The Alabama Crimson Tide have reached the College World Series for the first time since 1999, but you can bet that they aren’t satisfied with a mere appearance. Advancing isn’t going to be easy, however, considering the gauntlet that lies ahead.
Alabama
Thunderstorms with pea-sized hail in Central Alabama Friday
A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Friday at 2:44 a.m. for strong thunderstorms until 3:30 a.m. for Lowndes, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock and Pike counties.
Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are expected.
“At 2:44 a.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Montgomery to 9 miles northwest of Rutledge. Movement was east at 60 mph,” states 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 Southern Montgomery, Tuskegee, Union Springs, Meadville, Pike Road, Shorter, Hyundai Motors Of Alabama, Dublin, Woodcrest, Beans Crossroads, Snowdoun, Shopton, Sellers, Ramer, Waugh, Liverpool, Hardaway, Ansley, Pine Level and Aberfoil.
According to the weather service, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 5 a.m. for south central and southeastern Alabama.”
When lightning looms: Expert safety tips for thunderstorms
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:
1. 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 shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.
2. 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.
3. 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, 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 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. 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.
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, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.
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.
Of the eight teams in Omaha, five are from the SEC and Alabama is on the side of the bracket with only other conference members. The Tide opens play with Oklahoma, who finished 11th in the SEC to the Tide’s fourth place finish. The other two teams are Georgia, who won both the regular season and tournament championships, and the Texas Longhorns who finished second in the conference. The other team from the Southeastern Conference, Ole Miss, is on the other side with Troy, West Virginia, and North Carolina. The Rebels are considered to be on the easier side of things, avoiding meeting any of their conference foes until the final round.
Game one: A rematch with the Oklahoma Sooners
These two met in early April, with the Tide taking two of three in Norman. Both teams have changed a lot over the past two months, but obviously will be familiar with each other’s style of play and personnel. Alabama was hot down the stretch while the Sooners stumbled to the finish line in SEC play, but Oklahloma made it into Regionals and took down second overall seed Georgia Tech in an exciting series, then traveled to Kansas and took down the Jayhawks in Super play.
OU hit .289 as a team with 83 home runs, 100 doubles, 17 triples, and 124-146 stolen bases. Those marks are almost all ahead of the Tide’s .258, 80 home runs, 101 doubles, 10 triples, and 86 stolen bases in 94 attempts. Oklahoma pitches to a 5.15 ERA with a .236 batting average against with 264 walks, and 596 strikeouts. Alabama carries a 4.08 ERA with a .245 batting average against, 210 walks, and 532 strikeouts.
Oklahoma will likely start Cord Rager against the Tide in the World Series game, after not pitching against Bama in the earlier series. Alabama is most likely to go with Tyler Fay, who has opened every series for the Tide this season. Rager is 5-3 with a 5.20 ERA in 64 innings pitched with 81 strikeouts, 19 walks, and 50 hits allowed. Fay is 11-4 with 4.37 ERA over 103 innings pitched while allowing only 85 hits, 24 walks, with 121 strikeouts.
Individually for the Sooners, Dasan Harris leads the team with a .362 average and 18 steals in 19 attempts. Deiten Lechance is hitting .332 with 15 home runs, 62 RBI, and 12 doubles. Camden Johnson has a .309 average with nine home runs, 47 RBI and has swiped 28 bases in 31 tries. Brenden Brock is a .293 hitter with 12 home runs, 52 RBI and 27 bags in 30 attempts. Trey Gambill also hits .293 with 12 doubles and has stolen 16 bases. Oklahoma has some pop and a lot of speed for the Tide to deal with.
Game two: Either Georgia or Texas
The Bulldogs and Longhorns will battle, boasting two of the top offenses in the country. Each team has a clear number one pitcher as well. For Georgia, Joey Volchko is the likely starter against Texas and should face off against Dylan Volantis. Volchko has a 10-2 record with a 4.07 ERA over 17 starts and 86 innings. The big right hander has allowed 78 hits with 45 walks and 104 strikeouts. Volantis, last season’s National Freshman of the Year, is a big lefty that dominated this season. The sophomore starter has a 10-1 record with a 2.03 ERA in 88 innings, with 126 strikeouts, a .192 batting average against, and has allowed only two home runs all year.
Georgia mashed their way to a .326 team batting average with 123 doubles, a nation leading 174 home runs, with a .439 on base percentage and .629 slugging mark. The team struck out 497 times and walked 334 times with 124 hit by pitches. The list of offensive stars is long for the Dogs. Georgia pitching has a 4.92 ERA with 273 walks, 653 strikeouts, 82 home runs allowed and a .242 batting average against.
SEC Player of the Year, and the favorite for the Golden Spikes Award, catcher Daniel Jackson leads the way with a .396 average, 31 home runs, 13 doubles, 86 RBI, an absurd 1.339 OPS and 26 stolen bases in 28 tries. Centerfielder Rylan Luju hits .374 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 45 RBI, and 13 stolen base. Tre Phelps logs in with a .364 average, 10 doubles, 19 home runs, and 58 runs driven in. Part time player Michael O’Shaughnessy has 21 home runs and 50 RBI with a .296 batting average. Shortstop Kolby Branch has a .297 average with 19 home runs, 18 doubles, and 58 RBI. The list goes on and on.
