Brantley County will put the month of February and a strong non-region schedule in the review mirror with the start of Region 1A play.
The Herons (0-9) opened last week with a 10-2 loss Monday, February 24 to visiting Long County (6-3), winners of five straight. BCHS closed the week with a 1-0 loss Friday, February 28 in Ludowici falling to 0-5 in one-run games.
In between the Long County two-game matchup, Brantley County lost a 3-2 decision in Reidsville to Tattnall County (4-5). The Warriors entered the matchup have lost their last two games against Long County.
The Herons play four times this week opening Region 1A action. Fitzgerald visited Tuesday, March 4. Class AA Cook visits Thursday, March 6 to wrap up the season series at 5:30 p.m. BCHS travels Friday, February 7 to Fitzgerald for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.
Brantley County will have a a week off before embarking on a second four-games slate with three against regionmate Berrien. The Herons go to Nashville Tuesday, March 18 for a 5:30 p.m., first pitch. Tattnall County visists Thursday, March 20. Berrien comes to town Friday, March 21 for a twinbill starting at 4 p.m.
Long County ..................10 Herons ............................2
CANEY BAY — Long County spotted the Herons a 2-0 lead through two innings before plating 10 unanswered runs for the win.
Brantley County did all of its scoring in the second inning. Carson Coger (2-for-3) and Jackson Rowell (1-for-2) started the inning with consecutive line drive singles.
Kent Thomas (1-for-2) poked a one-out single loading the bases. Brody Howell’s ensuing sacrifice bunt scored Coger and moved Rowell and Thomas into scoring position. Rowell raced home on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.
Long County evened the score in the third inning at 2-apiece against Gaven Grafford (3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP). The Blue Tide scored on a oneout triple and an ensuing single in a four-pitch sequence.
The visitors took the lead in the fourth inning plating three runs to open up a 5-2 lead after Brantley County stranded runners at first and second in the bottom of the third.
A single and walk to start the inning was followed by a sacrifice bunt. An error on a popup plated the first run breaking the tie. A two-out, two-run double followed a single for a three-run lead.
Long County put together a four-run fifth inning against Hayden Hickox (3.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 3 BB, 1 WP) extending the margin to 9-2.
Three errors and three walks aided the inning with the Blue Tide not collecting a base hit. An error started the inning with a walk and sacrifice bunt putting runners at second and third.
A wild pitch plated a run and a dropped third strike (passed ball) scored two for an 8-2 lead. The third error allowed the final run to trot home.
Long County scored a run in the seventh after two outs and nobody on base. A single, stolen base and single pushed the Blue Tide advantage to 10-2.
Tattnall County ........3 Herons.....................2
REIDSVILLE — Tattnall County scored the game-winning run on a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring the final two runs for the come-from-behind win over the Herons.
Deadlocked at 2-apiece, the Warriors’ leadoff batter in the seventh reached on a dropped third strike (wild pitch). An error followed one pitch later. Following the first out, Tattnall County scored on a base hit to left with the winning run scoring from second.
The Warriors grabbed a 1-0 lead in their half of the first inning. A leadoff walk, one-out stolen base and a two-out, two-base error gave the home team the early advantage.
Brantley County responded with a two-run second inning. Rowell was hit by the first pitch leading off the frame.
Rowell moved around to third with a pair of thefts ahead of Thomas walking. Howell’s ensuing pop up was misplayed allowing Rowell to score tying the score at 1-all. Hickox (1-for-3) followed with a run-scoring single for a 2-1 lead.
Thomas (4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third getting the final out on strikes.
Tattnall County pulled even in the bottom of the fifth at 2-2 after Kaden Hendrix (1-for-2) was left on base following a twoout double. A leadoff walk came around to score on two errors on the same play.
Long County.............1 Herons ....................0
LUDOWICI — A twoout, run-scoring single in the bottom of the third inning provided the lone run of the game lifting the Blue Tide past the Herons.
Hendrix (4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB) and Howell (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) hooked up in a good ole’ fashion pitching duel with Long County’s Nick Sizemore (5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 8 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP) and Anthony Bramwell (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 K, 0 BB).
Brantley County’s only scoring threat came in the third inning when the Herons loaded the bases. Grafford (1-for-1) and Hendrix (1-for-3) reached on consecutive one-out singles. Coger drew a twoout walk before the third out was recorded.
Long County capitalized on an error to start the bottom of the inning. The miscue on the leadoff bunt set up the frame for the Blue Tide.
An ensuing sacrifice bunt moved the base runner into scoring position with a wild pitch advancing the runner to third. A first-pitch, two-out single followed for a 1-0 lead.
The Herons had two base runners over the last four innings with one caught stealing in the fourth and one hit by a one-out pitch in the fifth. The next seven were retired on strikes before a flyout ended the game.
Rowell (2-for-3) collected Brantley County’s other two hits.
