Wahoos Fall 3-1 To Biloxi
April 11, 2022
Bryan Hoeing struck out 10 batters in a dominant Double-A debut as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their series finale to the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday afternoon by a score of 3-1.
Hoeing (L, 0-1) scattered 7 singles over 5.2 innings, but fell victim to a pair of errors and three unearned runs as the Blue Wahoos were swept in their season-opening three-game series.
Biloxi used a pair of infield singles in the first inning to load the bases against Hoeing before a Felix Valerio grounder to shortstop to Luis Aviles Jr. was misplayed into the game’s first run.
Paul McIntosh evened the score 1-1 in the fourth inning with his second home run of the season, but the Shuckers got back to work in the fifth inning to take the lead for good.
An error from third baseman Bubba Hollins put Gabe Holt aboard to begin the inning, and a single put runners at the corners before a wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run. Felix Valerio delivered a two-out RBI single to extend the Biloxi lead to 3-1, though an outfield assist from right fielder Griffin Conine ended the inning and prevented further damage.
The Blue Wahoos got scoreless relief from Jefry Yan, Josh Simpson and Eli Villalobos to keep the game within reach, but were unable to capitalize on three Biloxi errors thanks to effective long relief from Biloxi’s Tyler Herb (W, 1-0). Pensacola loaded the bases in the ninth against the righty before Victor Victor Mesa grounded into a game-ending double play.
After an off day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos travel to Madison, Alabama for their first road trip of the season against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Rep. Matt Gaetz Kicks Off Reelection Campaign With Stop In Walnut Hill, Addresses FPL Rates
April 10, 2022
Incumbent Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz kicked off his reelection campaign Saturday with a stop in Walnut Hill, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at his side.
Gaetz and Greene spent most of their time on national issues — from President Joe Biden’s multiple shortcomings, to immigration, Hunter Biden’s laptop, Dr. Anthony Fauci to the war in Ukraine.
The event was held at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church in Walnut Hill. About 30 people gathered in a seating area that was set up in the lobby of the building, while a much larger space — big enough to have a basketball court — sat empty nearby. Many of those in attendance were not from Walnut Hill.
One person was escorted out of the event by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies after being told it was a private event. Greene, who did not identify the man by name, described him as someone that had followed her from Georgia and was not welcome.
Walnut Hill is a small, unincorporated rural community that is almost as far as one can go to the northwest in Gaetz’s Northwest Florida district. Its population is but a tiny speck of the 800,000 or so people in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. It was his only stop Saturday in Escambia County and came after afternoon events in Crestview and Milton.
Gaetz said he was proud to visit the far corner of the district to kick off his campaign even though, as he expected, the crowd was small.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The congressman said the biggest local issue for his constituents right now is the rates charged by Florida Power & Light.
“This is what the Green New Deal looks like, because every time you get Biden out there talking about the Green New Deal and just the craziest seizures of government power, it gaslights these electric companies to be able to say, oh well, we have to turn everything into solar. And look, if they want to turn something into solar, let them go do that. But you shouldn’t have to pay today to build a solar farm that they are going to get the benefit of for the next 50 years. They should have to put in their own money building those solar farms if that’s what they want to do.
“Florida Power & Light is a very, very profitable company, and what I don’t like about it is that we don’t have a choice. You know if the person who sells cheeseburgers jacks up the price of cheeseburgers, you could go down the street and go to a competitor. But they (FPL) have these government-authorized monopolies.
“Frankly, if the Public Service Commission is going to approve these rates, Gov. DeSantis needs to go and clean house and get rid of every last one of them.”
Gaetz said his office is gathering feedback on FPL rates, and he will personally send that to the PSC and the governor so they know how it is impacting Northwest Florida.
“This is functionally a tax increase on every person in Northwest Florida because they have no choice,” Gaetz told NorthEscambia.com after the event. “They have to pay it. And it’s my intention to continue lobbying Governor DeSantis and the Public Service Commission to roll back these rates and to not approve any rate increase.
Gaetz also told us that veteran’s issues are also important locally in his district.
“We’re always dealing with veterans issues,” Gaetz said. “In Escambia County, we have a special connection to the military mission, and I see that military mission attacked from the woke generals and from the Department of Defense leadership. And so it’s very much a kitchen table issue in Northwest Florida to get our military pointed back in the right direction.”
