In recent years, the Long County baseball team has been dominated by rival Jeff Davis County. But with a new coach and attitude, Long County fans and players were hoping for different results this year.
However, it didn’t go that way Saturday when the Blue Tide fell, 6-3, in Hazlehurst.
“We had a couple of mistakes and some breaks that didn’t go our way,” Long County coach Tyler Rogers said. “You have to play flawless and catch some breaks when playing a team like Jeff Davis.”
Rogers said his team’s batting was better than in recent games.
“I felt like we swung the sticks well Saturday,” he said. “I believe that our bats may be trying to wake up, and we can’t ask for a better time for that to happen.”
Starting pitcher Phillip Swindell took the loss, going 5 1/3 innings while allowing five earned runs. He struck out two batters and walked three. Tristan Goodro went 2/3 inning, allowing two hits, one run and struck out two batters.
Long County’s Cody Fleck was 2 for 4 at the plate, and Ryan McGowan and Swindell each batted 1 for 3.
In Sunday’s Courier, it was reported that on Thursday, the Blue Tide beat McIntosh County, 10-3, but no other information was available for that story. In that game, Zach Duncan went 3 for 5, Swindell was 2 for 2, and Fleck was 2 for 3.
Fleck got the start and the win against the Buccaneers. He struck out nine batters in five innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. Cole Ray and McGowan also saw action on the mound. Ray struck out four batters and allowed two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. McGowan gave up no runs or hits in his 2/3 of an inning.
Rogers said that he was pleased to get the region win and that his team played well on defense.
Going into Tuesday’s action, Long County’s overall record was 3-3, while its region mark was 1-1.
On Tuesday, the Blue Tide were scheduled to play the Benedictine Cadets in Savannah. Results will be in an upcoming Coastal Courier.