Alabama News

The South All-Stars rallied to tie the nightcap of the North-South All-Star baseball doubleheader series 7-7 on Monday to wrap up Day 1 of All-Star Week in Montgomery after whipping the North 16-6 in the opener.

UMS-Wright’s Ty Waters was named the South MVP while Vestavia Hills’ Gavin Smith was the MVP for the North for the games played at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium.

All-Star rules allow the final game to end in a tie after 7 innings.

The North All-Stars jumped to a 5-1 lead after the first inning of Game 2, but the South clawed back with 3 runs in the top of the third and added another run in the fourth to knot the score. The North pulled ahead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Southern stars ended the game with 2 runs in the top of the seventh.

The North had a final shot at a win in the bottom of the seventh when Homewood’s Levi Nickoli walked and took second on a deep fly out to right by Smith. With 2 outs, Muscle Shoals Dylan Olive walked and Westbrook Christian’s Brodie Johnson reached on an error to load the bases.

Briarwood Christian’s Parker Daniels battled Waters, who pitched the final inning, with the bases loaded. One inside pitch almost hit Daniels and another hit his bat before striking his arm. With a full count, Waters fanned a hard-swinging Daniels for the out. He struck out 2 in the inning.

The South out-hit the North 10-7 in Game 2 with Waters collecting a single and double. He had a triple in the first game and came up a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. John Michael Mordecai of Wicksburg also had a double and single in Game 2. Gage Davis of Elmore County threw 3 shutout innings to highlight the South’s six pitchers in the second game. He struck out 4.

The North was led by Daniels, who had a hit and drove in 2 runs. Spain Park’s Rhys Jones pounded a triple to drive in a run, Nickoli had a single and an RBI and Winfield’s Kyson Key had a hit and an RBI.

The North All-Stars hold a 24-18-5 edge in the series that began in 1997.

In Game 1, the North took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Vestavia’s Smith. The North added three more runs to take 4-0 lead, but the South struck quickly to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the inning.

The South, coached by Rehobeth’s Adam Foster and Trinity Presbyterian’s Chad Mansmann, dominated play the rest of the game with Glenwood’s Hudson Campbell and Reeltown’s Hutson Lewis driving in a run each with singles. Prattville Christian’s Jack Diefenderfer had 2 doubles and 3 RBIs. Waters also slammed a triple and a single drive in 3. Florala’s Easton Walsh had 2 hits.

Campbell was also the winning pitcher for the South, striking out 5 and allowing a hit over 2 innings. G.W. Long’s Blayne Wood also struck out 3, allowed 2 unearned runs on 4 hits over 2 innings.

Brodie Johnson of Westbrook Christian and Abe Martin of Southside had 2 hits each for the North, coached by Ryan Keedy of Gardendale and Justin Cantrell of Deshler. Fayetteville’s Benton Cantrell also smacked a double.

GOLF

The South All-Star teams swept the golf competition at Montgomery’s Arrowhead Golf Club on Monday.

The South girls, coached by Adam Byrd of Auburn and Krystle Avery of St. Paul’s, topped the North 43.5-28.5 in the match play competition. The South boys, coached by Alex Davis of Smiths Station and Mark Wicker of Elba, beat the North All-Stars for the first time in the six-year series with a 3-1-1 match-play edge to win 56.5-33.5.

Defending Class 1A/3A girls golf state champion Julie Waldo of Alabama Christian teamed with Bailee Reaper of Spanish Fort to beat Hana Crockatt of Bob Jones and Katherine Taylor of Tuscaloosa Academy 15-3 to set the pace for the South girls.

The South won 3 of 4 matches over the North, which still holds a 4-2 edge in the series after Monday’s loss. North coaches were Courtney Coots of West Point and Scott Taylor of Tuscaloosa Academy.

South golfer Jackson Doggett of Jackson High School, playing by himself, tied Will Abernathy of Athens and Nic Ibarra of Fayetteville 9-9. Elba’s Jay Wilson and Bayshore Christian’s Michael Heaton beat the North’s Jay Whaley of Oxford and Drew Clark of Southside 15-3 for the biggest margin of victory in the South win.

The South girls MVPs were Waldo and Reaper and the North MVPs were Emma Jones of Boaz and Carli Aris of West Point. The South boys MVPs were Wilson and Heaton. The North boys MVPs were Brodie Abernathy of Westbrook Christian and Caden Wood of Piedmont.

Competition continues on Tuesday at Gateway Park with boys and girls cross country races at 8 a.m. The boys and girls tennis will begin at 4 p.m. at Lagoon Park. The boys and girls basketball games will be at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively.

