Harlem, Ga — The Pickens Dragons and the Harlem Bulldogs were finally able to get their best of three series started on Monday, May 6th. They were originally scheduled to begin their series on Saturday, May 4th, but mother nature had other ideas. The Dragons, came into the series with a 29-6 overall record and making their first ever appearance in the Elite 8. The Bulldogs, came in 32-1 overall, ranked the 16th best team in the nation, and defending AAA State Champions. The Bulldogs, would take both games of the doubleheader winning 2-1, and 12-0.

 

Game 1:

In the top of the first, the Dragons would go down in order on a ground out, a line out, and a pop out. Dragons starter Connor Shouse, was able to work around a lead of walk as he picked up two strikeouts. The runner on the base path would be called for interference. Heading to the second inning, both Pickens and Harlem were tied at 0.

 

In the top of the second, the Dragons again would go down in order. This time on two ground outs and a strikeout. In the bottom half of the frame, Shouse, would work around a walk and a stolen base as the Bulldogs would leave a runner stranded at 3rd. Going to the third, Pickens and Harlem were still tied at 0.

 

The Dragons, would get their first base runner of the game in the top of the third as Trey Payne would reach with a 2-out single. Shouse, would follow that up with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Bulldogs, would get out of the jam with a pop out to right to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs, would have a runner reach on an error with 2-outs, but Shouse would be able to send it to the fourth still tied.

 

In the top of the fourth, Trace Ledbetter would lead off by drawing a walk. Kam Jenkins, would then move pitch runner Coleman Keener up to 2nd with a sacrifice bunt. An infield single by Christian Starks would put runners at the corners with 1-out. Keener, would come in to score on a sacrifice fly RBI by Cade Sutton to make it 1-0 Dragons. The Bulldogs, would get out of the fourth with just the one run given up.

In the bottom of the inning, Shouse, had his first clean frame of the game picking up two more strikeouts and a ground out. Heading to the fifth, Pickens led Harlem, 1-0.

 

In the top half of the fifth, Kyle Grno, would lead off with a single. After a pop out, Shouse, would pick up his 2nd hit of the day to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. The Bulldogs, would be able to get out of the potential jam as they induced an inning ending 5-3 double play. In the bottom of the fifth, Shouse, worked around a 1-out walk and stolen base as he picked up a ground out and a double play to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading, 1-0.

 

The Dragons, would go down in order in the top of the sixth after two ground outs and a strikeout. In the bottom half of the inning, Shouse, once again worked around a walk and a stolen base as he picked up two more K’s and a force out to send it to the seventh with Pickens leading Harlem, 1-0.

 

In the top of the seventh, the Dragons, would go down quietly after a pop out, a ground out, and a line out. The Bulldogs, would begin the bottom of the seventh by picking up their first hit of the game. They would follow it up with two straight infield singles to load the bases with nobody out. The tying run would score after an error. JP Nunn, would come in to try and keep the game tied at 1.

Nunn, would get the first two batters he faced to set up a bases loaded, 2-out situation. The Bulldogs, would be able to draw a walk and the winning run would come into score as the Bulldogs took game 1, 2-1.

 

Stats for the Dragons in Game 1:

Connor Shouse: 2-3 with 2 singles (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K on 101 pitches)

Trace Ledbetter: 1 walk

Kam Jenkins: 1 sacrifice bunt

Christian Starks: 1-3 with 1 single

Cade Sutton: 1 RBI

Kyle Grno: 1-3 with 1 single

Trey Payne: 1-2 with 1 single

Coleman Keener: 1 run scored

 

Game 2:

For game 2 of the doubleheader, the Dragons were the “home” team. Dragons starter James Tilley, would strike out the side in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, A.J. Rice, would reach with a 1-out single. Rice, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Rice, would move up to 3rd after a balk was called. The Bulldogs, would get out of the first with a strikeout and a ground out to send it to the second with the game still tied at 0.

 

In the top of the second, the Bulldogs, would plate 5 runs on 4 hits and 2 errors to take a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Starks, would reach with a lead off single. Starks, would get picked off for the first out of the inning. After a strikeout, Tyler Payne, would look to keep the second alive for the Dragons with a 2-out single. The Bulldogs, would get out of the second with a strikeout to send it to the third with Harlem leading Pickens, 5-0.

 

The Bulldogs, would add to their lead in the top of the third as they scored 3 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 hit by pitch to make it 8-0. In the bottom of the frame, Shouse, would look to try and get a rally started by drawing a 1-out walk. The Bulldogs, would get out of the third with back to back fly outs. Going to the fourth, Harlem led Pickens, 8-0.

 

In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs would plate 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks to make it 12-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Dragons would go down in order with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out. Going to the fifth, Harlem led Pickens, 12-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, Dylan Walls, who came on in relief of Brodie Keener to pick up the final out in the fourth, worked a clean frame with two ground outs and a strikeout. In the bottom of the fifth, Trey Payne, would reach with a 2-out single. The Bulldogs, would force a pop out as they took game 2, 12-0, to win the series.

 

Stats for the Dragons in Game 2:

Connor Shouse: 1 walk

A.J. Rice: 1-2 with 1 single and 1 steal

Christian Starks: 1-2 with 1 single

Tyler Payne: 1-2 with 1 single

Trey Payne: 1-2 with 1 single

 

The Dragons, end the 2024 season with a 29-8 overall record, a second straight region championship, and their first ever appearance in the Elite 8. The class of 2024, will go down as one of the more successful classes in PHS history. While the Dragons will lose multiple seniors and a lot of production, they will return a good nucleus as they enter a new region in 2025.