The Long County Lady Blue Tide softball team is getting ready to defend their region crown as they begin region play. It got off to a great start Sept. 5 as they dominated the Liberty County Panthers 15-0.

The first inning was a big one for the Lady Tide as they took advantage of the Lady Panthers’ mistakes early.

Two walks set up senior Kyleigh Sizemore with a chance to put a run on the board. Her blooper into left field brought home one before fellow senior Emma Smith walked to load the bases with one out.

Freshman Ainsley Anderson’s single brought home another run. Addie Moss and Casey Lust both walked to bring home the third and fourth runs.

Freshman Jersi Lester cleared the bases on her second at-bat of the inning to make the score 7-0. Ciara O’Brien reached on an error to bring Lester home to make the score 8-0.

Sizemore and Smith each doubled to open the bottom of the second to score another run, and another bases-loaded walk made the score 10-0 going into the third.

Freshman Alyssa Skipper continued to be impressive in the circled as she got back-to-back strikeouts to add to her one-hit day. The Tide scored the final five runs in the bottom of the third.

Kinslee Chapman reached on an error before Kaydence Hardesty and Reese Davis singled to load the bases. Emma Pfiester brought two home with a single for a 12-0 lead.

Lester drove home her fourth RBI of the game to make the score 13-0 before O’Brien secured the win with a two-run double.

With the win, the Lady Tide move to 3-4 on the season and start off their region slate 1-0. They will play a doubleheader against the Panthers in Hinesville to finish up the three-game series.