Its official: The softball season has come and gone.
Long County High School wrapped up its season Wednesday and Thursday with a 6-3 loss to Liberty County and a 14-2 loss to Appling County. The Lady Tide finished 5-19 overall and 0-8 in Region 2-AA. 
Though the season didn’t go quite as well as coach Brian Thomas wanted, he still congratulated all of the players for their hard work and determination during the season.
“The season treated us well. We learned a lot, and the girls worked very hard and have gotten better,” Thomas said.
This was his first year as head coach of the Long County softball team and also the first year for assistant coaches James Butler and Tyler Rogers.
“As the first year as a softball coach, I am very excited about the challenge of taking our softball team to the next level,” Thomas said. “There is a great group of next year’s returning softball players.”
This year’s varsity team included seniors Taylor Holton, Miranda Taylor, Taylor Harrison and Amber Wilson; junior Erica Golden; and freshmen Madalyn Flynn, Samantha Garcia, Taylor Poole, Alyssa Anderson, Kaylyn McEwin, Brittney Smiley, Hannah Golden and Emily Hester.
Long County’s JV team included Samantha Wygant, Crista Prescott, Shelby Clark, Alyssa Butler, Morgan McGowan, Hannah Golden, Kaylyn McEwin,  Emily Hester and Ashley White.
Some of the top players this year included Holton, Harrison, Taylor, Wilson, Smiley and Poole. According to Thomas, all of the players on the team showed tremendous improvements and determination in an effort to succeed this year.
The highlight for this year’s season was a triumph over Bradwell Institute during the Bronze Division championship in Tattnall County on Aug. 20.
According to Thomas, the softball team has major plans for next year’s season, with the coaching staff planning more summer games for the team. As for this year, the coaches and players believe they successfully met their goal of presenting themselves as an excellent softball team.
 “I think the team as a whole has made a great adjustment to all of the new coaches this year,” Golden said. “I am very proud of our team and how hard they have worked through various obstacles.”
For more information on the Lady Tide softball team, go to www.longcountyhs.com.

Ciara Frisbie is a senior at Long County High School who is being mentored by Coastal Courier Correspondent Mike Riddle.