Category: General

General

Thunderstorms with pea-sized hail in Choctaw County Friday

A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Friday at 10:58 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until Saturday at midnight for Choctaw County.

The storms could bring wind gusts of up to 30 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches).

“At 10:58 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Snell, or 15 miles northeast of Quitman, moving east at 20 mph,” states the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”

The alert is for Lisman, Butler and Pennington.

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

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from 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 without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. While water and metal don’t 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.

Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain

Rain can turn roads into hazards. Stay informed and follow these tips from the weather service to ensure safety during heavy rainfall:

Beware of swollen waterways:

In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and drive with care:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer 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:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate 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.

General

Update: Pea-sized hail predicted with thunderstorms in Mobile County Friday, gusts may reach 40 mph

The National Weather Service issued an updated report at 11:09 p.m. on Friday for strong thunderstorms until Saturday at midnight for Mobile County.

Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are likely.

“At 11:09 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 6 miles north of Alabama Port, or 7 miles southeast of Theodore, moving north at 25 mph,” says the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Tillmans Corner, Midtown Mobile, Theodore and I10 And I65.

The weather service comments, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings 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 crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without 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 wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced 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, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Navigating heavy rain: Essential safety measures for wet roads

When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:

Beware of swollen waterways:

In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and stay cautious:

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.

Visibility matters:

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

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.

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

Rock Gearhart, Fairhope sweep No. 4 Central-Phenix City in Class 7A quarterfinals

Rock Gearhart homered twice for Fairhope in the first game and the fifth-ranked Pirates scored seven runs in the final three innings of Game 2 to complete a 7-3, 7-1 sweep of No. 4 Central-Phenix City on Friday night.

Fairhope (31-10) will play No. 3 Enterprise (32-1) in the semifinals next week. The Wildcats swept Auburn in their quarterfinal series.

In the opener, Rock Gearhart drove in 4 runs and the Pirates scored 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth to rally for the win.

Gearhart’s 2-run homer gave Fairhope the lead for good at 4-3 and ignited the big sixth inning. Miller Humphries added a 2-run double and Will Sparks capped the rally with an RBI single.

Gearhart finished 2-for-2 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Starter Miles Drew Johnson went 6 innings to get the win. He allowed 6 hits and 3 runs and struck out 2. Harrison Cook got the final three outs for the save. Emory Yohn took the loss for Central.

Sam Brown homered for the Red Devils and Cooper Kehoe drove in the other 2 runs.

In Game 2, Fairhope scored 3 runs in the top of the fifth to break a scoreless tie. Kyle Hunter’s team added 4 more in the seventh to pull away for a comfortable win.

Sparks went 6 innings to get the win, allowing just 2 hits and 1 run and striking out 8. Cook pitched the final inning. Starter Cam Norton took the loss for Central.

Johnson drove in 2 runs for Fairhope. Blake Westry was 2-for-4. Brown homered again for the Red Devils.

General

AHSAA 1A-3A track: Weather shakes up championships, but not before some top times

Bad weather pushed several events in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 1A, 2A and 3A State Track and Field Championships at Cullman into Saturday as competition was suspended late Friday afternoon after two delays.

Gates open Saturday at noon with competition starting at 1 p.m.

Before the final shutdown, Alabama Christian senior A.C. Walters won the Class 3A boys javelin competition with a winning throw of 174 feet, 4 inches to top Westbrook Christian’s Brodey Wood’s 171-07. Walters qualified in the section with a 162-06 throw while Wood had the best throw in the section at 176-09.5.

The top four runners in the 3A boys 1,600-meter race finished just 3 seconds apart. Holly Pond’s Travis Barnett was the winner at 4:26.39, followed by Providence Christian’s Cole Smith (4:28.10), Westminster-Oak Mountain’s Weaver Caldwell (4:28.84) and Vinemont’s Brady Johnson (4:29.40).

