Jasper, Ga — It all came down to the regular season finale on Friday, April 17th as the Pickens Dragons took on the Greater Atlanta Christian School Spartans at Dunn Field. A win for the Dragons, would secure another region title and, a top 8 seed in next week’s AAA State Tournament. A six run fifth inning helped the Dragons push past the Spartans to pick up the win 9-1 and become the 2026 6-AAA region champions.

Dragons starter Everett Grubbs, would toss a scoreless top of the first with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out. In the bottom of the frame, Jennings Allen, would reach with a ground rule double. Kam Jenkins, would drive in Allen with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons. The Spartans, would get out of the first with a fly out and a strikeout. Heading to the second, Pickens led GAC, 1-0.

In the top of the second, E. Grubbs, would work around a 1-out single by E. Hill as he picked up a ground out and his 3rd and 4th strikeout of the game. In the bottom of the second, Christian Starks, would keep the inning alive for the Dragons by drawing a walk after falling behind 0-2. Starks, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. The Spartans, would get out of the second with a pop out. The Dragons still led it, 1-0.

E. Grubbs, would continue his hot start to the ball game with a 1-2-3 top of the third as he picked up a fly out, a pop out, and a ground out. In the bottom of the third, Robert Turner, would lead off with a single. After a line out, Turner, would swipe 2nd to advance into scoring position. The Spartans, would get out of the third with a line out and a pop out. Pickens, still led GAC, 1-0.

After a ground out to start the top of the fourth, I. Cobbs, would reach with a 1-out single. J. Givens, would follow that with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. A ground out to 3rd, would advance both runners up a base. E. Grubbs, would get out of the fourth with a strikeout. E. Grubbs, would look to start a rally as he would reach with a 1-out single. The Spartans, would get out of the fourth with a double play to keep the score at 1-0.

E. Grubbs, would toss a scoreless top of the fifth with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out. Starks, would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Matthew Davis and Turner, would reach with back to back bunt singles to load the bases. A 2-RBI single from Allen, would bring in both Starks and Davis to make it 3-0. Turner, would advance to 3rd on the play. Allen, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position.

A 2-RBI single from Jenkins, would drive in both Turner and Allen to make it 5-0 Dragons. Jenkins, would advance to 2nd on the play. After a pop out, Truitt Grubbs, would be hit with a pitch. A balk would then be called as courtesy runner Caden Kirchoff and T. Grubbs would move up a base. E. Grubbs, would help himself out by driving in both Kirchoff and T. Grubbs with a 2-RBI single to make it 7-0.

A.J. Rice, would keep the line moving with a 1-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. The Spartans, would get out of the fifth after turning a 9-2 double play. Heading to the sixth, the Dragons led the Spartans, 7-0.

E. Grubbs, would head back to the mound after that long half inning. He would pick up a pair of strikeouts to start the top of the sixth. Cobbs, would keep the inning going for the Spartans by drawing a 2-out walk. Givens, would follow that by drawing a walk of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd. E. Grubbs, would get out of the sixth with a ground out. Davis, would lead off the bottom of the sixth by drawing a four pitch walk.

Davis, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Turner, would bring in Davis with an RBI triple to make it 8-0. Allen, would then draw a walk to put runners at corners with nobody out. The Dragons, would then pull off a double steal as Allen would take 2nd, and Turner would swipe home to make it 9-0. Jenkins, would reach with a single to once again put runners at the corners.

The Spartans, would turn a double play as the first baseman would catch a line drive and step on 1st to get the runner. Truitt Grubbs, would then draw a walk to put runners at the corners with 2-out. The Spartans, would get out of the sixth as T. Grubbs, would be forced out at 2nd.

E. Grubbs, would come back out for the top of the seventh looking to finish it off. After picking up a ground out, D. Fernandez, would reach on an error. Fernandez, would then advance to 2nd after a balk was called. After a pop out, P. Wilson, would bring in Fernandez with a single. Jenkins, would intercept the throw home to throw out Wilson trying to take 2nd on the play to end the game a seal the 9-1 win for the 6-AAA Region Champion Pickens Dragons.

Stats for the Dragons:

Robert Turner: 3-4 with 2 singles, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 2 steals, and 2 runs scored

Jennings Allen: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 ground rule double, 1 walk, 2 steals, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored

Kam Jenkins: 3-4 with 3 singles, and 3 RBI

Truitt Grubbs: 1 hit by pitch, 1 walk, and 1 run scored

Everett Grubbs: 2-3 with 2 singles, 2 RBI, and 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R/0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K on 95 pitches

A.J. Rice: 1-3 with 1 double

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

Matthew Davis: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored

Caden Kirchoff: 1 run scored

Final 6-AAA Standings:

Pickens: 27-3 (18-3) *region champs

North Hall: 24-6 (18-3)

GAC: 15-11 (13-8)

Dawson: 15-15 (12-9)

White County: 20-10 (12-9)

Lumpkin: 13-17 (8-13)

Chestatee: 7-23 (3-18)

Johnson-Gainesville: 0-26 (0-21)

With the win, the Dragons are guaranteed a top 8 seed in next week’s AAA State Baseball Tournament. At last check, the Dragons were ranked the #3 team in the PSR (Post Season Ranking). We will find out over the weekend where the Dragons are seeded and who their first round opponent will be. The first round will begin on Friday, April 24th with a doubleheader and the “if” game being on Saturday, April 25th.