Texas is almost as strong offensively as the Bulldogs, but has better pitching. The Longhorns hit .298 as a team with 103 home runs, 109 doubles, a .521 slugging percentage, and a .420 on base percentage. Texas pitchers have a team ERA of 4.08 with 192 walks, 658 strikeouts, and a .225 batting average against.
Freshman outfielder Anthony Pack leads the ‘Horns with a .359 average plus 11 home runs, 16 doubles, 52 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. Centerfielder Aiden Robbins comes in with .342 average, 24 home runs, 64 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. Catcher Carson Tinney checks in with a .333 average with 22 home runs, 12 doubles, 10 stolen bases and 58 runs driven in.
If the Tide plays the Longhorns, the matchup should be Adams for the Tide against Ruger Riojas or perhaps Luke Harrison. Bama faced both in Austin earlier in the season, and enjoyed more success against Harrison in their lone victory of the series. Both are tough matchups and I would think Riojas would get the nod. Adams pitched six shutout innings against the Horns, allowing only five hits with seven strikeouts in one of his best performances.
If the Tide faces Georgia, they will most likely send Zane Adams to face Caden Aoki. Aoki is 9-1 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games with eight starts, while striking out 104 in 78 innings. Adams is 8-4 with a 3.96 ERA over 88 innings, allowing 90 hits with 27 walks and 98 strikeouts. If Alabama play Georgia they cannot get in a shootout with them, that’s a game the Tide can’t play.
The first priority is obviously to win game one. Alabama knows that whichever team they face, they will be in for a battle. Having not played Georgia and knowing what the Longhorns bring, Texas is probably the preferred matchup.
The Crimson Tide faces Oklahoma on Saturday, June 13 at 2:00 PM CT, airing on ESPN.
Bama Baseball Fever, Catch It!
For the Hairston family, the third edition of the revived East-West Classic at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Juneteenth isn’t just an exhibition game. It’s a true family reunion, in a city where they have roots.
Jerry Hairston Sr. is back to manage the East squad and his son
Jerry Hairston Sr. is back to manage the East squad and his son
A Japanese shipbuilding delegation of government and industry officials recently toured Alabama’s coast as part of a mission to expand shipbuilding and defense capabilities in Japan and the U.S.
Alabama Department of Commerce officials, including Secretary Ellen McNair, and leaders from local communities participated in the U.S. International Trade Administration-led excursion, which also included Florida and Mississippi.
The tour was part of the ongoing collaboration under the U.S.-Japan Memorandum of Cooperation Regarding Shipbuilding. That memorandum, signed by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last October, calls for expanded shipbuilding capacity in both nations by aligning investment, procurement, workforce and technology initiatives.
“This visit provided an opportunity for our Japanese counterparts to see firsthand what makes Alabama a leader in maritime and defense industries,” McNair said. “The Alabama coastline is home to a globally competitive shipbuilding ecosystem – supporting both commercial and naval vessel construction.
“In the Mobile region alone, more than 16,000 workers are part of the maritime workforce within a short drive, supporting everything from advanced shipbuilding to repair and logistics.”
The Mobile Chamber and its Executive Vice President, David Rodgers, were key to creating the first-rate tour, McNair said.
“Alabama is playing an increasingly critical role in national defense,” Rodgers said. “Companies like Austal USA are delivering next-generation vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and recent expansions are helping to strengthen America’s shipbuilding capacity in Mobile and beyond.”
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly also met with the delegation.
The U.S. Department of Commerce will now work with interagency partners and Japanese counterparts to identify potential foreign direct investment opportunities resulting from the mission. Robert Stackpole, director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Alabama office, plays an active role in Export Alabama and was instrumental in organizing this visit. He will be part of those conversations and will coordinate directly with the Alabama Department of Commerce on next steps.
“Our local, state and federal partnerships are key to our foreign direct investment growth,” McNair said.
Alabama’s relationships with Japanese companies go back decades, said Bob Smith, assistant director of Commerce’s Business Development Office.
“Japan is one of Alabama’s leading sources of foreign investment, with more than $10 billion invested since 1999, creating a combined 25,000 jobs,” Smith said. “The shipbuilding memorandum gives Alabama and our Japanese partners another opportunity to prosper and grow together while making both our countries more secure.”
International Trade Administration officials said the delegation tour is part of broader efforts to promote foreign investment into the United States, enhance industrial resilience and support the competitiveness of critical sectors across the U.S. economy.
“The relationship between Alabama and Japan is one of our most enduring and successful international partnerships,” said Christina Stimpson, chief officer for Commerce’s Global Business Office. “Over the years, Commerce and the Japan-America Society of Alabama have built strong connections through investment, business collaboration and cultural exchange, creating lasting benefits for communities in both places.
“This visit reflects the strength of those relationships and the opportunities that exist to deepen our cooperation in strategic industries like shipbuilding, where Alabama and Japan can continue to grow and succeed together.”
Courtesy of Made in Alabama
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