Tate Cheerleading’s Lillian Abner Commits to D1 Morehead State
July 22, 2025
Lillian Abner is the Tate High School cheerleaders’ first college commit of the 2025-2026 season. She is set to continue her academic and athletic career at Morehead State. The NCAA Division I school is renowned for its 54 college national championships. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Robb Whitfield Named New Athletic Director At Flomaton High School
July 22, 2025
Robb Whitfield has been named the new athletic director at Flomaton High School and assistant principal at Flomaton Elementary School.
Whitfield is a Tate High School graduate and spent a total of 14 years coaching baseball and football at Tate and West Florida high schools.
After three years at W.S. Neal Middle School, he moved to W.S. Neal High School as the assistant principal and athletic director for the past two years.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Snyder Lifts Wahoos To Walk-Off 4-3 Win
July 21, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
A Michael Snyder walk-off double capped a comeback 4-3 Pensacola Blue Wahoos victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Sunday afternoon.
With 5.0 innings of perfect relief and a one-run lead heading into the ninth, it seemed inevitable that the Lookouts would come out on top over the Blue Wahoos. The Wahoos’ bats had fallen silent after a two-run third inning, but came back to life in the bottom of the ninth.
A leadoff walk from Cody Morissette and a bunt single from Shane Sasaki to begin the ninth inning quickly signaled that this game was far from over. Josh Zamora came off the bench to work a pinch-hit walk and set the stage for Snyder.
“Hitting’s hard,” Snyder said. “Sometimes it takes a couple walks and finding a way on base. One good swing can change the course of a game.”
One good swing did change the course of the game, as Snyder connected on the third pitch from right-hander Arij Fransen (L, 2-3) to lace a line drive just inside the left field line. Morissette crossed home to tie it, and Sasaki’s run won it to give the Wahoos their 12th win of the second half and grow their division lead to 1.5 games.
“I was looking for a pitch to drive, something middle of the zone,” Snyder said. “Pretty simple right there. Just put bat on ball and good things happen.”
The Wahoos’ first two runs were put on the board in the third inning. Sasaki sent a line drive to center, driving in Jared Serna from third. Sasaki then swiped second as part of a double steal with Morissette, who beat a throw home for the tenth steal of home in Blue Wahoos history. This was Morissette’s third run-scoring thievery as a Wahoo after doing it in both 2023 and 2024.
Chattanooga’s offense got on the board in the top of the first for the third time this series, as Cam Collier drove in Edwin Arroyo with an RBI single up the middle.
The Lookouts also scored two runs in the third as Leo Balcazar and Jay Allen picked up RBI in the inning against Pensacola starter Jacob Miller.
Miller made his 14th start of the season for the Wahoos, and his first daytime start. Across 4.2 innings of three-run ball, the righty struck out six Lookouts. Miller’s outing ended on a sharp groundball to second by Collier, which Morissette gloved and fired home to prevent Arroyo from scoring an additional Chattanooga run in the fifth.
Former Blue Wahoos reliever Zach Willeman made the start for Chattanooga. A member of the 2023 Blue Wahoos, Willeman worked 3.0 innings of two-run ball in his return to Pensacola.
Both teams’ bullpens were excellent on Sunday afternoon. The Pensacola trio of Justin King, Nigel Belgrave and Josh Ekness (W, 3-1) compiled 4.1 innings of shutout work, while Brandon Komar tossed 4.0 perfect innings in relief for Chattanooga prior to Fransen’s difficulty in the bottom of the ninth.
The Blue Wahoos will head to Knoxville, Tennessee, for a six-game set with the Knoxville Smokies for their first trip to Covenant Health Park, the new stadium of the Cubs’ affiliate.
“[We] have a long road trip to Knoxville tomorrow, so [we] get some rest,” Snyder said. “[We are looking to] carry the momentum into the next week and have another good one.”
The Wahoos took four of six from the Smokies in late April in the first series between the teams. Right-hander Alex Williams (3-0, 2.10 ERA) is scheduled to get the ball in game one of the series for Pensacola.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies.
