Category: General

General

Kerry Goode’s star-making performance in 1984, and what might have been

EDITOR’S NOTE: Every day until Aug. 29, Creg Stephenson is counting down significant numbers in Alabama football history, both in the lead-up to the 2025 football season and in commemoration of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship 100 years ago. The number could be attached to a year, a uniform number or even a football-specific statistic. We hope you enjoy.

The Goode family of Town Creek was, well, good to Alabama football in the 1980s and 90s.

Brothers Chris, Kerry, Pierre and Clyde all played for the Crimson Tide between 1983 and 1991. Cousin Antonio Langham — who spent much of his childhood living in the Goode home — was an All-America cornerback at Alabama in the early 1990s.

Kerry, a 6-foot, 190-pound speedster, might have been the most-talented of the bunch. He was SEC Freshman of the Year in 1983, when he rushed for 693 yards and averaged 6.7 yards per attempt while sharing carries with fellow running backs Ricky Moore and Linnie Patrick and quarterback Walter Lewis.

Though he’d run for 125 yards against Auburn and 143 against Tennessee in 1983, it was the 1984 season-opener vs. Boston College that was Goode’s true coming-out party. He totaled a then school-record 297 all-purpose yards in that game, with three touchdowns — a 25-yard run, an 18-yard reception and a 99-kickoff return to start the second half.

Here’s video of Goode’s kickoff return, with ABC’s Keith Jackson on the call:

Birmingham News sports editor Alf Van Hoose, who had covered the Crimson Tide since the 1940s, wrote that Goode was “probably the finest runner Alabama ever had.”

But the glory was fleeting.

Goode went down with a knee injury on Legion Field’s unforgiving artificial turf with 7:03 left in the third quarter. Alabama led 31-21 at the time; it would lose 38-31 after an epic second-half comeback by the Eagles behind quarterback Doug Flutie, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner.

Early reports indicated that Goode had a “bruised” right knee, but the injury ended up being far worse than that. He had multiple torn ligaments, and ended up needing three rounds of surgery.

Goode missed the remainder of the 1984 season, during which Alabama finished 5-6, its first losing record since 1957 (AKA, the year before Paul “Bear” Bryant arrived as coach). He played in only two games in 1985 (re-injuring his knee in practice the week after the season-opener), but made it back to play in 10 games in 1986 and 11 in 1987 despite obviously diminished skill.

Running back Bobby Humphrey had established himself as Alabama’s star offensive attraction by that time, so Goode was reduced to being a role player. Coach Ray Perkins asked him to play fullback so that he could get on the field more, and Goode was by all accounts a solid one.

As a testament to his character, Goode was elected as one of Alabama’s permanent team captains at the end of his senior season. His hand and cleat prints are memorialized in the concrete next to Denny Chimes.

Had he not been injured, it might have been Goode — and not Humphrey — who finished his career as Alabama’s all-time leading rusher in the late 1980s. And it might have been Kerry Goode — and not Mark Ingram — who was the first Crimson Tide player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Perkins had moved on to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 1986 season, but drafted Goode in the seventh round in 1988. He played in 14 games for the Bucs that season, then in one for the Miami Dolphins the following year before being released.

A once-promising football career was over at age 24.

Kerry Goode rand his wife, Tanja, are shown after Kerry Goode accepted a Paul Bryant Alumni Athlete Award.Photo courtesy Tanja Goode

It turned out, however, that knee injuries would not be the greatest challenge of Kerry Goode’s life. In 2015 at age 50, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

ALS is a devastating disease, a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative condition that robs a person of all his physical abilities while leaving his mind sharp. Goode is confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak louder than a whisper; he requires around-the-clock care from his wife, Tanja.

(Goode’s battle with ALS was chronicled in intimate — and heartbreaking — detail in this 2024 story by Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News. If you haven’t read it, you should take the time to do so.)

Goode has survived nearly 11 years with ALS, nearly three times longer than the average patient. Of his struggle, he says, “I’m placing God on my side, and I’m in it to win it.”

Kerry’s ALS diagnosis has not been the only health crisis for the Goode family. Youngest brother Clyde died at age 43 after battling leukemia; Chris — who played several years in the NFL as a defensive back — is a prostate cancer survivor.

The Goode Foundation was formed shortly after Kerry’s diagnosis, with the goal of finding a cure for ALS. Among their annual events are a charity golf tournament and barbecue tailgate each summer.

Through it all, Kerry Goode has proven that he’s the ultimate survivor, more than once.

Coming Sunday, our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 83, when one Alabama coach tried to make a clean break from the past.

General

2025 Belmont Stakes: Check out the favorites for Saturday’s race

For the Belmont Stakes showdown between the winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, the track handicapper favored Preakness Stakes winner Journalism when the morning-line odds were set on Monday at the post-position draw for Saturday’s race.

The morning line made Journalism an 8-5 favorite. The betting public likes the colt even more. In wagering through Friday night, Journalism’s odds were down to 4-5.

At the Kentucky Derby on May 3, Sovereignty streaked through the mud to overtake Journalism in the stretch to win the Run for the Roses by 1.5 lengths.

Sovereignty’s handlers then pointed the colt toward the Belmont Stakes, skipping the Preakness Stakes. After losing at the Kentucky Derby as the betting favorite, Journalism won as the betting favorite at the Preakness Stakes on May 17 despite a rugged ride.

The morning-line odds were at 2-1 for Sovereignty for the Belmont Stakes, but bettors don’t see the Kentucky Derby winner as Journalism’s top challenger on Saturday. Live wagering had Baeza at 7-2 and Sovereignty at 9-2. Baeza finished a fast-closing third in the Kentucky Derby in the colt’s most recent race.

