Sutton’s big day helps Dragons stay undefeated
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports February 28, 2025
Jasper, Ga — On Thursday, February 27th, the Pickens Dragons took on the Fannin County Rebels for the other half of rivalry week. All three “515” teams, Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin, scheduled each other this week as region play for each team looms. The Dragons, got a big game from Senior Cade Sutton as he helped lead the Dragons to an 8-3 win over the Rebels.
Sophomore Jackson Nunn got the start for the Dragons. The Rebels, would strike first as Carson Callihan, would send one out to left field where a nice breeze was blowing, and it would carry over the fence for a home run. After a fly out for the second out, Paul Stroemer Jr and Gavin Davis, would draw back to back walks to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Nunn, would get out of the inning by forcing a pop out to send it to the bottom of the first with the Rebels up, 1-0.
Junior Auburn commit A.J. Rice, would get things started in the bottom of the first for the Dragons as he led off with a single. Rice, would then steal 2nd to get into scoring position. Rice, would then take 3rd after a wild pitch. After a pop out, Cade Sutton, would send a shot over the left field fence to give the Dragons a 2-1 lead. After a ground out, Dawson Lowitt, would keep the inning alive by drawing a walk. Sam Hammontree, would then follow with a single.
The Rebels, would get out of the first with just the 2 runs given up as Hammontree would be forced out at 2nd. Heading to the top of the second, Pickens led Fannin, 2-1.
Nunn, would begin the second inning by picking up the first two outs fairly quickly. Tucker Dockery, would keep the inning going for the Rebels with a 2-out double. Elijah Weaver, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Callihan, would come up and lace a double into the left center gap that would score both courtesy runner Heath Bradburn, and Weaver to make it 3-2 Rebels.
Nunn, would get out of the top of the second with a pop out to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom half of the frame, Matthew Davis, would lead off by getting hit with a pitch. He would advance to 2nd on a wild pitch to get into scoring position. Jennings Allen, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. A deep fly out to center by Rice, would allow Davis to advance to 3rd.
Allen, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1-out. Christian Starks, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as Davis would be tagged out at home. Allen, would advance to 3rd on the play. Starks, would steal 2nd to move into scoring position. Sutton, would keep his good night going as he would drive in both Allen and Starks with a 2-RBI double to make it 4-3 Dragons heading to the third.
Nunn, would only need four pitches to get out of the top of the third as he forced two ground outs and a fly out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third, Hammontree, would reach after his second single of the day. He would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Rebels starting pitcher Mason McDaniel, would force a fly out and a pop out to send it to the fourth with the Dragons leading it, 4-3.
Nunn, would again have a short inning of work as he would only need 6 pitches to pick up a strikeout and two ground outs to send it to the bottom of the fourth. Starks, would reach with his first hit of the day with a 2-out single. He would then steal both 2nd and 3rd. Sutton, would then reach after an error which allowed Starks to come in to score to make it 5-3.
After Kam Jenkins beat out an infield hit, Lowitt, would bring in Sutton with a single to make it 6-3 heading to the top of the fifth.
Ezra Faber would come on in relief of Nunn in the top of the fifth. Callihan, would draw a 1-out walk to reach first. Callihan, would advance to 2nd as Colton Grey was thrown out at 1st after a ground out. Faber, would get out of the fifth with a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom half of the fifth, Davis, would draw a 1-out walk to reach.
Davis, would then steal 2nd to move into scoring position. Rice, would then draw a 2-out walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Rebels, would get out of the fifth without any damage done after a pop out to send it to the sixth, Pickens leading, 6-3.
Gavin Davis, would lead off the top of the sixth by drawing a walk. After a strikeout for the first out, Davis, would steal 2nd to get into scoring position. Bristol Hughes, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Davis, would look to steal 3rd, but Jenkins would throw him out for the second out. Faber, would then come back from a 3-1 count to pick up his second strikeout of the inning to send it to the bottom of the sixth.
Sutton, would pick up his 3rd hit of the night as he led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Sutton, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Jenkins, would be thrown out at 1st after a ground out to 3rd. Sutton, would then try to take 3rd on the throw to 1st. The ball would get by the third baseman and Sutton would come in to score to make it 7-3.
Hammontree, would keep the inning going for the Dragons as he would reach on an error. Hammontree, would come around to score after Dawson Holland, would reach on an infield single. The ball would get away after a throwing error allowing Hammontree to come in to score to make it 8-3 heading to the seventh.
Daven Abernathy, would come on in relief of Faber to try and close things out in the top of the seventh. Abernathy, would toss a 1-2-3 seventh as he forced two ground outs and a fly out on just 6 pitches. The Dragons, defeat the Fannin County Rebels, 8-3.
