It was all in good fun, and all for a good cause — Alabama legislators versus Mississippi legislators in the "Battle of the Tombigbee" softball game.
Mississippi won 16-11 in a game of offensive streaks at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium.
Alabama won last year, taking the Tombigbee Belt. This year, Mississippi won, and they took the belt back to Jackson.
For one Alabama state senator, it was a painful night. State Sen. Josh Carnley (R-Ino) played so hard, he broke his hip. He was taken to Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery.
Carnley underwent surgery Thursday morning and received eight screws and a plate. The surgery was completed and pronounced successful.
Carnley is missing a legislative day on Thursday, and there are only five remaining legislative days in the 2025 regular session. It has not been announced when Carnley will be able to return to the Senate. The Senate began its session Thursday with a prayer for Carnley and his family.
Carnley, a former Coffee County Commissioner, was elected to an open Senate seat in 2022. He represents Coffee, Covington, Pike and Dale Counties, much of Alabama's Wiregrass.
Proceeds from the annual softball game go to the award-winning children's hospital in Birmingham, Children's of Alabama. They provide specialized inpatient, outpatient, and primary care to children from all 67 of Alabama's counties and 47 states.
The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway flows through eastern Mississippi near the Alabama line and western Alabama near the Mississippi line. Both states lay business and public relations claims to the waterway. Hence, the Tombigbee Belt.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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