The basketball games will be live steamed over the NFHS Network and AHSAA TV Network via WOTM TV.

The AHSAA 2025 Summer Conference also gets underway at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center at 8 a.m. Tuesday with more than 4,000 coaches and administrators attending this week.

AHSAA NORTH-SOUTH

ALL-STAR RESULTS/SCHEDULE

Girls golf: South 43.5, North 28.5 (North girls lead series 4-2)

Boys golf: South 56.5, North 33.5 (North boys lead series 5-1)

Baseball: South 16-7, North 6-7 (North boys lead series 24-19-5)

Girls cross country: Gateway Park, Tuesday, 8 a.m. (North leads series 5-2)

Boys cross country: Gateway Park, Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. (North leads series 5-2)

Girls basketball: Cramton Bowl Multiplex, Tuesday, 5 p.m. (North leads series 24-3)

Boys basketball: Cramton Bowl Multiplex, Tuesday, 5 p.m. (North leads series 51-30)

Girls tennis: Lagoon Park, 5 p.m., Tuesday (North leads series 4-0)

Boys tennis: Lagoon Park, 5 p.m., Tuesday (North leads series 3-1)

Softball: Lagoon Park, 4 p.m., Wednesday (North leads series 29-25-2)

Girls soccer: Emory Folmar Soccer Complex, 5 p.m. Wednesday (North leads 19-3-1)

Boys soccer: Emory Folmar Soccer Complex, 7 p.m. Wednesday (North leads 16-4-1)

Volleyball: Cramton Bowl Multiplex, Thursday, 2 p.m. (North leads series 16-10)

On Monday at 11:03 p.m. a heat advisory was issued by the National Weather Service valid for Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva and Houston counties.

The weather service states, “Heat index values up to 111 degrees expected.”

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” says the weather service.

Mastering the heat: Guidelines for staying safe in high temperatures

• Stay hydrated: Make sure to drink plenty of fluids.
• Seek shelter: Opt for an air-conditioned room to stay comfortable.
• Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors.
• Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles, especially when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes.
• Caution outdoors: If you must work or spend time outdoors, take extra precautions.
• Optimal timing: Consider rescheduling strenuous activities to early morning or evening if possible.
• Recognize heat-related issues: Recognize the warning signs and familiarize yourself with symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Dress for comfort: Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing to stay cool.

Additional recommendations for outdoor workers:

• For outdoor workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends regular rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
• If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
• In emergencies, call 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety directives are essential for safeguarding your well-being when facing high temperatures. Stay well-informed and take the necessary precautions to shield yourself and others from the potential hazards of extreme heat.

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.

The National Weather Service released a heat advisory at 10:42 p.m. on Monday in effect until Tuesday at 9 p.m. for Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Elmore, Macon, Bullock, Lee, Russell, Pike and Barbour counties.

The weather service adds to prepare for, “Heat index values up to 107 degrees.”

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” explains the weather service.

Mastering the heat: Guidelines for staying safe in high temperatures

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids.
• Seek shelter: Stay indoors in an air-conditioned room to keep cool.
• Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
• Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles, especially when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes.
• Caution outdoors: If you must work or spend time outdoors, take extra precautions.
• Select the ideal time: If possible, move strenuous activities to early morning or evening for more favorable conditions.
• Recognize heat-related issues: Recognize the warning signs and familiarize yourself with symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Dress comfortably: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to stay comfortable.

Additional recommendations for outdoor workers:

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas for outdoor workers.
• If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
• In emergencies, call 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety directives are essential for safeguarding your well-being when facing high temperatures. Stay well-informed and take the necessary precautions to shield yourself and others from the potential hazards of extreme heat.

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.

The Los Angeles Lakers waived center Trey Jemison on Monday.

The NBA team parted ways with the former UAB standout after he had two points, nine rebounds and three assists in three games with Los Angeles’ team in the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas over the previous 11 days.

Jemison also had three points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots in two games for the Lakers in the California Classic Summer League in the first week of July.

Jemison joined Los Angeles on a two-way contract on Jan. 18. In 22 games with the Lakers in the 2024-25 season, Jemison averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds.

The Lakers picked up Jemison after the New Orleans Pelicans released him on Jan. 9. In 16 games with New Orleans, Jemison averaged 2.4 points and 2.8 rebounds.

A prep standout at Homewood and Hoover before averaging 9.1 points and 8.4 rebounds in his final season at UAB, Jemison was playing for the NBA Gatorade League’s Birmingham Squadron during the 2023-24 season when his 11.8-rebounds-per-game average attracted the attention of the NBA’s worst rebounding team.