This is the seventh straight year that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes had different winners, eliminating any Triple Crown drama for the Belmont Stakes. Since Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018, no horse has won two of the Triple Crown races.

Because of renovation work at Belmont Park, the horses will run 1.25 miles instead of the usual 1.5 miles in the 157th Belmont Stakes. The change was made to conform to the track. For the second straight year, the Belmont Stakes is being contested at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 6:04 p.m. CDT Saturday.

FOX Sports coverage of the Belmont Stakes will start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on FS1. At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the main coverage will shift to FOX.

This year’s race has a $2 million purse, with $1.2 million going to the winner.

Baeza trains on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in preparation for the Belmont Stakes.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The eight entries in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, listed by their post positions, with the morning-line odds/live-betting odds (through Friday night):

Post Position 1: Hill Road 10-1 / 17-1

The colt comes to the Belmont Stakes off a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes that required running past two horses in the stretch. Hill Road had finished a hard-charging third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1, which made his distant third in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 8 a disappointment. Trainer: Chad Brown. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Belmont Stakes winners Creator in 2016 and Mo Donegal in 2022. Record: 5-2-0-2. Earnings: $336,496. Pedigree: Exotic Notion by Quality Road.

—–

Post Position 2: Sovereignty 2-1 / 9-2

After coming up 1.25 lengths short of winner Tappan Street in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29, Sovereignty ran the race of his life to win the Kentucky Derby by 1.25 lengths over Journalism on May 3. Sovereignty slogged from way back to take the lead in the stretch in the Run for the Roses. The colt had come from ninth over the final 2.5 furlongs to win the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes by 5 lengths to close his 2-year-old campaign. As a 3-year-old, Sovereignty won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes by a neck with another big stretch run on March 1. Trainer: William Mott, who saddled Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer in 2010. Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Record: 6-3-2-0. Earnings: $3,672,800. Pedigree: Crowned by Into Mischief.

—–

Post Position 3: Rodriguez 6-1 / 8-1

The colt finally will get to run on the Triple Crown trail after a hoof injury sidelined him for the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. After breaking his maiden in the first outing of his 3-year-old campaign at Santa Anita, Rodriguez had in-the-money finishes in graded-stakes races at the track – second in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 1 and third (11.25 lengths behind winner Journalism) in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1. The colt came east and scored a wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct in his most recent outing. Trainer: Bob Baffert, who saddled Belmont Stakes winners Point Given in 2001, American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018. Jockey: Mike Smith, who rode Preakness Stakes winners Drosselmeyer in 2010, Palace Malice in 2013 and Justify in 2018. Record: 5-2-2-1. Earnings: $522,800. Pedigree: Cayala by Authentic.

—–

Post Position 4: Uncaged 30-1 / 24-1

The colt won his first time out at Saratoga on Aug. 3 and again at Aqueduct on April 6 by running strong at the end. But in between Uncaged ran fourth as the favorite at Gulfstream on March 2, and last time out in his only graded-stakes race, he was a non-factor in a sixth-place showing at the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes on May 10. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Luis Saez, who rode Belmont Stakes winners Essential Quality in 2021 and Dornoch in 2024. Record: 4-2-0-0. Earnings: $105,450. Pedigree: Dark Nile by Curlin.

—–

Post Position 5: Crudo 16-1 / 16-1

Unraced as a 2-year-old, the colt led in the stretch before a fourth-place finish at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8 in his first race. Crudo came back with a wire-to-wire win by 7.25 lengths at Keeneland on April 19. Crudo produced another wire-to-wire victory with a winning margin of 7.5 lengths in the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico on May 17. Trainer: Todd Pletcher, who saddled Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, Tapwrit in 2017 and Mo Donegal in 2022. Jockey: John Velazquez, who rode Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches in 2007 and Union Rags in 2012. Record: 3-2-0-0. Earnings: $130,148. Pedigree: Blossomed by Justify, which won the Belmont Stakes in 2018.

—–

Post Position 6: Baeza 4-1 / 7-2

Baeza did not earn enough points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby to make the original field, but the scatch of Rodriguez opened a spot for the colt, and he made the most of it by finishing a neck behind second-place Journalism. Baeza found his speed in his third race, winning by 4.75 lengths over 1 mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 14. The next time out, Baeza couldn’t hold off Journalism down the stretch for a second-place finish by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Trainer: John A. Shirreffs. Jockey: Flavien Prat. Record: 5-1-2-1. Earnings: $648,500. Pedigree: Puca by McKinzie.

—–

Post Position 7: Journalism 8-5 / 4-5

The betting favorite at the Kentucky Derby, Journalism came home second by 1.5 lengths to Sovereignty in the Run for the Roses, then got back to winning by banging through the stretch for a 1-length victory in the Preakness Stakes. The California colt had arrived at Churchill Downs on a four-race winning streak, including two this year – the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1 and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Record: 7-5-1-1. Earnings: $2,838,880. Pedigree: Mopotism by Curlin.

—–

Post Position 8: Heart of Honor 30-1 / 22-1

The British-bred colt made his United States debut with a fifth-place run at the Preakness Stakes on May 17. Heart of Honor’s previous five races had come in Dubai, and he arrived at Pimlico off three straight runner-up finishes – by 1.5 lengths in the UAE 2,000 Guineas, a head in the Al Bastakiya and by a nose in the UAE Derby. Trainer: Jamie Osborne. Jockey: Saffie Osborne. Record: 7-2-4-0. Earnings: $400,919. Pedigree: Ruby Love by Honor A.P.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

General

ASWA softball all-state team features pair of 5-time selections

The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its high school softball all-state team today with several repeat selections among the group, including a pair of 5-timers.

