SPANISH FORT – Spanish Fort knocked off Class 5A’s top-ranked team in game three of a semi-final playoff series on Saturday to advance to the championship in Montgomery.

The fifth-ranked Toros (30-11) beat top-ranked Charles Henderson 10-1 in the deciding game after splitting a double header with the Trojans on Friday. Spanish Fort will play Hartselle (30-25) in a best-of-three championship series starting on Friday at 4 p.m. at Riverwalk Stadium. Game two will be Saturday at 10 a.m., and a third if-necessary game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m.

Zac Fowler’s fourth-inning grand slam sealed Spanish Fort’s 10-1 win over the Trojans in the deciding game on Saturday. Fowler’s homer broke a 1-1 tie. The Toros added five more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Wes Runnels had an RBI double, then Toro runs scored on a bases loaded walk and a bases loaded hit batter. Cole Jarman capped the Toro scoring with a two-RBI single.

Rocky McCord (8-2) got the win for the Toros, giving up just four hits and striking out seven.

Spanish Fort won the opener 6-5 on Friday, while Charles Henderson won game two 9-5.

Chris Beasley (7-0) won the opener for the Toros. Runnels had a two-run homer in the win.

Harrison Reeves (9-0) got the win for the Trojans in the second game.

Patrick McGavin had two home runs to center and three RBIs. in the loss.

Auburn sweeps Fairhope in semis

AUBURN – Fairhope’s 6A baseball championship hopes were crushed on Friday as the Pirates were swept by Auburn in a semi-final playoff series.

Auburn won the opener 8-5 and game two 19-13. Second-ranked Fairhope finished 36-8.

Evan East had five RBIs for Fairhope in the second game, and Garrett Pitts had a three-run homer in the opener.

State Finals Notes

Spanish Fort’s opponent, Hartselle, lost 12 of its first 13 games this season.

Hartselle, the defending 5A champ, has won seven baseball state championships. Spanish Fort is seeking its first.

Spanish Fort was ranked fifth in the final ASWA 5A poll of the season. Hartselle was not ranked.

Game 1 of the 5A baseball championship series will begin Friday at 4 p.m. at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery. Game 2 will be played at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the third “if necessary” game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

–Eric Mann, Sports Coordinator