FAIRHOPE, Alabama — The Pirates broke out the bats, broke open their offense and broke down the Central-Phenix City defense with scores of 11-1 and 11-4 to complete the two-game semi-final sweep of the Red Devils Friday night for a berth in the 6A, 2012 state baseball championship series this weekend in Montgomery.

Starters Toby Thomas and Ethan Hunt and reliever Cory Childress held the Devils in the red while Fairhope's offense dipped into the black to score 22 times in 12 innings of work. Catcher Jerrod Hathcock delivered nine, center fielder Chase Domino four and left fielder Justin Hathcock three of those 22 runs as the three totaled five Pirate home runs at Volanta Park.

“What a night,” said Pirates coach Stu Fuller. “The week was excruciating compared to a normal week. But we had to get ready for some high-velocity pitching that we had not seen a lot of. So we pounded and pounded them with high-speed stuff and looks like it paid off. We're going to be facing some more guys who throw it hard so we'll be back at work this week.

"But tonight, I'm so proud of these guys. (Central) had not given up many runs all year and for us to put 11 and 11 on them speaks to how hard our guys worked on getting ready at the plate. It also speaks volumes about our defense. And with Toby and Ethan out there throwing great and then Childress came in and shut the door, we got it done.

"But just so proud of all of these guys. Come to the ball park ready to work. Jerrod Hathcock, what can you say? And Chase (Domino) and Justin (Hathcock) and Brock (Gilheart), I'm really proud of Brock. He came through big tonight for us. Dre Chaney came off the bench in the second game for Cole Wainwright after Cole hurt his shoulder. Dre stepped up like I expected. We prepare all our guys for that. I think preparation is the key and these guys understand. It feels good to be on the same page. That's what you work for."

The Pirates had one character-testing inning in game two when high pop-ups got testy in the pre-storm wind Friday night. Three of them got away from the Pirate fielder with runners on base, but heads up play and good arms salvaged pick-offs at second and third with minimum damage.

"This team has found a way, even through adversity, to keep a presence of mind out there and turn things around," Fuller said. "And as a coach, you love to see that high-level of awareness out there. Tonight it was a thing of beauty.”

Domino, a four year starter who has experienced the agony of first-round, fourth-round and in-between-round defeats, said the previous seasons were like stepping stones to Montgomery.

"Been working so hard as a team for four years, especially this year," he said. "I think that got us here. But we also used the last two years as motivation. Getting so close in the fourth round and then losing in the first round last year—We used it. We used that experience to make us better, to realize you never let up, never give up, you just keep working hard and working hard until you get it done. And we don't have all of it done yet. We still have work to do.”

Domino said he and his teammates have adjusted to the feel of the newer bats that limit the rebound energy and distance off the barrel but does not think it's a factor at this point of the season.

“I think we have adjusted. They are less powerful, but everybody has to use them so it's all even. You still just look for a pitch you like and try to put the sweet spot on it.”

The two wins were also the 599th and 600th career victories for Fuller.

“The 600 wins are more about being fortunate to have great kids and the longevity factor than anything I've done," he said. "This is my 24th (year) so that and having great players with great attitudes that work hard and want to make playoffs and go as far as possible is a blessing. And that's where we want Fairhope baseball to be. With great players and great assistant coaches like we have, and great parents, it makes it easier to focus on coaching and teaching this game that we love.”

Fairhope (37-6) will now meet Oxford in the best-of-three championship series starting at 7 p.m. Friday. That game is set to be played at Paterson Field, the Saturday game(s) are set for River Walk Stadium at 4 p.m., 7 p.m. in Montgomery. Central finished 31-16.

Game 2: Fairhope's Ethan Hunt (11-0) went six innings, scattered four hits and five walks, gave up two runs in the fifth and had three strikeouts. Corey Childress took the ball in the seventh for the close. Hank Baker had two RBIs for Central.

As visitors, Hunt took the mound with a 3-0 lead thanks to Jerrod Hathcock's three-run homer in the top of the first inning. The Pirates added two in the second, two in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the seventh. Jerrod Hathcock went 4-for-4 and also had a 3-RBI triple and a single from which Childress scored as a catcher's courtesy runner. Gilheart and Hunter Ellenberg had three singles, Justin Hathcock had two, Beecher Faust and Taylor Vrabel each had one.

Domino had an RBI single and hit a solo home run in the fourth and nearly hit another to end the game early by the 10-run rule, but a great catch at the wall sent it to the sixth inning. Dre Chaney drove in two runs on two hits.

Game one: In the opener, Jerrod Hathcock threaded the flag poles in center field for a two-run lead in the bottom of the second, Thomas helped himself with an RBI double, Domino drove in two more, Gilheart singled in one and Faust doubled in another — all by the third inning for a 7-0 lead.

FHS added three more in the fourth and one in the fifth, including a homer by Domino to give Thomas his 11 straight win of the year without a loss.

Thomas struck out 11 in just five innings, scattered two hits and two walks and gave up one run — a solo homer to Jamal Howard in the fifth.