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), who have lost 11 consecutive games dating back to last year’s post-season, 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 twogame matchup, Brantley County lost a 3-2 decision in Reidsville to Tattnall County (4-5). The Warriors entered the matchup having lost their last two games to 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.
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 visitors took the lead in the fourth inning plating three runs to open up a 5-2 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 92. Three errors and three walks aided the inning with the Blue Tide not collecting a base hit.
Long County scored a run in the seventh after two outs and nobody on base to extend the lead 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 2apiece, 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.
Tattnall County pulled even in the bottom of the fifth at 2-2. 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.
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.
