Dragons win 9th straight game; sweep Bobcats
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports March 30, 2024
Jasper, Ga — It was another beautiful day for high school baseball as the Pickens Dragons welcomed the Gilmer Bobcats to Dunn Field on Friday, March 29th for the third and final game of their series in 7-AAA. The Dragons, by virtue of taking the first two games, won the series and were looking to complete the sweep. The Bobcats, came in looking to steal a game. Prior to the ball game, PHS recognized Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day. A 5-run 2nd and a 4-run 6th helped the Dragons get the sweep, 10-3.
In the top of the first, Eli Cooper reached on an infield single with 1-out. Cooper, would advance to 2nd as Noah Gutillo grounded out to 1st. Dragons starter A.J. Rice, would then get Ethan McCollum to ground out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Connor Shouse, would lead off by getting hit with the first pitch. Shouse, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position.
Shouse, would then steal 3rd. He would come in to score on a throwing error by the catcher to make it 1-0 Dragons going to the top of the second.
In the top of the second, Hayden Berry would be hit by a pitch to reach base to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Austin Zabala would advance Berry to 2nd. Rice, would collect his 2nd and 3rd strike outs to send it to the bottom of the 2nd. In the bottom of the inning, Dawson Holland would reach with a 1-out double. Christian Starks, would drive Holland in with a 2-out double to make it 2-0 Dragons.
Rice, would then be hit with a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Shouse, would reach with a single to load the bases. Trey Payne, would bring in Starks and courtesy runner Ezra Faber in with a 2-RBI single to make it 4-1 Dragons. Shouse and Payne, would then pull off a double steal. A single by Cade Sutton would drive in Shouse and Payne to make it 6-0 Dragons going to the third.
In the top of the third, Rice, would collect his 4th strikeout for the first out. Blake Grizzle, would put the Bobcats on the board with a solo home run to left field to make it 6-1. Gutillo, would keep the inning alive with a 2-out single. McCollum, would bring Gutillo around to score with an RBI double to make it 6-2. Berry, would then be hit with a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Rice, would get out of the third by picking up his 6th strikeout of the game to keep the score at 6-2 in favor of Pickens. In the bottom of the third, Trace Ledbetter, would lead off with a double. After a long at bat, Holland would send a fly ball out to right field that would advance Ledbetter to 3rd. Bobcats starter Dalton Crisp, would get out of the third with a strikeout and ground out. Going to the fourth, Pickens led Gilmer, 6-2.
Mel Mosley, would lead off the fourth with a single. After Rice picked up his 7th strikeout, Haden West and Grizzle would hit back to back singles to load the bases with 1-out. Cooper, would bring in Mosley with sacrifice fly RBI to make it 6-3. Gutillo, would then reach base as Sutton couldn’t get the ball out of his glove cleanly. Rice, showed off some quick reflexes as he caught a come backer from McCollum to send it to the bottom of the fourth.
Crisp, would fire his first 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth as they would head to the fifth, with Pickens leading Gilmer, 6-3.
Cason Cannon would come on in relief of Rice in the top of the fifth. Berry, would lead off the fifth with a double. Cannon, would then get Zabala with a strikeout for the first out. Mosley, would draw a 1-out walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. A grounder by Brandon Davis, would advance Berry and Mosley up to 2nd and 3rd with 2-outs. Cannon, would get out of the jam by forcing a fly out to left to send it to the bottom of the fifth, Dragons leading, 6-3.
Kam Jenkins, would look to get things going in the bottom of the fifth as he reached with a 1-out single. The Bobcat defense, would turn an inning ending double play to send it to the sixth with the Dragons still leading, 6-3.
Starks, would come on in relief of Cannon in the top of the sixth. Starks, would get the first two out of the sixth on 2 pitches. Gutillo, would keep the inning going for the Bobcats as he reached with a 2-out double. McCollum, looked like he had at least a double and it looked like the Bobcats would score a run, but Trey Payne would have other ideas as he made a diving catch in right field to send it to the bottom of the sixth, Pickens still ahead, 6-3.
Holland, would lead off the bottom of the sixth with a double. He would then advance to 3rd after a passed ball. Tyler Payne, who came on to pitch hit, would reach on a fielder’s choice as Holland would be thrown out at home. Starks, would reach on a fielder’s choice as there were now two outs. Ezra Faber, would come in to run for Starks. Rice, would drive in Faber with an RBI double to make it 7-3 Dragons.
