Jasper, Ga — It was a beautiful day at the ball field as the Pickens Dragons took on the Johnson Knights of Gainesville in game one of their three game set on Tuesday, March 25th. The Dragons, were coming off of a big series win against Lumpkin last week. The Knights, haven’t had the best of seasons, but were looking to possibly spoil a season as we head towards the playoffs. The Dragons, got things going early and took home the win, 15-0 in three innings.

In the top of the first, Payton Rose, would get things started for the Knights by getting hit with a pitch. Dragons starter A.J. Rice, would bounce back with a strikeout. Kam Jenkins, would then throw out Rose trying to steal 2nd. Rice, would pick up another strikeout to send it to the bottom of the first. In the bottom half of the frame, Christian Starks, would reach on a two base error with 1-out.

Starks, would then steal 3rd. Starks, would then come in on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 Dragons. A pair of 2-out walks drawn by Jenkins and Dawson Lowit, would put runners at 1st and 2nd. An RBI single by Matthew Davis, would bring in courtesy runner Daven Abernathy to make it 2-0. Davis, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2-out. An RBI single by Dawson Holland, would bring in Lowit to make it 3-0 Dragons heading to the second.

In the top of the second, Rice, would pick up two more strikeouts and a ground out in a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the second, Jennings Allen, would lead off with a double. Rice, would follow with a single to put runners at 1st and 3rd. Allen, would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. Rice, would steal 2nd and advance to 3rd on the wild pitch. Starks, would bring in Rice with an RBI single to make it 5-0.

Starks, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. After a ground out, Jenkins, would drive in Starks to make it 6-0. Lowit, would add on to the lead with a 2-run home run to make it 8-0. Davis, would keep the inning going with a triple. He would then come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 9-0 Dragons. After back to back walks from Holland and Sam Hammontree, Allen, would load the bases with a single.

Rice, would help himself out by clearing the bases with a 3-RBI triple to make it 12-0. Starks, would bring in Rice with an RBI single to make it 13-0. Starks, would advance to 2nd after an error on the play. Chase Hulsey, would come on to pitch hit for Cade Sutton. Hulsey, would reach base after being hit with a pitch. The Knights, would finally get out of the second with a ground out and a fly out. Heading to the third, the Dragons led the Knights, 13-0.

In the top of the third, Daven Abernathy, would come on in relief of Rice. After a strikeout, Felipi Delgado, would reach base after drawing a walk. Alex Alvarez, would then be hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. Delgado and Alvarez, would then move up a base after a wild pitch. Abernathy, would settle in to pick up a strikeout and a ground out to keep the Knights scoreless and send it to the bottom of the third with the Dragons leading, 15-0.

In the bottom of the third, Caden Kirchoff, would draw a lead off walk to reach base. Kirchoff, would then advance to 2nd on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Kirchoff, would then move up to 3rd on another wild pitch. Ezra Faber, would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 3rd with 1-out. Kirchoff, would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 14-0. Coleman Keener, would reach on an error by the second baseman.

Abernathy, would then be hit with a pitch to load the bases. J. Walker, would bring in Faber on a fielder’s choice to seal the win for the Dragons, 15-0.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 triple, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, & 2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 hit batsman, 0 BB, 4 K on 25 pitches

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

Kam Jenkins: 1-1 with 1 single, 1 walk, and 1 RBI

Dawson Lowit: 1-1 with 1 walk, 1 home run, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Matthew Davis: 2-2 with 1 single, 1 triple, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 1-1 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Sam Hammontree: 1 walk and 1 run scored

Jennings Allen: 2-2 with 1 single, 1 double, and 2 runs scored

Daven Abernathy: 1 HBP, 2 runs scored, & 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 hit batsman, 2 K on 24 pitches

Caden Kirchoff: 1 walk and 1 run scored

J. Walker: 1 RBI

Ezra Faber: 1 walk, and 1 run scored

The series will now shift over to Gainesville as game two will take place on Thursday, March 27th at Johnson. First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 pm.