And, during our exclusive interview, NorthEscambia.com also asked Gaetz about the lack of high speed internet in North Escambia, including Walnut Hill, as the Escambia County Commission moves forward toward finding a partner for a broadband network.
“I am concerned about over-federalizing the way different communities are looking at connectivity,” he said. “I think that that leads to too much of a one-size-fits-all system. So I prefer that work to be done more at the state and local level, not through federal grants.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mom, 3-Year Old Able To Escape Fiery Beulah Wreck
April 10, 2022
A mom and her three-year old son were able to escape from their wrecked vehicle before it burned Saturday afternoon near Beulah.
Someone drove up to the Beulah Fire Station and reported a vehicle accident in front of the Highway 90 weight station. Firefighters arrived found a single SUV had crashed into a tree and burst into flames.
Engine 2 firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire and prevent it from spreading into a wooded area.
The mom and her son were transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Easter Egg Dash, Spring Bazaar Held In Flomaton (With Gallery)
April 10, 2022
The Town of Flomaton held a Spring Bazaar Saturday at Hurricane Park.
The event featured an Easter Egg Dash with the Easter Bunny, food, bouncy houses, arts and crafts and more. The town provided free space for local vendors.
For a photo gallery from the Easter Egg Dash and the bazaar, click to tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
40,000 Pounds Of Food Distributed In Century (With Photo Gallery)
April 10, 2022
Volunteers distributed 40,000 pounds of food in Century Saturday morning.
The Farm Share distribution was sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, ECUA board member Kevin Stephens and other community partners.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Yard Sale In Century Benefits Family Critically Injured In Wreck
April 10, 2022
A large benefit yard sale was held Saturday in Century for a local family critically injured in a car crash.
The yard sale covered a large part of the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard.
All proceeds will benefit the Grant family. In January, Brian Grant and his three children were critically injured back in January in a traffic crash on Highway 31 in the Wawbeek community between Atmore and Flomaton. The wreck also claimed the life of another driver.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Troop 430, Pack 430 Scouts Hold Molino Yard Sale
April 10, 2022
Troop 430, Pack 430 Scout yard sale was held Saturday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Barrineau Park Historical Society Spring Gathering, Car Show
April 10, 2022
The Barrineau Park Historical Society Spring Gathering was held Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. The even featured live music from the Southern Revival Band, crafts, car show, bouncy house and a spaghetti dinner.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chávez’s Big Game Not Enough As Wahoos Fall Late
April 10, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came up short in the search for their first win of the 2022 season on Saturday night, falling 6-5 to the Biloxi Shuckers in front of another sellout hometown crowd.
After a seventh-inning rally gave the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the game, Biloxi’s Tristen Lutz hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the ninth to guide the Shuckers to their second late win in a row.
Zach McCambley pitched well for Pensacola in his first start of the season, completing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) while striking out five.
Offensively, an early two-run home run from Biloxi’s Felix Valerio was countered by an equalizing Cobie Fletcher-Vance two-run shot in the bottom of the second, but a pair of Pensacola errors put Biloxi back ahead 4-2.
Santiago Chávez knocked a solo home run in the sixth to draw the Blue Wahoos to within a run at 4-3, and 2.0 scoreless relief innings from Zack Leban kept the game within reach until Pensacola scratched across two runs in the seventh on an RBI infield single from Luis Aviles Jr. and a bases-loaded walk from Chávez to take a 5-4 lead.
Pensacola had an opportunity to extend their lead in the eighth, as Hayden Cantrelle drew a leadoff walk and stole his way to third base, but were unable to bring home the insurance run.
Andrew Nardi (L, 0-1) allowed the go-ahead home run to Lutz in the top of the ninth, and Nash Walters (W, 1-0) worked around another Blue Wahoos baserunner at third base in the bottom half of the inning to lock down Biloxi’s win.
The Blue Wahoos and Shuckers wrap up their three-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Motorcyclist Injured In Cantonment Crash
April 9, 2022
One person was injured in a crash Friday night on Highway 29 at Tree Street.
A passenger car and motorcycle collided near a gas station across from International Paper.
The motorcyclist was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating how the cash occurred. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
