth and Simas grounded out with two men aboard in the ninth to secure the Blue Wahoos win.
After an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin a seven-game, six-day road trip to Montgomery on Tuesday to take on the Biscuits.
written by Erik Bremer
Tate Softball Legacy: Aggies Honor Retiring Head Coach Melinda Wyatt
April 19, 2026
Legacy.
Friday evening, Tate High School honored the legacy of Tate High School softball and Head Coach Melinda Wyatt, who will retire at the end of this season after 31 years with Tate softball.
“Today, we all say thank you,” said Greg Blackmon, Tate High athletic director and assistant principal. “Thank you for giving your life to Tate, which is what you have done.”
“You have left a legacy here at Tate, and we want you to know that we will always remember you and everything that you have done for Tate High School and the softball program,” Principal Laura Touchstone told Wyatt.
Over those 31 years, as a varsity and junior varsity coach, Wyatt amassed a record of 485-212. During her 22-year tenure as head coach, she had eight district championships, 11 playoff appearances where she was 14-10. In 2015, Wyatt’s Aggies had two final four appearances, and won the 7A state championship in 2015.
Her friend and predecessor, legendary former Tate head softball coach Charlene Varnell, joined in the celebration and tossed the first pitch at Friday’s game at the school’s Charlene Varnell Field. Wyatt almost caught it. At the time of her retirement, Varnell was the winningest softball coach in Florida high school history with 597 career wins and nine state tournament appearances.
“Girls, do you know how Tate softball started,” Varnell asked the 2026 team. “We started in a corn field. They cleared out where the gym is now and made a softball field.”
That’s the legacy, and tradition, of Tate softball that Wyatt led.
Dozens of former players and friends joined Friday’s celebration to honor Wyatt and thank her for helping to shape their futures.
Even the umpires gave her bouquets of flowers.
After the ceremony, During the national anthem, Wyatt at the flag, looking toward the setting sun, just behind the scoreboard sign that proclaims “Charlene Varnell Field – Home Of The Aggies — 2015 7A State Champion”.
The legacy of Tate softball.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Families Connect With Resources At North Escambia Baby Shower
April 19, 2026
The Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition and the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County partnered with various family support organizations to host the third North Escambia Baby Shower in Century on Saturday.
Large crowds gathered as the event connected families who were pregnant, newly postpartum, or had children up to age 3 with essential resources, supplies, and education to support their health and wellness. Dozens of vendors filled the venue, providing a wide array of support services and baby items to the local community.
The North Escambia Baby Shower was held inside the Century Community Center (Ag Building).
Organizers noted that, more than ever, families struggle to access community resources that can aid their journey through parenthood. They stated the event helped provide much-needed baby items in addition to resources from the many vendors present. Caregivers also had the opportunity to learn the basics of keeping themselves and their babies healthy.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Editor’s note: The North Escambia Baby Shower is not affiliated with NorthEscambia.com.
Four Charged In Saturday Morning Alabama Prison Smuggling Attempt
April 19, 2026
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) successfully thwarted a coordinated contraband smuggling attempt at Fountain Correctional Facility during the early hours of Saturday.
The operation began around 1 a.m. when a trespasser was detected and subsequently apprehended by an ADOC K-9 unit. Simultaneously, the Atmore Police Department conducted a related traffic stop, resulting in the arrest of two additional suspects and the recovery of two firearms. During the operation, correctional staff recovered multiple contraband packages containing approximately 750 grams of marijuana, 15 cell phones, and one knife.
The suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Escambia County Detention Facility.
DeJa Johnson faces several charges, including attempting to commit a controlled substance crime, prohibited activities, promoting prison contraband first and second degree, possession of marijuana first degree, being a certain person forbidden to possess a firearm, and chemical endangerment.
Savion Gilchrist was charged with attempting to commit a controlled substance crime, prohibited activities, promoting prison contraband first and second degree, possession of marijuana first degree, and being a certain person forbidden to possess a firearm.
A third suspect, a juvenile, was also taken into custody but was not identified due to their age. Inmate Justin Hoyle is facing both criminal charges and administrative disciplinary action for his involvement; Hoyle is serving a 20 year sentence out of Lee County for robbery first degree.
