Jasper, Ga — It was time for week three of 6-AAA play as the Pickens Dragons took on the Lumpkin Indians in game one of their three game set on Tuesday, March 18th. The Dragons, were coming off a tough series against North Hall where they were only able to win one game. The Indians, were looking to rebound after being swept by Greater Atlanta Christian. A.J. Rice, would throw a complete game as the Dragons would pick up the win, 5-1.

Rice, the Junior Auburn commit, would work around a 2-out walk drawn by Mason Hester as he would strike out the side in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the first, Christian Starks, would look to get something started with a 1-out single. Starks, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position with 2-outs. Starks, would then move to 3rd on a wild pitch.

Kam Jenkins, would drive in Starks with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons. An RBI double by Dawson Lowitt, would bring in courtesy runner Zach Williams to make it 2-0. Dawson Holland, would keep the line moving with a single to put runners at the corners with 2-out. Holland, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Matthew Davis, would draw a walk to load the bases.

Indians starter Adian Rogers, would get out of the inning with a ground out. Heading to the second, the Dragons, led the Indians, 2-0.

Matthew Mitchell, would lead off the top of the second with a single. Jayzen Johnson, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as Mitchell would be forced out at 2nd. Rice, would get out of the second after another ground out, and his 4th strikeout as the Indians left Johnson stranded. Jennings Allen, would lead off the bottom of the second with a single. Allen, would then swipe 2nd to get into scoring position with 1-out.

Starks, would bring in Allen with an RBI triple to make it 3-0 Dragons. Cade Sutton, would follow that up with an RBI single as Starks would come in to score to make it 4-0. After Sutton was caught trying to steal 2nd, Jenkins would keep the inning going by drawing a walk. Rogers and the Indians, would get out of the second with a ground out to send it to the third with the Dragons leading, 4-0.

After Rice began the third inning with a pair of quick outs, A. Flanagan, would look to get something going for the Indians as he reached with a 2-out single. Hester, would follow that up with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 3rd with 2-outs. Hester, would then get caught in a rundown long enough for Flanagan to come in to score to make it 4-1. Rice, would get out of the third with a fly out to send it to the bottom of the frame.

In the bottom of the third, Holland, would lead off with his 2nd hit of the game. Holland, would then pick up his 2nd steal of the game as he would take 2nd to advance into scoring position. Rogers, would get out of the jam with a fly out, a strikeout, and a pop out to send it to the fourth with the Dragons leading, 4-1.

Rice, would toss a scoreless top of the fourth as he picked up a fly out, and his 5th and 6th strikeout. In the bottom of the fourth, Rice, would reach with a lead off single. Rice, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position. Rice, would advance to 3rd after a ground out by Sutton. Jenkins, would drive in Rice with an RBI single to make it 5-1 Dragons going to the fifth.

In the top of the fifth, Rice, would only need six pitches to pick up a pair of ground outs and a fly out in a scoreless frame. In the bottom of the fifth, Holland, Davis, and Sam Hammontree, would load the bases with back-to-back-to-back singles. Kendal Lee, would come in from right field to relive Rogers. Holland, would be forced out at home as Allen reached on a fielder’s choice. Lee, would then pick up a strikeout for the second out.

Lee and the Indians, would get out of the jam as Allen would be forced out at 2nd to send it to the sixth with the Dragons still leading, 5-1.

Rice, continued his great start in the top of the sixth as he picked up a ground out and a pair of fly outs to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Sutton and Jenkins, would each get hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out. Lowitt, would then follow that with a single to load the bases. Lee, would get out of the inning with a strikeout and a double play to send it to the seventh with the Dragons still leading, 5-1.

Rice, would cap off another fantastic start by striking out the side in the top of the seventh to seal the win in game one for the Dragons, 5-1.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 1-4 with 1 single, 1 steal, and 1 run scored & 7 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 9 K, 1 BB on 103 pitches

Christian Starks: 2-4 with 1 single, 1 triple, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Cade Sutton: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 HBP, and 1 RBI

Kam Jenkins: 2-2 with 2 singles, 1 walk, 1 HBP, and 2 RBI

Dawson Lowitt: 2-4 with 1 single, 1 double, and 1 RBI

Dawson Holland: 3-4 with 3 singles, and 2 steals

Matthew Davis: 1-3 with 1 single and 1 walk

Sam Hammontree: 1-3 with 1 single

Jennings Allen: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 steal, and 1 run scored

Zach Williams: 1 run scored

The series will shift over to Dahlonega for game two on Thursday, March 20th. The Dragons, will look for the series win while the Indians, will look to tie the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:55 pm.