Jasper, Ga — It was a cool, rainy day at the ball field as the Pickens Dragons took on the Ringgold Tigers on Wednesday, February 25th. The Dragons, came into the game with a 7-0 record. The Tigers, came into the game with a 3-4 record with wins over Dalton, Heritage, and Northwest Whitfield. The Dragons, behind starter AJ Rice, and an offense that broke things open in fifth, were able to pick up the win, 9-0.

Rice, got off to a fast start on the mound as he would strikeout the side on 14 pitches in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, the Dragons, would look to get a 2-out rally going as Kam Jenkins and Dawson Lowitt, would reach with back to back singles. The Tigers, were able to get out of the potential jam with a strikeout to send it to the second with the score still tied at 0.

Rice, would make quick work in the top of the second as he would again strikeout the side. This time, Rice would only need 11 pitches to send it to the bottom of the second. Christian Starks, would lead off the bottom of the second with a hustle double. Jennings Allen, would drive in Starks with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Allen, would make it to 2nd on the throw home.

Everett Grubbs, would do a job and move Allen over to 3rd with a ground out. Truitt Grubbs, would bring in Allen with an RBI ground out to make it 2-0 Dragons heading to the third.

After Rice picked up his 7th strikeout to start the third inning, the Tigers, would have their first base runner of the evening as M. Cummings would draw a walk. Rice, would come back with his 8th strikeout for the second out. G. Haddock, would keep the inning going for the Tigers by drawing a 2-out walk. Rice, would settle in and pick up his 9th strikeout of the game to send it to the bottom of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Jenkins, would reach on a dropped 3rd strike. His courtesy runner, Caden Kirchoff, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Lowitt, would move Kirchoff over to 3rd after a fly out to right. The Tigers, would get out of the third with a pop out. Heading to the fourth, Pickens led Ringgold, 2-0.

In the top of the fourth, Rice, would induce back to back ground outs for the first two outs of the frame. The Tigers, would look to get something going as R. Blankenship, would draw a 2-out walk. Rice, would end the fourth with his 10th strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. Allen, would reach on a 1-out single for his 2nd hit of the day. Allen, would score on an RBI double by Everett Grubbs to make it 3-0 Dragons.

The Tigers, would get out of the fourth after a pop out to right, and a ground out to 2nd as Grubbs would be left stranded. Heading to the fifth, the Dragons led the Tigers, 3-0.

Rice, would pick up his 11th and 12th strikeout and a ground out in the top of the fifth as he would close out his night on the mound on a high note. Rice, would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Jenkins, would follow that by drawing a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. A single by Lowitt, would load the bases with nobody out. Drew Dunlap, on to pitch hit for Matthew Davis, would bring in Rice after drawing a walk.

Courtesy runner Kirchoff, would come in to score on a wild pitch. Pitch runner Tanner Bail and Dunlap, would also advance on the play. Starks, would load the bases again by drawing a walk. Allen, would drive in both Bail and Dunlap with a 2-RBI double. Starks, would be thrown out at 3rd even though it appeared he got in under the tag. After a pop out for the second out, Truitt Grubbs, would draw a full count walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd.

The Tigers, would get out of the fifth with a ground out as the Dragons would head to the sixth with a 7-0 lead over the Tigers.

MT Crenshaw, would come in to pitch in the top of the sixth for the Dragons. H. Fries, would pick up the Tigers first hit of the game with a 1-out single. Crenshaw, would get out of the sixth with a pop out and a line out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Rice, who led off the bottom of the fifth, would come up again to lead off the bottom of the sixth and reach with a double.

Jenkins, would trade places with Rice as he would drive him in with an RBI double to make it 8-0. Bail, who came on as a replacement for Lowitt in the top of the inning, would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. After a pop out, Kirchoff and Bail, would move up a base after a wild pitch. Starks, would draw his second walk of the game to load the bases with 1-out.

Allen, would bring in his 4th RBI of the game as he would reach on a fielder’s choice. Kirchoff, would come in to score and Starks would be forced out at 2nd on the play. The Tigers, would get out of the sixth with a fly out. Heading to the seventh, Pickens led Ringgold, 9-0.

Crenshaw, came back out for the top of the seventh to try and close things out. Crenshaw, would do just that as he would work around a 2-out walk as he picked up a pair of strikeouts and a line out to preserve the shutout as the Dragons picked up the win, 9-0.

Stats for the Dragons:

AJ Rice: 2-4 with 1 single, 1 double, 2 runs scored and 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 12 K on 83 pitches

Kam Jenkins: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 double, 1 walk, and 1 RBI

Dawson Lowitt: 2-3 with 2 singles

Tanner Bail: 1 walk and 1 run scored

Drew Dunlap: 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Christian Starks: 1-2 with 1 double, 2 walks, and 1 run scored

Jennings Allen: 3-4 with 2 singles, 1 double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Everett Grubbs: 1-4 with 1 double and 1 RBI

Truitt Grubbs: 1 walk and 1 RBI

Caden Kirchoff: 2 runs scored

MT Crenshaw: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 2 K on 29 pitches

The Dragons, will be on the road for their final non-region game before region play starts as they make the trip up to Blue Ridge to take on the Fannin Rebels on Saturday, February 28th. First pitch is scheduled for 12 pm.