By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Tide split Sweet Sixteen series, to play Game 3
Blue Tide logo

The Long County Blue Tide baseball team will be looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a victory as they take on the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans in the third game of the Sweet Sixteen series. The teams split the series on Wednesday, May 4 with the Spartans taking the first 5-2 and the Tide winning the second 5-1.

The two top-ten teams went at it for 14 innings in the first two games, but not before the first was delayed due to rain. Sophomore Shannon Filkins got things going for his team in the second with a two-out double.

He stole third and was able to reach home after the attempted pickoff throw sailed over the third baseman’s head. The Tide went up 1-0, but the Spartans were quick to answer in the bottom of the inning.

An RBI single and a RBI double gave the Spartans the 3-1 lead and eventually went up 5-1 before the Tide got another run in the top of the seventh.

Jacob Struble hit a triple before Joseph Cammack scored him to make the score 5-2, but the Tide were not able to even the score as the Spartans took the win in game one.

The Tide turned their luck around in game two as they took a big early lead that was too much for the Spartans to overcome. The Tide, playing the home team, loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with no outs as Cammack drew a full count walk to score a run.

Struble scored on a wild pitch before Filkins brought home a third run with a single. Freshman Nick Sizemore grounded out, but scored the fourth run on a sacrifice to put the Tide up 4-0.

The Spartans scored off an RBI double to left field and made the score 4-1, but some great pitching by Struble kept them off the board after the RBI in the fifth.

Freshman Kenny Pickens took the mound in the sixth and went to work quickly as he pulled out a strikeout. A deep shot to centerfield looked like it would score a run on a solo home run before senior Dwayne Rowe made a huge play.

Rowe was able to climb the centerfield wall and snag the ball from over the fence, robbing the home run and sealing the deal for the Tide.

The Tide added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI by Brennan Lee before holding the Spartans off to win 5-1.

Game three will take place in Norcross today at 4:30 with the winner taking on the winner of Pike County and Sonoraville in the quarterfinals

Sign up for our e-newsletters