Friday Nights More Like Friday Night Lightning As Preseason Games Are Canceled
August 16, 2025
The first Friday night lights of the season were more like Friday night lightning as the weather canceled preseason games at both Northview and Tate.
The games were first put on hold and spectators sent to their cars, but persistent lightning, some of it just a few hundred feet from the stadiums, led to eventual cancellations for safety reasons.
The high schools in Escambia County have WeatherStem systems on campus that provide real-time weather data, including the distance of lightning strikes. If the lightning is within 10 miles of a school, outdoor activities must end and everyone is moved to a safe location, such as inside a building or their vehicles. Everyone must be completely within the designated safe locations by the time the lightning is a six miles away from the school. The all clear is given 30 minutes after the last nearby lightning strike.
Northview and Ernest Ward Middle School were set to host Baker in a Kickoff Classic on Friday night. Now, the Chiefs will move forward into the regular season with a road trip to Destin at 7 p.m. on August 22. Their first home game back in Bratt is on August 29 against Opp.
Tate had planned to take on Pine Forest Friday night. Next Friday night, August 22, the Aggies will begin a three-game homestand against Fort Walton Beach, followed by Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Their first road trip will be September 12 at Milton.
Pictured top: The WeatherStem station on above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wait Out Rain, Coley Comes Through In 2-1 Win
August 16, 2025
A clutch home run and a dominant appearance out of the bullpen gave the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a 2-1 win over the Birmingham Barons on a rainy Friday night in downtown Pensacola.
Mark Coley II came up big for the Blue Wahoos, launching a solo home run over the left field wall to give Pensacola the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
“I was just trying to get the head out, be more on time,” Coley said of his second home run of the year. “First at-bat, I was kind of late, so just adjustments again, catch everything out in front.”
Coley was certainly on time, pulling a breaking ball from Birmingham’s Jordan Mikel (L, 2-2) 111 mph down the left field line to give the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the series after three lopsided losses to start the week.
Birmingham struck first for the fourth time in four games, scratching across a run on an RBI single from Mario Camilletti to score Braden Montgomery in the second inning.
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr turned in a solid 4.2 innings for the Blue Wahoos, allowing one earned run while striking out three hitters. Ortiz-Mayr exited the game in the fifth with the bases loaded, but right-hander Jesse Bergin escaped the jam after inducing a groundball to second of the bat of DJ Gladney.
After the end of the fifth inning, the game entered a 34-minute rain delay with Birmingham leading 1-0.
Left-hander Justin King took the mound for the Blue Wahoos to begin the sixth inning coming out of the delay, striking out the side in order.
Birmingham’s Riley Gowens hurled 5.0 innings of shutout, one-hit baseball, including five strikeouts on 67 pitches. Though the Barons starter warmed up after the delay, the length of the break caused an early end to his night.
Ryan Ignoffo tied things up in the bottom of the sixth at one apiece for the Blue Wahoos, sending a ground ball by the glove of a diving Jason Matthews at third base, allowing Kemp Alderman to score from second.
After King was removed with an apparent injury, Nigel Belgrave (W, 5-1) entered on short notice and had a strong outing for the Blue Wahoos. With 3.0 innings of shutout relief, Belgrave earned the win after striking out four Barons on the way to the Blue Wahoos’ 57th win of the year.
Pensacola’s win keeps their division lead of 2.0 games intact, as second-place Montgomery defeated Chattanooga 2-0 Friday night.
The Blue Wahoos and Barons will square off Saturday night in what is projected to be a battle of highly touted left-handers. Thomas White (1-1, 2.05 ERA), the number one prospect in the Marlins organization, will make the start for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Shane Murphy (8-4, 1.32 ERA) with a 6:05 first pitch.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
Countdown To Friday Night Lights: Northview Holds ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 15, 2025
As football season draws near, Northview High School held their annual Meet the Chiefs on Thursday evening.
During the event, moved indoors due to weather, fans had a chance to meet the Northview Chiefs, cheerleaders, and Tribal Beat band. They were also introduced to players and cheerleaders from Ernest Ward Middle School and area youth teams.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Bullied By Barons In 9-0 Defeat
August 15, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos entered this week knowing their matchup against the Birmingham Barons, the Southern League’s best-record team, would be a tall order.
It’s proven so far to be mountainous.
The Barons (68-43 overall, 30-12 second half) continued their onslaught Thursday in a 9-0 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium, extending their season win streak in this ballpark to nine consecutive games.
