Just when it looks like they are down, the Long County Blue Tide baseball team fights right back. The 2021 edition of the Tide baseball team proved just how tough they are as they used two late rallies to take the three-game region series over the Tattnall County Warriors this week.
The Tide dropped the first game on Tuesday, April 6 in a 5-3 upset loss. They had to turn around quickly as they welcomed the Warriors in on Thursday, April 8.
In the bottom of the second, with two outs on the board, junior Blake Holland, who has slowly started to step his game up as region play has begun, got on base with a single. Thanks to a stolen base and an error at third base, he was able to get to home plate and give the Tide a 1-0 lead.
The Tide held that lead for one inning before the Warriors got on the board after loading the bases and taking the lead with back-to-back sacrifice plays. They added to their lead in the fifth as they lead 3-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Holland reached on a leadoff error and Brennan Lee moved him to third on a stand-up double. A passed ball at the plate scored Holland and Lee was aware enough to make a play and sneak in at the plate as well to tie the game.
Walks by Cole Moss and Jacob Struble put two on base as the Tide got another run across the plate to take the 4-3 lead. TJ Criswell brought home the fifth run for the Tide with a RBI single, the Tide’s lone earned run of the game.
The Warriors opened the top of the seventh inning down by two runs. The leadoff hitter crushed a triple to the left field wall and it looked as though they had the chance to clinch the series.
Despite the Warriors adding a run in the inning, the Tide’s defense held strong for the next three batters and they came away with the 5-4 win to even the series.
In that game, Criswell got the win on the mound with five strikeouts, three hits, and one run allowed in three innings. Struble also had a good start, striking out five in four innings.
In Game 3 on Friday, April 9, the Tide got down early as they trailed 5-1 going into the top of the sixth. They finally got their bats going as they scored five runs to go up 6-5. They finished off the Warriors by adding three runs for the 9-5 win.
The Tide are now 10-9 on the year with an important 3-3 region record. They will host the Brantley County Herons on Tuesday, April, 13 and Friday, April 16 while traveling to Nahunta on Thursday.
This series is one the Tide have a chance to sweep and winning the next six games is crucial for the Tide to win the Region 1-AAA championship.
The Pierce County Bears currently sit on top of the region standings at 16-5 and 5-1. The Appling County Pirates are 9-11 and 5-4 in region play with only the Blue Tide left to play in two weeks. The Tide are 10-9 and 3-3 in region play, the Warriors are 9-10 and 4-5 in the region, and the Herons are 2-18 and 1-5 in the region.