While the Long County Lady Blue Tide softball team may have seen its playoff hopes dashed with a 4-2 loss to Brantley County this week, they still look to finish the season strong. 

They had a cancellation for their scheduled Senior Night game on Wednesday, Sept. 29, but made up for it by putting together an intrasquad scrimmage game and honoring their three seniors afterwards. 

Ahead of the game, seniors Sam Pitts, Mehana Naki, and Brooklynn Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch before taking their place on the White Team for a friendly competition against their teammates. 

The Blue Team started off strong at the plate with sophomore Kyleigh Sizemore and junior Rebecca Lust both getting on base. 

Junior Kassie Davis followed that up with a single of her own to load the bases. 

Sophomore Sara Barnes brought home Sizemore with an RBI single and an error scored Lust minutes later to make the score 2-0. 

The score would stand at 2-0 until the fifth and final inning of the abbreviated game with some impressive defense by both the White and Blue teams, showing that the team has much to look forward to in the future. 

Pitts was great on the mound for two innings for the White Team, recording two strikeouts, one hit and no runs. 

For the Blue Team, it was a collective pitching effort from freshman Madelyn Owens, junior Jaci Smiley, and Lust as they allowed just one hit and only three base runners the entire game. 

The Blue Team got their bats going again in the top of the fifth. 

Freshman Addison Moss walked to open the inning and Sizemore advanced her by reaching first on an error. 

Lust’s stand-up double scored one for the Blue Team while Smiley reaching first on an error scored another. 

Davis brought home the third run of the inning with a single of her own as they took the 5-0 lead, the eventual final score. 

It was an exciting night of friendship, fellowship, and competition for the Lady Blue Tide as they honored their seniors with the annual Senior Night ceremony following the game. 

The team played at Savannah Christian on Thursday, Sept. 30 and will close out the season on Tuesday, Oct. 5 as they host Tattnall County.