WHEN: Tuesday Thru Sunday
WHERE: Knoxville, Tennessee.
BACKGROUND: This will be the Blue Wahoos’ first trip to the Smokies’ new ballpark in downtown Knoxville, located near the campus of the University of Tennessee. It opened in April, after the team formerly played in Kodak, Tennessee, located about 21 miles east. The team was known as the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ affiliate.
NWE 12U All-Stars Finish Strong In Regional Tournament
July 20, 2025
Northwest Escambia 12U All-Star Baseball Team finished strong in the Cal Ripken Regional tournament on Saturday in Monroe, Louisiana.
Starting bracket play as the No. 3 seed, NWE placed fourth out of 14 teams, advancing further than any other NWE team in a regional tournament.
They fell just short of the semi-final game with an 11-8 loss to Daphne.
Team members are Hayden Batson, Hayden Hollingsworth, Parker Gilmore, Kayson Cooley, Jordan Ledkins, Nikko McAnally, Hendrix Ward, Walker Maughon, Cameron Gipson, Zach Hetrick, and Ridge Odom. Coaches are Matt Gilmore, Mike Cooley, and Wes Maughon.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad Taite Davis Commits To LBW
July 20, 2025
Taite Davis, a 2025 Tate High School graduate, has committed to continue his academic and athletic journey at LBW (Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, AL). NorthEscambia.com photo/graphic.
Blue Wahoos’ Bats Silenced In 5-1 Loss To Lookouts
July 20, 2025
Thomas White left the mound shaking his head following one of his shortest starts this season. That became the kind of tough feeling his teammates experienced.
After slugging their way to a 16-3 rout a night earlier, the Blue Wahoos were held in check with two hits and one run in a 5-1 loss Saturday against the Chattanooga Lookouts before the customary capacity crowd of 5,038 on Fireworks Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Making his second home start, White, 20, the Miami Marlins’ top-rated prospect, gave up a pair of runs on four hits before being pulled after throwing 64 pitches in the third inning. The 2.2 innings were the same as White lasted in his Double-A debut at home on June 20 against Montgomery. It was only his second true outing in a 20-day span. He didn’t pitch for the Blue Wahoos on their past road trip at Columbus, then worked one inning with former Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack last Saturday in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. Of his 64 pitches, 44 were strikes. White’s elevation to Double-A on June 17 brings a natural learning curve he is navigating.
His third pitch of the ballgame Saturday left the ballpark. Lookouts lead-off batter Austin Hendrick connected to send the ball caroming off the wall above the right field home run line. In the second inning, White gave up a leadoff single, then Ruben Ibarra followed with a run-scoring double. White worked out of that inning, then was lifted with two outs in the third.
The Blue Wahoos got their lone run on Nathan Martorella’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first, scoring Jared Serna. That hit proved the only hit the Blue Wahoos produced until the sixth inning. Chattanooga starter T.J. Sikkema retired the next 13 batters he faced before exiting after the fifth inning. The Blue Wahoos’ only threat occurred in the eighth inning when loading the bases with two out on an error and two walks.
But there were several crowd-pleasing elements in this game. The Blue Wahoos celebrated with one of their game-day employees on her “Home Run For Life.” Erika Brigman, a member of the RS3 Food and Beverage team overcame injuries sustained two years ago when struck by a drunk driver. The team wore specialty “Salute To Service” jerseys with U.S. Navy “call signs” as nicknames on the back. Most of the crowd stayed for the fireworks show.
This weekend series with Chattanooga, the Cincinnati Reds affiliate, concludes Sunday at 4:05 p.m. with the Blue Wahoos sending Jacob Miller (2-4, 4.34 ERA) against the Lookouts’ Zach Willeman (1-0, 0.90).
GAME NOTABLES
Blue Wahoos starting catcher Ryan Ignoffo was injured when hit on his hand by a pitch Friday night by Chattanooga’s Donovan Benoit, the former Pensacola Catholic High grad. Ignoffo’s status is yet to be determined.
