Pickens County, Ga — The busy week for the Pickens Dragons (9-9, 3-7), continued on Tuesday, March 30th as they traveled to Polk County to start a 3-game series with the Cedartown Bulldogs (11-6, 8-2). The Dragons, came into this game sitting in 5th in the 7-AAAA standings. The Bulldogs, came into the game in 2nd in the region standings. Using a big 2nd inning, the Bulldogs were able to take game 1, 12-5.

 

The Dragons would go down in order in the top of the 1st. In the bottom half of the frame, Dragons starter Drake Sutton, picked up 2 strikeouts and left 2 Bulldogs stranded to send us to the 2nd, tied at 0.

 

In the top of the 2nd, Seth Densmore led off by getting hit by a pitch. Jarod Whitmore would then get on with a 1-out single. Trace Ledbetter worked a walk to load the bases. Parker Rhodes, knocked in Densmore with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons. James Tilley, drove in Whitmore and Ledbetter with a 2 RBI single to make it 3-0. Connor Shouse, would keep the line moving as he drove in Rhodes with an RBI single to make it 4-0 Dragons. The lead for Pickens would not last long however as the Bulldogs scored 7 runs in the bottom half of the 2nd to take a 7-4 lead going to the 3rd.

 

In the top of the 3rd, Sutton worked the count full and drew a 2-out walk. Whitmore then followed by reaching on an error. That would be all the Dragons could muster as we’d go to the bottom of the 3rd, Cedartown ahead, 7-4. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Bulldogs would plate a run to make it 8-4 going to the 4th.

 

After nothing got going for Pickens in the top half of the 4th, the Bulldogs would score 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 11-4.

 

In the top of the 6th, the Dragons had back to back hitters get struck by pitches to put runners on 1st and 2nd with just one out. Back to back pop outs to the second baseman ended the potential rally and sent us to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the 6th, the Bulldogs tacked on another run to make it 12-4 going to the 7th.

 

In the top of the 7th, Hunter White led off by getting hit with a pitch. Densmore, then followed with a single. Whitmore, then drove in White to make it 12-5.  Ledbetter followed by drawing a walk, and Rhodes collected his 2nd hit of the day after that. The Bulldogs, were able to prevent any further possible damage as Cedartown would take game 1, 12-5.

 

Dragons Stats:

Connor Shouse: 1-3 with a single, 1 RBI, and 1 hit by pitch

Hunter White: 2 hit by pitch and 1 run scored

Seth Densmore: 1-3 with a single, a run scored, and 1 hit by pitch

Drake Sutton: 1 walk

Jarod Whitmore: 2-4 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 2 walks and 1 run scored

Parker Rhodes: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Trey Payne: 1 hit by pitch

James Tilley: 1-3 with a single, 1 hit by pitch, and 2 RBI

 

These two teams will meet again on Friday in Jasper for games 2 and 3 of the series. First game of the doubleheader is set for 5:30 pm.