Dragons stay hot with 8th straight win
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports March 23, 2023
Oakwood, Ga — It finally felt like Spring time weather on Thursday, March 23rd as the Pickens Dragons made the trip over to Oakwood, Ga to take on the West Hall Spartans in game 2 of their 3-game series. After winning game 1 on Tuesday, 12-2, the Dragons looked to keep up their winning ways and pick up their 3rd straight region series win. Hot bats and great pitching by James Tilley and Tee Knight, led to the Dragons taking game 2, 11-0 in 5 innings.
In the top of the first, Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, led off with a single. He would be thrown out at 2nd as Trace Ledbetter reached on a fielder’s choice. After a double by Dawson Holland, he and Ledbetter would come in to score after Harlan Will reached on an error to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the Spartans led off with back to back singles.
Dragons starter James Tilley, collected himself and proceeded to strike out the side to send it to the second inning with the Dragons on top, 2-0.
In the top of the second, AJ Rice led off with a single. After advancing to 2nd, Young Harris commit Evan Giddens, drove in Rice to make it 3-0 Dragons. The Spartans, were able to get out of the top of the second with just the 1 run given up. In the bottom of the frame, Tilley picked up his 4th and 5th K of the game in between a fly out to Holland. Going to the third, the Dragons led the Spartans, 3-0.
In the top of the third, Holland led off with a single. Will, followed that up by drawing a 4-pitch walk. Trey Payne, then reached on an error. A 1-out RBI single from Rice brought in Holland to make it 4-0 Dragons. In the bottom of the third, Tilley, kept rolling as he picked up his 6th and 7th strikeout in between a grounder to Giddens. Going to the fourth, the Dragons led the Spartans, 4-0.
In the top of the fourth, Colby Brooks led off by reaching on an error. Ledbetter, was than hit by a pitch to reach 1st. Holland, would drive in Brooks to make it 5-0. Tyler Payne, who came on to pitch hit for Will, knocked in Ledbetter with the RBI single to make it 6-0. A single from Trey Payne, brought in Holland to make it 7-0 Dragons going to the bottom of the fourth.
The bottom of the fourth was Tilley’s last inning of work. He struck out the side during the half inning to give him 10 on the night. Going to the top of the fifth, Pickens led West Hall, 7-0.
In the top of the fifth, Giddens led off with a double. Brooks, followed with a single. Shouse, then followed that up with a single. Ledbetter, picked up his first hit of the game as the Dragons started the fifth by scoring 2 runs on 4 straight hits. Tyler Payne and Bradley Prince, hit back to back 1-out singles as both Shouse and Ledbetter would score. Going to the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons led the Spartans, 11-0.
Tee Knight, came on in relief of Tilley in the bottom of the fifth. After the lead off man reached on a walk, Knight would force a double play to get 2 quick outs. The Spartans, did not go quietly as the next two batters reached and were standing on 2nd and 3rd. Knight, got out of the trouble with no damage done as the Dragons took game 2, 11-0 in 5 innings.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 2-4 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 hit by pitch, 1 RBI, and 3 runs scored
Dawson Holland: 3-3 with 2 singles, 1 double, 1 RBI and 3 runs scored
Harlan Will: 1 walk
Tyler Payne: 2-2 with 2 singles and 1 RBI
Trey Payne 1-3 with a single
Bradley Prince: 1-1 with a single and 1 RBI
AJ Rice: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Evan Giddens: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 double, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Colby Brooks: 1-3 with 1 single and 2 runs scored
James Tilley: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K on 58 pitches
The Dragons, win their third straight 7-AAA series as they move to 15-3 overall and 7-1 in region play. They stay atop the region standings along side Lumpkin, who is 14-2 overall and 7-1 in region play as well. The Dragons, will wrap up their series with the West Hall Spartans on Friday, March 24th, in Jasper. First pitch set for 5:55 pm.
Dragons sweep home and home series with Rebels
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports March 21, 2023
Jasper, Ga — It was a cold, but beautiful day for baseball as the Pickens Dragons began a busy week by hosting the Fannin County Rebels on Monday, March 20th. This game, was the 2nd game of a home and home series. Prior to the game, Dragons all-time home run leader Jake King, added to his record with a big shot. Offensively, the Dragons got a big scoring outburst to pick up the 12-2 victory in 6 innings for their 6th straight win.
