DAPHNE, Alabama  — The high-school baseball standings and play-off scenarios will become more clear by the end of this week as many of Baldwin County’s 6A, 5A and 3A teams move into the second half of their area series.

For the first time in more than a decade, all five 6A schools are in the same qualifying area (Area 3) with only the winner and runner-up of the regular season advancing to the initial state play-off round.

Baldwin County High, Daphne, Fairhope, Foley and Robertsdale will have a better idea of who will stay and who will go by Friday night. Then again, it could get complicated.

Fairhope’s Pirates, last year’s 6A state runner up, are undefeated in area play and takes a 4-0 record into Daphne Thursday at 6 p.m. Regardless of the standings, this rivalry always seems to fuel all-out effort by both sides. The series concludes at Fairhope’s Volanta Park starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

The DHS Trojans are 2-4 in the standings dropping two games to Foley then splitting with Robertsdale but winning the tie-break game. Daphne then spilt with the BCHS Tigers, but the tie-break game was rained out and will only be played if a play-off berth is on the line between BC and DHS. The Tigers stand at 3-3 with Foley lined up next week and the “IFF (If-and-only-if) Game” with Daphne on stand-by.

“We’re in a situation now where we have to win the first two games against Fairhope to have a chance at the playoffs,” said Daphne head coach Joe Hutchins. “We have a realistic chance depending on what some other teams do the next couple of weeks, but the best thing we can do right now to help ourselves is to win those two games—or win one and the tie breaker. But it’s going to be a battle. It always is.”

Three of the Trojans’ Area 3 losses were by one run.

“It’s getting to be a habit,” Hutchins said of the close shaves after his team went 2-2 in the Gulf Coast Classic tournament — both losses were by a run each.

“The upside is that we’re still hanging in there through the whole game, not throwing in the towel when we get behind. But the down side is we either go up early, then go flat,” Hutchins said. “Or, we start out flat and get stronger but come up short. We have to start strong and finish strong against Fairhope to have a chance. And, we have to be more consistent. Limit the damage. They always have good defense and bats and good solid pitching. Fairhope is a good team. Every phase is strong, so we will have to earn everything and if they do make a mistake or two, take full advantage of it. We won’t see many, if any.

“But we are swinging the bats better and our pitching and defense is making progress. Maybe when we learn to put more pressure on the other team and keep it on, not let up — maybe then we’ll win some of those one-run games instead of being on the wrong side of so many. I know it seems like asking a lot to beat Fairhope two games in a row, but we believe we can do it. Especially if we do the positive type things we are capable of. Then we’ll have a good shot. We have to get ready and be on our best game, but believing is a good place to start.”

Fairhope still has Robertsdale to play beginning April 11 at Volanta Park at 6 p.m. Then a doubleheader at Golden Bear Park the next day starting at 4:30 p.m. The Bears are 1-3 with Foley’s Lions to take on this week before facing the Pirates.

The Lions are 2-2 in Area 3 with their sweep of the Trojans but their sweep by the Pirates. Foley’s series with the Bears begins Friday at home at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday at RHS at noon.

Foley then hosts Baldwin County starting April 11 in what could be a critical series for playoff position depending on what happens this week. Again, the un-played tie breaker with DHS could come into play.

CLASS 5A: In Class 5A, Gulf Shores’ Dolphins and Spanish Fort’s Toros will have their annual league showdown this week beginning Tuesday at The Fort in Spanish Fort at 6 p.m. The second game and potential tie break game of the series moves to Gulf Shores Thursday for a start at 5 p.m.

The Dolphins (2-0) swept B.C. Rain earlier in the season and still have the Williamson series which begins April 9 at WHS at 4 p.m. and wraps up at GS April 11 at 4:30 p.m.

The SF Toros, the reigning and three-time defending state champs of 5A, are also 2-0 so far with a sweep of WHS and will face B.C. Rain next week after the clash with GSHS.

CLASS 3A: In 3A, Bayside Academy opened the area race with a tough home loss to T. R. Miller last week. But the Admirals spilt with Miller’s Tigers and won the tie-break game for the advantage. Bayside faces Cottage Hill Christian this week beginning Wednesday at BA at 5 p.m. The series moves to CHC Thursday with a 4 p.m. start.

The Admirals will finish the Area 1 run with W.S. Neal away in Brewton April 11 and at home in Daphne April 12 with a first pitch set for 4 p.m.