Winterboro High School’s boys and girls took commanding leads in the Class 1A competition. The boys accumulated 72 points to lead Faith Christian (43) and Florala (25). The Winterboro girls earned 49 points on Friday to lead Marion County (28) and Faith Christian (27).

Winterboro’s Carter Castleberry won the 400-meter dash with a 49.06 finish, just missing the state record time of 49.25 set by James Harris in 2003.

In Class 2A, Cold Springs’ girls totaled 41 points to take the first-day lead. Lanett had 27 points and Holy Spirit Catholic had 19. St. Luke’s built an 8-point lead over Abbeville on the boys’ side with 29 points. The Jackets are No. 2 with 21 points and Loachapoka is in third place with 19.

Class 3A power Winfield emerged as the boys’ leader with 36 points. Weaver is in second place with 34 points and Holly Pond is in third place with 19. Whitesburg Christian took a commanding lead in the Class 3A girls’ team competition with 71.33 points. J.B. Pennington ranks second with 27 and Cottage Hill Christian is third with 20.

Championships will resume where the meet was interrupted on Saturday afternoon with a rolling schedule being used the rest of the meet. All field events will be evaluated Saturday morning for student-athlete safety. A status update will be communicated to participating schools Saturday at 10 a.m.

See scores through Friday’s events at this link.

Some other top performances from Friday:

BOYS

CLASS 2A 1,600 METERS: Bayshore Christian’s Caden Phillippi turned in a personal best 4:18.09 to the win the gold – and also had the top boys’ time in the event overall in Cullman.

CLASS 1A 1,600 METERS: Marion County junior Carter Stephens won the race in 4:39.57 for a personal best time. Donoho’s Hunter Hartwell was right behind at 4:41.67.

CLASS 3A 400-METER DASH: Senior Harper Williams of Weaver had the top time (49.96), which was just 5/100ths of a second off the 2A state record (49.46) established in 2016 by Tavias Anderson.

CLASS 2A 400-METER DASH: Mars Hill Bible’s Isaiah Owens clocked 49.79 to finish first, and St. Luke’s Karlos Williams was right behind with a 49.96 finish.

CLASS 3A 110-METER HURDLES: Weaver senior Keshawn Allen had the best time of the day clocking 14.15 seconds in the prelims.

CLASS 2A LONG JUMP: Abbeville’s Alec Spann cleared 21 feet, 5¼ inches to take first place. The junior came into the event with the best section throw. Senior Karlos Williams of St. Luke’s was second at 21-04.

CLASS 3A DISCUS: Winfield senior Sean Wyers had the best section throw in Class 3A at 160 feet, 10 inches. He improved that performance by almost 3 feet to claim the event Friday with a 163-05 throw.

CLASS 3A AMBULATORY DISCUS: Junior Daniel Figueroa of Holly Pond had a best throw of 69 feet. He followed with throw of 88-05 in the ambulatory javelin competition.

CLASS 1A 4×100 RELAY: Georgiana’s Panthers came close to setting a new class record with the top qualifying time of 43.96 in the prelims Friday. The 1A state meet record of 43.10 was set by St. Jude of Montgomery 26 years earlier in 1999.

GIRLS

CLASS 3A SHOT PUT: Freshman Makenzie Sansing of J.B. Pennington won the event with a 40-03.75 toss – which was just an inch short of her 3A state record 40-07-25 throw last year as an eighth grader.

CLASS 1A DISCUS: Junior Meredith Romans of Athens Bible had a personal best throw of 133-04 to win the event. Her qualifying throw last week was 130-07 – which led all qualifiers in Class 1A coming into the state meet.

CLASS 2A 100-METER DASH: Cornerstone Christian teammates Jourdan Price and Mattisyn Mott, both freshmen, recorded the top two prelim times at 12.67 and 12.70, respectively.

DISCUS: Winston County junior Lynleigh Cobb improved her section qualifying throw by four feet with a toss of 114-08 to win the event Friday.