They pounded out 12 hits, giving them 48 in three games, along with scoring a combined 31 runs against Blue Wahoos pitchers in jumping to a 3-0 lead in the series. Back in May, the Barons became the first team to sweep a six-game series against the Blue Wahoos in this stadium since the format began in 2021.
Despite the loss, the Blue Wahoos actually expanded their first-place lead in the Southern League South Division. The Chattanooga Lookouts swept a double-header against the Montgomery Biscuits to give the Blue Wahoos a 2.0-game lead atop the division.
An American flag image brought more cheers at the end of the show. It’s the second year the Blue Wahoos arranged this event.
Hours earlier, the game began for the Blue Wahoos with some good vibes on the field.
After starter Dax Fulton pitched out of two-on, one-out jam in the first inning by striking out the next two Barons’ batters, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with two out in the bottom half of the inning.
Shortstop Payton Green hit a chopper to third, fielded cleanly by the Barons’ Jason Matthews for the third out.
From this point, the next Blue Wahoos batter to reach base didn’t happen until the eighth inning. It was a string of 18 consecutive hitters retired in order by the Barons’ pitching staff. The Blue Wahoos were held to just three hits.
Fulton ran into trouble in the second inning when he walked the first two batters. William Bergolla followed with a two-run single.
Braden Montgomery, the No. 1 rated prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization, continued with his hot bat in this series with a run-scoring hit for a 3-0 lead. Montgomery went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
The Barons expanded to a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning against Fulton when a two-out walk was followed by Caden Connor’s triple, then a double by D.J. Gladney.
Blue Wahoos newcomer Yiddi Cappe, who joined the team last week, ended the team’s baserunner drought by reaching on a walk in the eighth inning.
The series continues Friday, a Giveaway Friday with a blue floral Hawaiian shirt for the first 1,000 fans ages 21-older. The Blue Wahoos will have Orlando Oritz-Mayr on the mound against Birmingham Riley Gowens.
The Barons have now won 25 of their last 30 games in a streak that began on July 8 and included 12 consecutive wins.
GAME NOTABLES
— The loss dropped the Blue Wahoos to 3-12 this season against the Barons, who won the Southern League title last season and have a team stacked with players ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects.
— Reliever Luarbert Arias, who began the season with the Miami Marlins, returned to Blue Wahoos Stadium and pitched a scoreless ninth inning as he begins a comeback to past form.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Friday and Saturday night games will start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
FWC Give Final Approval For Florida Black Bear Hunt (But Not In Escambia, Santa Rosa)
August 14, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has given final approval for black bear hunting in Florida.
The new rules establish Bear Hunting Zones (BHZ) within four of the seven existing Bear Management Units. FWC said 187 total permits will be issued through a random drawing across the east Panhandle, North, Central and South BMUs, and each permit will allow the harvest of one bear within the assigned BHZ.
The nearest county to North Escambia to be included in the bear hunt is Bay County. Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties are not included.
“I am proud that Florida is joining the majority of states that manage black bears with regulated hunting,” said Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the FWC. “The components of the hunt are conservative and prioritize conservation, with a limited number of permits only being issued in the areas of the state with the largest bear populations.”
Many groups have opposed the hunt, include the Sierra Club of Florida.
“Today’s vote is a disgrace to Florida’s wildlife legacy. Our black bears are a vital part of our natural heritage, and killing them is not science-based management – it’s a politically driven step backward,” said Susanna Rudolph, Sierra Club Florida director. “Let’s be clear: Governor DeSantis can stop this hunt. On behalf of Sierra Club’s members and supporters across Florida, we urge him to do so before it endangers an already threatened species and opens the door to further destruction of critical wilderness habitat. Thousands of Floridians have rallied, written, called, and emailed to protect our bears. It’s time for our leadership to step up and listen to their constituents.
Wahoos Fall To Barons On Brook’s Big Night
August 14, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped their third in a row with a 7-5 loss to the Birmingham Barons on Wednesday night.
In his third Double-A start, Blue Wahoos right-hander Jake Brooks (L, 0-2) tossed 7.0 innings to tie his professional career high. Brooks scattered five runs while punching out five Barons in the outing.
Birmingham picked up the first run of the night in the second inning on a solo home run to left by left fielder DJ Gladney.
The Barons added two more in the third with two RBI singles in the frame. Sam Antonacci drove in Jacob Burke on a softly hit single, and came around to score on a single from Wilfred Veras after stealing second base.