“This operation is the result of strong teamwork and a proactive approach taken to ensure the security of ADOC facilities. I want to thank every staff member and agency involved for their swift and coordinated response. ADOC has zero tolerance for contraband or those who attempt to introduce it into any of our facilities. We will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable anyone involved in these criminal activities,” said ADOC Commissioner John Q. Hamm.
Pictured: (L-R): Savion Gilchrist, DeJa Johnson, and inmate Justin Hoyle.
Former School Employee Pleads Guilty To Federal Child Sex Charges
April 19, 2026
A former school employee has pleaded guilty to federal charges for attempted sex trafficking of a minor in Escambia County.
Christopher W. Glover, 47, of Semmes, Alabama was indicted in federal court in Pensacola on attempted sex trafficking of a minor, attempted enticement of a minor, and traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
He faces up to 30 years in federal prison when sentenced.
At a detention hearing in federal court in Pensacola, evidence was presented that Glover communicated with who he believed to be a 14-year-old female and offered to pay her hundreds of dollars in return for sexual acts. It is alleged that Glover then traveled from Alabama, where he worked for the Baldwin County School District, to Pensacola to meet with the minor. The purported minor, however, was an undercover law enforcement officer. When Glover reached Pensacola to engage in the sexual acts with the minor, he was taken into custody. Glover remains detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service.
Glover was arrested in October 2025 along with a dozen other people in a FDLE operation.
Tate Aggies To Face Gulf Breeze In Flag Football District Quarterfinals
April 19, 2026
The Tate Aggies begin play on Monday in the 3A District 1 flag football quarterfinals.
The No. 6 Aggies (6-7, 3-2) will travel to Gulf Breeze (8-4, 4-4) to take on the No. 3 Dolphins at 6 p.m.
The teams have met once this year, with Gulf Breeze taking the win 19-0 on February 16.
The winner will travel to No. 2 Pace (10-5, 4-2) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Bay Center Future Begins To Take Shape Following Joint Government Meeting
April 19, 2026
A better image of what the future of the Pensacola Bay Center might look like emerged during a recent joint meeting of the Escambia County Commission and the Pensacola City Council.
No final decisions were made on the $180 million project. In June, the commission is expected to discuss next steps for the design of the Bay Center renovations and the design of a new flexible event center, which will help determine the scope of the project along with next steps.
The current Bay Center, which opened in 1985, has a capacity of 8,050 for hockey and 10,000 with a center stage. It currently averages 123 annual events with an attendance of 352,700.
A three-part proposal from Legends Global includes $71 million in renovations for the Bay Center, which will happen. A new ice rink, it appears, will rely upon private financing, and plans for a new event center are still taking shape.
To see the proposal, click here.
The complete proposal as pesented included:
Pensacola Bay Center (PBC) Improvements $71 million
Exterior upgrades & façade enhancements.
New club seats (between 400 and 600).
2 new club rooms/areas.
Expanded concourses.
Expansion & improvement of F&B and retail spaces & offerings.
New/expanded LED signage offerings.
Back-of-house & central plant improvements and upgrades.
Seamless connectivity to new Practice Ice Rink and Event Center.
New Practice Ice Rink $29.8 million
Attached or connected via enclosed walkway to PBC and Event Center.
one permanent ice sheet (NHL size, 200’ x 85’) with fixed seating for between 600 and 1,000.
4 locker rooms with toilets and showers.
2 coaches/officials rooms.
2 party rooms/flex rooms.
Pro shop/first aid.
Concessions & vending space.
(Optional) Physical therapy/weight room/fitness space.
Small allotment for dryland training space/other amenities (i.e., esports, golf simulator, stickhandling station, etc.).
350 incremental parking spaces needed.
New Event Center $84.4 million
Attached or connected via enclosed walkway to
PBC & Practice Ice Rink.
55,500 net square feet (185’ x 300’), column free, concrete floor, 2 moveable airwalls allowing for subdivision into 3 halls, minimum of 35-foot ceiling height.
6,000 square feet of breakout meeting space.
Warming/prep kitchen.
Enhanced FF&E:
Portable retractable seating for 2,000.
