Missed Opportunities Costly For Dragons In Tough Game Against Northwest Whitfield

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Yesterday, before the storms rolled in, the PHS Dragons varsity baseball team hosted the Bruins of Northwest Whitfield in 6-AAAA region action. Coming into the ball game, the Dragons held the top spot in the region standings at 3-0 while the Bruins held a 4-2 mark. This was the start of a three game series between the two schools.

 

Senior Travis Huffman got the start for the Dragons and looked good early. After allowing a bloop hit in the top of the 1st, he was able to work around it to send us to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the 1st, Pickens had an early scoring chance with runners at the corners and only 1 out. However, the runner at 1st would be picked off and the Bruins were able to get out of the inning with a pop up.

 

In the top of the 2nd, Northwest Whitfield struck first blood. The Bruins were able to plate 4 runs on 3 hits to take a 4-0 lead over the Pickens going to the bottom of the 2nd. Again, the Dragons had a scoring chance in the bottom of the inning. The runner at 2nd would be doubled up after the Bruins pitcher caught a line drive, & the inning would come to an end with a fly out. We headed to the 3rd, Northwest Whitfield leading Pickens, 4-0.

 

The top of the 3rd was the best half inning of work for T. Huffman as he only needed 9 pitches to get out of the frame. The bottom of the 3rd again showed promise for the Dragons, as Pickens had runners on 1st & 2nd with 1 out. The Bruins however were able to get out of it without any damage done to maintain their 4-0 advantage going to the top of the 4th. Relief pitcher Andrew Hasbrouck needed only 8 pitches in the top of the 4th to sit Northwest Whitfield down. The Dragons stranded a runner at 2nd in the bottom of the 4th to send us to the 5th.

 

Hasbrouck continued his success from the top of the 4th to the top of the 5th as he again only needed 8 pitches to get out of the inning. Pickens had a minor 2-out threat, but left a runner stranded at 1st to send us to the top of the 6th, Northwest Whitfield still ahead, 4-0. In the top of the 6th, Hasbrouck continued his outing with a ten pitch inning that included 1 strikeout. The Dragons offensive struggles continued however as they would go in order in the bottom of the inning to send us to the 7th, Bruins leading, 4-0.

 

Northwest Whitfield added to their lead in the top of the 7th with a run to make it 5-0 going to the bottom of the frame. Dragons down to their final three outs. Jace Franklin would start it off by being hit, Will Lawrence followed that up with a double. Brady Moore then would reach on an error, scoring Franklin. T. Huffman, pitch hitting for Hasbrouck, knocked in Lawrence on a sacrifice fly. With 2 out, Dalton Presley reached on an error, which scored B. Moore. A fly out ended the Dragons rally as the Bruins escaped with a 5-3 win.

 

T. Huffman: 3IP, 4H, 4R, 2ER on 53 pitches & 1-2 with a single & 1 RBI1sf

Andrew Hasbrouck: 4IP, 1R, 1ER, 1K on 36 pitches

Joseph Gossett: 2-4 with 2 singles

Dalton Presley: 1-4 with 1 single

Zack Moore: 1-3 with 1 single

Jace Franklin: 1 HBP & 1 run scored

Will Lawrence: 1-1 with a double & 1 run scored

Brady Moore: 1 run scored

 

Pickens will travel to Northwest Whitfield on Friday to wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 5:30. The Dragons still lead the region standings, but by a slim margin:

Pickens: 3-1

LaFayette: 2-1

NW Whitfield: 5-2

Heritage: 4-2

Gilmer: 2-4

SE Whirfield: 2-4

Ridgeland: 1-5

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