Jasper, Ga — 6-AAA region play began on Tuesday, March 3rd as the Pickens Dragons welcomed the White County Warriors to Dunn Field for game one of a three game series. The Dragons, came into the game with a 9-0 record. The Warriors, came into the game with an 8-1 record. The Dragons, scored 5 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull away and pick up an 11-1 win.

Dragons starter AJ Rice, worked a short top of the first as he forced a ground out and two line outs on 8 pitches. In the bottom of the first, Rice, would reach with a 1-out single. Rice, would advance into scoring position after stealing 2nd. After a line out for the second out, Rice, would swipe 3rd. Boogie Lowitt, would drive in Rice with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons.

Back to back singles by Jennings Allen and Christian Starks, would load the bases with 2-outs. The Warriors, would get out of the jam with a pop out. Heading to the second, Pickens led White County, 1-0.

S. Gailey, would lead off the top of the second with a double. J. Padgett, would drive in Gailey with an RBI single to tie the game at 1. Rice, would do a good job of settling down and would strikeout the side to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the second, Truitt Grubbs, would draw a walk to reach 1st. Grubbs, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position.

Grubbs, would be left stranded at 2nd as the Warriors picked up a pop out, and a strikeout to send it to the third. Heading to the third, the game was still tied at 1.

Rice, would pull off an immaculate inning in the top of the third as he would strike out the side on 9 pitches to send it to the bottom of the inning.  In the bottom of the frame, the Dragons, would go down in order as we had a pitchers duel going. Heading to the fourth, Pickens and White County were still tied at 1.

In the top of the fourth, for the third straight inning, Rice, would strikeout the side. In the bottom of the inning, Matthew Davis, would reach with a 1-out triple. Everett Grubbs, would bring in Davis with an RBI single to make it 2-1. Everett Grubbs, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Truitt Grubbs, would then reach with a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1-out.

Robert Turner, would drive in the Grubbs brothers with a 2-RBI single to make it 4-1. Turner, would move up a base after stealing 3rd. Rice, would bring in Turner with an RBI ground out to make it 5-1. Kam Jenkins, would keep the inning going for the Dragons with a 2-out double. Lowitt, would drive in courtesy runner Caden Kirchoff with an RBI double to make it 6-1. The Warriors, would get out of the fourth with a line out. Heading to the fifth, the Dragons were back in front, 6-1.

Rice, would polish off a fantastic start as he would force a ground out and pick up his 10th and 11th strikeout in a scoreless top of the fifth. Starks, would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a double. Davis, would bring in Starks with an RBI single to make it 7-1. A stolen base and a wild pitch, would advance Davis all the way to 3rd. Davis, would come in to score on an RBI ground out by Truitt Grubbs to make it 8-1.

Turner, would keep the inning going with a 2-out single. Turner, would then steal 2nd and advance to 3rd on a passed ball. Turner, would come in to score on a wild pitch. Rice, would then draw a walk to keep the inning alive. A double by Jenkins, would put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2-out. Rice, would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 10-1. Courtesy runner Kirchoff, would advance to 3rd on the play.

Tanner Bail, who came on a a pitch runner for Lowitt in the fourth and stayed in at 1st in the fifth, would walk it off with an RBI single to score Kirchoff as the Dragons would pick up the win, 11-1.

Stats for the Dragons:

Robert Turner: 2-4 with 2 singles, 2 steals, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored

AJ Rice: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, 2 steals, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 11 K on 64 pitches

Kam Jenkins: 2-3 with 2 doubles

Dawson Lowitt: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 double, and 2 RBI

Tanner Bail: 1-1 with 1 single and 1 RBI

Jennings Allen: 1-3 with 1 single

Christian Starks: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 double, and 1 run scored

Matthew Davis: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 triple, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Everett Grubbs: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Truitt Grubbs: 1-2 with 1 double, 1 walk, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Caden Kirchoff: 2 runs scored

The Dragons, will look to win the series as the series will now shift over to Cleveland for game two on Thursday, March 5th. First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 pm.