GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Fairhope Lady Pirates took the runner-up spot in the 6A South Region softball tournament at Gulf Shores Sportsplex Saturday and advanced to the Elite Eight state tourney for the second-straight year.

Fairhope was the only Baldwin County team to move on to Montgomery from the South tourney along with the winning Baker Honeybees. Baldwin County High and Robertsdale in 6A and Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort in 5A all failed to place in the top two positions. The Pirates opened with a 2-0 shutout over MGM but then dropped a 3-1 loss to Theodore in the second round Friday.

Fairhope coach Jonathan Heflin was proud of his team for battling back into the winners bracket Saturday.

"After last night, our seniors got the team together and talked to them," he said. "I'm very, very proud of our four seniors and the way they led this team after that loss and the way the whole team responded today. Somebody always came through. It was a one-through-nine, whole-team effort to get us back in today. So, I'm super, super proud of all of them."

Heflin, who took over four seasons ago, hopes the experience of going to Lagoon Park last year will help his team.

"Last year was the first time for our program to go, this year we have a better idea of what to expect and what it's going to be like and how to prepare."

Fairhope (42-8) tied their own school record for wins set last year at 42 and hopes to improve on it starting Thursday at 10:30 a.m.