Dragons drop non-region game to 7A #10 Carrollton

Carrollton, GA — On Monday, April 15th, the Pickens Dragons headed down to Carrollton to take on the Trojans in a very intriguing late regular season ball game. Coming into the game, the Dragons, were ranked #1 or #2 in AAA, (depending on the site), 23-4 overall, 17-1 in 7-AAA, and riding a 15-game win streak. The Trojans, came into the game ranked 10th in 7A, 17-8 overall, and 6-3 in 7-AAAAAAA. The game lived up to the billing as it would be the home team getting the win in the final inning, 5-4.

 

In the top of the first, Connor Shouse got things going for the Dragons as he led off by being hit with a pitch. Trey Payne, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as he was able to beat out a double play. Payne, would move over to 2nd after Cade Sutton grounded out to short. The Trojans, would get out of the top of the first two send it to the bottom of the frame.

In the bottom of the first, Shouse, started off the inning by recording a strikeout for the first out. Landon Eubanks, would reach with a 1-out single. Eubanks, would advance to 3rd on a single by Bryce Kingeter. Kingeter, would be thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch that single into a double. Kaleb Binion, would bring in Eubanks with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Trojans.

Jordan White, would keep the inning going for the Trojans as he reached with a 2-out single. Binion would advance to 3rd on the hit. Shouse, would be able to limit the damage to just the one run as he struck out his 2nd batter of the inning to send it to the second with Carrollton leading Pickens, 1-0.

 

In the top of the second, Trace Ledbetter would reach with 1-out after being hit with a pitch. Ledbetter would then advance to 2nd as Dawson Holland grounded out to short. The Trojans, again would get out of a potential jam to send it to the bottom of the second. In the bottom half of the second, Shouse, had a nice bounce back as he forced two ground outs and a line out on 10 pitches to send it to the third with Carrollton still leading Pickens, 1-0.

 

In the top of the third, Shouse, would look to start a rally as he would draw a 2-out walk to reach base. Trey Payne, would follow that up by drawing a walk himself to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Trojans, would pick up a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third, Shouse, picked up his 3rd K and a ground out for the first two outs of the frame.

Kingeter, would then reach base on a 2-out single. Kingeter, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Shouse, would get out of the third with his 4th strikeout to send it to the fourth with Carrollton leading Pickens, 1-0.

 

In the top of the fourth, Ledbetter, would reach on an error with 1-out. Holland, would then break up the no hitter as he reached with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Trojans, would pick up a strikeout and a ground out to keep the Dragons scoreless. Going to the bottom of the fourth, Carrollton still led it, 1-0. In the bottom of the fourth, White, would lead off with a single.

White, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. After Shouse picked up his 5th strikeout, the Dragons defense would come up with a big play as Holland would catch a fly ball in right field, then fire back to 2nd to double up White to send it to the fifth with Carrollton leading, 1-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, Shouse, would reach base for a third time as he would be hit with a pitch for the 2nd time. Sutton, would draw a walk with 2-outs to reach 1st. The Dragons, would tie the ball game up after Shouse and Sutton executed a double steal as Sutton took 2nd, and Shouse swiped home. Kam Jenkins, would keep the inning going as he reached on an error to put runners at 1st and 3rd with 2-outs.

The Trojans, would get out of the top of the fifth with just the one run given up. Going to the bottom of the inning, Pickens and Carrollton were tied at 1. In the bottom of the fifth, Gunner Fokken, would lead off with a single. Courtesy runner Caleb Hudson, would advance to 2nd after an error. Hudson, would then advance to 3rd on a passed ball. Dylan Bishop, would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 3rd with nobody out.

Bishop, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Maddox Monsour, would drive in Hudson and Bishop with a 2-run double to make it 3-1 Trojans. Eubanks, would advance Monsour to 3rd after a ground out. Monsour, would then come in to score on a passed ball to make it 4-1. Brodie Keener, who came on in relief of Shouse, would pick up a line out and a strikeout to send it to the sixth with Carrollton leading Pickens, 4-1.

 

In the top of the sixth, Holland, led off by drawing a walk. That walk would be erased as the Trojans would turn a double play. Christian Starks, would keep the inning alive for the Dragons as he reached on an error. The Trojans, would pick up a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, JP Nunn, would come on in relief of Keener.

Nunn, would get the Trojans in order on a pop out, and two fly outs. Going to the seventh, Carrollton led Pickens, 4-1.

 

Shouse, would lead off the top of the seventh by drawing a walk on a full count. Trey Payne, would follow up with a single. Shouse, would advance to 3rd on the hit. Sutton, would then draw a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Shouse, would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. Payne, would advance to 3rd and Sutton would advance to 2nd on the play.

After the Trojans got a fly out for the first out, Payne, would come in to score on another wild pitch to make it 4-3. Sutton, advanced to 3rd on the play. Ledbetter, would drive in Sutton with an RBI single to tie the game at 4. Ledbetter, would be tagged out at 3rd trying to stretch it to a triple. The Trojans, would get a ground out to send it to the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at 4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Fokken, would reach on an infield single and then advance to 2nd on an error. Courtesy runner Logan Turner, would advance to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt by Bishop. The Dragons, would then intentionally walk the next two batters to load to bases for a possible force out at any base. After a strikeout for the 2nd out, Binion, would draw a full count walk to bring in Turner as the Trojans picked up the win, 5-4.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 2 hit by pitch, 2 walks, 1 steal, and 2 runs scored

Trey Payne: 1-3 with a single, a walk, and 1 run scored

Cade Sutton: 2 walks, 1 steal, and 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with a double, 1 hit by pitch, and 1 RBI

Dawson Holland: 1-2 with a single and a walk

 

The Dragons, will be back home on the turf of Dunn Field on Wednesday, April 17th as they host the Shiloh Generals in another non-region ball game. First pitch time is set for 5:30 pm.