In the top of the first, Dragons starter Trey Payne, sat the Rebels down in order as he got a pop up to 2nd, a fly out to left field, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Ga Tech baseball commit Connor Shouse, led off with a single. He’d then take 2nd after a passed ball. After a single by Trace Ledbetter, Shouse would score on the errant throw and Ledbetter would make it all the way to 3rd on the throw as the Dragons took a 1-0 lead.
Dawson Holland, then drove in Ledbetter with the RBI to make it 2-0. Harlan Will, reached on a 2-out single, then Trey Payne followed by reaching on an error. They would then reach 2nd and 3rd after a wild pitch. The Rebels, were able to get out of the long inning with just the 2 runs allowed to send it to the top of the second.
In the top of the second, Trey Payne got out of the top half of the inning with 13 pitches to bring the Dragons bats back up. In the bottom of the second, James Tilley, led off with a full count walk. Young Harris baseball commit Evan Giddens, followed that up with a single. A fly out by Shouse moved Tilley and Giddens over to 2nd and 3rd. Ledbetter, brought in Tilley with an RBI ground out to make it 3-0.
Giddens, who moved over to 3rd, scored on an RBI single by Holland to make it 4-0. Tyler Payne, kept the inning going by reaching on an error. The Rebels, got out of the inning with a grounder to 3rd and as they headed to the third, the Dragons led the Rebels, 4-0.
Trey Payne, continued building on his good start to the game as he would strike out the side in the top half of the third. In the bottom of the third, freshman Christian Starks reached on a 1-out single. Giddens, would bring him in on a 2-out RBI single to make it 5-0. Shouse, kept the inning going with a double to move Giddens to 3rd. A fly out ended the inning and they’d go to the fourth with the Dragons leading, 5-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Rebels broke through. Fannin, plated a run on 3 hits and a walk to cut the Dragons lead down to 5-1. In the bottom of the fourth, the Dragons got a 1-out single from Tyler Payne, a walk from Will, and an RBI single from Trey Payne that scored courtesy runner Tee Knight. Starks, was then hit by a pitch to reach 1st. Tilley, knocked in Will and Trey Payne with a 2-RBI double to make it 8-0 Dragons.
Giddens, brought in Starks with a sacrifice fly RBI to make it 9-0. Shouse, then sent one over the center field wall for the 2-run home run to make it 11-1 going to the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Rebels got a run on 3 hits and a hit by pitch to make it 11-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Holland led off with a walk. The Rebels, were able to get a double play and a fly out to send it to the sixth inning with the Dragons now leading, 11-2.
In the top of the sixth, Tee Knight came on in relief of Tate Hales and pitched really well in his one inning of work. Knight, needed just 7 pitches to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Starks reached on a 1-out error. Bradley Prince, who pitched hit for Tilley, followed by reaching on a walk. Giddens, then loaded the bases with a single. Shouse, ended the game with a single that brought in Starks to give the Dragons the 12-2 win in 6 innings.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 4-5 with 2 singles, a double, a home run, 2 RBI, & 2 runs scored
Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored
Dawson Holland: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 2 RBI
Tyler Payne: 1-4 with a single
Harlan Will: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 1 run scored
Trey Payne: 1-4 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored
Christian Starks: 1-3 with a single, 1 hit by pitch, & 3 runs scored
James Tilley: 1-2 with 1 double, 1 walk, & 2 runs scored
Evan Giddens: 3-3 with 3 singles, 1 sacrifice fly, 2 RBI, & 1 run scored
Tee Knight: 1 run scored
Bradley Prince: 1 walk
The Dragons, will be right back on the turf diamond this afternoon as they begin their 3rd 7-AAA series as they host the West Hall Spartans at Dunn Field for game 1 of the 3-game set. The Dragons, will look to keep pace with Lumpkin and Dawson and stay atop the region standings. First pitch is set for 5:55 pm.
