Fourth-ranked Central-Phenix City swept No. 3 Auburn 11-6, 10-1 on Wednesday to return to the Class 7A championship series for the third straight season.

The Red Devils won the championship in 2022 and finished runner-up to Vestavia Hills a year ago. They will play either No. 9 James Clemens or No. 1 Bob Jones in this year’s title series.

Game 1 of the championship series is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park. Game 2 and 3 – if necessary – will be start at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Jacksonville State.

The Auburn losses meant the end of the career of longtime coach Matt Cimo, who announced his retirement earlier this season. The Tigers finished 27-12. They beat Central two out of three during the regular season.

In Game 2, Central (39-3) trailed 2-0 before scoring five runs in the second and four in the third. The Red Devils pounded out 13 hits off a pair of Auburn pitchers. Hunter Wippert drove in three runs, Cooper Kehoe went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Emory Yohn was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Cam Norton pitched the first 4.1 innings for the win. Brody Stamp got the save. Logan Clark also pitched a shutout inning in relief.

Henry Allen homered for Auburn.

Central pounded out 11 more hits in Game 2, scoring three runs in the top of the first, three more in the fifth and four in the sixth. Sam Brown homered and drove in three. Cason Page was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Chris Kelly also drove in two runs.

Wippert got the win.

CLASS 4A

American Christian 2-4, Bibb County 1-0

Addison Goodman and Coltyn Mitchell both pitched complete games Wednesday as No. 10 American Christian swept top-ranked Bibb County to reach the championship series next week.

The Patriots (27-16) will play the winner of Corner and Westminster Christian in the best-of-three finals. Game 1 is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park. Game 2 and 3 — if necessary — will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Jacksonville State.

Goodman allowed five hits and walked two in Game 1. ACA scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to claim the victory. Eric Hines led off the sixth with a solo home run to tie the game. The go-ahead run scored on an error in the seventh. Daniel Stringfellow drove in Bibb County’s only run. Macain McMillan gave up just four hits and one earned run in taking the loss. He struck out seven.

In Game 2, Mitchell struck out 12 and allowed just three hits for the Patriots. Evan Lightsey went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Hines was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Matthew Cash pitched a complete game for Bibb County, allowing nine hits and three earned runs.

WEDNESDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS

CLASS 1A

Florala (25-2) 3-1, Sweet Water (21-15) 2-13 (G-1, 8 innings), (Game 3, Thur., May 9, 1 p.m.)

Sumiton Christian (26-4) 11-6, Coosa Christian (18-22) 6-2 (Sumiton Christian wins series 2-0)

CLASS 4A

American Christian (27-16) 2-4, Bibb County (32-6) 1-0 (American Christian wins series 2-0)

CLASS 6A

Oxford (32-11) 10-3, Hartselle (31-9) 0-5 (Game 3, Thur., May 9, 4 p.m.)

CLASS 7A

Central-Phenix City (39-3) 11-10, Auburn (27-12) 6-1 (Central-Phenix City (39-3) wins series 2-0)

James Clemens (32-11) 3, Bob Jones (40-8) 1, Game 2 suspended (Games 2 & 3, Thur., May 9, 5:30 p.m., if needed)

This post will be updated