Fairhope alumnus Nolan Phillips wasted no time making noise during his first college baseball season with the West Alabama Tigers and was recently named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week for his efforts from the pitcher’s mound.

The former Pirate and AHSAA South All-Star collected his first career pitching victory on Saturday, Feb. 8, with 2.1 innings of no-hit ball to go along with four strikeouts as West Alabama upset No. 22 Nova Southeastern 13-7 in the nightcap of a doubleheader.

Phillips added a relief effort against Mississippi College on Saturday, Feb. 15, for his third outing so far. Through 5 innings pitched for the Tigers, Phillips has allowed only 1 hit and 3 earned runs while striking out 7 of the 25 batters he’s faced for a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. Opponents own a .063 batting average against him.

West Alabama enters this week of play 5-7 overall with a 1-2 mark in the Gulf South Conference. Following this weekend’s series against the AUM Warhawks, Phillips is set to return to lower Alabama when the Tigers take on Spring Hill College in non-conference action in Mobile on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Phillips isn’t the only former Fairhope Pirate pitcher on the West Alabama roster as classmate Connor Gunnison also kept his talents in state.

Fairhope football fans may remember the two-time all-county defensive back best for his viral, game-winning pick-six in Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Spanish Fort Toros at home. With a 75-yard return to pay dirt, Phillips scored as time expired to give the Pirates their first win of the season in their first try.