Jasper, Ga — After a successful trip to Ellijay on Monday, the Pickens Dragons, were back home on Thursday, February 19th for the first of three straight at Dunn Field as they took on the Pepperell Dragons in non-region action. Pickens, came into the game at 4-0 and ranked in the top ten in AAA. Pepperell, came into the game a 3-1 and ranked in the top ten in 1A D-1. While it took a little bit for the offense to break through, the Pitching was solid for Pickens as they came away with a 7-1 win.

Pickens starter and Auburn signee AJ Rice, took the mound in the top of the first. After back to back strikeouts to start the inning, M. Garcia, would look to get a rally going with a 2-out double to center. Rice, would settle down to strikeout the side to send it to the bottom of the first. Pickens, would go down in order in the bottom half of the first as we’d head to the second inning still tied at 0.

Rice, would continue his hot start in the top of the second by picking up a pair of strikeouts and a ground out in a scoreless frame. In the bottom of the second, Boogie Lowitt, would lead off with a double. Matthew Davis, would then reach by getting hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd. A sharp single by Christian Starks, would load the bases with nobody out.

Lowitt, would be forced out at home as Jennings Allen would reach on a fielder’s choice. Pepperell, would get out of the second by turning a double play to keep the score tied at 0 heading to the third.

Rice, would strikeout the side for the second time in three innings to send it to the bottom of the third. Truitt Grubbs, would lead off the bottom of the third with a single. Kam Jenkins, would keep the inning going with a 2-out single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Grubbs, would be tagged by the 3rd baseman after a grounder for the third out to send it to the fourth still scoreless.

Rice, fully in a groove, would pick up a fly out and a pair of strikeouts in the top of the fourth. Pickens, would go down in order in the bottom of the inning as we were still deadlocked at 0 heading to the fifth. Rice, would need just four pitches to get out of the top of the fifth as he forced two pop outs and a ground out. Pickens, would finally break the tie in the bottom of the fifth.

Everett Grubbs, would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Everett’s brother, Truitt, would advance him over to 2nd with a sacrifice bunt. Robert Turner, would drive in Everett with an RBI double to make it 1-0 Pickens. Rice, would help himself out by bringing in Turner with an RBI triple to make it 2-0. Jenkins, would pick up his 2nd hit of the game with an RBI single to make it 3-0 Pickens.

After a pop out, Davis, would keep the inning going by drawing a walk. Davis, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Pepperell, would get out of the fifth with a ground out as Pickens would take a 3-0 lead into the sixth.

Rice, would end his outing the way he began it. For the third time in six innings of work, Rice would strikeout the side. Ending his night with 12 punch outs. In the bottom of the sixth, Pickens, would draw 6 walks in the bottom of the frame as 4 runs would come across to score to make it 7-0 heading to the seventh.

Turner, would come on in relief of Rice in the top of the seventh. T. Glenn, would lead off the seventh with a solo home run, to make it 7-1. Turner, would do a good job of settling in as he would pick up two ground outs and a strikeout to seal to the 7-1 win for Pickens.

Stats for the Dragons:

Robert Turner: 1-3 with 1 double, 1 walk, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 13 pitches

AJ Rice: 1-3 with 1 triple, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, and 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K on 77 pitches

Kam Jenkins: 2-4 with 2 singles and 1 RBI

Boogie Lowitt: 1-2 with 1 double, 1 walk, and 1 RBI

Matthew Davis: 1 HBP, 2 walks, 1 steal, and 1 RBI

Christian Starks: 1-1 with 1 single

Jennings Allen: 1 walk, 1 steal, and 1 run scored

Everett Grubbs: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored

Truitt Grubbs: 2-2 with 2 singles, 1 sacrifice bunt, and 1 run scored

The Dragons, the Pickens Dragons that is, will be back at Dunn Field on Friday, February 20th as they take on the Haralson County Rebels in a late night tilt. First pitch is set for 7 pm.