The Washington Wizards signed the center to a 10-day contract on Jan. 20, 2024. Jemison didn’t get much of a chance with the Wizards, though. During his 10-day stay, he played one minute across two games. But the day that contract ran out, Jemison signed another 10-day deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, who had been hit by an epidemic of injuries.

This time, Jemison got to play, and when his 10-day contract expired, Memphis signed him to a two-way contract.

With the Grizzlies, Jemison played in 23 games, with 14 starts. He made 55.1 percent of his shots as he averaged 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

The Grizzlies waived Jemison on July 24, 2024. The Pelicans claimed his contract off the waiver wire, bringing him back to New Orleans after he’d attended training camp with the team as a rookie.

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

Friends and fans of “The Cosby Show” standout Malcolm-Jamal Warner reacted with shock and heartbreak to news of his drowning in Costa Rica.

Sherri Shepherd, who played the 54-year-old actor’s wife on the 2009 sitcom “Sherri,” said in a statement to the Daily News that she was “devastated” by her friend’s death.

“To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humor, grace, humility and deep cultural appreciation,” she said. “He was just a good guy! His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community.”

Warner died Sunday while vacationing with his family. Authorities told ABC News he was the victim of an unexpectedly strong current.

Actor Tracee Ellis Ross played Warner’s wife in the BET sitcom “Reed Between the Lines.” She remembered first knowing her former co-star as Theo Huxtable from “The Cosby Show” before coming to know him as a friend.

“What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant,” she posted on Instagram. “You made the world a brighter place.”

Basketball superstar Magic Johnson said on X that he and his wife Cookie were fans of “The Cosby Show” as well as Warner programs “Malcolm and Eddie” and “The Resident,” but enjoyed seeing him outside of the television world, too.

“Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed,” Johnson said.

The NAACP thanked Warner for his cultural impact.

“Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire,” the organization posted on Facebook.

CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan posted audio on Instagram of a phone call she had with polarizing “The Cosby Show” creator Bill Cosby.

The 88-year-old comic said he last spoke to Warner three months ago and will remember him as a “dearly beloved friend” who worked hard on their classic NBC classic that ran from 1984 to 1992.

“He was quite comfortable even with the growing pains of being a teenager,” Cosby said.

©2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Former Auburn defensive lineman Justin Rogers is joining the Seattle Seahawks just in time for training camp. The Seahawks will hold their first practice of training camp on Wednesday, and the NFL team announced Rogers’ signing on Monday.

Rogers signed with Seattle after a Monday workout for the team.

Rogers will be seeking to make the team as defensive-line depth. The Seahawks seem set on their defensive-line starters already with Byron Murphy II, former Alabama standout Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams.

Rogers had been a free agent since June 18, when the Dallas Cowboys waived him.

Rogers originally joined the Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Dallas waived the defensive tackle when it reduced its preseason roster to the regular-season limit of 53 active players last year.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed Rogers for their practice squad, but he returned to the Cowboys when they signed him to their active roster on Dec. 19. Though eligible, Rogers did not play in the final three weeks of the season.

Rogers played one season at Auburn. He transferred to the Tigers after playing at Kentucky in the 2020 through 2022 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.

A Dothan man has been charged in the neglect death of a 70-year-old man.

Police and fire medics were dispatched at noon Monday on a medical call at a home in the 700 block of Shirley Street.

When they arrived, they found James Edward Jackson dead inside.

Officer said the home was in disarray.

“It was clear, after an inspection of the victim, that he had not been properly cared for by his caretaker,” said Dothan Police Chief William E. Benny. “The victim had obvious signs of neglect, which prompted an investigation.”

Jackson’s caretaker, 59-year-old Willie Sam Wymes, gave inconsistent statements that were easily disproved, Benny said.

Wymes is charged with manslaughter in Jackson’s death.

“Individuals caring for elderly individuals have a responsibility to provide necessary food, shelter, and medical care when needed,” Benny said. “The inaction of Wymes in caring for Jackson made this charge appropriate.”

Wymes is being held in the Houston County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.

Irondale police officers did not use a knee to the back of the neck to subdue a 52-year-old man who died last year during an altercation with officers, city officials said Monday afternoon.

The city’s statement was in response to a press conference held earlier in the day during which family members of Phillip David Reed and their attorneys likened his in-custody death to that of George Floyd. They called for accountability, transparency and officer arrests.

“The City of Irondale and the Irondale Police Department do not agree with the characterization of events by Ms. Sandra Reeder regarding the death of Phillip Reeder,” the statement read.

