The Long County Blue Tide baseball team had a great 2022 season, finishing the year 21-9 and falling in the Sweet Sixteen of the state playoffs. With eight seniors on the team, it is hard to see why the team was able to rack up several postseason honors.
The team placed seven on the Region 1-AAA all-region teams while having the Region Pitcher of the Year.
Senior Blake Holland was named Region Pitcher of the Year. Throughout the 2022 season, Holland was 5-0 in region play and threw a no hitter against Pierce County to give the eventual region champions their first loss and their only loss in the region. He allowed eight hits and only two runs with a 1.00 ERA on the year.
The Tide also had three named to the all-region first team and four to the second team. Senior outfielders Dwayne Rowe and Brennan Lee as well as senior catcher Joseph Cammack were all placed on the first team after impressive performances throughout the season.
Senior pitcher and outfield Jacob Struble, senior shortstop Cole Moss, sophomore pitcher Landon Runyon, and sophomore designated hitter Shannon Filkins were all named to the second team.
These players all had a hand in the Tide advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the second year in a row. While losing eight seniors, seven of which started most of the season, will be a big blow, the Tide will look to compete in a new region in 2023.