The Long County High School baseball team continued to struggle as it lost to highly ranked Pierce County Friday in Nahunta.  
The host Herons went into that game as the No. 2 team in the state, according to the Ga.PrepCountry.com/GASA week 5 poll, and they played up to that ranking by defeating the Blue Tide, 7-1, in five innings.  
With the loss, Long County fell to 5-12 overall and 1-9 in the Region 2-AA standings. The Herons improved to 15-3 overall and 9-2 in the region, only behind Appling County, which is 18-0 overall and 11-0 in the region, and ranked No. 1 in the state.
The Blue Tide is back at home Tuesday with another important region game against Toombs County.  The Bulldogs come into that game with a 3-11 overall record and a 1-6 region mark.  
The Blue Tide look a little stronger on paper. Long County goes into the contest averaging 4.6 runs a game, compared to Toombs’ average of 3.1 runs, while on defense, the Bulldogs are allowing 6.4 runs a night compared to the Tide’s 6.6.  
When the two teams met last month, it was an evenly played game with Toombs pulling out the win late, 7-6.  Tuesday’s game starts at 6 p.m. in Ludowici.
On Wednesday, the Tide are at home again as Bradwell Institute comes to town.  The Tigers currently have an 8-8 overall record but are looking good in Region 3-AAAAA with a 7-3 record.  
In recent years, the Blue Tide usually have come out on top, having won four of the last five outings, including an 8-1 victory last month in Hinesville.  
That game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Ludowici.