In response to Ignoffo’s absence, the Blue Wahoos added catcher Nestor Rios from the Florida Complex League-Marlins, the developmental level team. The club also announced outfielder Fenwick Trimble was activated from the injured list.
The Blue Wahoos players again wore their Navy “call signs,” a military version of a nickname, on the back of their jerseys in Saturday’s game. Those jerseys were then part of a silent auction/live auction that happened during the game.
The game paused after the fifth inning to honor Pensacola resident Brigman in the Home Run For Life ceremony.
Brigman was on her way to lunch in 2023 when the car she was riding in was struck by a drunk driver along Pine Forest Road. Erika’s friend stayed by her side as she was rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital. The injuries she sustained included a broken right foot, right leg tibia, both kneecaps, her left upper arm and a punctured a lung. However, the major damage was done by the seat belt as it created numerous internal injuries and broke her back. Erika was treated by Ascension Sacred Heart’s emergency and trauma team – the only one in the area with Level I trauma status. After a few months in the hospital and rehab, she spent a year with her family in North Carolina before spending the last year back in Pensacola to continue recovering.
Two years later, Erika is now able to walk again without assistance.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Changes made:
Combined short, related sentences into more cohesive paragraphs.
Grouped the “GAME NOTABLES” and “WANT TO GO?” sections into bulleted lists for better readability.
Removed the “—” separator before each bullet point in the “GAME NOTABLES” and “WANT TO GO?” sections.
Added a line return between each paragraph for improved visual separation.
Added headings with horizontal lines above them for “GAME NOTABLES” and “WANT TO GO?” to structure the response better.
Tate Aggies Coach Next Generation At Youth Football Camp
July 14, 2025
The Tate High School Aggies held their annual Youth Football Camp last week.
During the evening camps, which culminated under the lights, campers were able to run through fundamental drills. The camp was open to players in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
These Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots
July 14, 2025
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and project in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Beulah Road (State Road (S.R.) 99) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (S.R. 10A) to Isaacs Lane – The week of Sunday, July 13, Beulah Road will be temporarily closed at the Beulah Church Road intersection for a period of 18 days for drainage construction. Signs will be in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Rebel Road, Mobile Highway and Nine Mile Road.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Resurfacing, from south of Interstate 10 (I-10) to south of Hyde Park Road – Drivers on Scenic Highway will encounter intermittent lane closures, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road, Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for paving operations. Law enforcement will be on site and traffic flaggers will direct drivers safely through the work zone.
- Garden Street (Business U.S. 98) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I-110) Ramp – The week of Sunday, July 13, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- B Street, between Garden Street and Romana Street, will be closed for a period of 14 days for stormwater management improvements. Signs will be in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Garden Street, A Street and Romana Street.
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and N. Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction), as crews perform construction activities on the south side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through early 2026.
- Temporary side street closures south of Garden Street, from B Street to J Street, as crews perform utility and stormwater management enhancements.
- On-street parking is closed on the south side of Garden Street, between B Street and L Street. Additionally, periodic on-street parking closures will occur on Garden Street, between A Street and Alcaniz Street, for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
- Michigan Avenue (S.R. 296) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, July 13, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Michigan Avenue, from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for paving operations.
- Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Resurfacing, from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Baisden Road – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17 between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for milling and paving operations:
- Intermittent lane closures on Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard, from Davis Highway to Baisden Road.
- On-street parking closures on Bayou Boulevard, between 12th Avenue and Baisden Road.
- Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – The week of Sunday, July 13, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Pine Forest Road, from Mobile Highway to Blue Angel Parkway, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for placement of thermoplastic striping.
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek Construction – Interstate Circle is closed at the Eight Mile Creek Bridge through mid-2025 while crews replace the bridge. Signs are in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent I-10 inside lane closures near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, July 13 through Friday, July 18 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Between Sunday, July 13 and Friday, July 18, drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Beginning Monday, July 14, I-10 east and westbound travel lanes will be shifted away from the median area of the roadway, between mile markers 10 and 12, near the U.S. 29 interchange (Exit 10).