CLASS 1A 100-METER HURDLES: Sophomore Mollie Mullinax of Jacksonville Christian had the best time of the day in all classes with a 15.55 time in the prelims.

CLASS 3A 4×100 RELAY: T.R. Miller turned in the top qualifying time of 50.09, just 57/100ths of a second off the state record of 49.52 established by Sheffield in 2002. Lee-Scott qualified for the finals right behind the Tigers with a 50.73 time – 1.21 seconds behind the record.

General

South Alabama basketball adds former Lenoir-Rhyne, FAMU guard

South Alabama basketball on Friday picked up a commitment from former Lenoir-Rhyne guard Hantz Louis-Jeune, its fourth (and likely final) transfer portal addition for the 2025-26 season.

The 6-foot-5 Louis-Jeune averaged 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season for the Bears, who finished 29-6 and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II tournament. Louis-Jeune, who has one year of eligibility remaining, was a second-team All-South Atlantic Conference selection.

Louis-Jeune announced his commitment via an Instagram post:

Louis-Jeune, who grew up in Lake Worth, Fla., previously played two seasons each at Florida A&M and Northwest Kansas Technical College. As a player who originally began his career at the junior-college level, he received an extra year of eligibility under the NCAA’s Diego Pavia ruling.

Louis-Jeune joins guards Brian Hawthorne (Rockhurst) and Chaze’ Harris (Life University) and forward Peyton Law (Freed-Hardeman) as South Alabama’s portal additions in the current cycle. The Jaguars also signed high school guards Desmond Williams (Baker) and Samuel Shoptaw (Windermere, Fla.) in November and junior-college forward Stephen Williams (Coastal Alabama South) in March.

South Alabama lost four players via the transfer portal: guard Myles Corey (Rhode Island) and forwards Barry Dunning (Pittsburgh), Ethan Kizer (South Dakota) and Julian Margrave (Nebraska-Omaha). Dunning was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2024-25, while Corey was a third-team pick.

South Alabama finished 21-11 this past season, earning a share of the Sun Belt regular-season championship for the first time in 17 years.

General

Flash flood warning affecting Greene and Sumter counties until early Saturday triggered by thunderstorms

At 9:16 p.m. on Friday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning in effect until Saturday at 12:15 a.m. for Greene and Sumter counties.

“At 9:16 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain have fallen in the last 6 hours across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly,” says the weather service. “Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.”

Locations impacted by the warning include Demopolis, Livingston, Eutaw, York, Cuba, Forkland, Boligee, Epes, Bluffport, The University Of West Alabama, Tishabee, Coatopa, Dug Hill, Thornhill, Boyd, Allison, Walden Quarters, Lilita, Five Points Intersection and Bellamy.

The weather service comments, “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely.”

Breaking down weather alerts: advisories, watches, and warnings

Flash flood warning: Take action!

A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood-prone area, move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.

Flood warning: Take action!

A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

Flood advisory: Be aware:

A flood advisory is released when flooding is not expected to reach a severity level necessitating a warning. Nonetheless, it can still cause considerable inconvenience and, without exercising caution, potentially lead to situations that threaten life and/or property.

Flood watch: Be prepared:

A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

When floods strike: Guidelines from the weather service for your protection

In flood-prone regions or while camping in low-lying areas, understanding and following the weather service flood safety guidelines can be a lifesaver:

Seek higher ground:

If you reside in a flood-prone region or are camping in low-lying terrain, the first step to safety is relocating to higher ground.

Follow evacuation orders:

When local authorities issue an evacuation order, promptly comply. Before leaving, secure your home by locking it.

Disconnect utilities and appliances:

If time allows, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This reduces the risk of electrical hazards during flooding.

Steer clear of flooded basements and submerged areas:

Steer clear of basements or rooms where water has submerged electrical outlets or cords. This helps prevent electrical accidents.