Rollable carpet for one subdivided hall (approximately 18,500 SF).
Portable SportCourt-type athletic surface.
(Alternate) Portable hardwood courts plus climate-controlled storage on-site.
Athletic netting systems & game equipment.
Approx. 105,000 gross square feet (2.4 acres) for facility footprint.
1,200 incremental parking spaces needed.
Blue Wahoos’ Bats Explode In 13-4 Blowout Win
April 19, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got the offensive outburst they had been searching for on Saturday night, thrilling a sellout crowd with a 13-4 victory over the Knoxville Smokies.
After scoring a league-fewest 37 runs in their first 12 games, Pensacola poured it on with three homers and a seven-run sixth inning to score a season-high 13 times despite collecting only six hits.
Dillon Lewis jump-started the bats in the first inning, hitting a three-run home run off Smokies starter Jake Knapp (L, 0-1) for a 3-0 lead. It was the second three-run homer of the series for Lewis, who also went deep in the first inning on Tuesday.
Gage Miller added on with a solo homer in the second inning, his first of the season, to extend his hitting streak to a team-high six games.
Blue Wahoos starter Karson Milbrandt allowed a two-run homer to Andy Garriola in the fourth, but struck out a season-high eight batters over 4.0 frames in an effective start. The Blue Wahoos got the runs back on a bases-loaded walk to Miller and a sacrifice fly from Ian Lewis Jr. to stretch their lead back to 6-2.
After the Smokies added two more in the fifth on RBI singles from Garriola and Ethan Hearn, the Blue Wahoos exploded for a seven-run sixth inning despite collecting only two hits. With the bases loaded thanks to a pair of walks and an infield error, Fenwick Trimble served a two-run single to right field. Dillon Lewis sent a bases-loaded chopper to shortstop that could have ended the inning, but a bad throw from Karson Simas sailed down the right field line and plated two more. Jay Beshears put an exclamation point on the outburst with a three-run homer for a 13-4 lead.
Logan Whitaker (W, 1-0) was awarded the win in relief, scattering two hits over 3.1 scoreless innings.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Suspect In Cantonment Homicide Captured At Bus Stop In Phoenix
April 18, 2026
The suspect in a homicide last month in Cantonment has been arrested at a bus stop in Phoenix, Arizona.
Devaughn Kentrell Williamson, 29, was wanted in connection with a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, March 4 in the 100 block of Booker Lane, just north of Booker Street.
He was located on Friday morning at a bus stop in Phoenix with a bus ticket in his pocket for El Paso, Texas, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. The sheriff said he had cut off his dreads, which were in a bag in his possession (pictured left), and he also had a handgun (pictured bottom).
He was captured with the assistance of a U.S. Marshals Task Force. He is being held in the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona, awaiting extradition back to Escambia County.
Deputies originally responded to Booker Lane after a report of “deadly missiles” and found blood and shell casings at the scene.
Deputies were working a missing persons case and developed Williamson as a suspect, which ultimately led to the discovery of the victim’s body.
Man Gets 15 Years For Fatally Shooting Teen At 2024 Cottage Hill Party
April 18, 2026
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter for the April 2024 fatal shooting of a 16-year-old at a party at a Cottage Hill home. He was also convicted of evidence tampering a concurrent sentence of just over 10 years.
Ethan Alexander O’Brien, now 21, will receive credit for 724 days served while awaiting trial. Once released, he will be on supervised probation for 15 years.
The investigation determined that during a large gathering at the residence, O’Brien, then 19, was showing off his firearm, at which time it discharged, hitting 16-year-old Bryson Allen (pictured below).
The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2024, at a home in the 600 block of Wishbone Road.
The victim grabbed his side after being shot and said, “You just shot me bro” before falling to the ground, a witness told law enforcement. He said O’Brien had an “AR style” rifle and he was playing with it before the shooting.
Allen was pronounced deceased at the scene, and investigators said O’Brien fled the scene. The weapon was never found.
Pictured top: The scene on Wishbone Road in Cottage Hill late Friday night, April 12, 2024, after a teen was shot and killed. Pictured below: Crime scene tape still surrounded the home the following morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
