Blue Ridge, Ga — On the final day of the month of February, the Pickens Dragons traveled up 515 to take on the Fannin County Rebels in non-region action. This game, was the first of two between these two teams as they began a home and home series on Tuesday, February 28th. Hits and runs were at a premium for both teams for the majority of this one.  The Dragons, used big 5th and 6th innings to come away with the 7-2 win.

In the top of the first, the Dragons would go down in order and we’d head to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the first, Dragons starter and Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, struck out the side in between walking a batter. Going to the top of the second, it was still scoreless between the Dragons and the Rebels.

In the top of the second, Trey Payne reached on a 1-out error for the Dragons first base runner. Dawson Holland, then beat out a double play to reach base. James Tilley, followed that up by drawing a full count walk. Holland and Tilley would be left stranded however as Fannin got a fly out to end the top half of the second. In the bottom of the second, the Rebels led off by getting hit by a pitch. Shouse, then got the ground ball for the double play.

Second baseman Evan Giddens, then caught a line drive to him for the third out. Going to the top of the third, the Dragons and Rebels were still tied.

In the top of the third, the Dragons had their best scoring chance so far. Giddens, led off with a single, the Dragons first hit of the game. Cade Sutton, then reached on an error. Shouse, drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Somehow, someway, the Rebels were able to get out of it with no damage done. The Rebels, got a strikeout, an infield fly out, and a ground out to send to the the bottom of the third still scoreless.

In the bottom of the third, the Rebels again led off by getting hit with a pitch. After a ball that got passed the catcher to advance the runner to 2nd, Shouse picked up his 3rd K of the day for the first out. Another ball would get by the catcher to advance the runner to 3rd with 1-out. Shouse, shook that off and picked up his 2nd K of the inning and 4th overall for the 2nd out. Shouse, forced a grounder right back to him for the 3rd out. Going to the fourth, there was still no score.

In the top of the fourth, Tilley would reach on an error. He then would steal 2nd to put a runner in scoring position for the Dragons with 1-out. The Rebels, once again avoided a potentially big inning as they got a fly out and a pop out to send it to the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the frame, The Rebels had a runner reach after a dropped 3rd strike. With 2-outs, after a wild pitch, a passed ball, and a walk, Fannin had runners at the corners. Shouse, picked up his 3rd K of the inning to keep it scoreless and send it to the fifth.

In the top of the fifth, the Dragons broke through. Sutton, led off with a double. Shouse, moved him over to 3rd with a grounder. Trace Ledbetter, drove him in with an RBI single. After Tyler Payne drew a walk, Trey Payne drove in Ledbetter with an RBI single. Tyler Payne would also come in to score and Trey Payne advanced to 3rd on a throwing error. Holland, brought in Trey Payne on the grounder to make it 4-0 Dragons going to the bottom of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Rebels led off by drawing a walk. Fannin then tried a hit and run play, but would only get the steal of 2nd. A wild pitch moved the runner over to 3rd with 1-out. The Rebels, would then get their first hit and first run on the same play with an RBI double to make it 4-1. Shouse, picked off the runner at 2nd, then got a grounder to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading, 4-1.

In the top of the sixth, the Dragons loaded the bases with 1-out after a walk by Giddens, a single by Sutton, & a walk by Shouse. Ledbetter brought in Giddens after a grounder to 2nd to make it 5-1. Tyler Payne then drove in Sutton and Shouse with a 2-RBI single to make it 7-1 Dragons going to the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Tee Knight came on in relief of Shouse. Knight, worked around giving up a lead off single, and a 2-out walk. Going to the seventh, the Dragons led the Rebels, 7-1.

In the top of the seventh, Holland led off by drawing a walk. Colby Brooks, then reached on a 1-out error. Both runners advanced after a wild pitch to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1-out. The Rebels, got out of the top of the seventh with a strikeout and a ground out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Rebels made it a little interesting. Fannin, got a run on a hit, a walk, and a couple of hit batsman. With 2-outs and the bases loaded, Cason Cannon got the final out to give the Dragons the 7-2 win.

Stats for the Dragons:

Cade Sutton: 2-5 with 1 single, 1 double, & 2 runs scored

Connor Shouse: 2 walk, & 1 run scored 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K on 77 pitches

Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with 1 single, 2 RBI, & 1 run scored

Tyler Payne: 1 walk, 1 single, 2 RBI, & 1 run scored

Trey Payne: 1-4 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 1 walk, & 1 RBI

Evan Giddens: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 1 run scored

The Dragons, will be back in action on Wednesday, March 1st as they welcome the North Murray Mountaineers to Dunn Field for  another non-region contest. First pitch it set for 5:30 pm.