SPANISH FORT, Alabama — The Lady Toros clinched home-field advantage for the 5A Area 2 softball tournament with a decisive 11-1 home win over Gulf Shores Thursday.

Spanish Fort senior Morgan Yates faced only three batters over the minimum for the win in five innings of work. The righthander tossed a three hitter with five strikeouts for her ninth victory.

The Spanish Fort girls won the area title last year and hope to defend and win it again said Toros coach Sean Womack.

“I’m very proud of the girls for winning the area again,” he said. “Morgan has been in complete command of all her pitches for the last two outings. I think she’s starting to understand the importance of hitting her spots when she faces batters. That’s going to be the key for us: Being disciplined pitching-wise.”

The Lady Toros improved to 19-13 overall and 6-0 in the area while the Lady Dolphins will repeat as the area runners up ahead of Leflore and Vigor with a 3-2 league mark. The area tournament will be on The Hill at Spanish Fort May 4.

Gulf Shores had base runners reach scoring position but could not string together it’s few hits for more than one run. Inconsistency and youthful inexperience also played a role said Lady Dolphins coach Trevor Powell.

“We had some chances late in the game but by that time, we were already in a hole. We made some mistakes that we just couldn’t overcome,” he said. “This was the worst game that we have played in two weeks. We had been playing really well. We’re young this year. We are starting an eighth-grader in right field and an eighth-grader at first base. But a loss like this helps you build for the future.”

Spanish Fort honored seniors Lexi Allen, Tori Bitzer, Brianna Owens, Taylor Nail, Tara Wilkinson and Yates before the game.

“It was Senior Night tonight and with all the emotions going on, I was proud of the girls for being focused,” Womack said. “We’re not there yet but we’re getting there.”

Jade Phillips was 4-for-4 with a triple, three singles and four RBIs; Wilkinson was 3-for-3 with a double and two singles; Yates had a pair of singles with an RBI; Allen and Olivia Cox each had an RBI single for Spanish Fort.

Ashton Boone had a double, Margaret Lloyd and Chloe Roberts had back-to-back single and Nicole Wallace had a sacrifice and Taylor Hurst reached and scored on an error to lead Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores will host the the Orange Beach Invitational on Friday and Saturday which Spanish Fort will play in before the area tournament May 4.