ASWA names first team, second team and honorable mention in seven AHSAA classes and a single team in AISA along with Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Hitter of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Miss Softball and the Super All-State team, regardless of class, will be announced at the ASWA annual banquet on Sunday in Jacksonville.

Members of either the first or second team include two 5-time all-state selections and 12 others named for the fourth time.

Orange Beach junior Ava Hodo and Pisgah senior Madeline Flammia (Class 2A Hitter of the Year) were selected to the team each of the past five years.

Four-time selections from AHSAA include Daphne’s Abby J. Johnson, Saraland’s Gracie Dees (Class 6A Player of the Year), Baldwin County’s Madilyn Byrd (Class 6A Pitcher of the Year), Arab’s Lily Livingston, Orange Beach’s KG Favors (Class 4A Pitcher of the Year) and Daigle Wilson, White Plains’ Leighton Arnold, Lauderdale County’s Shila Marks, Wicksburg’s Ellie Cox, Ider’s Makinley Traylor and Hackleburg’s Saylor Cooper along with AISA Hooper Academy’s Kaylee Midkiff.

Players of the year are Class 7A Gerritt Griggs of Central-Phenix City, Class 6A Gracie Dees of Saraland, Class 5A Kendall Trimm of Moody, Class 4A Ambrey Taylor of Curry, Class 3A Emily Needham of Saint James, Class 2A Anna Claire Free of G.W. Long, Class 1A Allyx Williamson of Kinston and AISA Brooke Brasell of Clarke Prep.

The complete team is below.

ASWA ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAM

CLASS 7A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Vic Moten, Daphne, Sr.

P: Ally Supan, Central-Phenix City, Sr.

P: Aubree Hooks, Thompson, Sr.

P: Karlie Beth Beasley, Tuscaloosa County, Sr.

C: Khloe Broadwater, Central-Phenix City, So.

IF: Gerritt Griggs, Central-Phenix City, Sr.

IF: Marti McCluskey,Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Sr.

IF: Daley Alsobrook, Auburn, Sr.

IF: Savanna Kendrick, Dothan, So.

OF: Abby J. Johnson, Daphne, Jr.

OF: Zaylen Tucker, Hewitt-Trussville, Sr.

OF: Laila Watkins, Sparkman, Sr.

UT: Eden Parker, Sparkman, Sr.

UT: Amya Duster, Huntsville, So.

DH: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville, Jr.

DH: Arden Breedlove,Austin, Jr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Kayla Storey, Central-Phenix City, Jr.

P: Lily Brewer, Auburn, So.

P: Kadyn Bush, Thompson, Jr.

P: Addison Russell, Fairhope, So.

C: Holly Beth Brooks, Tuscaloosa County,Sr.

IF: Cammy Herport, Daphne, Jr.

IF: JoJo Belden, Tuscaloosa County,So.

IF: Lyndi Perkins,Austin,Sr.

IF: Summer Crunk, Smiths Station, Sr.

OF: Olivia Tindell, Thompson,Sr.

OF: Peyton Earp, Tuscaloosa County,Sr.

OF: Mariah Harrison, Central-Phenix City, Jr.

UT: Lee Lott, Enterprise, Sr.

UT: Bella Mayfield, Sparkman, So.

DH: Emma Harwood, Huntsville, 8th

DH: Briley Bolden, Fairhope, So.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Gracyn Snell, Enterprise, Sr.

P: Katlyn Cone, Baker, Jr.

C: Aubrey Bauer, Thompson,Fr.

C: Lindsey Westhoven, Hoover, Sr.

IF: Mia Gates, Fairhope, Sr.

IF: Kelsey Burden, Thompson,Fr.

OF: Reagan Lawson, Hoover, Jr.

OF: Evelyn Splawn, Vestavia Hills, Sr.

UT: Caylee Cowan, Huntsville, 7th

UT: Jada Newman, Dothan, So.

DH: Teagen Harmon, Grissom, Sr.

DH: Sara Carter, Huntsville, Sr.

Player of the Year

Gerritt Griggs, Central-Phenix City

Pitcher of the Year

Vic Moten, Daphne

Hitter of the Year

Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville

Coach of the Year

Connor Acton, Tuscaloosa County

CLASS 6A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Madilyn Byrd, Baldwin County, Sr.

P: Mallarie Beagle, Spanish Fort, Jr.

P: Myleigh Dobbins, Saraland, Jr.

P: Marlee Parsons, Helena, Sr.

C: Brooklyn Howard, Hazel Green, So.

IF: Lily Lowery, Athens, Sr.

IF: Haley Hart, Spanish Fort, Sr.

IF: Gracie Dees, Saraland, Sr.

IF: Lily Davenport, Wetumpka,Sr.

OF: Bryanna Kemp, Hueytown,Sr.

OF: Caitlyn Tedford, Athens, Jr.

OF: Katie Hastings, Buckhorn, Sr.

UT: Bailey Houston, Southside-Gadsden, Sr.

UT: Katie Hopson, Chelsea, Sr.

DH: Katie Norgard, Hartselle, Jr.

DH: Macey Pierce, Chilton County, Sr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Cayden Dorger, Spanish Fort, Fr.

P: Amori Morrison, Brookwood, Sr.

P: Anna Leigh Price, Gulf Shores, Jr.

P: Abigail Adams, Wetumpka, So.

C: Amaya Green, Athens, Sr.

IF: Kaylee Dunn, Chilton County, Fr.

IF: Abbey Crockett, Gardendale,Fr.

