Jasper, Ga — It was win or go home for the Pickens Dragons and the Hebron Christian Lions on Tuesday, April 30th as Dunn Field was the site for game three of the best of three series. The Dragons and Lions, split a doubleheader on Monday, April 29th with the Dragons winning the first game, and the Lions winning the second game. The winner of the deciding third game, would move on to face the Harlem Bulldogs. The Dragons, pulled away from the Lions early on and came away with a 10-0 win in 6 innings.

In the top of the first, Dragons starter James Tilley, worked around a 2-out walk as he picked up two ground outs, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom half of the frame. In the bottom of the first, Connor Shouse, got things started by leading off with a single. A.J. Rice, would then ground into a fielder’s choice as Shouse would be forced out at 2nd. Lions starter Dallas Rice, would then force an inning ending double play to send it to the second still tied at 0.

Tilley, had a long inning pitch count wise in the top of the second, but picked up two more strikeouts and a ground out to get out of it. After Rice picked up two quick outs in the bottom of the second, things would turn for both teams as Rice would be hit with a come backer near the wrist of his throwing arm. Sutton, who reached on an error by the 1st baseman on the play, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position.

Tyler Payne, would draw a 4-pitch walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out. Kyle Grno, would draw the second straight walk to load the bases. Trey Payne, would then draw a full count walk to bring in Sutton to make it 1-0 Dragons. Shouse, would clear the bases with a 3-RBI double to make it 4-0 Dragons. Leyton Jones, would come on in relief of Rice and would get out of the inning with a ground out. Going to the third, the Dragons led it, 4-0.

Tilley, carried over that momentum from the bottom of the third to the top of the fourth as he fired a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout, and two ground outs. Kam Jenkins, would look to get something started for the Dragons in the bottom of the inning with a 1-out double. Christian Starks, would drive in courtesy runner JP Nunn with an RBI single to make it 5-0 Dragons. Starks, would then steal 2nd to move into scoring position.

Sutton, would then bring in Starks with an RBI triple to make it 6-0 Dragons. Tag Clement, would come on in relief of Jones and he would force a pop out and a ground out to get out of the third. Going to the fourth, Pickens led Hebron Christian, 6-0.

In the top of the fourth, Tilley, would keep rolling along as he picked up two strikeouts, and a pop out. In the bottom of the fourth, Shouse, would pick up his third hit of the day and his second double. Rice, would drive him in with an RBI single to make it 7-0 Dragons. Rice, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Trace Ledbetter, would bring in Rice with an RBI single to make it 8-0. Ledbetter would advance to 2nd on the throw.

Jenkins, would move pitch runner Jennings Allen up to 3rd on a fly out as he would tag from 2nd. Starks, would drive in Allen with his 2nd RBI knock of the day to make it 9-0 Dragons. Thomas Stallworth, would come on in relief of Clement and he would force a ground out to get out of the inning. Going to the fifth, Pickens led Hebron Christian, 9-0.

In the top of the fifth, Stallworth, would pick up the first hit of the day for the Lions with a 1-out single. Tilley, would shake that off to strike out the next two batters to send it to the bottom of the inning. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the fifth on two pop outs and a ground out. Going to the sixth, Pickens still led Hebron Christian, 9-0.

Brodie Keener, would come on in relief of Tilley in the top of the sixth. Keener, would toss a scoreless frame as he picked up a pop out, a line out, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, pitch hitter Ezra Faber, would jump on the first pitch he saw and would bloop on down the right field line for a lead off single. Pitch hitter Dawson Lowit, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs.

Faber, would move up to 3rd after a fly out by Ledbetter. Pitch hitter Sam Hammontree, would drive in Faber with an RBI single to take game three 10-0 and send the Dragons to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history.

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 3-3 with 1 single, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, and 1 run scored

A.J. Rice: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with 1 single and 1 RBI

Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with 1 double

Christian Starks: 2-3 with 2 singles, 2 steals, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored

Cade Sutton: 1-3 with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Tyler Payne: 1 walk

Kyle Grno: 1 walk and 1 run scored

Trey Payne: 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Ezra Faber: 1-1 with 1 single and 1 run scored

Dawson Lowit: 1 walk

Sam Hammontree: 1-1 with 1 single and 1 RBI

Coleman Keener: 1 run scored

JP Nunn: 1 run scored

Jennings Allen: 1 run scored

James Tilley: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K on 70 pitches

Brodie Keener: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 12 pitches

The Dragons, will now get ready for the Elite 8 as they will take on the Harlem Bulldogs on the road in a best of three series starting on Saturday, May 4th in a doubleheader. Game 1 is set to start at 2 pm, and game 2 is set to begin at 4:30 pm. The “if” game is set for Monday, May 6th at 5 pm.