- Intermittent I-10 eastbound outside lane closures will occur from 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. between mile markers 9 and 10 for barrier wall adjustments.
- The length of the U.S. 29 southbound turn lane access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been permanently reduced to allow crews to complete construction activities. A concrete barrier wall and new pavement striping is in place to direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 between U.S. 29 and I-110, is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- U.S. 29 (S.R. 95) Turn Lane Operations South of Cedar Tree Lane – Motorists will encounter intermittent outside southbound lane closures Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 90 lane closures, between Avalon Boulevard and Stewart Street, Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for shoulder work and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Drivers on U.S. 90 may encounter intermittent lane closures over the Simpson River Bridge, Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. as crews perform bridge construction work. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through the work zone.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing, from south of East Bay Boulevard (County Road 399) to Vonnie Tolbert Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 87, from East Bay Boulevard to Vonnie Tolbert Road, Monday, July 14 through Thursday, July 17, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., for concrete repair work and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, July 13, through Friday, July 18, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Wahoos Head Into All-Star Break In First Place
July 14, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
After splitting the six game set in Columbus, the Wahoos head into the All-Star break in first place in the Southern League South division at 10-7 in the second half, and 44-42 overall.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Columbus Clingstones 4-1 in their final game before the four-day All-Star break on Sunday afternoon.
Dax Fulton (L, 4-7) made his 14th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos, and was tagged for four runs over 3.2 innings. The southpaw picked up seven strikeouts, totaling seven or more for the third time in 2025.
Columbus picked up a run in each of their first two trips to the plate, as David McCabe started the scoring with an RBI single up the middle in the first. Kobe Kato followed up in the second inning, sending a double out to right to bring home Cal Conley for the game’s second run.
The Clingstones picked up two more in the fourth inning, as Conley scored from third after Kevin Kilpatrick collided with Blue Wahoos shortstop Johnny Olmstead on a stolen base. Kilpatrick later scored on a single from Drew Compton to extend the Columbus lead to 4-0.
Cody Morissette knocked in the Blue Wahoos’ lone run of the afternoon in the seventh, serving a fly ball to shallow left field for a single to score Nathan Martorella.
Columbus starter Lucas Braun worked 3.0 perfect innings on four days’ rest before departing. Ian Mejia (W, 9-1) carried the load against the Wahoos on Sunday with three shutout innings in relief, while Brian Moran (S, 1) tossed two scoreless innings to finish the series.
The Pensacola bullpen hurled 4.1 innings of shutout work, as Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and Josh Ekness combined to give up only two total hits in relief.
Following the All-Star break, the Blue Wahoos will return to Pensacola for a three game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts starting Friday, July 18t
Wahoos Avoid No-Hitter, But Fall 2-1 To Clingstones
July 13, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos narrowly avoided a no-hit bid in a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Clingstones Saturday night.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, third baseman Josh Zamora broke through with an RBI double to center field against Zach Thompson (W, 1-0), allowing Nathan Martorella to score and ending the chance of the Blue Wahoos being no-hit for just the second time in franchise history.
Alex Williams made his first start at the Double-A level for the Wahoos and set a career high in strikeouts with nine. In a spot start in place of Futures Game participant Thomas White, Williams held the Clingstones scoreless across 5.1 innings without walking a batter.
The Columbus pitching staff matched the work of Williams. Right-hander Samuel Mejia went 5.0 innings without allowing a hit in his Double-A debut. Amos Willingham held the no-hit bid through 2.0 innings of work before Thompson entered in the eighth.
The Clingstones pushed across their two runs in the eighth. After a Drew Compton double and intentional walk, catcher Adam Zebrowski broke the scoreless tie on an RBI single to right and David McCabe scored on a wild pitch by Blue Wahoos reliever Gabe Bierman (L, 0-1).
The Blue Wahoos will finish their series against the Clingstones on Sunday. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EDT/12:05 p.m. CDT.