Alabama
Fast-expanding cheeseburger slider franchise to open 4 locations in coastal Alabama
Hunter Beaugez has been a physical therapist specialist for the past eight years.
His partners, including brother Taylor Rosson, own and operate ServePro restoration services from the Greater New Orleans region and into Texas and Tennessee.
On paper, they might seem to be the unlikeliest pairing to open a new hamburger concept in Mobile. But Beaugez said he’s excited about the opportunity after Smalls Sliders signed its latest multi-unit deal – what the Atlanta-based company calls a “four-Can agreement” – with the entrepreneurial team.
“Smalls Sliders is trying to enhance an old concept by making sliders bigger and more creative,” said Beaugez of New Orleans. “It’s a very innovative way of what they are trying to accomplish and plan to implement over the next year or so.”
The first Smalls Sliders will open sometime next year likely in Mobile. From there, Beaugez said there will be a new Smalls Sliders eatery opening up per year. The exact locations, he said, have not been determined.
Similar announcements have been ongoing all year in Alabama. The chain announced earlier this year that as many as five locations will open in and around Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. They also plan to target real estate in Leeds, Trussville, Gardendale, Gadsden, Huntsville, Decatur and Florence.
The company, founded in 2019 by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux creator Brandon Landry, expects to have about 350 total agreements signed by the end of this year. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is among the chain’s earliest investors.
Beaugez said in Mobile, his team is in the “early phases” of scouting sites though a Smalls Sliders press release said the sites could be in Foley, Daphne, Tillman’s Corner and Orange Beach.
Beaugez said once a site is picked out, the chain’s prefabricated modular structures – which look akin to a shipping container – will be “dropped” and construction will begin.
“It’s a unique and interesting design,” Beaugez said. “Instead of locations, we say we’re ‘dropping a new can.’ (The company) makes a whole big thing of it when they ‘drop the can.’ And once the can is dropped, it takes eight to 10 weeks before the doors open. So once that can is dropped, it’s about hitting the ground running.”
The first Mobile area franchise, Beaugez said, will open in late spring 2025.
“It depends on the real estate, location and what we can do,” Beaugez said.
He said he had been wanting to partner with Smalls Sliders for the past year as well as with his brother whose team – which includes Will Love and Jim Metteauer – oversee ServePro sites in several states.
“We met with the executive team, and everything seems to be a home run,” said Beaugez. “It’s like they have a dream team going on over there. I have all the faith in our team and in them to make sure we put together an exceptional service and products.”
Don Crocker, chief development officer at Smalls Sliders, praised the Mobile area team. Beaguez, himself, said he plans to move to the Mobile area to run the eateries.
“We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic group to our expanding Smalls Squad,” Crocker said in a statement. “Alabama has already shown tremendous enthusiasm for our brand, and we are confident that this ownership team will maintain our high standards of excellence as we enter new communities.”
Crocker added, “The demand for our premium cheeseburger sliders is growing, and experienced operators like Hunter, Taylor, Will and Jim are crucial to our continued expansion success.”
For the first time in five years, Alabama is heading to the SEC Softball Tournament championship.
The No. 2-seeded Crimson Tide (49-6) is coming off a 9-1 run-rule win over No. 3 seed Florida (48-10) on Friday, May 8. Alabama first opened tournament play with a 7-1 win over No. 7 Arkansas (42-11) on Thursday.
The Crimson Tide will face No. 4 Texas, which is coming off a walkout 5-4 win over No. 9 Georgia.
Alabama had not reached the SEC Tournament championship game since 2021, when it won its last conference championship.
Here’s what to know about how to follow the Crimson Tide against Texas in the SEC Tournament title game.
When does Alabama softball play vs Texas in SEC Tournament?
- Location: John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
- Game time — 4 p.m. CT Saturday, May 9
First pitch in the Alabama softball vs. Texas matchup is set for 4 p.m. CT Saturday, May 9 for the championship title.
What channel is Alabama softball vs Texas in SEC Tournament?
The 2026 SEC Softball Tournament conference championship game will air on ESPN.
How to listen to Alabama softball vs Texas in SEC Tournament
You can tune into each Alabama softball game on Catfish 100.1 FM.
2026 SEC Softball Tournament bracket
Click here to see the full 2026 SEC Softball Tournament bracket.
2026 SEC softball standings, conference records
All conference records are as of entering the SEC Softball Tournament.
