Wahoos Beat Trash Pandas After Ninth Inning Rally
April 17, 2022
Griffin Conine’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning gave the Pensacola Blue Wahoos their biggest moment of the young season on Saturday night, defeating the Rocket City Trash Pandas 10-8.
After a hit batsman and Jerar Encarnacion infield single put runners at first and third trailing 8-7, Ray-Patrick Didder beat out a game-tying infield single to bring the score to keep the game alive. Conine then grounded his go-ahead two-run single that proved to be the difference, giving Pensacola at least a split of their six-game series in North Alabama.
Blue Wahoos starter Zach McCambley fell victim to the long ball, allowing a two-run homer to Trey Cabbage in the first and a three-run homer to Zach Humphreys in the fourth. Encarnacion hit a solo homer in the fourth for Pensacola to get on the board, and Hayden Cantrelle tied for the league lead with his third home run of the year, a three-run blast in the fifth to tie the game 5-5.
The tie game wouldn’t last long, as McCambley was chased in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run double from Kevin Maitan. Josh Simpson allowed an inherited runner to score, but struck out seven batters over 2.2 hitless innings to keep the game within reach at 8-5.
Cobie Fletcher-Vance extended his team-high hitting streak to seven games with RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings, drawing the deficit to 8-7. Jefry Yan (W, 1-0) pitched a perfect eighth to send the game to the ninth, where the Blue Wahoos used their small ball skills to scratch across the pivotal three runs against Sean McLaughlin (L, 0-1). Yan returned to the mound to lock down the thrilling win.
The Blue Wahoos look for a series win in their finale against the Trash Pandas on Sunday afternoon.
Third Suspect Arrested In Nearly $100,000 Burglary Of Guns, Silver, Other Items
April 16, 2022
A third North Escambia man has been arrested for allegedly taking items worth nearly $100,000, including nine guns, during a burglary on Innerarity Point Road.
James Bronson Morgan, 48, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on nine counts of grand theft of a firearm, grand theft $20,000 to $100,000, armed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, and criminal mischief.
Raymond Eugene Love, age 41 of Molino, and David Ross Holmquist, age 50 of Cantonment, were arrested on the same charges last week.
During the burglary, the trio allegedly took items including $60,000 in silver bars and bullion, ammunition valued at $10,000, 50 extra magazines for an AR-15 and AK-47, and the firearms, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The items were collectively valued at $96,459.
The homeowner arrived to find his indoor dog outside and that his house had been ransacked. According to the ECSO, the home was entered through a window over the kitchen sink.
Morgan (pictured top) remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $63,500. Love (pictured bottom right) remained jailed with bond set at $211,000, and Holmquist was being held without bond.
ECFR: Electric Problem Sparked Molino House Fire
April 16, 2022
Escambia Fire Rescue now says a fire that destroyed a Molino home early Friday morning was caused by “an electrical issue”.
The home in the 2000 block of Mathison Road, about a half mile west of Highway 29, was declared a total loss following the fire that was reported about 12:40 a.m.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire coming from the garage area of the approximately 2,700 square foot brick home. A large portion of the home’s roof collapsed during the fire.
The occupants were alerted by smoke detectors and were able to escape with their pet.
There were no injuries.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Ensley, Beulah, Bellview and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Highway 29, Highway 97 Wreck
April 16, 2022
There were no injuries reported in a wreck Friday night at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
The wreck did cause a few traffic delays and closed at least one lane on Highway 29 northbound.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, and the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Glodfelter Throws Complete Game Shutout As No. 2 Tate Beats No. 1 Pace; Pace JV tops Tate
April 16, 2022
Tate 2, Pace 0
Josiah Glodfelter threw a complete game shutout as the No. 2 Tate Aggies beat the No. 1 Pace Patriots 2-0 Friday night in Pace.
Glodfelter allowed just one hit in seven innings, striking out nine in 97 pitches on the mound for the Aggies during the district matchup.
Madox Land, Bray Touchstone, Frankie Randall, Cade Kelly and Kirk Mosley had one hit each for the Aggies at the plate.
The Aggie improved to 16-2, and the Patriots fell to 15-3.
For more photos from both varsity and junior varsity games, click or tap here.
Pace 6, Tate 5 (JV)
The junior varsity Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 6-5 Friday night.