“The force used against Mr. Reeder was only the force necessary and proportional to the need to prevent his running wildly back and forth on a busy road endangering himself and others,” according to the statement.

Reeder, a Shelby County husband, father, grandfather and business owner, died August 6, 2024.

The ordeal began when police received a 911 call about a man – later identified as Reeder – running in and out of traffic on an Irondale roadway,

Irondale police officers were dispatched at 5:10 a.m. that Tuesday on several 911 calls reporting the man’s behavior on Highway 78 near Old Leeds Road.

Officers at the time said they found Reeder who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance and/or behaving erratically.

Officers rendered first aid on the scene until paramedics arrived. Reeder was taken to St. Vincent’s East where he was pronounced dead at 6:34 a.m.

Reeder’s wife on Monday said she and other family members were allowed to watch police footage on Friday, 11 months after his death.

“After being Tased by the Irondale Police Department, subdued, handcuffed with his hands behind his back, face down, one officer’s knee is on Phillip’s neck for about three minutes while another police officer had one Phillip’s legs upwards,” Sandra Reeder said. “Phillip is heard clearly, not once, not twice but three times saying, ‘I can’t breathe.’”

Irondale city officials said in the statement that they facilitated the viewing of the body camera footage for Reeder’s family and chronicled the events of that morning.

It was 5:10 a.m. when Irondale 911 received several calls regarding a white male running in and out of traffic on Highway 78 near Old Leeds Road. Officers were dispatched to the area and found Reeder, who they said appeared to be under the influence and behaving erratically.

“Despite multiple commands to comply, Mr. Reeder continued running in the road and shouting,” the statement said. “As Mr. Reeder posed a danger to himself and others, a Taser was deployed to bring Mr. Reeder to the ground and assist officers with detaining Mr. Reeder.”

“Even after deployment of the Taser, Mr. Reeder continued to resist and would not follow commands of the officers,’’ according to the statement.

Once handcuffed, city officials said, Reeder continued to struggle and resist for almost two minutes.

“Officers did hold Mr. Reeder to the ground using their arms only,’’ according to the statement. “No knee was placed in the back of his neck and no excessive force was used.”

Reeder stopped resisting, city officials said, and the officers realized that he had stopped breathing. They immediately Turned him over, checked for a pulse and began CPR until the paramedics arrived.

According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Reeder died of hypertensive heart disease associated with cocaine and restraint during altercation. His death was ruled a homicide, which means he died at the hands of another.

The Jefferson County District Attorney reviewed Reeder’s death, prosecutors said Monday. The D.A.’s office did not find probable cause for criminal charges.

“ALEA conducted an independent investigation of the incident and found no wrongdoing by the Irondale police officers,” according to the statement. “The City of Irondale and the Irondale Police Department support our police officers and do not believe they did anything wrong as to Phillip Reeder.”

Philip Rivers’ most recent NFL game came on Jan. 9, 2021, as he threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns in the Indianapolis Colts’ 27-24 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.

A former Athens High School star and son of a prep coach, Rivers has spent the four seasons since as the football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope. But it wasn’t until Monday that Rivers announced his retirement from the NFL.

The Los Angeles Chargers released a video featuring Rivers as he talked about his football career and tried to keep a rein on his emotions.

Rivers signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Chargers. He spent 16 seasons with the franchise – 13 in San Diego and three in Los Angeles – before playing his final season with the Colts.

Rivers entered the NFL from North Carolina State as the fourth pick in the 2004 draft. The New York Giants chose Rivers. But because the first pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, refused to play for the Chargers, San Diego traded him to the Giants for Rivers.

After serving two seasons as the backup to Drew Brees, Rivers started the final 240 games of his career – 252 if the playoffs are included. He did not miss starting a game across 15 seasons.

“I think gratitude is the first thing that comes to mind,” Rivers said in his retirement video. “… There were so many highlights and fun Sundays – so many. But what I miss and what I’m most appreciative and thankful for are those relationships, the things that were behind the scenes.”

One of the former teammates mentioned by Rivers in the video was former Auburn offensive tackle Marcus McNeill, who was in the group that showed up at Rivers’ home with the one-day contract for him to sign.

“Having you retire a Charger, man, it means the world to us as an organization,” team owner John Spanos told Rivers. “And we’re just so grateful.”

When Rivers played his last game, he ranked fifth in NFL history with 63,440 passing yards, 421 touchdown passes and a 95.2 passing-efficiency rating.

Rivers received Pro Bowl recognition in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“It goes fast,” Rivers said.

Rivers will become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2026. The process to select the next set of inductees into the football shrine will begin later this year.

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.