Dragons run rule Wesleyan to win series

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — It was a cold, and rainy day on Thursday, March 9th as the Pickens Dragons welcomed the Wesleyan Wolves to Dunn Field for the third and final game of their 3-game region series. After the Wolves took game 1 on Tuesday, the Dragons rebounded and tied the series up with a win at Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Dragons, got a complete game shutout from Freshman A.J. Rice as they came away with a 10-0 win in 5 innings.

 

In the top of the first, Rice sat the Wolves down in order as he got a fly out, a ground out, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Dragons got back to back 1-out walks from Trace Ledbetter and Cade Sutton. Dawson Holland, then drew a 2-out walk to load the bases. Trey Payne, brought in Ledbetter and Sutton on a 2-RBI single. Kam Jenkins, drove in Holland with an RBI single to make it 3-0 Dragons going to the second.

 

In the top of the second, Rice again had a 1-2-3 inning as he got a ground out, and 2 more strikeouts to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom half of the second, Colby Brooks laid down a bunt, and was able to get to 2nd after a 2 base error. Brooks, would then be thrown out on a fielder’s choice as Ledbetter reached. The Wolves, got out of the second with no damage done. Going to the third, the Dragons led the Wolves, 3-0.

 

In the top of the third, Rice went 1-2-3 for the 3rd straight inning as he picked up 2 more K’s giving him 5 on the night. In the bottom of the third, designated hitter Harlan Will, led off with a walk, and Holland followed up with a single. Trey Payne, moved the runners over to 2nd and 3rd with a sacrifice bunt. Jenkins, then drew a walk on 4 straight pitches to load the bases up with 1-out.

Evan Giddens, drove in pitch runner Jackie Jarrett and Holland to make it 5-0 Dragons. Brooks, kept the line moving with a 2-strike hit, bringing in courtesy runner Tee Knight to make it 6-0. Connor Shouse, drew a walk on 4 straight pitches to load the bases up. The Wolves, got back to back strikeouts to prevent any more damage. Going to the fourth, the Dragons led the Wolves, 6-0.

 

In the top of the fourth, the Wolves, got a 2-out double and a single to put runners at the corners. Rice, facing his first jam of the night, picked up his 2nd K of the inning and his 7th overall to keep Wesleyan scoreless and send it to the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Holland reached with a 1-out single. He would then be forced out at 2nd as Trey Payne reached on a fielders choice.

Jenkins, advanced Payne to 3rd on a single. Jenkins would move up to 2nd on the play.The Wolves, got a line out to left field to end the scoring threat and send it to the fifth with the Dragons still leading, 6-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, the lead off man for the Wolves got on base for the first time. the 2nd batter, then reached on an error. Rice, showing great poise for a Freshman, got 2 straight K’s and a line out to left to strand the runners and keep Wesleyan scoreless. In the bottom of the fifth, Brooks, led off with an infield single. Shouse, then hit a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs.

Ledbetter, hit a single up the middle to bring in Brooks and Shouse on the 2-RBI knock. Tyler Payne, who came in for Will in the fourth inning, drew a full count walk to reach 1st. Holland, then drove in Ledbetter with an RBI single to make it 9-0. A single by Trey Payne, brought in Rice, who pitch ran for Tyler Payne to give the Dragons the 10-0 win, and the 2-1 series win over Wesleyan.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 1-3 with a walk, a double, and 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with a walk, a single, 2 RBI, & 2 runs scored

Cade Sutton: 1 walk and 1 run scored

Harlan Will: 1 walk

Tyler Payne: 1 walk

Dawson Holland: 3-3 with 3 singles, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Trey Payne: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 sacrifice bunt, and 3 RBI

Kam Jenkins: 2-2 with 2 singles, 1 walk, and 1 RBI

Evan Giddens: 1-3 with 1 single and 2 RBI

Colby Brooks: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Jackie Jarrett: 1 run scored

Tee Knight: 1 run scored

A.J. Rice: 1 run scored & 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K on 76 pitches

 

The Dragons, assured themselves of at least 2nd place in the 7-AAA standings after the first week of region play with their 2-1 series win over Wesleyan. Next week, the Dragons will begin a series with the White County Warriors on the road on Tuesday, March 14th. First pitch is set for 5:55 pm.