- Oklahoma (20-4)
- Alabama (19-5)
- Florida (17-7)
- Texas (16-8)
- Tennessee (16-8)
- Texas A&M (16-8)
- Arkansas (15-9)
- LSU (12-11)
- Georgia (12-12)
- Mississippi State (9-15)
- Missouri (9-15)
- South Carolina (7-17)
- Ole Miss (6-18)
- Auburn (4-19)
- Kentucky (1-23)
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.
Alabama softball dominated all the way in its win to advance to its first SEC Tournament championship in five years.
The No. 2-seeded Crimson Tide (49-6) didn’t trail once in its 9-1 run-rule win over No. 3 seed Florida (48-10) on Friday, May 8. Alabama first opened tournament play with a 7-1 win over No. 7 Arkansas (42-11, 15-10) on Thursday.
Here are our three biggest takeaways from the Crimson Tide’s win over the Gators.
Alabama softball offense is starting to click at the right time
Alabama did not have to wait until the middle innings to find its offense this time.
Freshman Ambrey Taylor opened the scoring with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was Taylor’s 11th home run of the season and her second in as many days after also going deep against Arkansas in the quarterfinals.
Alabama continued to build from there. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second, Ana Roman singled to right field to bring in another run. Marlie Giles followed with a two-run single, pushing Alabama ahead 4-0 before the inning ended.
Jena Young doubled to drive in two more runs, with one coming across on a fielding error, at the bottom of the third. Alexis Pupillo followed with an RBI single to stretch Alabama’s lead to 6-1 by the end of the inning.
Pupillo shot an RBI-double off the wall and Audrey Vandagriff doubled to score another, extending Alabama’s lead to 8-1, threatening run-rule territory with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, securing the run rule with an RBI single by Taylor.
After needing a later-than-preferred power surge to pull away from Arkansas, Alabama’s lineup looked more comfortable early against Florida. The Crimson Tide finished with nine runs on 13 hits.
Vic Moten handles early pressure in first SEC Tournament appearance
Vic Moten’s first SEC Tournament appearance did not start easily, but the freshman pitcher kept Florida from taking advantage of the new kid on the block.
Moten walked two batters in the first inning but answered by striking out three straight Gators to keep the game scoreless heading into the bottom half.
Her pitch count climbed quickly. Moten threw more than 30 pitches in each of the first two innings and more than 20 in the third, reaching 87 pitches after just three. But after battling through traffic early, she settled in with a seven-pitch 1-2-3 fourth inning.
Alabama’s lead gave Moten margin for error, but Florida’s offense still had enough firepower to threaten a comeback. Moten ended the complete-game effort striking out four and one run on three hits with seven walks. Not bad for the freshman’s first postseason appearance.
Alabama moves one win away from SEC Tournament history
Alabama’s win over Florida moved the Crimson Tide one step closer to separating itself in SEC Softball Tournament history.
Both No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Florida entered Friday tied with six SEC Softball Tournament championships apiece. With the semifinal win, Alabama will now have a chance to become the first program in conference history to win a seventh SEC Tournament title.
The Crimson Tide had won only two of its last seven meetings against the Gators entering Friday, including a loss to Florida in the 2024 Women’s College World Series. This was the first postseason meeting between the two programs since then.
Alabama had not reached the SEC Tournament championship game since 2021, when it won the tournament title.
When does Alabama softball play again?
After beating No. 7 Arkansas and No. 3 Florida on back-to-back days, the Crimson Tide will face the winner of No. 4 Texas vs. No. 9 Georgia in the SEC Softball Tournament championship game at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 9.
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.
Does that animal have rabies? Here are signs and symptoms to look for
Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. Here’s what to look for in pets.
The Republic
State health officials are urging people to keep their pets vaccinated for rabies after a fox in Elmore County and a raccoon in Lee County tested positive for the virus.
On May 1, the raccoon was spotted acting strangely near Auburn, and the fox emerged from a wooded area and attacked a person in Tallassee, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The person has sought medical treatment.
“Rabies is not seasonal, and we continue to see cases year-round, but late spring is a time when activity peaks, particularly in wildlife,” said Dr. Dee Jones, state veterinarian for the ADPH, “The primary risk of rabies from wildlife is our pets, and keeping them up to date on rabies vaccine is critical.”
Alabama state law requires that dogs, cats and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older be current with rabies vaccination. In addition to vaccination, area residents are advised to take the following precautions to avoid possible exposure to rabies:
- Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.
- Do not allow pets to run loose; confine them within a fenced-in area or with a leash.
- Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.
- Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.
- Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
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