Blast draws BI, Liberty and Long
All three local high school softball teams battled in the Warriors’ Blast Softball Tournament over the weekend in Reidsville.
Long County took first in its division after defeating Bradwell Institute. The Lady Tigers finished second.
Liberty County suffered some tough losses, but coach Jerome Standard said the tournament allowed him to fill in certain holes.
“We got into the tournament as a tool to find out about our team and where we stood,” Standard said. “We had different kids get playing time on the field and find out who was going to earn what spot and I think we were able to do that.”
Standard said the team is getting better, but added there are still challenges ahead.
“From here on out it gets more difficult,” he said. “Our region is extremely competitive and extremely difficult.”
Results: Bradwell
Southeast Bulloch 4, BI 0
Wayne County 6, BI 0
Pierce County 9, BI 1
BI 12, Emanuel County Institute 0
BI 16, ECI 1
Long County 12, BI 11
Liberty County
Long County 2, LC 1
Vidalia 12, LC 0
Metter 7, LC 5
Wheeler 7, LC 6
Long County 2, LC 1
Long County
Metter 3, Long County 1
Vidalia 11, Long County 1
Long County 7, Wheeler County 3
Long County 12, BI 10
The Long County High School softball team took first in their bracket in the Tattnall Warrior Blast Tournament last weekend in Reidsville.
The Lady Tide lost to Metter 3-1 and Vidalia 11-1, but on Saturday defeated Wheeler County 7-3, Liberty County 2-1, and Bradwell Institute 12-10 in extra innings to take home the top prize in the Bronze division.
Lady Tide pitcher Taylor Poole earned two wins in championship play and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Also selected to the team were Brittany Smiley and Miranda Taylor.
Lady Tide coach Brian Thomas praised the play of Poole, Smiley, Taylor, Taylor Holton, Taylor Harrison and Amber Davis.
“I was pleased with our offense Saturday night,” Thomas said. “We came into bracket play only scoring five runs over three games. Scoring 19 runs over the last two games was a great adjustment for us,” Thomas said.
Smiley led the Lady Tide in hitting, going 5 for 8 at the plate. Ashley White was 3 for 6, Holton was 4 for 9 and Poole went 3 for 9.
The championship game against BI was one to remember, Thomas said.
“It was absolutely a fantastic game against Bradwell,” he said. “It was a shame that someone had to lose. They played great and we played great, the thing that sticks out to me the most is that we kept fighting and never gave in.”
The Lady Tide’s overall record is now 5-9 and they are 0-1 in Region 2-AA. Long County played host to Brantley County (5-2) on Thursday.
“We will definitely use this (tournament) as a springboard in facing Brantley County,” Thomas said. They are very good and we will need to rely on our never-say-die mentality to beat them.”
The game is in Ludowici and the first pitch will be thrown at 6 p.m.