The Blue Tide baseball season begins in two weeks. After finishing the 2009 season with an 8-17 overall record and a 7-9 Region 2-AA mark, coaches say the team is looking to improve in 2010.
"Our goal for this season is to win every day. We can’t focus on games in March or April. We must focus on getting better each time we take the field for practice," coach Brian Thomas said.
The Blue Tide ended last season tied with Brantley and McIntosh County for the region’s fourth spot. The top three teams, Appling, Pierce and Brantley County, posted a combined region mark of 40-8 and a combined overall record of 65-26.
This season, Thomas said the Tide is counting on key senior players such as Rat Johnson, Bryan Wingate, Tommy Freeman, Trent Wells, Jake Durham and David Shuman to step things up.
The coach, who said the team needs to focus on pitching and infield defense, thinks underclassmen Luke Golden and Carlton Milton will see some pitching time."Traditionally, the top teams in our region are Appling County, Pierce County and Jeff Davis County," Thomas said. "In order for us to have a successful year, we must be able to throw strikes and make plays on the infield."
The Blue Tide play their first game at 5 p.m. Feb. 23 in Jesup against Wayne County. The 2-AAAA Yellow Jackets will be a challenge for Long County.
But before the regular season, the team has an inter-squad scrimmage at 10 a.m. and the 2010 alumni game at noon this Saturday. Both games are in Ludowici at Fulcher Field. The public is invited.