FAIRHOPE – The Lady Pirates successfully defended their 6A Area 3 crown Friday going 2-0 in the area tournament at Founders Park.

Fairhope capped the tournament sweep with wins over Area 3 runner-up Robertsdale 14-1 in the finals and 10-2 Thursday. The RHS Lady Bears knocked out Foley's Lady Lions in the double-elimination format 10-2 and 5-1.

Fairhope improved to 38-12 and along with RHS will advance to the South Regional tournament at Gulf Shores beginning Friday.

Farish Beard (25-6) won both Fairhope outings with a four hitter and a one hitter and 18 total strikeouts.

"Winning the area title back-to-back was important," said Fairhope coach Jonathan Heflin. "It's very special to us. This team has really worked hard to get back to this point. We had a fantastic performance out of Farish tonight. On offense we got some big hits when we needed. That's a nice boost going into the regionals next week. We need to stay disciplined at the plate and work on our short-game defense this week to help get ready."

RHS coach Chris Dabney was proud of his young Lady Bears for staying in the playoffs. "The girls played hard and knew what they had to do and that was fight and get to the regionals."

At the plate, Fairhope had two RBIs each from Grey Adams, Allison Augustine and Brooklin Caudill Thursday. Friday the Lady Pirates were led by Brooke Lennicx (4-for-4, five RBIs); Augustine (3-for-4, three RBIs); Lacey Dorsey (two RBIs) and Megan Dowdy who had two hits, reached base and scored three times.

RHS eighth-grade pitcher Carmen Vivar who hit a homer against Foley and had help in the circle from Shelby-Claire Long and Brooke McGhee. In the finals, RHS' Kayli Evans had the only hit on Beard and Heather Allen reached and later scored on an error. Against Foley in the tournament opener, Vivar pitched a two hitter with bat support from Evans, Allee Bertolla and Meagan Durant.