Jasper, Ga — It was a beautiful day for high school baseball on Thursday, April 18th as the Pickens Dragons hosted the Dominion Christian Knights. Coming into the game, the Dragons, were 25-4 overall and 17-1 in 7-AAA. The Knights, came into the game 11-10 overall and 1-0 in the GIAA AAAA/AAA District 1 region. Prior to the game, the home run champ, Jake King, added to his ever growing total. As for the game, the Knights, scored 2 runs in both the sixth and seventh to pick up a 4-2 win.

In the top of the first, Dragons starter A.J. Rice, worked around a 1-out double as he picked up two strikeouts and a ground out. In the bottom of the frame, Trey Payne, would reach base after drawing a full count walk with 1-out. After the Knights got a strikeout for the 2nd out, Kam Jenkins would drive in Payne with an RBI double to make it 1-0 Dragons going to the second.

In the top of the second, Rice, would strikeout the side to push his total up to 5 for the game. In the bottom of the second, Kyle Grno, would reach on an infield single with 1-out. Christian Starks, would follow that with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Rice, would advance Grno to 3rd after a sacrifice fly. Starks and Grno, would pull off a double steal as Grno would come home to score after the throw down to 2nd to make it 2-0 Dragons.

Connor Shouse, would then be hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out. The Knights, would get out of the second after a fly out to center to send it to the third with Pickens leading Dominion Christian, 2-0.

In the top of the third, Rice, kept his strong start to the game going as he struck out the side for the 2nd straight inning. That brought his total up to 8 on the night. In the bottom half of the third, the Knights, picked up their first 1-2-3 inning as got 2 pop outs and a fly out. Going to the fourth, Pickens led Dominion Christian, 2-0.

In the top of the fourth, Trae Wilson, would lead off with a single. His 2nd hit of the day. Starks, would make a nice sliding grab out in left for the first out of the inning. Jenkins, would then throw out Wilson attempting to steal 2nd as Shouse kept the tag on after Wilson came off the bag. Rice, would then pick up his 9th strikeout to send it to the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Grno, would look to get things going as he reached with a 1-out double. Grno, would be left stranded on base however as Knights starter Gabriel Buckner, picked up a fly out and a ground out to get out of the inning. Going to the fifth, Pickens still led Dominion Christian, 2-0.

Starks, would come on in relief of Rice in the top of the fifth. Starks, would get the Knights in order with a ground out, a pop out, and a fly out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons, would also go down in order after two ground outs and a line out. Going to the sixth, Pickens led Dominion Christian, 2-0.

In the top of the sixth, Broughton Kelly, would lead off with a single. His pitch runner, Gabe Mercer, would advance to 2nd after Ben Esley laid down a sacrifice bunt. Mercer, would then move over to 3rd after a passed ball. Jake Jackson, would drive in Mercer with an RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1. Jackson, would advance to 2nd after a wild pitch. Rice, prevented a possible run from scoring as he caught a line drive for the 2nd out.

Buckner, would bring Jackson with an RBI double to tie the ball game at 2. Canaan Bowen, would keep the inning going for the Knights as he reached with a 2-out single to put runners at 1st and 3rd. Starks and the Dragons, would get out of the inning with a fly out. In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Payne looked to start a 2-out rally as he would reach on an error.

The Knights, would get out of the sixth after catching Dawson Holland in a run down. Going to the seventh, Pickens and Dominion Christian were tied at 2.

Skye Jackson, would lead off the top of the seventh by coming back from an 0-2 count to draw a full count walk. JP Nunn, who came on in relief of Starks to start the seventh, would get the next two batters via strikeout. Esley, would keep the inning alive for the Knights with a 2-out single that advanced Skye Jackson to 3rd. Jake Jackson, would bring in both Skye Jackson and Esley with an RBI double to make it 4-2 Knights.

After Trae Wilson was intentionally walked, Nunn would strike out Buckner to send it to the bottom of the seventh with Dominion Christian now leading Pickens, 4-2. Grno, would lead off the bottom of the frame by drawing a full count walk. Skye Jackson, who came on in relief of Jake Jackson, would then pick up a pop out and a fly out. Shouse, would keep the game alive for the Dragons with a line drive double that advanced Grno to 3rd.

The Knights, were able to get out of the jam as Jackson forced a fly out to right to seal the 4-2 win.

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 1-3 with 1 double and 1 hit by pitch

Trey Payne: 1 walk and 1 run scored

Kam Jenkins: 1-2 with 1 double and 1 RBI

Kyle Grno: 2-2 with 1 single, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 steal, and 1 run scored

Christian Starks: 1-3 with 1 single and 1 steal

A.J. Rice: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K on 53 pitches

The Dragons finish the regular season with a 25-5 overall record. They will now turn their attention to the 3A State Baseball Tournament as they get ready to host the Adairsville Tigers in a best of three series starting on Tuesday, April 23rd. Start times have yet to be determined as of this writing but stay tuned to #TamFYNSports socials for updates.