Dawsonville, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, made the short ride up to Dawson County on Tuesday, April 1st to begin a very important three game series with the Dawson Tigers. The Dragons, were coming off an expected sweep of Johnson, while the Tigers were looking to rebound after losing two of three to GAC. The Dragons, behind solid pitching performances from A.J. Rice and Dylan Walls and an offense that got going in the third, picked up a 10-0 win in five innings.

In the top of the first, Tigers starter Tate Tangel, would toss a scoreless frame as he picked up a fly out, a ground out, and a line out to send it to the bottom of the first. In the bottom half of the first, Rice, would pick up a pop out and a strikeout for the first two outs of the inning. A 2-out triple by Jacson Rickett, would keep the inning alive for the Tigers. Rice, would force a ground out to send it to the second with the score still tied at 0.

In the top of the second, Dawson Lowit, would reach with a 1-out double. Lowit, would then tag and advance to 3rd on a line out. Tangel and the Tigers, would get out of the second with a fly out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the second, Rice, would pick up a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to send it to the third with the score still even at 0.

Dawson Holland, would lead off the top of the third by drawing a walk. Holland, would then advance into scoring position by stealing 2nd. Jennings Allen, would then move Holland over to 3rd with a sacrifice bunt. Rice, would bring in Holland with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons. Rice, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Starks, would move Rice over to 3rd with a ground out.

Rice, would then come in to score on a passed ball to make it 2-0 Dragons. Tangel, would get out of the third with a fly out. In the bottom of the third, Rice, picked up two strikeouts for the first two outs of the frame. Preston Bannister, would keep the inning going for the Tigers with a 2-out single. Rice, would end the third with a strikeout to send it to the fourth with the Dragons leading, 2-0.

Kam Jenkins, would lead off the top of the fourth by reaching on an error. Lowit, would follow that up with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt by Matthew Davis, would move the runners up a base. Sam Hammontree, would drive in courtesy runner Zach Williams and Lowit with a single to make it 4-0. Hammontree, would then advance to 2nd on a passed ball.

After Holland drew his 2nd walk, Allen would drive in Hammontree with an RBI double. Holland and Allen, would come in to score on a single by Rice. Rice, would be thrown out trying to take 2nd on the play. The Tigers, would get out of the fourth with a line out. Heading to the bottom of the inning, Pickens led Dawson, 7-0. Rickett, would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a single for his 2nd hit of the day.

After Rice forced a fly out for the first out, Rickett, would be thrown out by Jenkins after trying to steal 2nd. Rice, would end the fourth with his 7th strikeout of the game to send it to the fifth with the Dragons leading, 7-0.

Cade Sutton, would lead off the top of the fifth by reaching on an error. After a strikeout, Sutton, would advance into scoring position after stealing 2nd. After a pop out for the 2nd out, Sutton, would come in to score as Davis would reach on a single. Davis, would advance to 2nd on the play. An RBI single from Hammontree, would make it 9-0 Dragons. Holland, would drive Hammontree in with an RBI double to make it 10-0 Dragons heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Dylan Walls, making his 2nd appearance of the season, would come on in relief of Rice in the bottom of the fifth. Walls, would toss a scoreless frame as he picked up a pair of strikeouts and a pop out to seal a 10-0 win for the Dragons in five innings.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 2-3 with 2 singles, 3 RBI, 1 run scored & 4 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K on 58 pitches

Cade Sutton: 1 run scored

Dawson Lowit: 2-3 with 1 double, 1 single, and 1 run scored

Matthew Davis: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 sacrifice bunt, and 1 run scored

Sam Hammontree: 2-3 with 2 singles, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Dawson Holland: 1-1 with 1 double, 2 walks, 1 RBI, and 2 runs socred

Jennings Allen: 1-1 with 1 double, 1 sacrifice bunt, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Zach Williams: 1 run scored

Dylan Walls: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K on 12 pitches

The series will shift over to Jasper and Dunn Field on Thursday, April 3rd as the Dragons will look to keep pace with North Hall. The first pitch for game two is scheduled for 5:55 pm.