• Fairhope topped Theodore 12-4 and 5-4 Friday to win their Class 7A second-round playoff series, advances to state semifinals at Smiths Station

THEODORE—Kyle Bayley and Peyton Galich pitched the Pirates (24-13) to back-to-back wins for a Class 7A second-round sweep at Theodore. Bayley picked up the 12-4 complete-game victory in the opener with five scattered hits and three walks.

Fairhope’s offense scored five times in the second inning and seven in the fifth with 11 hits tallied overall. Ryan Merritt delivered a two-run double, Mason Lockhart drove in a pair and scored one. Bailey Daniels, Bayley, Merritt and Miller each finished with two hits. Miller also had an RBI.

In the nightcap, Pirate hitters staked Galich an early lead with three runs in the second and added two more big ones before the Bobcats rallied down the stretch to make it a one-run game. But Galich worked out of a tying-run situation in the seventh for the win. Theodore left 10 on in game two.

Miller led at the plate with two hits and two more RBIs for the Pirates. Kody Gratkowski had two hits and scored.

The Bobcats were led at the plate by Dalton Rone with five hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for the night. Walker Thompson had three hits and two stolen bases. Peyton Jones went 2-for-4. Theodore finished 2015 at 31-7. 

Fairhope must travel to Smiths Station Friday for the semifinals. Smiths Station won the deciding game Saturday over Auburn 8-6. The two split their Friday doubleheader 5-2 and 6-12.

The other Class 7A semifinal will feature Sparkman and Thompson. The Senators defeated Huntsville 7-4, 1-7and 15-4 while Thompson swept Vestavia Hills 10-0, 1-0.