Swift evacuation for your safety:

If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping noises, evacuate immediately. Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity.

Refrain from walking in floodwaters:

Never attempt to walk through floodwaters. Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.

Seek higher ground when trapped:

In the event you become trapped by moving water, make your way to the highest point available and contact emergency services by calling 911.

When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods. It is crucial to never drive through water on the road, even if it appears shallow. According to the weather service, as little as 12 inches of fast-flowing water can carry away most vehicles. Stay safe by being prepared and informed.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

Rain can turn roads into hazards. Stay informed and follow these tips from the weather service to ensure safety during heavy rainfall:

Beware of rapid water flow:

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:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.

Prioritize visibility:

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant 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:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly 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.
When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

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

South Alabama adds former FAU offensive lineman through transfer portal

South Alabama has added a transfer portal commitment from offensive lineman Brayden Ramey, who spent the last two seasons at Florida Atlantic.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Ramey played in two games total with the Owls, one each in 2023 and 2024. A native of Ocala, Fla., he has three years of eligibility remaining.

Ramey has not yet announced his commitment, but did change his Instagram bio to “OL @southalabamafb.”

Ramey is South Alabama’s seventh portal commitment for the current cycle, and second offensive lineman along with Bethune-Cookman transfer Jaylen Booker. They join quarterback Zach Pyron (Minnesota), defensive linemen Stephen Johnson (McNeese) and Emmanuel Waller (UAB), edge rusher IBK Mafe (St. Thomas) and cornerback Nehemiah Chandler (Georgia Tech) as spring additions for the Jaguars.

South Alabama finished 7-5 in 2024, its third straight winning season. The Jaguars open the 2025 season at home Aug. 30 vs. Morgan State.

General

South Alabama adds FCS edge-rusher via transfer portal

South Alabama on Friday added a transfer portal commitment from IBK Mafe, a defensive end/outside linebacker from St. Thomas, an FCS school in Minnesota.

Mafe (pronounced MAH-fay) totaled 33 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles from the Tommies in 2024. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Minnesota native — whose given first name is Ibukunoluwa — has one year of eligibility remaining.

South Alabama is looking for help at outside linebacker after returning starter Aakil Washington transferred to SMU following spring practice. Another top candidate at the position, senior Dalton Hughes, is coming off knee surgery that prematurely ended his 2024 season and caused him to miss the spring.

Mafe — whose cousin Boye Mafe was one of the stars of the 2022 Senior Bowl in Mobile and now plays for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks — is South Alabama’s seventh portal commitment for the current cycle. He joins offensive linemen Jaylen Booker (Bethune-Cookman) and Brayden Ramey (Florida Atlantic), quarterback Zach Pyron (Minnesota), defensive linemen Stephen Johnson (McNeese) and Emmanuel Waller (UAB) and cornerback Nehemiah Chandler (Georgia Tech) as spring additions for the Jaguars.

South Alabama finished 7-5 in 2024, its third straight winning season. The Jaguars open the 2025 season at home Aug. 30 vs. Morgan State.

General

Friday baseball playoff roundup: St. Paul’s sweeps rival UMS, Hackleburg advances

No. 4-ranked St. Paul’s notched a pair of late-inning wins against its biggest rival and advanced to the Class 5A semifinals.

The Saints (25-9-1) swept UMS-Wright 8-2 and 2-1 on Friday night to sweep their best-of-3 quarterfinal series. St. Paul’s finished 3-0 against the Bulldogs this season. The Saints will play either Marbury or Elberta in the semifinals.

In the nightcap, Hudson Farnell’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth gave St. Paul’s the lead for good. UMS put two runners on with two out in the top of the seventh, but Bradley Irish struck out John Ramsay to end the game and the series.

Irish pitched a complete game to get the win, scattering 7 hits and allowing just the one run. He struck out 12 and walked just 1. Ty Waters took the loss. He allowed just 5 hits and 2 runs and struck out 10.