IF: Jaicey Harty, Athens, Jr.

IF: Kenley Vaughn, Gardendale,Sr.

OF: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook, Jr.

OF: Bailey Carlisle, Wetumpka,Jr.

OF: Adrie-Ana Davis, Buckhorn, Sr.

UT: Jayla Jackson, Oxford, So.

UT: Jenna Melton, Hueytown,Fr.

DH: Hatsumi Peterson, Hartselle, Fr.

DH: Emma Tims-Becerra, Oxford, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Pearl Ryan, McAdory, So.

P: Carrington Schiefer, Helena, Sr.

C: Cory Kramer, Fort Payne, Jr.

C: Nevaeh James, Gulf Shores, Jr.

IF: Ava Farmer,Wetumpka,Sr.

IF: Maddie Williams, Rehobeth, Sr.

OF: Emerson Murrell,Gardendale,Jr.

OF: Autymn Hollon,Wetumpka,So.

UT: KJ Prater, Hartselle, So.

UT: Anayia McCutchen, Gulf Shores, So.

DH: Tatum Hays, Mortimer Jordan, Jr.

DH: Rylann Shaw, Southside-Gadsden, Jr.

Player of the Year

Gracie Dees, Saraland

Pitcher of the Year

Madilyn Byrd, Baldwin County

Hitter of the Year

Katie Norgard, Hartselle

Coach of the Year

Mark Sanders, Helena

CLASS 5A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Emily Adams, Houston Academy, Jr.

P: McKinley McCaghren, Lawrence County, So.

P: Kailey Jackson, Andalusia, Jr.

P: Georgia Chancellor, Springville, So.

C: Caroline Jones, Northside, Jr.

IF: Kendall Trimm, Moody, Sr.

IF: Lillie Anne Stagner, Faith Academy, Sr.

IF: Alex Layfield, Springville, Sr.

IF: Ava Rhoden, Boaz, Sr.

OF: Taylor Rogers, Moody, Sr.

OF: Bailea Boone, Holtville, Sr.

OF: Leah Bowden, Springville, Jr.

UT: Mylee Stagner, Faith Academy, So

UT: Lindsey Moulton, Beauregard, Jr.

DH: Aubrey Machen,Lincoln, So.

DH: Lily Livingston, Arab, Sr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Elizabeth Murphy, Priceville, Jr.

P: Bella Turley, Moody, Fr.

P: Avery Patton, Northside, Fr.

P: Elizabeth Woodfin, Marbury, Sr.

C: Alaina Grace King, Ardmore, Sr.

IF: Taya Newton, Andalusia, Jr.

IF: Dailyn Wood, Jacksonville,Sr.

IF: Austin McNeece, Scottsboro, Sr.

IF: Anna Kate Smith, Corner, Jr.

OF: Addy Peaden, Elmore County, Sr.

OF: Alivia Templeton, Lawrence County, Fr.

OF: Aiden Sharbutt, Northside, So.

UT: Ava Voris, St. Paul’s, Jr.

UT: Grier Maples, Boaz, So

DH: Aniyah Dean, St. Clair County, Sr.

DH: Shila Wadkins, Scottsboro, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Paige Welch, Houston Academy, So.

P: Chloe Phillips, Moody, Sr.

C: Taylor Pellem, Brewer,Jr.

C: Caitlan Bland, Shelby County, Jr.

IF: Demeria Dean, St. Clair County, So.

IF: Avery Goff, Holtville, Sr.

OF: Cheyenne Lucas, Brewer, Sr.

OF: Ticelee Gholston, Russellville, So.

UT: Bella Cross, Lawrence County, So.

UT: Emily Williams, John Carroll, Jr.

DH: Ava Allsup, Headland, Sr.

DH: Kylie Snowden, Holtville, Jr.

Player of the Year

Kendall Trimm, Moody

Pitcher of the Year

Emily Adams, Houston Academy

Hitter of the Year

Alex Layfield, Springville

Coach of the Year

Becky Seymour, Moody

CLASS 4A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Alexis St. John, Ashville, Jr.

P: Skiely Perry, Curry, So.

P: JuliAnn Kyle, West Limestone, Sr.

P: KG Favors, Orange Beach, Sr.

C: Ava Hodo, Orange Beach, Jr.

IF: Ambrey Taylor, Curry, Sr.

IF: Ansley Brown, Curry, So

IF: Katie King, Orange Beach, Jr.

IF: Teagan Revette, Orange Beach, Jr.

OF: Lilly Bethune,West Limestone,Sr.

OF: Saniyah Weaver, Prattville Christian, Jr.

OF: Abby Williams, Plainview, Jr.

UT: Madison Sawyer, Satsuma,Sr.

UT: Rylee Wilcoxson,Montgomery Catholic, Jr.

DH: Pressley Slaton, Alexandria, Sr.

DH: Haley Waggoner,West Limestone,Sr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: MK McMullan, Orange Beach, Fr.

P: Alivia Lewis, Deshler, Jr.

P: Molly Benefield, Good Hope, So.

P: SadieGrace Bonds, Wilson, Sr.

C: Charlee Parris, Alexandria, Jr.

IF: Ella Grace Madison, Cordova, Sr.

IF: Daigle Wilson, Orange Beach, Sr.

IF: Allyssa Hunt, Alexandria, Sr.

IF: Shileigh Williams, Curry, So.

OF: Sydney Gurley,Madison County,Sr.

OF: Jaidyn Ivey, Opp, Sr.

OF: Anna Kate Potter, Hatton, Sr.

UT: Leighton Arnold, White Plains, Sr.

UT: Faith Odom, Plainview, Jr.

