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Baldwin County 6-year-old wins Alabama Black Belt Big Buck Photo Contest

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Baldwin County 6-year-old wins Alabama Black Belt Big Buck Photo Contest


A Baldwin County first grader has won the Alabama Black Belt Big Buck Photo Contest after receiving more than 1,600 online votes for his Dallas County buck harvest.

Bubba Williams and his 6-year-old son, Cason, regularly travel from Bay Minette to Alabama’s Black Belt to hunt deer together. Their 2025-26 season began with a father-son trip to Dallas County during the mid-November youth hunting weekend.

“We knew there was a big six-point in the area,” Bubba Williams said. “We were waiting on him to step out, but then this big eight-point showed up.”

Cason, a first grader at Pine Grove Elementary School in Bay Minette, harvested the eight-point buck, creating what his family described as a memorable start to the season.

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Bubba Williams entered a photo of his son with the deer into the 14th annual Alabama Black Belt Big Buck Photo Contest, sponsored by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA). The image received more online votes than any other submission, securing first place.

As the contest winner, Cason received a $100 gift card and a copy of Black Belt Bounty, a coffee table book featuring wildlife photography, outdoor essays, and hunting and fishing traditions. Buckmasters also provided a hat, buck knife, and a one-year subscription to Buckmasters Magazine.

Cason’s photo received more than 1,600 votes. Addison Bridges, an 18-year-old Wallace Community College student from Selma, finished second with about 1,000 votes. Braxton Lee, an 8-year-old student at Ivy Classical Academy in Prattville, finished third with 239 votes.

Contest organizers reported more than 125 entries and thousands of online votes. All of the top three photos featured bucks harvested in Dallas County, located in Alabama’s Black Belt region.

“Our photo contests are designed to highlight the amazing hunting opportunities that so many people enjoy right here in the Black Belt,” ALBBAA director Pam Swanner said.

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“It’s always gratifying to see photos that commemorate family memories, and it’s extra special knowing this year’s winner came from a father-son hunt.”

“We want to thank everyone who participated and submitted entries into the contest and everybody who cast an online vote,” Swanner continued. “The Black Belt offers the very best hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation activities, and we want our photo contests to celebrate that tradition.”

ALBBAA officials said the organization’s annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest will launch next month and continue through the end of Alabama’s spring turkey season.

The Black Belt region includes 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, and Wilcox. Known nationally for its rich wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation, the region plays a major role in Alabama’s hunting tradition and rural tourism economy.

The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association promotes outdoor recreation and tourism across the region, supporting local economies and preserving Alabama’s hunting and fishing traditions.

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 Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].



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Live Game, Weather Updates: Tuscaloosa Baseball Regional, No. 7 Alabama vs. USC Upstate

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Live Game, Weather Updates: Tuscaloosa Baseball Regional, No. 7 Alabama vs. USC Upstate


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – 7-seeded Alabama continues NCAA regional action in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday against USC Upstate. The Crimson Tide is coming off a monstrous offensive effort on Friday that saw the team score the most runs in program NCAA Tournament history with 21. The Spartans scored in each of the first four innings to upset Oklahoma State and advance to Saturday’s winner’s bracket game.

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Alabama Baseball Regional Tournament Central: Schedule, How to Watch, Bracket Breakdown

Live Updates (Refresh Your Browser For Latest Updates at the Top)

Pregame

  • Tonight’s start time has been delayed as we’ve entered a weather delay.

  • Alabama vs. USC Upstate will have a first pitch time of 6:23 p.m. CT. The grounds crew is currently tending the field in between matchups.

  • 5:13 p.m. CT – Oklahoma State beat Alabama State 8-7 in 11 innings to eliminate the Hornets from the Tuscaloosa Regional. The Cowboys move into tomorrow’s elimination game against the loser of Alabama and USC Upstate on Sunday.

Starting Lineups

USC Upstate

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Alabama


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How to Watch: 7-Seed Alabama vs. USC Upstate in the Tuscaloosa Regional

Who: 7-seed Alabama (38-19, 18-12 SEC) vs. USC Upstate (34-28, 13-11 Big South Conference)

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What: NCAA Regional Game 4

When: Saturday, May 30, 6 p.m. CT

Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TV: ESPN +

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Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network. LISTEN LIVE

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Series: Alabama and USC Upstate have never played in baseball.

