Cleveland, Ga — The calendar flipped over to March which meant it was time for the region schedule for baseball to get underway. The Pickens Dragons, made the trip up to Cleveland to begin a three game series with the White County Warriors. The Dragons, came into the game with an 8-1 record. The Warriors, came into the game with a 5-3 overall record. Junior Auburn commit A.J. Rice, threw his 2nd no hitter of the season as the Dragons got the win, 8-0.

The Dragons, would go down in order in the top of the first as Warriors starter, Trevor Butler, would force a pair of ground outs, and pick up his first strikeout. In the bottom of the frame, Rice, would work around a 1-out walk drawn by Alex Freeman, as Rice would strikeout the side to send it to the second inning, with the score tied at 0.

Kam Jenkins, would draw a walk on a full count to lead off the top of the second. A sacrifice bunt, would move the courtesy runner Caden Kirchoff, over to 2nd. An RBI single from Matthew Davis, would drive in Kirchoff to make it 1-0 Dragons. Davis, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position. A 2-out RBI single by Sam Hammontree, would bring in Davis to make it 2-0.

A double by Jennings Allen, would put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2-out. A 2-RBI double by Rice, would make it 4-0 Dragons heading to the bottom of the second. The Warriors, would go down in order in the bottom of the second as Rice forced a ground out, a line out, and picked up his 4th strikeout to send it to the third with Pickens leading, 4-0.

Butler, tossed a scoreless top of the third with a ground out and a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom half of the third, Rice, would strikeout the side to push his total up to 7 for the night. Heading to the fourth inning, the Dragons continued to lead White County, 4-0.

The Dragons, would go down in order in the top of the fourth as Butler would force a pop out, and pick up another pair of strikeouts to push his total up to 6. In the bottom half of the fourth, Rice, would again strikeout the side. The second inning, continued to be the difference maker as the Dragons still led the Warriors, 4-0, heading to the fifth.

Butler, doing his best to keep his team in it, tossed his third consecutive scoreless inning in the top of the fifth as he forced two ground outs and picked up his 7th strikeout. In the bottom of the fifth, Rice, would force a ground out, and pick up his 11th and 12th strikeout to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading, 4-0.

Cade Sutton, would lead off the top of the sixth by drawing a walk as the Dragons would have their first base runner since the second inning. Sutton, would then advance all the way to 3rd after an error by the Warriors. After Butler picked up back to back strikeouts, Davis, would reach on a dropped third strike as Sutton would come in to score to make it 5-0 Dragons.

Dawson Holland, would keep the inning going with a 2-out single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Butler and the Warriors, would get out of the sixth without any other damage done after a ground out. In the bottom of the sixth, Rice, would force a ground out, and pick up strikeout #13 and #14 on the night. Heading to the seventh, Pickens led White County, 5-0.

Rice, would reach with a 1-out single in the top of the seventh. Christian Starks, would drive in Rice with an RBI triple to make it 6-0. A sacrifice fly RBI by Sutton, would bring in Starks to make it 7-0. A 2-out double by Jenkins, would keep the inning going for the Dragons. Dawson Lowitt, would drive in courtesy runner Coleman Keener with an RBI single to make it 8-0 Dragons heading to the bottom of the seventh.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Rice, would finish the complete game no hitter with his 15th and 16th strikeout, and a ground out. The Dragons, pick up the win in their 6-AAA opener, 8-0.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 2-4 with 1 double, 1 single, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored & 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 16 K on 86 pitches

Christian Starks: 1-4 with 1 triple, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Cade Sutton: 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with 1 double, and 1 walk

Dawson Lowitt: 1-4 with 1 single and 1 RBI

Matthew Davos: 1-4 with 1 single, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 1-3 with 1 single

Sam Hammontree: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

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

Caden Kirchoff: 1 run scored

Coleman Keener: 1 run scored

The Dragons and Warriors, will be back at it on Thursday, March 6th as the series shifts to Dunn Field for game two of the three game set. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:55 pm.