MOBILE, Alabama — Fairhope senior Toby Thomas was awarded the Jake Peavy MVP award after the Pirates won the 2012 BayBears High School Classic Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium with a 4-1 championship victory over Satsuma.

Thomas pitched the Pirates to a 2-1 win over McGill-Toolen in the semifinals Saturday afternoon, then went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run in the championship game against Satsuma that night.

“It feels great. It’s just an honor but I really owe it to my teammates,” Thomas said. “Couldn’t, wouldn’t have it without them in front and behind me out there."

"Just came out, supported my team and they supported me right back. We support each other all the way. Everybody battled, came up with big hits. I’m really proud to be part of this team and help get the fourth BayBear trophy in a row.”

Thomas, who committed to Pensacola State, said the new bat rules are a hit for pitchers. “The new bats really came into play with the low-scoring games so far. But I like it. It lets you be more aggressive with your fastball and go after hitters. It always helps too, to have great outfielders like us out there.”

Fairhope swept through the Classic for the fourth year in a row to win the prestigious 24-team tournament. Ethan Hunt pitched five one-hit innings with six strikeouts to get the championship win and Justin Hathcock picked up the title-winning save.

“I’m really proud of our guys,” said Fairhope coach Stu Fuller. “They worked extremely hard in preseason. Our pitchers worked really hard and I think that was reflective in the five games. They came prepared, ready to play from the beginning of the year.

“Some people might say it’s our preparation, practice. I just think it’s dedication on the part of these guys to earn it. Just proud of this group, they worked so hard to get this fourth one for us. And they're deserving of it.”

Fairhope went 5-0 with preliminary wins over Bayside Academy, Daphne and Gulf Shores and held opponents to one run three times with two shutouts.

In the final the Pirates took the lead over Satsuma right off the bat of 2011 Pitching MVP Hunter Ellenburg who led off with a double and scored on Thomas’ RBI single to make it 1-0 Fairhope.

The Gators self-destructed in the fourth. After Thomas led off with a single, Chase Domino moved him up on a sacrifice. Fairhope then took advantage of a walk, three hit batsmen and a passed ball to score three runs. Thomas and Cole Wainright (running for Jerrod Hathcock) scored on the miscues while Justin Hathcock scored on a SAC by Taylor Gradle. In the bottom of the sixth, the Pirates traded a run for an out on a fielders choice for the only Satsuma score.

Thomas struck out nine Yellow Jackets in four semi-final innings and allowed two hits before middle reliever Quint Fields worked two innings, struck out three and gave up one run. Corey Childress then closed out for the save facing four (top-of-the-order) Mc-T batters.

Fairhope took the 2-0 lead with a four-hit second inning. Brock Gilheart, Gradle and Thomas all singled and Ellenburg doubled.

The Jackets surged in the fourth on a line drive up the middle with a man on second base, but Fairhope second baseman Beecher Faust dove into the gap to knock it down and hold the McGill-Toolen runners to one base. The Jackets nearly tied it in the fifth on a deep hit to centerfield, but Domino scooped and gunned a no-bounce bullet to the plate where Jarred Hathcock made the tag on Brandon Donaghue. The Jackets got on the board in the sixth off back-to-back hits by J.B. Bradford and Thomas Hamlin to drive in Taylor Broom who had led off with a walk.

Satsuma’s Cody Christian was named the Chris Boyett Silver Slugger player for 2012. The award is named in memory of the late Fairhope, Faulkner State and University of South Alabama All-American lost in a car crash in 2001. The award is presented to the top offensive player in the Hank Aaron Classic. A $500 scholarship is awarded in the name of the recipient each year. Thomas won the Boyett award last year.

With the fourth-straight Classic win, the Pirates passed Daphne which had a three-year streak from 2000-02. The Trojans came back in 2004 to win their fourth trophy overall with a win over Gulf Shores.

McGill-Toolen and St. Paul’s have won it twice, Spanish Fort, Baker and UMS-Wright once.

The Bill Menton All-Tournament Team — which consists of at least one player from each team — will be announced later this week.

Fairhope will play at Davidson Tuesday at 6 p.m. and host Faith Academy for their home opener Thursday at 6 p.m. Satsuma edged Faith in the other BayBears Classic semifinal. McGill Toolen will visit 5A state champion Spanish Fort Thursday at 4:15 p.m.