DH: Chloe Hollon, Prattville Christian, Sr.

DH: Allie Yeary,Madison County,Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Emma Hill, Cherokee County, Jr.

P: Alivia Messick, Prattville Christian, Sr.

C: Aubrey Bethune,West Limestone,Fr.

C: Aubrey Reed, Danville,Sr.

IF: Karley Moreland, Brooks, Sr.

IF: Livy Huter, Madison County,Sr.

OF: AP Slaten, Westminster Christian, Jr.

OF: Taylor Poland, Orange Beach, So.

UT: Addison Moseley, Opp, Sr.

UT: Faith Roberson, Brooks, Sr.

DH: Brenlee Sparks, Alexandria, Sr.

DH: Ella Baswell, New Hope, So.

Player of the Year

Ambrey Taylor, Curry

Pitcher of the Year

KG Favors, Orange Beach

Hitter of the Year

Lilly Bethune, West Limestone

Coach of the Year

Dave Lawson, Curry

CLASS 3A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Natalie Cole, Wicksburg, Sr.

P: Ellie Cox, Wicksburg, Jr.

P: Emily Needham, Saint James, Sr.

P: Kennah Beth Lacy, Winfield, Sr.

C: Emily Darby,Saint James,Sr.

IF: Meg Fountain, T.R. Miller, Sr.

IF: Madison Brooks, Childersburg, Jr.

IF: Riley Dunnam, Mobile Christian, Sr.

IF: Hanna Kimbrell, Winfield, So

OF: Imani Brothers, Thomasville, Jr.

OF: Shila Marks, Lauderdale Co., Sr.

OF: Molly Wright, Mars Hill Bible, So.

UT: Tatiana Shuford,Saint James,Sr.

UT: Cat Schreiber, Madison Academy, Jr.

DH: Anleigh Wood, Wicksburg, Fr.

DH: Addison Holcomb, Colbert Heights, So.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Makayli Davis, Colbert Co., Jr.

P: Willa Simmons, Winfield, Sr.

P: Isabelle Warrick, Alabama Christian, Sr.

P: Makayla Brackett, Ohatchee, Jr.

C: Hallie Holland, Colbert Co., Jr.

IF: Maggie Nail, Holly Pond,Jr.

IF: Alivia Watkins, Locust Fork, Sr.

IF: Alona Davis, Rogers, Sr.

IF: Mya Western, Madison Academy, Jr.

OF: Hailey Padgett, Mobile Christian, Sr.

OF: Ava Stanford,Saint James,Sr.

OF: Bryer Thompson, Randolph County, 7th

UT: Mardie Carpenter, Thomasville, Sr

UT: Josi Jones, Hanceville, So.

DH: Emmaline Hartzog, Lee-Scott Academy, Sr.

DH: Chloe Joyner, Wicksburg, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Railey Langford, Lee-Scott, Jr.

P: MJ Woodfin, Elkmont, Jr.

C: Makenzie Gartman, Cottage Hill, Sr.

C: Hannah Parmer, Randolph County, Fr.

IF: Tylaya Lingo, Wicksburg, Sr.

IF: Raina Zackery, Saks, Sr.

OF: Raelea Guy, Carbon Hill, Sr.

OF: Evie Stephenson, Madison Academy, 8th

UT: Madyson Snedigar, Beulah,Sr.

UT: Olivia Stegall, Mars Hill Bible, Sr.

DH: Brianna Totty, Lee-Scott Academy, Sr.

DH: Kaitlyn Hudson,Saint James,Sr.

Player of the Year

Emily Needham, Saint James

Pitcher of the Year

Natalie Cole, Wicksburg

Hitter of the Year

Madison Brooks, Childersburg

Coach of the Year

Josh Cox, Wicksburg

CLASS 2A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Brynlee Alford, Horseshoe Bend, So.

P: Sydney Boothe, Zion Chapel, Jr.

P: Haylie Lee, Pleasant Valley, Sr.

P: Emellie Hamilton, Southeastern, Sr.

C: Laney Saucer, J.U. Blacksher, So.

IF: Ella Wheeler, Sulligent, Sr.

IF: Jemma Moore, Belgreen, So.

IF: Kaleigh Roberts, North Sand Mountain, Fr.

IF: Braylee King, West End, Jr.

OF: Savannah Sims, Decatur Heritage, Sr.

OF: Ali Kelly, Sumiton Christian, Sr.

OF: Emma Sue Collins, Lamar County, So.

UT: Lily Henry, Pleasant Valley, Sr.

UT: Madeline Flammia, Pisgah, Sr.

DH: Anna Claire Free, G.W. Long, So.

DH: Maddie McCrary, Sumiton Christian, Sr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Riley Bannin, Zion Chapel, Sr.

P: Emma Franklin, West End, 8th

P: Bailey Phillips, Sumiton Christian, Jr.

P: Alissa Barron, Pike Liberal Arts, Sr.

C: Calli Corley, Sumiton Christian, Sr.

IF: Briley Miller, Lindsay Lane, Jr.

IF: Leigha Carder, Lindsay Lane, Sr.

IF: Campbell Barron, Pisgah, Jr.

IF: Chasty Garrison, Winston County

OF: Lydia Carter, Lindsay Lane, Sr.

OF: Reiley Williamson, Winston County, Sr.

OF: Aubree Cromer, Pleasant Valley, So.

UT: Liddy Falkner, West End, Sr.

UT: Liliana Cassidy, Southeastern, So.

DH: Emma Sipsy, Sand Rock, So.

DH: Kaylee Crawford, Sulligent, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Lori Jones, Pisgah, 7th

P: Caroline Southerlin, Reeltown, 7th

C: Lily Slayton, Falkville, 8th

C: Bella Falkner, West End, Fr.