Stats for the Dragons:
A.J. Rice: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 steal, and 1 run scored
Christian Starks: 1-4 with 1 single, 3 steals, and 2 runs scored
Cade Sutton: 3-4 with 1 home run, 2 singles, 2 steals, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored
Kam Jenkins: 1-4 with 1 single
Dawson Lowitt: 1-3 with 1 single and 1 walk
Sam Hammontree: 2-4 with 2 singles, 1 steal, and 1 run scored
Dawson Holland: 1-4 with 1 single
Matthew Davis: 1 hit by pitch, 1 walk, and 1 steal
Jennings Allen: 1 walk, 1 steal, and 1 run scored
Jackson Nunn: 4 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 K on 53 pitches
Ezra Faber: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 K on 45 pitches
Daven Abernathy: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB on 6 pitches
The Dragons, will be back in action on Friday, February 28th as they hit the road to take on the Ringgold Tigers. This will be the final non-region game for the Dragons before 6-AAA play starts next week. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
Dragons pick up road win over Rebels
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports March 1, 2023
Blue Ridge, Ga — On the final day of the month of February, the Pickens Dragons traveled up 515 to take on the Fannin County Rebels in non-region action. This game, was the first of two between these two teams as they began a home and home series on Tuesday, February 28th. Hits and runs were at a premium for both teams for the majority of this one. The Dragons, used big 5th and 6th innings to come away with the 7-2 win.
In the top of the first, the Dragons would go down in order and we’d head to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the first, Dragons starter and Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, struck out the side in between walking a batter. Going to the top of the second, it was still scoreless between the Dragons and the Rebels.
In the top of the second, Trey Payne reached on a 1-out error for the Dragons first base runner. Dawson Holland, then beat out a double play to reach base. James Tilley, followed that up by drawing a full count walk. Holland and Tilley would be left stranded however as Fannin got a fly out to end the top half of the second. In the bottom of the second, the Rebels led off by getting hit by a pitch. Shouse, then got the ground ball for the double play.
Second baseman Evan Giddens, then caught a line drive to him for the third out. Going to the top of the third, the Dragons and Rebels were still tied.
In the top of the third, the Dragons had their best scoring chance so far. Giddens, led off with a single, the Dragons first hit of the game. Cade Sutton, then reached on an error. Shouse, drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Somehow, someway, the Rebels were able to get out of it with no damage done. The Rebels, got a strikeout, an infield fly out, and a ground out to send to the the bottom of the third still scoreless.
In the bottom of the third, the Rebels again led off by getting hit with a pitch. After a ball that got passed the catcher to advance the runner to 2nd, Shouse picked up his 3rd K of the day for the first out. Another ball would get by the catcher to advance the runner to 3rd with 1-out. Shouse, shook that off and picked up his 2nd K of the inning and 4th overall for the 2nd out. Shouse, forced a grounder right back to him for the 3rd out. Going to the fourth, there was still no score.
In the top of the fourth, Tilley would reach on an error. He then would steal 2nd to put a runner in scoring position for the Dragons with 1-out. The Rebels, once again avoided a potentially big inning as they got a fly out and a pop out to send it to the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the frame, The Rebels had a runner reach after a dropped 3rd strike. With 2-outs, after a wild pitch, a passed ball, and a walk, Fannin had runners at the corners. Shouse, picked up his 3rd K of the inning to keep it scoreless and send it to the fifth.
In the top of the fifth, the Dragons broke through. Sutton, led off with a double. Shouse, moved him over to 3rd with a grounder. Trace Ledbetter, drove him in with an RBI single. After Tyler Payne drew a walk, Trey Payne drove in Ledbetter with an RBI single. Tyler Payne would also come in to score and Trey Payne advanced to 3rd on a throwing error. Holland, brought in Trey Payne on the grounder to make it 4-0 Dragons going to the bottom of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Rebels led off by drawing a walk. Fannin then tried a hit and run play, but would only get the steal of 2nd. A wild pitch moved the runner over to 3rd with 1-out. The Rebels, would then get their first hit and first run on the same play with an RBI double to make it 4-1. Shouse, picked off the runner at 2nd, then got a grounder to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading, 4-1.
In the top of the sixth, the Dragons loaded the bases with 1-out after a walk by Giddens, a single by Sutton, & a walk by Shouse. Ledbetter brought in Giddens after a grounder to 2nd to make it 5-1. Tyler Payne then drove in Sutton and Shouse with a 2-RBI single to make it 7-1 Dragons going to the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Tee Knight came on in relief of Shouse. Knight, worked around giving up a lead off single, and a 2-out walk. Going to the seventh, the Dragons led the Rebels, 7-1.
