Jasper, Ga — It was the start of a busy week for the Pickens Dragons baseball team as they began the week with a little 515 rivalry action as they hosted the Gilmer Bobcats on Monday, February 24th. These same two teams met in Ellijay last week, with the Dragons coming away with a 14-6 win. Behind another stellar performance by Auburn commit A.J. Rice, the Dragons would pick up a 10-0 win in five innings.

Rice, would work around a 1-out walk drawn by Haden West as he would strike out the side in the top half of the first. In the bottom of the first, Rice, would lead off with a single. Christian Starks, would bring Rice in with an RBI double to make it 1-0. Back to back walks drawn by Cade Sutton and Kam Jenkins, would load the bases with nobody out. After an infield fly was called, Sam Hammontree, would drive in Starks with an RBI sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 Dragons.

West and the Bobcats, would get out of the first with a strikeout. Heading to the second, the Dragons led the Bobcats, 2-0.

Peyton Chancey, would look to get something going for the Bobcats in the top of the second as he would draw a 1-out walk. He would be forced out at 2nd as Blake Grizzle would reach on a fielder’s choice. Rice, would end the top of the second with his 5th strikeout of the game to send it to the bottom of the frame. Ezra Faber, would lead off the bottom of the second by reaching on a two base error.

Jennings Allen, would move Faber over to 3rd on a ground out to 1st. Rice, would bring in Faber on a sac fly to make it 3-0. Starks, would reach with a 2-out double. He would then advance to 3rd on a passed ball. Sutton, would drive in Starks with an RBI single to make it 4-0 Dragons. Jenkins, would keep the inning alive for the Dragons as he would draw his 2nd walk of the game.

Dawson Lowitt, would bring in Sutton with an RBI single to make it 5-0 Dragons heading to the top of the third inning.

Rice, would toss a 1-2-3 top of the third as he struck out the side to send it to the bottom of the inning. Dawson Holland, would lead off the bottom of the inning with a single. He would then advance to 2nd after a balk was called. After a strikeout and a ground out, Rice, would drive in Holland with an RBI single to make it 6-0 Dragons heading to the fourth.

After a quick first two outs in the top half of the fourth, Cooper Cochran, would draw a walk in hopes of getting something started for the Bobcats. Landon McClure, would come on to run for Cochran and he would attempt to steal 2nd to get into scoring position. Jenkins, would throw him out to send it to the bottom of the fourth. C.J. Hatchett, who came on in relief, would work a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth to send it to the fifth with the Dragons leading, 6-0.

Jackson Nunn, would come on in relief of Rice to start the top of the fifth. Chancey, would draw his 2nd walk of the game to lead off the inning. Nunn, would get a little help from his defense as he would get Grizzle to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Mel Mosely, would keep the inning alive for the Bobcats as he would reach on an error. Mel Mosely, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position.

Rob Mosely, would draw a 2-out walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Nunn, would get Eli Cooper to fly out to right to end the potential scoring threat and send it to the bottom of the inning. Lowitt, would lead off the bottom of the fifth by drawing a walk. Hammontree, would follow with a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Holland, would bring in Lowitt with an RBI single.

Faber, would then drive in Hammontree with an RBI single to make it 8-0. Allen, would walk it off with a 2-RBI double as Holland and Faber would come around to score to give the Dragons a 10-0 win in five innings.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 2-2 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored & 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K on 68 pitches

Christian Starks: 2-3 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Cade Sutton: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Kam Jenkins: 2 walks

Dawson Lowitt: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Sam Hammontree: 1-2 with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Ezra Faber: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Jennings Allen: 1-3 with 1 double, and 2 RBI

Jackson Nunn: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB on 23 pitches

The Dragons, will be back in action on Thursday, February 27th as they host the Fannin Rebels for another non-region showdown. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.