The Long County Blue Tide baseball team wrapped up the regular season and now are preparing for the playoffs. They helped out their playoff seeding this week with a matchup against former region foe and AA top 10 Pierce County.
On Tuesday, April 8, they played in Blackshear and rolled past the Bears in a 1-0 defensive showdown. The Bears made their way to Ludowici on Wednesday, April 9 and it was again another low-scoring battle, with the Bears prevailing 2-1.
After striking out two in the top of the first inning, Nick Sizemore gave up a walk and a hit to put the Bears in scoring position but he managed to keep the Bears off the board. Sizemore doubled in the bottom of the inning but the Tide could not push him around to score.
In fact, neither team got on the board until the fourth inning.
Sizemore only allowed one hit over the next three innings and added another strikeout.
Senior Kenny Pickens led off the fourth with a home run over the centerfield wall to give the Tide a 1-0 lead going into the fifth.
Again, the Tide kept the Bears off the bases as the Tide looked to add some insurance. Kolton Pickens singled, as did Creighton Rogers, but a double play put their hopes of adding more runs to an end.
Sizemore added one more strikeout in the sixth and the Tide went into the seventh with a 1-0 lead.
The Bears opened the seventh with a double and a throw to first on a bunt went awry as the Bears tied the game. Another hit put one on first and third with no outs.
A sacrifice fly to centerfield put one across for the Bears as they took a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
The Tide went in order in the bottom of the seventh after two strikeouts and a ground out to second.
With the loss, the Tide finish the regular season 14-10. They will play in the region crossover game next week to determine their playoff seeding. Their opponent and the date and location of the game are to be determined.
State playoffs begin on April 25 and they hope to have a chance to host the first round of tournament for the first time in 25 years.