Last Meeting: The Crimson Tide and Spartans have never played in baseball.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide used 15 hits, and took advantage of eight walks, four errors, and four wild pitches to beat Alabama State 21-3 in their first NCAA Regional matchup of the weekend. Alabama had four different players hit home runs as the Crimson Tide cruised to an easy win.

Last time out, USC Upstate: The Spartans upset Oklahoma State 8-5 in their first game of the NCAA Regional. USC Upstate struck out 10 batters and scored in each of the first four innings to upset the Cowboys.

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Tuscaloosa Regional Information

  1. Alabama, (37-19)
  2. Oklahoma State, (37-20)
  3. USC Upstate, (31-27)
  4. Alabama State, (31-21)

Friday

  • Game 1 – #2 Oklahoma St. (37-20) vs. #3 USC Upstate (33-28), 1 p.m. CT, ESPN+
  • Game 2 – #1 Alabama (37-19) vs. #4 Alabama St. (34-21), 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network

Saturday

  • Game 3 – Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State – 1 p.m. CT
  • Game 4 – USC Upstate vs. Alabama – 6 p.m. CT

Sunday

  • Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 2 p.m. CT
  • Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – 7 p.m. CT

Monday

Game 7 – IF Necessary – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 – TBD

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Oklahoma State Baseball Live Scoring for NCAA Regional vs. Alabama State

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Oklahoma State Baseball Live Scoring for NCAA Regional vs. Alabama State


The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Alabama State Hornets meet in the first game of Saturday’s action at the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday.

The Cowboys (37-21) and the Hornets lost their first games of the tournament on Friday. The loser of this game will be eliminated. The winner of this game will advance to another elimination game on Sunday between the loser of the USC Upstate-Alabama game, which follows OSU-ASU

Oklahoma State fans can keep up with the game here, including lineups and inning by inning details on the game. Check out Oklahoma State On SI’s NCAA Tournament Central for everything related to the Tuscaloosa Regional.

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Game Details

Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State

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Oklahoma State pitcher Stormy Rhodes. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Time: 1 p.m. central

TV: ESPN+ (Derek Jones & Jared Mitchell on the call). NOTE: TV is subject to change without notice.

Radio: Cowboy Radio Network & The Varsity Network App/93.7 KSPI-FM or okla.state/GetVarsity (Rex Holt on the call)

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OSU Batting Order

The batting order for Saturday’s game will be posted here when it is released by the team.

Xxx

Tuscaloosa Regional

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Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Venue:  Sewell-Thomas Stadium (5,867).

Friday’s Results

Game 1: USC Upstate 8, Oklahoma State 5

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Game 2: Alabama 21, Alabama State 3

Saturday’s Games

Game 3: Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State, TBA (elimination game)

Game 4: USC Upstate vs. Alabama, TBA (advances to Sunday’s final)

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Sunday’s Games

Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination game)

Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5

Monday’s Game

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Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary)

(Times subject to change for TV purposes) 

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A path to employment for Alabama individuals with a criminal background

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A path to employment for Alabama individuals with a criminal background


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – For those incarcerated in Alabama, there is a path to employment through the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Re-Entry Program.

The Bureau looks at where someone may live after serving their sentence and starts connecting them with potential employers, while also conducting drug screenings to help ensure employers and communities are getting a safe employee.

“We make sure as they’re moving through our re-entry programs that they’re re-assessed for mental health stability for substance abuse challenges,” said Rebecca Bensema, Assistant Director of Re-entry and Rehabilitation.

Bensema said the agency sits down with inmates to gauge their interests and review their work history to help match them with opportunities.

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Bureau Director Cam Ward explained that there are areas where an individual would be unable to work because of their conviction.

“For example, if I committed check fraud, I’m not going to be able to get a job at the bank. Sex offense… you’re not going to be eligible to work anywhere near kids or sensitive facilities,” Ward said.

Ward said offering job possibilities to people leaving incarceration is key to reducing recidivism and repeat offenses.

“Give the employer all the information and if they want to hire somebody based on their criminal history, let the employer decide, don’t let the government be the one who dictates it,” he said.

The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles says it currently has positions open that people with a criminal background can apply for.

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