IF: Addie Mae Habbard, Geneva County, Jr.

IF: Lynley Butts, Lamar County, Jr.

OF: Haylie Brown, Pike Liberal Arts, Sr.

OF: Allie Williams, Washington County,Fr.

UT: Marissa Adams, Decatur Heritage, Jr.

UT: Brinley Chisenall, Pisgah, Sr.

DH: Briley Caperton, Pisgah, Jr.

DH: Camryn Brown, Pike Liberal Arts, So.

Player of the Year

Anna Claire Free, G.W. Long

Pitcher of the Year

Brynlee Alford, Horseshoe Bend

Hitter of the Year

Madeline Flammia, Pisgah

Coach of the Year

Ethan Deal, Zion Chapel

CLASS 1A

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Paige Musso, Florala, 8th

P: Lilli Sumblin, Kinston, Jr.

P: McKenzie Smith, Leroy, Jr.

P: Georgiana Kavich, Waterloo, Sr.

C: Sadie Primm, Billingsley, Sr.

IF: Railey Williams, Woodland, So.

IF: Mollie Kayte Smith, Maplesville, So.

IF: Hannah Howard, Leroy, Jr.

IF: Makinley Traylor, Ider, Jr.

OF: Payten Herron, Hackleburg, Jr.

OF: Allyx Williamson, Kinston, So.

OF: Alyssa McKinney, Lynn, Sr.

UT: Alex Grimes, Brantley,So.

UT: Braylynn Pope, Hackleburg, So.

DH: Addyson Butler, Athens Bible, Sr.

DH: Bryleigh Butler, Hackleburg, Fr.

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

P: Miklytn Troxtel, Ider, Sr.

P: Lauren Norris, Kinston, Jr.

P: Rylee Hill, Berry, So.

P: Laine Steward, Hackleburg, Sr.

C: Maggie Jarrett, Spring Garden, Sr.

IF: Lilly Vold, Pickens Academy, Sr.

IF: Eva Gates, Skyline, Fr.

IF: Maddie Williamson, Kinston, Jr.

IF: Jaden McGee, Maplesville, Jr.

OF: Hadley Epps, Skyline, Fr.

OF: Layla Ingram, Spring Garden, Sr.

OF: Emma Elsberry, Woodland, Jr.

UT: Lilly Doggette, Millry, Jr.

UT: Addie Pollard, Waterloo, Jr.

DH: Saylor Cooper, Hackleburg, Sr.

DH: Carson Browning, Hackleburg, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Kaylee Guy, Leroy, Sr.

P: Kennedy Reed, Maplesville, Jr.

C: Alyssa Taylor, Woodland, Fr.

C: Camdyn Norris, Kinston, Jr.

IF: Marley Kay Kilcrease, Brantley,So.

IF: Helena Ingram, Spring Garden, Sr.

OF: Avery Steward, Spring Garden, Sr.

OF: Mariah Barnes, Leroy, Sr.

UT: Kamylia Talley, Maplesville, So.

UT: Hannah Crowe, Maplesville, Jr.

DH: Brooklyn Butler, Hackleburg, Jr.

DH: Liz Baugh, Leroy, So.

Player of the Year

Allyx Williamson, Kinston

Pitcher of the Year

Lilli Sumblin, Kinston

Hitter of the Year

Braylynn Pope, Hackleburg

Coach of the Year

Andy Norris, Kinston

AISA

ALL-STATE

P: Addie Hicks, Clarke Prep, So.

P: Lily Stubbs, Edgewood, Sr.

P: KG Taylor, Hooper, Sr.

P: Kady Thomas, Clarke Prep, Jr.

C: Kaylee Midkiff, Hooper, Sr.

IF: Brooke Brasell, Clarke Prep, So.

IF: Alli Kate Causey, Abbeville Christian, Fr

IF: Allie Paschal, Chambers Academy, Jr.

IF: Katelee Sikes, Patrician, So.

OF: Cassie Braddy, Abbeville Christian, So.

OF: Haylee Coleman, Edgewood, So.

OF: Anna Claire Thomas, Fort Dale Academy, Sr.

UT: Olivia Brackner, Bessemer Academy, Sr.

UT: Jade Taylor, Hooper, Fr.

DH: Mallory Coody, Patrician, Jr.

DH: Carson Cox, Bessemer Academy, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

P: Payton Earl, Chambers Academy, 8th

P: Brooke Horn, Crenshaw Christian, So.

C: Drue Flint, Clarke Prep, Jr.

IF: Gabby Coleman, Chambers Academy, Sr.

IF: Madison Holley, Crenshaw Christian, Jr.

OF: Avery White, Edgewood, Sr.

UT: Gracie Dice, North River, Sr.

UT: Laney Wilson, Cornerstone-Columbiana, Fr.

DH: Makayla Allen, Cornerstone-Columbiana, Jr.

DH: Caroline Rhea, Bessemer Academy, Jr.

Player of the year

Brooke Brasell, Clarke Prep

Pitcher of the year

Kady Thomas, Clarke Prep

Hitter of the year

Olivia Brackner, Bessemer Academy

Coach of the year

David Pair, Abbeville Christian

General

How Auburn baseball’s comeback bid vs. Coastal Carolina came up just short

Few sports require more skill than baseball. Trying to hit a ball coming toward you at 90 miles per hour would made make the average person look silly, and it takes a special kind of human being to throw a ball 90+ miles per hour up to 100 times in a night.

While all those things are true, winning and losing baseball games often comes down to the finest of margins and a few lucky or unlucky bounces.