Rice, would advance to 3rd on the throw. Shouse, would bring in Rice with an RBI single to make it 8-3. Shouse, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position. Trey Payne, would reach base on an error. Shouse, would come in to score on the play to make it 9-3. After Payne stole 2nd, he would advance to 3rd as Sutton reached on an infield single. Jenkins, would then draw a walk to load the bases with 2-outs.
Ledbetter, would drive in Payne with an RBI single to make it 10-3. Sutton, would be tagged out at home trying to score from 2nd on the play. Going to the seventh, Pickens led Gilmer, 10-3.
JP Nunn, came on in relief of Starks in the top of the seventh. Berry, would lead off the inning by getting hit with a pitch. Nunn, would come back and get the first out of the frame with a strikeout. Mosley, would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. Nunn, would then start a game ending 1-6-3 double play to seal the 10-3 win for the Dragons.
Stats for the Bobcats:
Blake Grizzle: 2-4 with a single, a home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Eli Cooper: 1-4 with a single and 1 RBI
Noah Gutillo: 2-4 with a single, a double, and 1 run scored
Ethan McCollum: 1-4 with a double, and 1 RBI
Hayden Berry: 1-1 with a double and 3 hit by pitch
Austin Zabala: 1 sacrifice bunt
Haden West: 1-2 with a single and a walk
Mel Mosley: 1-2 with a single, 2 walks, and 1 run scored
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 hit by pitch, 4 steals, 1 RBI, and 3 runs scored
Trey Payne: 1-4 with a single, 2 steals, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Cade Sutton: 2-4 with 2 singles, 1 steal, and 2 RBI
Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with a single, and a walk
Dawson Holland: 2-3 with 2 doubles, and 1 run scored
Trace Ledbetter: 2-4 with 1 single, 1 double, and 1 RBI
Christian Starks: 1-3 with a double, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored (1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB on 10 pitches)
A.J. Rice: 1-2 with a double, 1 hit by pitch, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored (4 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 7 K, 2 HBP on 79 pitches)
Ezra Faber: 2 runs scored
Cason Cannon: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K on 20 pitches
JP Nunn: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 1 K on 17 pitches
7-AAA Baseball Standings:
Pickens: 18-3 (11-1)
Dawson: 14-6 (8-4)
Wesleyan: 8-9 (5-4)
Lumpkin: 10-10 (6-6)
White County: 10-11 (2-7)
Gilmer: 8-11 (2-7)
West Hall: 5-14 (2-7)
Next week, the two top ten ranked teams from 7-AAA will face off in a 3-game series as the Pickens Dragons will take on the Dawson Tigers. Game one of the series is set for Tuesday, April 2nd in Dawsonville with a first pitch start time of 5:55 pm. As of now, there is a chance for rain on Tuesday. We’ll keep you updated on any schedule changes that occur during the week.
Dragons take series from Bobcats
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports March 29, 2024
Jasper, Ga — It was a perfect afternoon for high school baseball on Thursday, March 28th as the Pickens Dragons welcomed their rivals to the north, the Gilmer Bobcats to Dunn Field for game two of their three game set in 7-AAA play. The Dragons, took game one in Ellijay on Monday, and looked to win the series on their home turf. Meanwhile, for the Bobcats, they looked to even up the series, and tighten up the race for the 4th seed. Behind a solid pitching performance and busy bats, the Dragons were game to win game two, 11-1 in six innings.
In the top of the first, the Bobcats looked to strike early as Blake Grizzle, Eli Cooper, and Noah Gutillo all reached on three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. Dragons starter James Tilley, remained poised and picked up 2 strikeouts and a ground out to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the first, Bobcats starter Ethan McCollum, got two quick outs before Cade Sutton drew a walk to reach base.
Sutton, would steal 2nd to get into scoring position for Kam Jenkins who would drive him in with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons going to the second.
After Tilley got the first two batters in order on two ground outs to start the second inning, Haden West would keep the inning going with a single to center. Grizzle, would drive in West with an RBI double to tie the game at 1. Tilley, would force a pop out for the 3rd out to send it to the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the frame, Trace Ledbetter led off by drawing a walk. Coleman Keener, who pitch ran for Ledbetter, would steal 2nd to get in scoring position.
A grounder by Dawson Holland would advance Keener to 3rd with 1-out. Christian Starks, would bring in Keener with a sacrifice fly RBI to give Pickens a 2-1 lead over Gilmer going to the third.