The Blue Wahoos offense made some noise in the fourth as they pushed two runs across against Birmingham starter Hagen Smith to draw the deficit to 3-2. Matthew Etzel knocked in the first run of the night for Pensacola, finishing a triple down the right field line by avoiding the tag of third baseman Mario Camilletti. Ryan Ignoffo then drove Etzel in to score with a double down the left field line.
Gladney added to the Barons’ lead in the sixth with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Caden Connor and Braden Montgomery on the play for a 5-2 advantage.
Dub Gleed brought the Blue Wahoos within a run in the seventh, picking up his first Double-A hit and home run in the same swing with a two-run shot out to left against righty Adisyn Coffey.
The Barons gained two important insurance runs in the top of the ninth thanks to RBI singles from Connor and Montgomery. The Blue Wahoos got out of the ninth after a soft, humpback line drive was turned into a rare 3-2-6 double play and Ignoffo threw out his third would-be base stealer of the night.
Ignoffo hit his second Double-A home run of the year out to left-center for a solo home run against Birmingham’s closer, Garret Schoenle (S, 6), but it proved to be too little as the lefty sat down the next three Pensacola hitters to end the ball game.
After 4.0 innings from the starter Smith, Birmingham’s relief combination of Dalton Roach (W, 3-0), Coffey and Schoenle held the Blue Wahoos to three runs to hold on for the win.
With the loss tonight and a postponement for the second-place Montgomery Biscuits, the Blue Wahoos’ South Division lead has been cut to 2.0 games.
The Blue Wahoos will square off with the Barons for their third matchup of the week tomorrow night. Southpaw Dax Fulton (5-8, 4.77 ERA) will make his 18th start of the year for Pensacola, while right-hander Connor McCullough (0-0, 2.25 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Birmingham. Following the conclusion of Thursday’s game, a drone show will take place over Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAME NOTABLES
— Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos added reliever Luarbert Arias to the roster. Arias, 24, began the season with the Miami Marlins. He pitched for the Blue Wahoos during the 2023 season, making 14 appearances for a 1.69 ERA.
— Second baseman Yiddi Cappe made his home debut Wednesday night for the Blue Wahoos. Cappe, 22, born in Havana, Cuba, was last year ranked the Marlins’ #7 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Cappe joined the Blue Wahoos a week ago, on August 5, in Montgomery. He played in 53 games for the Beloit Sky Carp, the Marlins’ High-A affiliate, batting .278 with four homers.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Games on Thursday through Saturday night will start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
Blue Wahoos Ambushed by Barons In Series-Opening Loss
August 13, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Birmingham Barons started Tuesday’s game with five consecutive hits. All of those batters scored.
It only got worse from there for the Blue Wahoos.
The Barons pounded out 21 hits, matching the most allowed in Blue Wahoos franchise history, as part of Birmingham’s 13-2 victory to begin a six-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Blue Wahoos starter Alex Williams, who transitioned a month ago from reliever to starter on the Blue Wahoos pitching staff, had his toughest night in this role. After giving up five runs in the first inning, Williams exited after three innings trailing 7-0.
At that point, the Barons already had 10 hits. Williams’ first two outings at starter in July went very well with just one run allowed. But it has since gone the other way.
It was all part of a rough night for the Blue Wahoos, who sustained their sixth loss in the past seven games. The 13 runs were the most allowed this season.
The red-hot Barons (66-43 overall, 28-12 second half), who by far have the best overall record in the Southern League, are now 23-5 in a stretch that has catapulted them to an 8.5 game lead in the North Division second-half race.
As South Division leaders, the Blue Wahoos (56-52, 22-17) had their lead cut to two games over the Montgomery Biscuits, following the Biscuits’ rain-postponed game Tuesday in Chattanooga.
Williams’ night began with a leadoff infield single by William Bergolla, followed by a bunt single from Sam Antonacci. Those two combined for six hits, three walks and three RBI.
The next three batters made hard contact, including a two-run double by centerfielder Braden Montgomery, the Chicago White Sox No. 1 prospect and former first-round pick in 2024 by the Boston Red Sox.
Montgomery followed with another double to lead off the third inning as part of his best game since being elevated from High-A on July 29. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
It’s Montgomery’s third level reached this season, after the Red Sox traded him in December to the White Sox organization, along with three other prospects, in exchange for White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Williams was met by Blue Wahoos manager Nelson Prada as he reached the dugout after the third inning. Prada extended a handshake and offered encouragement, as Williams seeks to overcome three consecutive rough starts, all short stints.
The Barons tacked on six runs against the Blue Wahoos bullpen.
Jared Serna drove in the Blue Wahoos’ first run with a third-inning double. In that same inning, newly-acquired outfielder Matthew Etzel, who always hit well in Blue Wahoos Stadium when playing for the Biscuits, continued his success with a run-scoring triple.