Auburn baseball found itself on the wrong end of that on Friday, losing to Coastal Carolina 7-6 in Game 1 of the super regionals. How it happened was the heartbreaking part, with the Chanticleers turning a double play on a diving catch at second base in the ninth and tenth innings.

Both times, Auburn had a runner in scoring position with one out. In the ninth, that ball squirting through would have likely won Auburn the game. In the tenth, Auburn needed that ball to get past Blake Barthol’s glove to keep the game alive.

“L4 double play back-to-back innings, exactly how we drew it up,” Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall said postgame, unable to hold back a smirk.

For Auburn, simply having a chance to win the game in the ninth took an impressive effort. The Tigers trailed 6-1 after the top of the fourth inning and found themselves down by three runs when an hour and 45-minute weather delay halted the game going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The comeback started before the delay, but Auburn seemed to find another gear after the stoppage, eventually tying things at six on an Eric Snow home run in the seventh inning.

“I really was impressed with our guys,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “That was the first time we had trailed here, it seems like, in the postseason, and kind of worked back.”

It seemed like all of the energy shifted back in Auburn’s favor during the late innings. The depleted, but still energetic, Plainsman Park was electric, Auburn kept getting runners on base and reliever Griffin Graves was untouchable out of the bullpen.

But Coastal Carolina, a team that is now on a 22-game winning streak, didn’t relent.

The diving double play in the ninth inning pushed the game into extra innings, where catcher Caden Bodine hit a deep home run to right field that turned out to be the winning run. It was one of two home runs on the night from Bodine, and it sucked all the remaining energy out of Plainsman Park after Auburn had worked so hard to get back into the game.

Now, the Tigers have to get off the mat with their season on the line. The task won’t be easy either, as Game 2 is scheduled to start just under 13 hours after Game 1 concluded at 1:17 a.m.

Unfortunately for Auburn, the grind of the postseason doesn’t care about how much sleep the players get between games. Either the Tigers turn the series around on Saturday afternoon, or a historic season ends on home soil.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

General

Today’s daily horoscopes: June 7, 2025

Reframing the past is the theme of this lunar square to Pluto. It’s not about denying what happened, but realizing the way we tell the story can shape how we feel and how we move forward. Just remember, no one’s story is set in stone. The same facts can yield a more empowering narrative by adjusting the lens until the past supports who we’re becoming instead of anchoring who we were.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You don’t need to have it all figured out; you just need to stay in it, listening, creating, connecting. Sometimes you connect in truth and other times in kindness. A good moment is when both land in the same place.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You keep showing up for your people, your projects, your vision — even when you’re not sure if there’s anything left in the tank, but life will refuel you when you most need it. You will never really be empty.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are learning as you go. Intuition draws you toward a routine that includes healthy rituals and catchy rhythms to increase your daily joy. When the basics are beautifully covered, your magic starts to manifest.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Planning helps, but too much can backfire. It tempts you to think you’re in full control — which you’re not. Leave space for surprise, improvisation and life’s better ideas. Flexibility is just as powerful as preparation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your actions make you, and you make your actions in an infinite loop of experience. You are constantly impacting the environment that forms you. The change you want can be started from any place, so just start where you are.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Identity is your self-concept; the story you tell yourself about who you are, shaped by both internal and external input. Today it’s the inner you that gets the workout. Challenge an old label. You’ll have clarity about what no longer fits.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are thrilling things about your current scene that you’ve grown blind to. The novice’s gaze unveils unseen riches. The way to see your life freshly is to invite a newcomer, especially a very young one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Time doesn’t always present itself logically to the psyche. Since life won’t always make sense right away, trust your intuitive impressions without requiring them to be logical. Let your instincts roam.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You don’t flinch from complexity; you translate it. You love beauty and make it out of whatever’s around you — even grief, even trash. Just remember, not everything needs to be transformed. There’s a point of diminishing returns to consider, too.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Better days are ahead. This isn’t wishful thinking or a pretty line meant to soothe you; it’s the truth that lives beneath your current situation. The sweeter days are coming on a plan that’s already in motion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re well aware of how staying within a narrow scope of preferences leads to a limited and uninspired existence. It’s why you push yourself to do what’s uncomfortable and a little scary. Everything stellar is on the other side of that experience.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There’s a kind of magic in the way you balance your care for others with the wild need to create. You protect, you feed, you clean, and still — even in the most ordinary of tasks, there’s creativity blooming behind your eyes.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 7). You are a force of nature. You are full of clarity, skill, instinct and direction. This year is a building phase, and you are doing it with tenacity and grace. More highlights: love in many forms. Know that you wield charisma in a way that makes people lean in, even when you whisper. Money from bold choices; you’ll accept life’s invitation like it was always meant for you. Libra and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 3, 33, 21 and 5.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: In Wes Anderson’s latest ensemble film, “The Phoenician Scheme,” Michael Cera joins a star-studded cast including Benicio del Toro, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks. The Gemini actor was born when the sun, Mercury and Venus were all in Gemini, indicating a quick wit and love of conversation, especially the exchange of new ideas. Moon and Mars in soulful Pisces point to deep artistic and empathetic talents.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

General

Thunderstorms with pea-sized hail in Jackson County Friday – gusts may reach 50 mph

The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 10:53 p.m. on Friday for strong thunderstorms until 11:45 p.m. for Jackson County.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are foreseen.

“At 10:53 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Winchester, moving east at 20 mph,” according to the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Winchester, Decherd, Estill Springs, Cowan, Huntland, Tims Ford Lake, Sewanee, Anderson, Hurdlow and Maxwell.

