Rices tosses complete game against GAC

Jasper, Ga — The final week of the regular season is upon us as the Pickens Dragons, took on the Spartans of Greater Atlanta Christian School in game one of a three game set on Tuesday, April 14th. Coming into the game, the Dragons, were up a game on North Hall atop the 6-AAA standings. The Spartans, were locked into the #3 seed from 6-AAA heading into their state tournament. The Dragons, behind a complete game from Auburn signee AJ Rice, took game one, 3-1.

 

Rice, would force a pop up on the second pitch of the game for the first out in the top of the first. the Spartans, would then pick up back to back singles from T. Stopher and I. Cobbs to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1-out. J. Givens, would then reach on an error which would allow Stopher to score to make it 1-0 Spartans. A wild pitch, would move both Cobbs and Givens up a base.

Rice, would limit the damage as he picked up a strikeout and a ground out to send it to the bottom of the first. In the bottom half of the frame, Robert Turner, would get things started with a lead off single to left on the first pitch. Jennings Allen, would follow that with a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Kam Jenkins, would drive in both Turner and Allen with a 2-RBI double to make it 2-1 Dragons.

Courtesy runner Caden Kirchoff, would then advance to 3rd after a pick off throw sailed into center field. Dawson Lowit, would be hit by a pitch to put runners on 1st and 3rd. Truitt Grubbs, would then draw a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Kirchoff, would come in to score after Christian Starks, would reach on a fielder’s choice. Lowit, would be forced out at 3rd on the play.

Everett Grubbs, would move his brother Truitt up to 3rd after a fly out to center. Starks, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2-out. The Spartans, would get out of the first with a strikeout. Heading to the second, the Dragons led it, 3-1.

 

In the top of the second, Rice, would strikeout the side on 11 pitches to bring the bats back up for the Dragons. In the bottom of the second, Allen, would look to get something going after a pair of ground outs as he would reach with a 2-out single. Allen, would then steal 2nd, and then take 3rd after the throw got into the outfield. The Spartans, would get out of the second with a ground out. Heading to the third, it was still 3-1 Dragons.

 

In the top of the third, Rice, would pick up a strikeout and a ground out for the first two outs. Cobbs, would keep the inning alive for the Spartans by drawing a walk. Cobbs, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Rice, would get out of the third with a strikeout. Lowit, would lead off the bottom of the third by drawing a walk. The Spartans, would then turn a 4-6-3 double play. A fly out, would send it to the fourth with Pickens leading, 3-1.

 

Rice, would pick up his 7th and 8th strikeout to begin the fourth inning. D. Fernandez, would keep the inning going with a 2-out single. Fernandez, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. R. Williams, would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out. Rice, would force a pop out to send it to the bottom of the fourth. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the fourth. Heading to the fifth, it was still 3-1 Dragons.

 

The Spartans, would again look for some 2-out magic as Cobbs, would reach with a single. He would be left stranded however as Rice would pick up his 10th strikeout of the game to send it to the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons, would look to add to their lead as Jenkins would reach with a 2-out single. Lowit and T. Grubbs, would follow with back to back walks to load the bases.

The final out of the fifth would come after a little rundown as the Spartans would apply the tag at home to keep the Dragon lead at 3-1 heading to the sixth.

 

In what had been the case the last several innings, the Spartans, would try again to get something going with 2-outs as Fernandez would reach with his 2nd hit of the day. Rice, would pick up his 12th strikeout to send it to the bottom of the sixth with Pickens still ahead, 3-1. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of ground outs and a strikeout. Heading to the seventh, it was still 3-1.

 

Rice, would come back out for the seventh looking to finish this one off. Rice, would cap off a brilliant start with his 13 strikeout, a fly out, and a ground out as the Dragons picked up the 3-1 win in game one.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

AJ Rice: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 13 K on 104 pitches

Robert Turner: 1-3 with 1 single and 1 run scored

Jennings Allen: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 double, and 1 run scored

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

Dawson Lowit: 1 HBP, and 2 walks

Truitt Grubbs: 2 walks

Christian Starks: 1 RBI

Caden Kirchoff: 1 run scored

 

The series will shift over to Norcross on Thursday, April 16th for game two of the three game series. A win for the Dragons would give them the series win and one step closer to another region championship. The Spartans, will look to even up the series, and help out North Hall in the process. First pitch for game two is set for 6 pm.