• Pirates, Yellow Jackets advance to regional tournament

FOLEY, Ala.— The Fairhope Pirates defeated McGill-Toolen Catholic 13-5 Thursday in the final of the Class 7A Area 2 tournament in Foley to claim the Area 2 title and advance to the Regional tournament at Gulf Shores. Bailey Keith pitched a complete game for Fairhope for the win.

McGill scored first in the second inning, but the Pirates evened the score when Jaden Morace walked, stole second, was advanced by Addison Reagan and came home on a sacrifice fly by Taylor LeDrew.

Fairhope pulled ahead in the third scoring 3 runs on singles by Jaden Morace, Addison Reagan, Taylor LeDrew, and Keith. Fairhope added a fifth run in the fifth inning when Taylor LeDrew singled and was brought home by a triple from Emma Kropp to make the score 5-1.

McGill responded with 3 runs in the sixth on 3 walks, a single and two errors. Fairhope put the game out of reach with 8 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Madison Koger led off with a triple and scored on a single by Sallie Fell. Back-to-back bunt hits from Morace and Addison Reagan followed by a double from LeDrew scored four runs.

Emma Kropp reached first when hit by a pitch, and Kelsey Reagan reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Dakota Holtzclaw singled to score two.  Remaining runs scored on singles from Sallie Fell and Jaden Morace. Bailey Welsh pitched all seven innings for the Yellow Jackets.

Mc-T also advances to the regional. Foley finished third in Area 2, Murphy was fourth.