The weather service comments, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Driving through downpours: Safety guidelines for wet roads

When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it’s prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of swollen waterways:

Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Slow down and drive with care:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

Driving through downpours: Safety guidelines for wet roads

Beware of swollen waterways:

Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Slow down and drive with care:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

‘Software malfunction’ reveals Supreme Court may allow Alabama to execute the intellectually disabled

The Supreme Court will consider making it harder for convicted murderers to show their lives should be spared because they are intellectually disabled, according an order released early on Friday after an apparent technological glitch.

The justices’ action comes in an appeal from Alabama, which is seeking to execute Joseph Clifton Smith. He was sentenced to death for killing a man in 1997. Lower federal courts found Smith is intellectually disabled and thus can’t be executed.

When it’s argued in the fall, the case could be the first in which the Supreme Court cuts back on its 23-year-old landmark ruling that barred the death penalty for people who are intellectually disabled.

At issue is what happens in borderline cases, when scores on IQ tests are slightly above 70, which is widely accepted as a marker of intellectual disability.

In 2014 and 2017, the court somewhat eased the burden of showing intellectual disability in those cases.

It’s the second time in about a year that an online error resulted in an early release from the high court. An opinion in an abortion case was accidently posted on its website a day early in June 2024. The court’s landmark opinion overturning abortion as a constitutional right also went out early, though those circumstances were different because the case was leaked.

This time, the court released a set of orders set for Monday after an “apparent software malfunction” sent out early notifications.

General

Former Alabama high school standout, Auburn defensive tackle returns to the NFL

Former Auburn defensive tackle Marcus Harris returned to the NFL on Friday when he signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Harris had been without a team since April 28, when the New England Patriots waived him two days after the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Bills are Harris’ third NFL team.

The Houston Texans selected Harris in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Harris didn’t make the regular-season roster, but he stayed with Houston on its practice squad until being waived on Oct. 9.

Two days later, Harris joined New England’s practice squad and stayed there the remainder of the season. He re-signed with the Patriots for 2025 on Jan. 6.

Harris did not play in a regular-season game during his rookie year.

The Bills waived undrafted rookie defensive tackle Devin Brandt-Epps to clear a roster spot for Harris.

Harris joined a position group that has had an offseason makeover in Buffalo. The Bills return starting defensive tackles DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver. But Buffalo drafted defensive tackles T.J. Sanders of South Carolina and Deone Walker of Kentucky in the second and fourth round, respectively, in April and added seven-year NFL starter Larry Ogunjobi in free agency.

Buffalo has three practices remaining in its offseason program – mandatory minicamp on Tuesday through Thursday. After that, the Bills will break until convening for training camp at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, in late July.

A high school standout at Park Crossing in Montgomery, Harris started his college career with two seasons at Kansas before transferring to Auburn, when he played in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

General

Auburn baseball’s super regional vs. Coastal Carolina in weather delay: What to know

Game 1 of Auburn baseball’s super regional series against Coastal Carolina entered a weather delay going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The delay is due to lightning being detected within in eight-mile radius of Plainsman Park, despite no rain falling at the time the delay began.

Coastal Carolina led Auburn 6-3 at the time of the delay, but put up a scoreless frame in the top of the sixth before the delay was called. Much of the offense came in a four-run fourth inning surge, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Blagen Pado.

Auburn right fielder Ike Irish hit a home run of his own in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to three runs, but the Tigers will have to wait to try and continue the rally.

This story will be updated

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at@peter_rauterkusor email him at[email protected]m

General

Colleges can now directly pay athletes after final settlement of House vs. NCAA lawsuit

A federal judge signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports on Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions of dollars as soon as next month as the multibillion-dollar industry shreds the last vestiges of the amateur model that defined it for more than a century.

Nearly five years after Arizona State swimmer Grant House sued the NCAA and its five biggest conferences to lift restrictions on revenue sharing, U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken approved the final proposal that had been hung up on roster limits, just one of many changes ahead amid concerns that thousands of walk-on athletes will lose their chance to play college sports.

The sweeping terms of the so-called House settlement include approval for each school to share up to $20.5 million with athletes over the next year and $2.7 billion that will be paid over the next decade to thousands of former players who were barred from that revenue for years.

The agreement brings a seismic shift to hundreds of schools that were forced to reckon with the reality that their players are the ones producing the billions in TV and other revenue, mostly through football and basketball, that keep this machine humming.

The scope of the changes — some have already begun — is difficult to overstate. The professionalization of college athletics will be seen in the high-stakes and expensive recruitment of stars on their way to the NFL and NBA, and they will be felt by athletes whose schools have decided to pare their programs. The agreement will resonate in nearly every one of the NCAA’s 1,100 member schools boasting nearly 500,000 athletes.

The road to a settlement

Wilken’s ruling comes 11 years after she dealt the first significant blow to the NCAA ideal of amateurism when she ruled in favor of former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and others who were seeking a way to earn money from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) — a term that is now as common in college sports as “March Madness” or “Roll Tide.” It was just four years ago that the NCAA cleared the way for NIL money to start flowing, but the changes coming are even bigger.

Wilken granted preliminary approval to the settlement last October. That sent colleges scurrying to determine not only how they were going to afford the payments, but how to regulate an industry that also allows players to cut deals with third parties so long as they are deemed compliant by a newly formed enforcement group that will be run by auditors at Deloitte.

The agreement takes a big chunk of oversight away from the NCAA and puts it in the hands of the four biggest conferences. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC hold most of the power and decision-making heft, especially when it comes to the College Football Playoff, which is the most significant financial driver in the industry and is not under the NCAA umbrella like the March Madness tournaments are.