The Long County High School softball team is coming off a tough 5-9 regular season in 2010, but that was still good enough to get the Lady Blue Tide into the Region 2-AA playoffs.
There, Long County lost two games to Jeff Davis, but it provided valuable experience for returning players, who open the season today with the team’s first annual Blue and White scrimmage.
The Lady Tide will be led in 2011 by Brian Thomas, who also coaches baseball at LCHS. The new skipper has a number of holes to fill since Long County suffered key losses at pitcher, catcher, shortstop and first base.
But that doesn’t mean the Lady Tide aren’t aiming high.
“Our goal is to be competitive in a really tough region and ultimately make the state play-offs in October,” Thomas said, noting voluntary summer workouts have gone “very well.”
“We are having some very competitive try-outs right now, so it’s hard to say who will be starting on opening day, but we are looking for great efforts from our four seniors, Taylor Harrison, Miranda Taylor, Amber Wilson and Taylor Holton,” Thomas said.
He expects freshman Tyler Poole to claim the top pitching spot. Holton and Junior Erica Golden will share time behind the plate.
 Thomas said that he expects the seniors, along with Golden to “step up and play a leadership role” for this year’s team.
The Lady Tide’s biggest concern is inexperience at certain positions, but Thomas the team can overcome that weakness.
“I feel confident that as the season goes on, we will develop complete trust in all the players we have on our team,” he said. “Our strength right now is our camaraderie. We have 19 girls that are all-in for one another and who will go the extra mile for their teammates.”
Today’s Blue and White scrimmage begins at 5 p.m. and admission if free. Concessions will be available.