Dragons Battle In State Tournament Against Num. 2 Team In 4A

Yesterday, the PHS Dragons varsity baseball team headed down to Atlanta to take on the Marist War Eagles in the 1st round of the GHSA 4A State Baseball Tournament. Coming into the game, the Dragons were the #3 seed out of region 6-AAAA, while Marist, came in as the #2 seed out of region 7-AAAA. Marist was also ranked as the 2nd best team in 4A coming into the state tournament.

 

Game 1:

In the top of the 1st, the Dragons got a 2-out walk by Tyler Vreeland, but that would be all they would manage to begin the game. The War Eagles, plated the 1st run of the game in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead.

 

In the top of the 3rd, Pickens struck for the first time as starter Colby James hit a 2-run, 2-out single, knocking in Hunter White & Brady Moore to give the Dragons a 2-1 lead over Marist. In the bottom of the inning, the War Eagles re-took the lead by scoring two runs over their own & now led, 3-2.

 

In the bottom of the 4th, Marist added to their lead by plating a run to make it 4-2 over the Dragons. In the top of the 5th, Pickens, never one to stop fighting, scored 2 runs as both Jacob Kirchoff  came to score on a passed ball, & Moore scored when James got walked for his 3rd RBI, tying the game at 4.

 

In this back and forth opening game of the series, the War Eagles plated 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th to re-take the lead, 6-4. In the top of the 7th, the Dragons got a 1-out double from Caswell Smith, but he was left stranded as Marist held on to take game one, 6-4.

 

Stats:

Brady Moore: 2-4 with 2 doubles, & 2 runs scored

Caswell Smith: 1-2 with a single, & 2 intentional walks

Tyler Vreeland: 1 walk

Colby James: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 3 RBI

Hunter White: 1-2 with a single, a walk, & 1 run scored

Jacob Kirchoff: 1 run scored

 

Game 2:

Game 2, saw Pickens as the designated home team & saw senior & College of Charleston signee Caswell Smith get the start. The Dragons, were looking to get a win here in game 2, to force a 3rd and deciding game.

 

Smith & the Dragons, were in a little bit of trouble in the top of the first as Marist had an early threat. Pickens, got out of it & we headed to the bottom of the 1st tied. Brady Moore, led the bottom of the 1st with a walk, but would be left stranded at 3rd, keeping the game scoreless.

 

In the top of the 2nd, the War Eagles plated the first runs of the game, taking a 2-0 lead. Marist added to their lead in the top of the 3rd, scoring 4 times to make it a 6-0 lead over the Dragons.

 

In the bottom of the 4th, Pickens broke through. The Dragons, socred 4 runs on 5 hits, getting a 2-RBI knock from Chad Pacas, and an RBI each from Jacob Kirchoff & Moore. Going to the 5th, the War Eagles lead was cut to just 6-4.

 

Marist, re-took the lead in the top of the 5th by scoring 5 runs. Pickens went quietly in the bottom of the frame, & we’d head to the 6th, with the War Eagles up, 11-4.

 

In the bottom of the 7th, now trailing 16-4, the Dragons would put up one last fight. Getting an RBI from Tyler Vreeland, Colby James, Austin Chester, & Hunter White, & scoring 6 runs before Marist was able to get the final out. Final score, Marist 16, Pickens 10. Pickens finishes the season at 19-13.

 

Stats:

Brady Moore: 1-3 with a single, a walk, 1 RBI, & a run scored

Caswell Smith: 2-4 with 2 singles, & 1 run scored

Tyler Vreeland: 1-4 with a single & 1 RBI

Colby James: 2-4 with a single, a double, 1 RBI, & 2 runs scored

Will Lawrence: 3-3 with 3 singles & 2 runs scored

Austin Chester: 2-4 with 2 singles, 1 RBI. & 2 runs scored

Chad Pacas: 1-2 with a single, 2 hit by pitch, 2 RBI, & 1 run scored

Hunter White: 1 walk, 1 RBI

Jacob Kirchoff: 1-4 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored