LUDOWICI -- Well the good times had to finally end and, for Long County, those good times abruptly ended Friday night as the Blue Tide was soundly defeated 12-2 by the Pierce County Bears.
The undefeated Bears had to come to Ludowici, but the road trip didn't seem to bother them as they out hit the Blue Tide 12 to 4 in a contest where the home team never got on track.
In the first inning neither team was able to score, but the Tide's Shane White did manage a single with a solid hit into left field. However, that hit was one of the few highlights for the home team.
In the second inning, Bear pitcher David O'Neal began to impose his will over the Blue Tide. After he walked initial batter and opposing pitcher Ryan Simmons, the right-hander disposed of nine consecutive Blue Tide batters through the fourth inning, striking out six of them.
With the Tide batters in check, the pitching would have to be the difference in the game. Unfortunately, the home pitchers couldn't match or even come close to the performance of O'Neal.
Simmons lasted four innings, but gave up 9 hits and 9 runs. Britt Horne came in in the fifth, and tried to get something going, but the Bear batters continued hitting, getting 3 off the relief pitcher.
Before the night was over, the visitors had put up 12 hits and committed only 1 error, while the Ludowici team committed 4 errors, and was only able to connect on four hits.
O'Neal got the win, and Simmons picked up the loss. The leading batters for the Blue Tide were Tyler Hall who went 1 for 2 with 2 RBI, and Shane White who also had a 1 for 2 night.
Blue Tide head coach Brian Thomas had only praise for the visiting team, "That team had the demeanor of winners, they came into the game knowing they were going to win and they did; they had a great effort, and are a complete team."
The lopsided final score kept Bears' season perfect. They now have an overall record of 7-0 and sit atop the 2-AA Region Standings with a 2-0 mark.
The Long County team fell to 0-1 in the Region, but still has an impressive 5-2 overall mark.
The Blue Tide was to play Charlton County High School Tuesday at Raymond Fulcher Field, but results for that game were not available in time for this story.
On Friday the Tide travel to Nahunta to take on the Brantley County Herons. That game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Both the Charlton game and the Brantley game are crucial 2-AA Region contests for Long County.
The undefeated Bears had to come to Ludowici, but the road trip didn't seem to bother them as they out hit the Blue Tide 12 to 4 in a contest where the home team never got on track.
In the first inning neither team was able to score, but the Tide's Shane White did manage a single with a solid hit into left field. However, that hit was one of the few highlights for the home team.
In the second inning, Bear pitcher David O'Neal began to impose his will over the Blue Tide. After he walked initial batter and opposing pitcher Ryan Simmons, the right-hander disposed of nine consecutive Blue Tide batters through the fourth inning, striking out six of them.
With the Tide batters in check, the pitching would have to be the difference in the game. Unfortunately, the home pitchers couldn't match or even come close to the performance of O'Neal.
Simmons lasted four innings, but gave up 9 hits and 9 runs. Britt Horne came in in the fifth, and tried to get something going, but the Bear batters continued hitting, getting 3 off the relief pitcher.
Before the night was over, the visitors had put up 12 hits and committed only 1 error, while the Ludowici team committed 4 errors, and was only able to connect on four hits.
O'Neal got the win, and Simmons picked up the loss. The leading batters for the Blue Tide were Tyler Hall who went 1 for 2 with 2 RBI, and Shane White who also had a 1 for 2 night.
Blue Tide head coach Brian Thomas had only praise for the visiting team, "That team had the demeanor of winners, they came into the game knowing they were going to win and they did; they had a great effort, and are a complete team."
The lopsided final score kept Bears' season perfect. They now have an overall record of 7-0 and sit atop the 2-AA Region Standings with a 2-0 mark.
The Long County team fell to 0-1 in the Region, but still has an impressive 5-2 overall mark.
The Blue Tide was to play Charlton County High School Tuesday at Raymond Fulcher Field, but results for that game were not available in time for this story.
On Friday the Tide travel to Nahunta to take on the Brantley County Herons. That game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Both the Charlton game and the Brantley game are crucial 2-AA Region contests for Long County.