FAIRHOPE, Alabama – Fairhope swept its way to the 2013 6A Area 3 title with wins in the home and away set as well as the consolation game at Volanta Park. The Pirates won 2-0 at Daphne Thursday and 10-2 in the early game Friday at Volanta. The third game Friday night meant nothing in the standings without a split, but both team played hard. The Pirates came back in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 6-3 win and the complete sweep.

Hunter Ellenburg jacked a three-run line-drive homer to break a 3-3 tie in the sixth in game three. The Trojans battled to bring the tying run to the plate, but FHS right hander Easton Fuller got the final out and the win to help the Pirates improve to 23-6 overall and to 6-0 in the five-team area. Daphne took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Tanner Lee doubled in Tevin Rencher and James Reyner after Dalton Filotei took a pitch to the back for an RBI to score Stephen Williams who led off with a single. Rencher’s single had loaded the bases.

The Pirates scored one in the bottom half after a double by Dylan Thomas and a fielders choice by Gabe Wagner scored Joey Wirtes. The 3-1 lead held until Ellenburg doubled in the fifth to move Cole Wainwright to third. Wainwright scored on an error and Wirtes singled in Ellenburg for the 3-3 tie.

Beecher Faust picked up his eighth win of the year (8-0) in the matinee earlier Friday. Daphne took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Filotei singled, Lee walked and Williams doubled them home for the Trojans. Chase Crump also had a hit for DHS. But Fairhope rebounded with a run in the second and the third to tie 2-2. The Pirates then added seven in the fourth and another in the fifth. Wainwright had a home run and an infield single in the come back, Wirtes had a 2-RBI triple, Ellenburg, Faust, Jerrod Hathcock and Thomas also had RBIs.

At Daphne Thursday, Corey Childress threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout with 13 strike outs and four walks.

"It’s a good feeling to clinch the area and know we’ll be hosting the first round (of the state playoffs),” said Pirates coach Stu Fuller. “I’m proud of the guys for battling tough and pulling off a sweep of a tough team that never gives up like Daphne. I thought we played better tonight overall than we did at Daphne last night. Corey pitched a great game and kept us in it and gave us the chances we needed. We didn’t take advantage of all our opportunities. We struggled a little at the plate last night, Stephen Williams (DHS starter) had something to do with that. He did a good job of keeping us off balance. So getting out of their place  with a win of any kind is good. Daphne always plays tough at home. But tonight we were more focused with our bats and we played well defensively. Beecher did a great job holding them to a two runs and then Easton pitched well in relief for us in the nightcap."

Fairhope was led at the plate by Hathcock who homered and singled. Childress and Wagner who each doubled and Wainwright and Wirtes who each singled. Williams led the DHS offense with a double and a single. Hunter Reese added a double.

The No. 6-ranked Pirates still have a conference series with Robertsdale this week in which the Golden Bears could improve their playoff hopes, but even a sweep over FHS would not knock the Pirates from the top spot. The first game is set for April 11 at Volanta Park in Fairhope at 6 p.m. RHS will host the April 12 doubleheader which begins at 4:30 p.m. The Trojans will host Baker Tuesday at 6 p.m. and play at St. Luke’s April 12 at 4 p.m.