Brooks McDonalds had 2 hits for St. Paul’s. Manning Amorde had 2 for UMS.

In Game 1, John Stowers and Edward McLeod hit back-to-back homers to ignite a 5-run sixth inning and break a 2-2 tie.

Stowers, who hit the Game 3 walk-off homer last week to eliminate Briarwood Christian, was 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs, 2 walks and a run scored. Hudson Farnell was 2-for-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Brooks McDonald was 2-for-4 with a homer.

Tate Farrell pitched a complete game, allowing just 4 hits and 1 earned run. He struck out 5 and walked 2. Andy Purvis took the loss for UMS. He allowed 5 hits and 4 runs – all earned. He struck out 3 and walked a batter.

Ty Waters was 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs, who finished 19-14.

CLASS 6A

Gardendale 1, Mountain Brook 0 (8 innings)

Gardendale’s Parker Robinson and Mountain Brook’s Caleb Barnett put on a pitching clinic, the two throwing 7 shutout innings each before Gardendale’s Carson Burdette stroked a game-winning run-scoring single in the eighth inning.

Scoreless Game 2 was suspended in the top of the second inning and will resume on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Robinson tossed a 4-hit shutout of second-ranked Mountain Brook (28-10) and Barnett scattered 3 hits until the eighth.

Gardendale’s Rowan Warmack led off the inning with a single and Carter Jenkins reached on an error sacrificing Warmack to second. Leadoff Caiden Combs was hit by a pitch and Burdette followed with the game winner.

Robinson threw 61 strikes in 90 pitches while Barnett — he also had 2 hits off Robinson — threw 64 strikes in 98 pitches.

Paul Barnett had Mountain Brook’s other hit.

Adam Yazel, Caleb Banks and Rhett Fitzpatrick also had hits for Gardendale (25-9).

CLASS 3A

Winfield 14, Vinemont 2

Class 3A No. 3 Winfield took Game 1 of a third-round series against No. 7 Vinemont before rain forced the game to be postponed.

Game 2 was tied 1-1 in the third inning, with the remainder set to be played at Cullman High School’s field at 6 p.m. on Saturday; a Game 3 will be played immediately after if necessary.

The winner of the series will face No. 5-ranked Gordo in the state semifinals next week, with the winner advancing to the state championship series in Oxford and Jacksonville.

Winfield dominated from the start of a 5-inning, run-rule Game 1 that saw the Pirates score 5 runs in the first inning.

Brady May, Spencer Haney and Walt Hennicke collected 3 hits apiece as May and Hennicke hit a pair of doubles. May had 3 RBIs from the leadoff spot, with Haney and Brayden McCaleb and also drove in 3 runners apiece in the victory for Winfield.

Jacob Hale and Owen McKinney both went 2-for-3 for Vinemont as McKinney and Kayden Henderson both drove in one run apiece.

Kyson Key picked up the win on the mound for Vinemont, allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 6 in the win that saw him allow no walks across 5 innings of work.

Rush Sandlin’s sacrifice bunt in Game 2 to score Henderson for Vinemont preceded a flyout from Winfield’s Brandon Whitley that scored McCaleb after he tagged up for the lone runs of the second game.

CLASS 1A

Hackleburg 6-1, South Lamar 1-0

The second-ranked Panthers swept their Class 1A quarterfinal playoff doubleheader at South Lamar on Friday. Game 2 was called after 5 innings due to lightning. The Stallions had runners on first and second with 1 out in the sixth when the storms rolled in and the game reverted to the last completed inning.

Hackleburg’s Blaise Vickery ripped a 2-out solo home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning – his second homer of the day – to snap the Game 2 pitchers’ duel.

Maddox Vickery shut out South Lamar on 2 hits with a pair of strikeouts and 7 walks in 5.1 innings to get the win. Stallions pitcher Thacker Richards gave up the home run and 4 other hits with a strikeout and a walk to take the 5-inning loss.