Dragons shut out Mountaineers at home

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, were back on the diamond as they welcomed the North Murray Mountaineers to Dunn Field on Wednesday, March 1st, for a non-region tilt. The Dragons, defeated the region mate of the Mountaineers on Tuesday, February 28th, while the Mountaineers fell in a tough one to an old region mate of the Dragons, the Northwest Whitfield Bruins. Pickens, got a great start from James Tilley and the offense put up 10 runs to take this one in 5 innings.

 

In the top of the first, Tilley got off to a strong start as he induced 2 gound outs, and picked up his first strikeout of the game during a 12 pitch top half of the first inning. In the bottom half of the first, the Dragons got a 1-out walk from Trace Ledbetter. The Mountaineers, were able to turn a double play and send it to the top of the second, with the game still scoreless.

 

In the top of the second, Tilley said hot from the mound as he picked up his 2nd & 3rd K of the game in another 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the second, the Dragons got back to back walks from the Payne brothers as Tyler and Trey were on base with nobody out. After a fly out by Dawson Holland advanced Tyler Payne to 3rd, Harlan Will drove him in with an RBI single. Tilley, helped himself out as he followed that up an RBI single to bring in Trey Payne.

The Mountaineers, were able to get out of the bottom of the second as they turned their 2nd double play of the game to avoid any more damage. Going to the top of the third, Pickens now led North Murray, 2-0.

 

In the top of the third, Tilley, continued his fantastic start as he would strikeout the side to bump his total to 6 on the night. The bottom of the third got a little wacky so stick with me. Connor Shouse, led off with a single. Ledbetter, then followed that up with a walk. Cade Sutton, then reached on an error. Shouse, would be thrown out at home as Tyler Payne reached on a fielder’s choice. The same happened to Ledbetter as he would be out at home as Trey Payne reached on a fielder’s choice as well.

Holland, knocked a single through which scored Sutton to make it 3-0. A wild pitch brought in Tyler Payne and Trey Payne came in on a throwing error by the catcher. Holland, would also come in to score to make it 6-0. Will, Tilley, and Evan Giddens all drew walks consecutively to load the bases. Shouse, the career RBI record holder for Pickens Baseball, added to his total as he brought 3 runs in on an RBI triple. Shouse, would also come in to score on the play after a throwing error to make it 10-0 Dragons going to the fourth.

 

In the top of the fourth, Tilley came back out after the long bottom of the third. The Mountaineers, got their first hit of the game, but Tilley would strikeout the side for the 2nd inning in a row to give him 9 on the evening. In the bottom of the frame, the Dragons would go down quietly and we’d go to the top of the fifth with the Dragons leading, 10-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, the career saves leader for Pickens Baseball, JP Nunn, came on in relief of Tilley to close this one out. Nunn, would strike out the side in between giving up a walk and a single to give the Dragons the 10-0 win in 5 inning.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 2-3 with 3 RBI & 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 2 walks

Cade Sutton: 1 run scored

Tyler Payne: 1 walk, & 2 runs scored

Trey Payne: 1 walk, & 2 runs scored

Dawson Holland: 1-2 with a single & 1 run scored

Harlan Will: 1-1 with a single & a walk

James Tilley: 1-1 with a single, 1 RBI, & 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K on 55 pitches

Evan Giddens: 1 walk & 1 run scored

Tee Knight: 1 run scored

Jackie Jarrett: 1 run scored

JP Nunn: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K on 20 pitches

Dragons sweep home & home series against Union

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — After a tough loss to 6A Sequoyah on Monday, February 20th, the Pickens Dragons were right back on the field on Tuesday, February 21st as they welcomed the Union County Panthers to Dunn Field for the second game of their home and home series. The Dragons, defeated the Panthers on February 14th, and looked to sweep the season series. Pickens, used big 4th and 6th innings to help earn a 10-0 win in 6 innings.