The Aggies scored five in the fifth inning to take the lead, only to see a Pace batter ground out and score a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Gabe Patterson was on the mound for Tate, allowing one hit and two runs in two innings, and striking out two. Hayden St. Amant, Neal Croom and Tristin Lynn pitched in relief, collectively allowing two hits, two runs and striking out one.
Michael Sardar, Conner Hassell, Javin Floyd and Ketch King each had one hit at the plate for the Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Pérez Fans Six on Birthday in 6-4 Wahoos Loss
April 16, 2022
On his 19th birthday, Eury Pérez struck out six batters but ran into early trouble as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 6-4 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Friday night.
Pérez (L, 0-1) allowed a two-run homer to Trey Cabbage in the first inning, falling behind 2-0 before the Pensacola offense evened the score in the top of the second on an RBI double from Ray-Patrick Didder and RBI single from Cobie Fletcher-Vance. Rocket City added another run in the second on an Anthony Mulrine RBI double to claim a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, a potential inning-ending double play went awry as Pérez threw off target to second base. The tall righty left trailing 3-2 with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, and Aaron Whitefield made the Blue Wahoos pay with a two-run single against Anthony Maldonado to extend the lead to 5-2.
The Blue Wahoos got a run back in the sixth against Rocket City reliever Zach Linginfelter (W, 1-0) on an RBI groundout from Santiago Chávez, but couldn’t generate a sustained rally. Thomas Jones hit a solo homer against Luis Ledo (S, 1) in the ninth, bringing the score to the eventual final of 6-4.
The Blue Wahoos continue their road series against the Trash Pandas on Saturday night.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Occupants Escape Uninjured From Early Morning House Fire
April 15, 2022
The occupants were able to escape uninjured from a house fire in Molino early Friday morning.
The home in the 2000 block of Mathison Road, about a half mile west of Highway 29, was heavily damaged in a fire reported about 12:40 a.m.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Ensley, Walnut Hill and Beulah fire stations were among those responding, along with Escambia County EMS.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation early Friday morning.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Employee Charged With Stealing Copper From The Town
April 15, 2022
A Town of Flomaton employee is facing charges after allegedly stealing copper belonging to the town.
Travis Emile Owens, 22, was charged with theft of property third degree, two counts of theft of property fourth degree and a felony ethics violation of using an official position for personal gain. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL)) Detention Center without bond.
Flomaton Town Supervisor Shaun Moye contacted the Flomaton Police Department about a bag of copper wire that was placed at a town water tower on Highway 31. Police said surveillance video showed Owens taking the bag from the town’s public works facility to the water tower.
Flomaton Police found the bag, which contacted copper tubing, and placed multiple wireless cameras to monitor it.
According to Police Chief Charles Thompson, Owens was observed using a drone as he went to the water tower after work hours, placed the bag in a personal vehicle, and drove away. He said Flomaton Police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and found Owens in possession of stolen edging blades and the copper tubing.
“It was also learned that he had also committed another theft the day prior from town in that of copper tubing,” Thompson said.
The police chief said Owens is no longer employed by the Town of Flomaton. By 3:40 p.m. Thursday, the town had posted a job listing for a public works employee starting at $12 an hour plus benefits.
Two Convicted, Sentenced To Life In Prison For Klondike Road Murder
April 15, 2022
Two men have been convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the October 3, 2020, murder of a man outside his Klondike Road home.
Samuel Young, 26, and Kentavious Oliver, 30, were both convicted of second degree murder.
Kevin Swann, 37, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Prosecutors described the shooting as a “drug rip-off’.
Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening To Kill Rep. Matt Gaetz
April 15, 2022
A California man has pleaded guilty for a threat to kill Congressman Matt Gaetz.
Eugene Huelsman, 59, of Thousand Oaks, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of transmission of a threat in interstate commerce.
During the plea hearing, Huelsman admitted that, on January 9, 2021, he called Gaetz’s congressional district office in Pensacola. When no one answered, Huelsman left a profanity-laced voicemail threatening to kill Gaetz. This included threatening to “put a bullet in” Gaetz and members of his family, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The United States Capitol Police were contacted when the threat was made, which triggered security protocols related to the congressman. The investigation revealed this was not the first time Huelsman made threats involving political figures. Huelsman had previously been investigated for threatening a member of a former President’s family via social media.
Huelsman faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola in late June.
Pictured: Rep Matt Gaetz during a campaign kickoff event last week in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.