Jonhasten Stidham, Jaquan Reeder, Maddox Vickery and Daughtry Gober had singles for the winners.

Leadoff batter Mason Hardin and No. 2 hitter Kyelan Crimm had South Lamar’s hits in the loss.

In Game 1, Blaise Vickery did it all for the Panthers – earning the win with a 4-hit, 8-strikeout performance and smacking a 3-run home run and a pair of doubles on the way to a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. Vickery gave up an unearned run and walked 5 in the complete-game win.

Reeder went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored for Hackleburg. Ross Hudson had a double in 4 at-bats.

Stallions’ starter Crimm took the loss, allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts and 3 walks over 5 innings. Hardin, Landon McCarra, Kenton Allbritton and Nathan Norman had South Lamar’s hits.

Hackleburg will play the winner of the Addison-Lynn series in the 1A semifinals.

This post will be updated

General

Space Force isn’t Space Command, but it does have a Huntsville presence

Are you ready to move to Huntsville? is a question U.S. Space Force Commanding General B. Chance Saltzman says he is asked “all of the time.”

That is because people often confuse the newest branch of the armed services he commands with U.S. Space Command, which may be on its way to the Rocket City under President Donald Trump’s second administration.

“I have to remind people that’s Space Command, not Space Force,” said Saltzman, who was in town Friday for the premiere of the documentary “Always Above” about Space Force at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

“What’s the difference? Space is space,” Saltzman said he is asked. “The Department of Defense organizes its warfighter activities around 11 combatant commands. One of those is U.S. Space Command. It is responsible for taking guidance and direction from the president and Secretary of Defense for any activities you would consider warfighting in the space domain.”

And Space Force?

“It provides the forces; it provides the equipment; it provides the training of personnel, the combat ready forces to the combat commands to do all of the work, to do the activities that are required to meet those military objectives required by the president and the Secretary of Defense,” Saltzman said. “That’s the key difference. One is the authority to execute combat operations. The other is the service’s responsibility to make sure that the forces that are going to do that work have the right equipment, the right training, the right size, they have the right operational concept, the right tactics. All of that work is done by the service.”

U.S. Space Force Commanding General B. Chance Saltzman discusses the newest branch of the armed services at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Friday, May 2, 2025.Scott Turner/AL.com

Saltzman offered no revelations as to whether U.S. Space Command will actually come to Huntsville, or when it will happen. But he and Retired Brig. Gen. Damon Feltman, interim president of the Space Force Association’s Huntsville Chapter, said Space Force does have a presence in Huntsville.

They said Space Force has a relationship with two space-oriented agencies in Huntsville: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Missile Defense Agency. It also has relationships with some of the more than 35 aerospace industries that have a presence locally.

“Obviously the science, the research, the human space flight, the technology advancements you get with NASA are tremendously valuable on the national security side,” Saltzman said. “We collaborate on best practices, the safety of flight, the safety of launches. Can we do this properly? Can we do it well? Can we do this together? We share a lot of information and lessons learned. We stay very well connected.”

Saltzman said Space Force Guardians – as those in Space Force are called – serve in the astronaut corps.

“And we have Guardians spread across NASA to continue the kind of collaboration and bring the best practices across.”

Saltzman also called the Missile Defense Agency a “critical partner.”

“We have ground-based radars and space-based sensors that help us to do the missile warning mission, which is just the beginning part of the continuum of operations that include missile defense. Obviously, if you can’t identify threats, you can’t negate those threats.”

Saltzman said threats against U.S. satellites from other countries in the last couple of decades played a role in the creation of Space Force, which was created in 2019. Feltman told AL.com that Space Force acts similar in its relationship with the U.S. Air Force as the U.S. Marine Corps does with the U.S. Navy. The Space Command answers to the Secretary of Defense.

In addition to satellite and missile defense, the Space Force is also involved in combating cyber warfare.