Dawsonville, Ga — It was another beautiful day at the ball park as the Pickens Dragons made the short trip up to Dawsonville to take on the Dawson Tigers in the third and final game of their series. The Dragons, were looking for the series sweep, while the Tigers, were looking to steal a game and stay slightly ahead of Lumpkin for 4th. Dawson “Boogie” Lowit, led the way offensively, while Christian Starks would toss a complete game shutout as the Dragons picked up a 5-0 win.

The Dragons, looked for an early rally in the top of the first as Starks would reach with a 2-out single. Lowit, would follow that up with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd with two out. Tigers starter Case Gravitt, would get out of the first with a line out to send it to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the first, Preston Bannister, would lead off with a single.

Kam Jenkins, would throw out Bannister trying to steal 2nd for the first out. Starks, would then pick up a strikeout and a line out to send it to the second with the score tied at 0.

Matthew Davis, would lead off the top of the second by reaching on an error. Sam Hammontree, would follow that by drawing a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out. After a ground out, both Davis and Hammontree, would then advance on a wild pitch. Gravitt, would pick up a fly out and a ground out to get out of the jam and send it to the bottom of the second.

In the bottom of the second, Starks, would work around a 1-out walk drawn by Dylan Edwards to pick up a line out, a strikeout, and a ground out. Heading to the third, the game was still tied at 0.

In the top of the third, Starks, would pick up his 2nd hit with a 1-out single. Starks, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position. Lowit, would drive in Starks with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons. Cade Sutton, would follow that up with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. Lowit and Sutton, would then move up a base after a ground out by Davis.

Hammontree, would keep the inning going by bringing both Lowit and Sutton on a 2-RBI single to make it 3-0. Dawson Holland, would then reach with a 2-out single. A wild pitch, would move runners up to 2nd and 3rd. The Tigers, would get out of the third with a ground out. In the bottom of the third, Starks, would pick up a line out and two fly outs to send it to the fourth with the Dragons leading the Tigers, 3-0.

The Dragons, would look to add to their lead in the top of the fourth as Starks would pick up his 3rd hit of the game with a 2-out single. Lowit, would follow that with his 3rd hit of the game to put runners at 1st and 2nd with two out. Starks and Lowit, would then pull off a double steal to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. The Tigers, would once again escape a potential scoring threat as they would pick up a fly out to send it to the bottom of the fourth.

Starks, would continue his good night on the mound in the bottom of the fourth as he picked up his 3rd strikeout, a fly out, and a pop out to send it to the fifth with the Dragons leading the Tigers, 3-0.

In the top of the fifth, Tripp Williams, who came on in relief of Gravitt in the top of the fourth, would toss a scoreless frame as he picked up a ground out, a fly out, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Starks, would work around a 1-out double by Carson Sosebee as he picked up a ground out, a pop out, and a strikeout to send it to the sixth with the Dragons still leading the Tigers, 3-0.

In the top of the sixth, A.J. Rice, would look to get something going as he reached with a 2-out single. Williams, would get out of the sixth with a ground out to keep the score at 3-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers, were swinging early and often as Starks picked up a line out, a ground out, and a fly out on just five pitches. Heading to the seventh, Pickens led Dawson, 3-0.

Lowit, would lead off the top of the seventh with his 4th hit of the game. Sutton, would follow that with his 2nd hit of the game to put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt by Davis, would move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. Hammontree, would then bring in both pitch runner Caden Kirchoff and Sutton with his second 2-RBI single to make it 5-0 Dragons.

Holland, would follow that with his 2nd hit of the game to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Tigers, would get out of the seventh with an unconventional 6-5-4 double play to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Starks, would work around a 2-out single by Edwards, to pick up a line out, a strikeout, and a ground out as the Dragons picked up the 5-0 win to sweep the series.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 1-4 with 1 single

Christian Starks: 3-4 with 3 singles, 2 steals, 1 run scored & 7 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K on 74 pitches

Dawson Lowit: 4-4 with 4 singles, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Cade Sutton: 2-4 with 2 singles and 2 runs scored

Sam Hammontree: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 walk, and 4 RBI

Dawson Holland: 2-4 with 2 singles

Caden Kirchoff: 1 run scored

6-AAA Baseball Standings:

North Hall: 17-5 (13-2)

Pickens: 20-4 (12-3)

GAC: 14-7 (11-4)

Dawson: 13-11 (8-7)

Lumpkin: 12-11 (6-9)

White County: 10-13 (5-10)

Chestatee: 6-18 (5-10)

Johnson-Gainesville: 2-22 (0-15)

The Dragons, will be back in action on Tuesday, April 8th as they begin a three game series with the Chestatee War Eagles at home. It’s the second to last series of the regular season. The first pitch, is scheduled for 5:55 pm.