Tide roll Sharks in four innings
Caleb Bailey
The Long County Blue Tide softball team had a late night when they hosted the Islands Sharks on Wednesday, September 18. Despite two lightning delays, the team pulled out a 15-1 region win in four innings.
Ahead of the varsity game, the middle school team played Wayne County, winning 3-0 to move to 13-0 on the season. This was hampered by a 30-minute lightning delay, putting the varsity game 30 minutes behind.
The Sharks got on the board in the top of the first after a leadoff double down the right field line and a sacrifice bunt set them up with a runner on third and one out.
A double over the centerfielder’s head put the Sharks up 1-0 going into the bottom of the first inning.
Jersi Lester opened the half of the inning with a single before stealing second and taking third on a throwing error. She was brought home on Ainsley Anderson’s blooping fly ball to right field.
Ciara O’Brien was hit by a pitch and Leah Denmark was walked to load the bases with one out on the board. Lana Lewis cleared the bases with a double to put the Tide up 4-1 before lightning was detected again and delayed the game for nearly an hour.
After the delay, the Lady Tide proceeded to score seven more runs in the bottom of the first. Addison Moss singled to score Lewis and Mallory Skipper doubled to score Casey Lust, who reached on an error before Moss’ single.
Lester batted for the second time in the inning and doubled to score two more runs before Miley Maulden singled, Denmark reached on an error at first and Lewis singled all to each to score a run.
The Lady Tide led 11-1 going into the second inning and, after getting some substitutes at-bats in the bottom of the inning, the score stayed the same into the third.
In the third inning, the Lady Tide kept adding to their lead as Denmark reached on an error to score Maulden. Madison Goodman, Kaydence Hardesty and Moss all singled to load the bases with two outs on the board.
Holli Filkins came up to bat and tripled to put the Tide up 15-1 going into the fourth inning, where the defense kept the Sharks off the board to win the game.
With the win, the Lady Tide are now 7-8 and 6-3 in the region. They have won four of their last five region games, including Monday’s 10-4 win over Calvary Day. This puts them in a good position to clinch the second seed in the region thus a spot in the top 16 of the state playoffs and a home game in the first round.