Those were part of the Blue Wahoos’ seven hits in the game. Cody Morissette went 2-for-4 as the team’s only multiple-hit batter.
The Chosen Softball Wins 2025 Southern Nationals Tournament
August 12, 2025
The Chosen girls softball team based in Century recently won the championship at the 2025 MVP Southern Nationals Tournament.
The team finished third in points prior to the tournament, defeating teams from Alabama, Georgia, and Illinois to go undefeated and win Southern Nationals. Heather Pierce was named National Tournament MVP.
Chosen team members also won three of the four “skill events” held before play began, finishing first in the team spirit competition, first in the home run challenge, and first in the throwing skills competition.
They ended the 2025 travel ball season with 12 total tournaments, including eight championship titles, two second-place finishes, and two third-place finishes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Dealt Series-Closing Loss In Montgomery
August 11, 2025
written by Carter Bainbridge
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (56-51) fell in their series finale against the Montgomery Biscuits (58-50) by a final score of 3-2.
The Wahoos sprung on top immediately in the top of the first. After a single and two walks loaded the bases against Montgomery starter Owen Wild, second baseman Yiddi Cappe bounced an RBI infield single to the left side to drive in his first Double-A run.
The Biscuits responded in the home half with a run of their own. With two on and two out against Pensacola starter Jacob Miller, second baseman Brayden Taylor drove home third baseman Cooper Kinney with a single to tie the game 1-1.
Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth inning. Facing new Montgomery righthander Ryan Shreve (W, 4-3), right fielder Kemp Alderman doubled and center fielder Fenwick Trimble walked to put two Wahoos aboard with nobody out. Left fielder Colby Shade then sacrificed to move both runners up before Yiddi Cappe drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly. After five innings, Pensacola led 2-1.
Montgomery battled back with a rally in the sixth inning. Facing lefthander Luis Palacios (L, 3-3) in his second inning of relief, the Biscuits put a pair aboard with a walk and a hit batter. A double steal then placed runners at second and third with one out before Palacios struck out Biscuit designated hitter Colton Ledbetter. Righthander Nigel Belgrave (BS, 2) then entered and allowed a two-out, two-run single to center fielder Homer Bush Jr. that gave Montgomery a 3-2 lead.
Bush’s go-ahead hit proved to be the difference as Montgomery shut down the Blue Wahoos to close out the series. The Biscuits’ staff retired the final 13 Blue Wahoo batters of the game in order en route to a 3-2 victory.
With the defeat, the Wahoos’ lead over the Biscuits in the Southern League’s South Division stands at 2.5 games with 31 games remaining.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday, August 12 when they begin a six-game series versus the Birmingham Barons
Dominant White Earns First Double-A Win in 6-1 Wahoos Victory
August 10, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Thomas White took a no-hitter through 5.2 innings, struck out nine Montgomery Biscuits batters over a career-high 6.0 frames, and earned his first Double-A win as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos snapped a four-game losing skid with a 6-1 win on Saturday night.
White (W, 1-1), the top prospect in the Miami Marlins organization, allowed only two harmless walks before Homer Bush Jr. broke up his no-hit bid with a soft single into center field with two outs in the sixth inning. White has now struck out 30 batters over 15.2 innings in his last three starts, allowing only two total earned runs in the process.
Biscuits starter Ty Johnson (L, 5-5) matched White zero for zero in the early innings, allowing only a single and a walk through 5.0 frames. Spencer Bramwell led off the sixth with a single, advanced on a Michael Snyder hit, took third on a Cody Morissette bunt, and scored on a Fenwick Trimble sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Blue Wahoos lead in the sixth.
White, who had never pitched beyond 5.1 innings in his professional career, stranded two in the bottom of the sixth to complete his outing on a high note. The Pensacola offense then tacked on four runs in the top of the seventh with a two-out rally, started by Yiddi Cappe’s first Double-A hit. Eric Rataczak singled Cappe home, and Bramwell capped the inning with a three-run homer to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 5-0.
Though the Biscuits pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh on a Kamren James RBI single, the Blue Wahoos added a run back in the ninth on another Rataczak RBI single before Will Kempner closed out a 6-1 win by getting the final six outs. Kempner has now pitched 19.0 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to June 24, and has not allowed a run in 12 straight appearances.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos gain a game on Montgomery and now lead the Biscuits in the second half South Division race with 32 games to play.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Biscuits on Sunday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 3:33 p.m.