FAIRHOPE, Alabama — The Lady Pirates edged Daphne 4-3 at Fairhope Tuesday in what was a typically-tight battle between the Eastern Shore's arch rivals for top-seed standing in 6A Area 3 softball. Fairhope earned the home-field advantage for the 6A Area 3 tournament for the second straight year with a perfect 6-0 area record. The Lady Trojans finished the area race with a 4-2 mark.

Junior righthander Grey Adams (15-4) scattered seven hits among a feisty, young DHS club which rallied from a 4-0 deficit to within having the go-ahead run at second base. But the veteran Fairhope ace came through with two big strike outs on the middle of the DHS line up with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning to secure the win. She had 14 backward K's on the night. Sophomore Baylee Lucassen (9-5) gave up nine hits, but suffered two unearned runs in the loss for DHS.

Alison Augustine and Paige Padgett had RBIs for the Pirates who

improved to 18-10 overall. Teammates Megan Dowdy, Catherine Knight and Hannah Brown had a pair of hits each. Daphne's Peyton Grantham drove in three Runs for the Trojans on two hits and an RBI walk.

"I am just so proud of these kids," said Fairhope coach Jonathan Heflin. "These kids have had some low spots, but they keep coming together and just find ways to get things done. To come out on top. To finish 6-0 after we have come so close, but dropped that one game (in past seasons). To overcome the obstacles that have been thrown at this team. For them to come out and find a way to stick together — even though we had people playing in places they had never played before, giving crazy looks — to find a way to win a ball game, I'm am just super, super proud of this bunch of kids."

Both teams have had to deal with injury issues. Courtney Piesco and Lauren Ponder for FHS did not play Tuesday but are hopeful to return by the area tournament May 3, and Lucassen for DHS who was sidelined the first half of the season

DHS coach Lawrence Yelding said his team needs to play more aggressively. Had the game within their grasp but missed some key opportunities early and late.

"We're not there yet," he said. "We still play too much not to lose than to win. We had a chance early to jump on them, but just played it too defensively. We're timid. We're waiting instead of being the aggressors in a situation and forcing the issue, making something happen. But the good thing is they didn't give up, didn't quit. Got down four-nothing early, but they were able to fight and get back in it there in the last inning we we're right where we wanted to be.

"I will compliment our pitcher, she's just a sophomore, kept us close, gave us a chance. But I think (Adams) struck us out 14 times and we have to do a better job in these one-run games of hitting some rollers putting it (the ball) in play. At this level, you make them make the play."

Heflin said the final seedings would be set later, but expected the double elimination tournament to start with a doubleheader with probable times of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 3.

"Our area is traditionally so competitive," he said. "Robertsdale, Foley, Daphne, you know everybody's going to show up. They play hard. It (won't) matter what the records are then. So we will try to have everybody ready and able to go."

Both teams play this Thursday (April 26). Daphne (25-17, 4-2) will host Gulf Shores at 6 p.m. and Fairhope will visit 6A Area 1 Theodore at 6:30 p.m.