In the top of the third, Gutillo would lead off with a single for his 2nd hit of the day. After a strikeout by Tilley, Gutillo would be forced out at 2nd as McCollum would reach on a fielder’s choice. Tilley, would force a fly out for the 3rd out to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the third, Jenkins would keep the inning alive by making it to 2nd after an error in the outfield. That would be it as Pickens led Gilmer, 2-1 going to the fourth.
Tilley, would have his first clean inning of the game in the top of the fourth as he got a pop out and 2 ground outs. Ledbetter, would lead off the bottom of the fourth by drawing a walk. Holland, would follow with a single. After Starks advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Ledbetter would come in to score on a wild pitch. Holland, would advance to 3rd on the play. A.J. Rice, would reach by being hit with a pitch to put runners at the corners with 1-out.
Connor Shouse, would smack a liner past the shortstop who was running to cover 2nd as Rice was attempting to steal 2nd. That liner would score both Holland and Rice to make it 5-1 Dragons. Shouse, would make it to 3rd on the play as the incoming throw got away from the Bobcat defense. Trey Payne, would bring in Shouse with an RBI ground out to make it 6-1 Dragons going to the top of the fifth.
In the top of the fifth, Tilley worked around a 1-out single by Cooper as the Dragons were able to turn an inning ending double play. In the bottom of the fifth, Tyler Payne would lead off by getting hit with a pitch. Ledbetter, would then hit a 2-run home run as he drove in Tilley who was pitch running for Tyler Payne. Starks, would reach 2nd on a two base error. Starks, would advance to 3rd on a balk.
Starks, would come in to score on a grounder by Rice to make it 9-1. Shouse, would hit the 2nd home run of the inning for the Dragons as he sent a shot over the left field fence to make it 10-1. A 2-out double from Trey Payne would keep the inning alive. The Bobcats, would record a strikeout to get out of the fifth, as Pickens took a 10-1 lead into the sixth.
Brodie Keener came on in relief of Tilley who went 5 strong innings. Keener, would toss a scoreless top of the sixth as he worked around a single by McCollum. McCollum, would be thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch it to a double. Going to the bottom of the sixth, Pickens led Gilmer, 10-1. In the bottom of the sixth, Sam Hammontree, who came on to hit for Tyler Payne, would draw a walk with 1-out.
Hammontree, would be out at 2nd as Ledbetter reached on a fielder’s choice. Kyle Grno, would came on to pitch hit for Holland, reached on a bloop single. The ball would get away from the Bobcat outfielder and Grno would advance to 2nd while Ledbetter advanced to 3rd. Starks, would follow that up with another bloop single as Ledbetter would come in to score to give the Dragons the 11-1 win in six innings.
With the win, the Dragons take their fourth straight region series. They are now 17-3 overall, and 10-1 in 7-AAA. The Gilmer Bobcats fall to 8-10 overall and 2-6 in 7-AAA. Game three of the series will be right back in Jasper at Dunn Field on Friday, March 29th. First pitch set for 5:55 pm.
Dragons hand Bobcats first loss of the season
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports February 25, 2022
Jasper, Ga — The 515 rivalry made its way to the baseball diamond on Thursday, February 24th as the Pickens Dragons welcomed the Gilmer Bobcats to Dunn Field for non-region action. This, was the first game between the two teams as they will play in Ellijay next week, This time next year, these two teams will be in the same region again. The Dragons, came into this game at 2-0 after a home and home sweep against Dawson. The Bobcats, came in with a 3-0 record on the early season. The Dragons, got runs from the 2nd inning to the 6th inning as they took the first game against the Bobcats, 10-5.
J.P. Nunn took the mound to start for the Dragons and he got off to a quick start in the top of the first getting two quick outs. The Bobcats, were able to find some two out magic as Ethan McCollum and Grant Cochran reached base. The starting pitcher for Gilmer, Seth Darling, brought both McCollum and Cochran home on a double to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead going to the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the first, the Dragons tried some two out magic of their own as Anthony Antinozzi got on with a two out double. The Bobcats were able to get out of the first inning with no damage done and still holding a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Nunn settled down and got the Bobcats in order in a quick 1-2-3 top half of the frame. In the bottom of the second, The Dragons were able to tie things up at 2 a piece after James Tilley was hit by a pitch, and Colby Brooks drew a walk. Both scored after several throwing errors were made by the Bobcats. Going to the top of the third, we were tied at 2.