 

In the top of the first, the Panthers, threatened early, but a pop up and a couple of timely strikeouts by Dragons starter Trey Payne, left the bases loaded and sent it to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom half of the inning, the Dragons got a 1-out single from Trace Ledbetter, and a 2-out walk from Tyler Payne. The Panthers, got out of it as they caught a line drive hit to center field to keep it tied at 0 going to the second.

 

In the top of the second, Union had another scoring chance as they would get a 2-out triple. On the next pitch, Trey Payne would force a pop up to shortstop for the third out and send it the bottom of the inning. In the bottom half of the second, the Dragons, would go down in order and we’d head to the top of the third still scoreless.

 

In the top of the third, the Panthers again tried to break the tie in this pitchers duel as they had a runner reach on a 1-out error, followed up by a single to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Trey Payne, worked around it and picked up a strikeout and a fielder’s choice out to send it to the bottom of the third still tied at 0. In the bottom of the third, Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, hit a 1-out double. Trace Ledbetter, would then drive him in with an RBI single to make it 1-0.

Later on in the inning, after Trey Payne drew a walk, Tyler Payne brought in Ledbetter with a grounder to first base to make it 2-0. Union, escaped even more potential danger as Trey Payne was left stranded at 3rd. Going to the top of the fourth, the Dragons led the Panthers, 2-0.

 

In the top of the fourth, Trey Payne had his best inning on the mound as picked up two more strikeouts and induced a grounder to 2nd base to get out of the the top half of the fourth on just 7 pitches. In the bottom of the fourth, Dawson Holland led off with a single. Evan Giddens then reached on a 1-out error. Cade Sutton, then drew a walk to load the bases for Shouse. on a 2-0 count, Shouse got a hold of one and sent it over the right field fence for a 3-run homer. Going to the top of the fifth, the Dragons led the Panthers, 5-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Panthers, were looking to get back into the game with a 1-out single, followed by a walk. Tee Knight, who came on in relief of Trey Payne, kept the score 5-0 as he was able to get the final two outs of the top of the fifth on 8 pitches. In the bottom of the fifth, Trey Payne led off by getting hit with a pitch, Tyler Payne reached on an error, and Harlan Will drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.

Union, got out of that jam without giving up any runs as they got a double play, then a pop up to send it to the top of the sixth with Pickens still leading, 5-0.

 

In the top of the sixth, Knight, still on the mound, worked around a 2-out walk as he kept the Panthers scoreless and sent it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Giddens, led off by getting on base. AJ Rice, who came in to play 3rd for Sutton in the top half of the frame, drew a walk. Shouse, collected his 3rd hit of the day with a single to load the bases. Ledbetter, drove in Giddens and Rice with a 2-RBI single to make it 7-0.

After a ground out by Ezra Faber that advanced Shouse over to 3rd, Jackie Jarrett drove in Shouse with an RBI single to make it 8-0. Kam Jenkins, then brought in Jarrett with an RBI double to make it 9-0. Bradley Prince, put a bow on this one as he drove in Jenkins to give the Dragons the 10-0 win.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 3-4 with a double, 3-run homer, a single, 2 RBI, & 3 runs scored

Trace Ledbetter: 3-4 with 3 singles, 3 RBI, &  2 runs scored

Tyler Payne: 1 walk, & 1 RBI

Jackie Jarrett: 1-1 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored

Kam Jenkins: 1-1 with a double, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 1-3 with a single, & 1 run scored

Evan Giddens: 2 runs scored

Cade Sutton: 1 walk, & 1 run scored

AJ Rice: 1 walk, & 1 run scored

 

The Dragons, will continue their busy week on Thursday afternoon as they’ll host the Hillgrove Hawks at Dunn Field. Hillgrove, is out of the 7A classification so it will be another chance for the Dragons to take on a bigger school. First pitch is set for 3 pm.

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