Dragons sweep home & home series against Union
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports February 22, 2023
Jasper, Ga — After a tough loss to 6A Sequoyah on Monday, February 20th, the Pickens Dragons were right back on the field on Tuesday, February 21st as they welcomed the Union County Panthers to Dunn Field for the second game of their home and home series. The Dragons, defeated the Panthers on February 14th, and looked to sweep the season series. Pickens, used big 4th and 6th innings to help earn a 10-0 win in 6 innings.
In the top of the first, the Panthers, threatened early, but a pop up and a couple of timely strikeouts by Dragons starter Trey Payne, left the bases loaded and sent it to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom half of the inning, the Dragons got a 1-out single from Trace Ledbetter, and a 2-out walk from Tyler Payne. The Panthers, got out of it as they caught a line drive hit to center field to keep it tied at 0 going to the second.
In the top of the second, Union had another scoring chance as they would get a 2-out triple. On the next pitch, Trey Payne would force a pop up to shortstop for the third out and send it the bottom of the inning. In the bottom half of the second, the Dragons, would go down in order and we’d head to the top of the third still scoreless.
In the top of the third, the Panthers again tried to break the tie in this pitchers duel as they had a runner reach on a 1-out error, followed up by a single to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Trey Payne, worked around it and picked up a strikeout and a fielder’s choice out to send it to the bottom of the third still tied at 0. In the bottom of the third, Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, hit a 1-out double. Trace Ledbetter, would then drive him in with an RBI single to make it 1-0.
Later on in the inning, after Trey Payne drew a walk, Tyler Payne brought in Ledbetter with a grounder to first base to make it 2-0. Union, escaped even more potential danger as Trey Payne was left stranded at 3rd. Going to the top of the fourth, the Dragons led the Panthers, 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, Trey Payne had his best inning on the mound as picked up two more strikeouts and induced a grounder to 2nd base to get out of the the top half of the fourth on just 7 pitches. In the bottom of the fourth, Dawson Holland led off with a single. Evan Giddens then reached on a 1-out error. Cade Sutton, then drew a walk to load the bases for Shouse. on a 2-0 count, Shouse got a hold of one and sent it over the right field fence for a 3-run homer. Going to the top of the fifth, the Dragons led the Panthers, 5-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Panthers, were looking to get back into the game with a 1-out single, followed by a walk. Tee Knight, who came on in relief of Trey Payne, kept the score 5-0 as he was able to get the final two outs of the top of the fifth on 8 pitches. In the bottom of the fifth, Trey Payne led off by getting hit with a pitch, Tyler Payne reached on an error, and Harlan Will drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.
Union, got out of that jam without giving up any runs as they got a double play, then a pop up to send it to the top of the sixth with Pickens still leading, 5-0.
In the top of the sixth, Knight, still on the mound, worked around a 2-out walk as he kept the Panthers scoreless and sent it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Giddens, led off by getting on base. AJ Rice, who came in to play 3rd for Sutton in the top half of the frame, drew a walk. Shouse, collected his 3rd hit of the day with a single to load the bases. Ledbetter, drove in Giddens and Rice with a 2-RBI single to make it 7-0.
After a ground out by Ezra Faber that advanced Shouse over to 3rd, Jackie Jarrett drove in Shouse with an RBI single to make it 8-0. Kam Jenkins, then brought in Jarrett with an RBI double to make it 9-0. Bradley Prince, put a bow on this one as he drove in Jenkins to give the Dragons the 10-0 win.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 3-4 with a double, 3-run homer, a single, 2 RBI, & 3 runs scored
Trace Ledbetter: 3-4 with 3 singles, 3 RBI, & 2 runs scored
Tyler Payne: 1 walk, & 1 RBI
Jackie Jarrett: 1-1 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored
Kam Jenkins: 1-1 with a double, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored
Dawson Holland: 1-3 with a single, & 1 run scored
Evan Giddens: 2 runs scored
Cade Sutton: 1 walk, & 1 run scored
AJ Rice: 1 walk, & 1 run scored
The Dragons, will continue their busy week on Thursday afternoon as they’ll host the Hillgrove Hawks at Dunn Field. Hillgrove, is out of the 7A classification so it will be another chance for the Dragons to take on a bigger school. First pitch is set for 3 pm.