In the top of the third, Nunn again got the first two outs of the inning rather quickly. McCollum, got on again, this time via a two out single. Cochran then drew a walk as Gilmer was looking to retake the lead. Nunn, was able to rally and get a strikeout to send us to the bottom of the frame still tied at 2. In the bottom of the third, things got going for the Dragons after Trace Ledbetter reached base with one out. Antinozzi, hit one into the gap and brought Ledbetter home with a triple. Antinozzi then scored on an errant throw to make it 4-2 Pickens. After a double by Harlan Will, Trey Payne was able to bring him home with an RBI single. Tilley, then reached first after drawing a walk. Brooks, looked to keep the bottom of the third going, but would fly out to center to send us to the top of the fourth with the Dragons ahead, 5-2.
In the top of the fourth, the Bobcats clawed their way back into the game as Noah Gutillo drew a 1-out walk, Carter Jones followed that up with a 1-out single. Trey Payne, who came on in relief of Nunn, got a strikeout for the 2nd out of the frame. Branson Teague, got Gilmer within a run after a 2 RBI double to make it 5-4. Austin Zabala followed that up with a walk to put runners on 1st and 3rd as Teague was running on the 3-2 count. With McCollum up, Tyler Payne was able to throw out Zabala who couldn’t get back to first in time. Going to the bottom of the fourth, Pickens led Gilmer, 5-4. In the bottom of the fourth, Connor Shouse was able to draw a 1-out walk. After Ledbetter popped up to the second baseman, Antinozzi continued his big night with his third extra base hit of the game as he brought in Shouse with an RBI double to make it 6-4. Will followed that up with an RBI single to bring in Antinozzi to make it 7-4 Dragons going to the fifth.
In the top of the fifth, McCollum led off with a single. After Cochran popped out to third baseman Evan Giddens, Darling reached on a fielders choice. Tate Hales, who came on in relief of Trey Payne, got Billy Goswick to ground out to Giddens to end the top half of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons looked to add to their three run lead. Trey Payne got things going with a lead off single. Tilley followed that by drawing another walk. Brooks, brought in Trey Payne with an RBI single to make it 8-4. After Giddens drew a walk to load the bases, Shouse was hit by a pitch to bring in Tilley to make it 9-4 Pickens going to the sixth.
In the top of the sixth, Hales continued a good outing as he got the Bobcats in order with three fly outs to send us to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom half of the sixth, Tyler and Trey Payne drew back to back 1-out walks. Tilley, was then able to drive in a run with an RBI double to make it 10-4 Dragons. Gilmer was able to get out of a jam as Pickens left the bases loaded as we’d head to the top of the seventh with the Dragons leading the Bobcats, 10-4.
Shouse took the mound for the Dragons in the top of the seventh to try to shut this one down. Teague, was hit by a pitch, then Zabala followed it up with a single. Cochran, brought home Teague on a 1-out single to make it 10-5 Pickens. After a lengthy discussion by the umpires with themselves and both head coaches for Pickens and Gilmer, it was determined that Cochran would be called out. Reason being, the Dragons were able to pull off a hidden ball trick. Shouse, was able to collect himself after a bit of a delay, and strikeout Darling for the final out. The final from Jasper, Pickens 10 Gilmer 5.
Stats For Gilmer:
Branson Teague: 1-3 with a double, 1 hit by pitch, 2 RBI and 1 run scored
Austin Zabala: 1-3 with a walk and a single
Ethan McCollum: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 walk, and 1 run scored
Greg Cochran: 1 single, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Seth Darling: 1-4 with 1 double and 2 RBI
Noah Gutillo: 1 walk and 1 run scored
Carter Jones: 1-3 with 1 single and 1 run scored
Stats For Pickens:
Connor Shouse: 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with a single and 1 run scored
Anthony Antinozzi: 3-4 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Harlan Will: 2-4 with 1 double, 1 single, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Tyler Payne: 1 walk
Trey Payne: 2-3 with 2 singles, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
James Tilley: 1-1 with 1 double, 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Colby Brooks: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Evan Giddens: 2 walks
The Dragons, now move to 3-0 on the season. They will now head down to Baseball at the Beach for a Saturday double header as they take on both North Springs and Long County. Baseball at the Beach is played at Edo Miller Park in Brunswick Georgia. The first game of the day for the Dragons will be against North Springs at 10 am. After playing that one and getting some lunch, the Dragons will then play Long County at 4 pm.