In the top of the seventh, Holland led off by drawing a walk. Colby Brooks, then reached on a 1-out error. Both runners advanced after a wild pitch to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1-out. The Rebels, got out of the top of the seventh with a strikeout and a ground out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Rebels made it a little interesting. Fannin, got a run on a hit, a walk, and a couple of hit batsman. With 2-outs and the bases loaded, Cason Cannon got the final out to give the Dragons the 7-2 win.
Stats for the Dragons:
Cade Sutton: 2-5 with 1 single, 1 double, & 2 runs scored
Connor Shouse: 2 walk, & 1 run scored 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K on 77 pitches
Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with 1 single, 2 RBI, & 1 run scored
Tyler Payne: 1 walk, 1 single, 2 RBI, & 1 run scored
Trey Payne: 1-4 with a single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored
Dawson Holland: 1 walk, & 1 RBI
Evan Giddens: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 1 run scored
The Dragons, will be back in action on Wednesday, March 1st as they welcome the North Murray Mountaineers to Dunn Field for another non-region contest. First pitch it set for 5:30 pm.
Dragons shut out Rebels on Senior Night
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports April 17, 2021
Pickens County, Ga — It was a night for celebration and to recognize as the Pickens Dragons (13-12, 5-10) welcomed the Fannin Rebels (6-19, 3-12) to Dunn Field on Friday, April, 16th for the second game of their home and home series. Before the game, Seniors Seth Densmore, Drake Sutton, Hunter White, and Jarod Whitmore were honored for their contributions to Dragons baseball over the years. The moms of the players then threw out a ceremonial first pitch to their sons. As for the game, the Dragons were able to pick up the sweep over the Rebels with a 9-0 win.
In the top of the 1st, Brady Martin was hit with a pitch and advanced to 2nd after a successful steal attempt. Sutton, the starter for the Dragons, collected his first strikeout of the game and induced a fly out to send it to the bottom of the 1st. In the bottom of the 1st, Trace Ledbetter reached 1st base after being hit by a pitch. Densmore, then followed with a 2-out double. Rebel starter, Wyatt Rogers, got a fly out for the 3rd out to send us to the 2nd, tied at 0.
In the top half of the 2nd, Rebels designated hitter Jake Kuna, reached on an error. Kuna, would be left stranded at 2nd as Sutton picked up his 3rd strikeout of the game to send us to the bottom of the 2nd. Pickens, broke through in the bottom half of the 2nd. Sutton got things going with a 1-out double. Harlan Will then reached 1st on a fielder’s choice. Colby Brooks, who courtesy ran for Sutton, scored on a passed ball to make it 1-0 Dragons. James Tilley, then reached on an error. Connor Shouse, cleared the bases as he belted a 3-run home run, the first of the season for the freshman, to make it 4-0. After a strikeout, Ledbetter hit a single, then scored on an RBI double from Densmore to make it 5-0 Dragons going to the top of the 3rd.
In the top of the 3rd, Martin drew a 2-out walk. Martin, would be left at 2nd after Sutton collected his 5th strikeout of the game. In the bottom of the frame, Sutton and Will were hit by pitches on back to back at bats with 1-out. Shouse, drove in courtesy runners Brooks and Ethan Gemberling with a 2-RBI double to make it 7-0. White, followed that up with an RBI single to bring in Shouse. Going to the 4th, the Dragons led the Rebels, 8-0.
The top of the 4th saw Fannin threaten with another scoring chance to try to cut the Pickens lead down. Logan Hughes and Sawyer Moreland reached with back to back singles with 1-out. After a ground out advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd, Sutton forced a grounder to 1st to end the top half of the 4th. In the bottom of the 4th, Densmore led off by drawing a walk. Logan Shirley came in to pitch run for Densmore. After advancing to 2nd after Anthony Antinozzi was hit by a pitch, and to 3rd after a steal attempt, Shirley came in to score after Sutton reached 1st on a fielder’s choice to make it 9-0.
In the 5th, Densmore came on in relief of Sutton who pitched extremely well through 4 innings of work for the Dragons. Martin, tried to get a rally going for the Rebels as he reached base with a 2-out double. Densmore, got out of the top of the 5th by collecting his 2nd strikeout of the inning to send us to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the 5th, the Rebels right fielder Jason Pearson, who came on in relief in the bottom of the 4th, got the first 1-2-3 inning of the game in the bottom of the 5th to send us to the 6th, Dragons ahead, 9-0.
In the top of the 6th, Moreland reached base after a 2-out walk. A nice play over at 3rd base by Sutton on a dribbler by Kuna ended the top half of the inning and sent us to the bottom of the frame. Pearson, again fired another 1-2-3 inning as he collected his first two strikeouts to send us to the 7th.
In the top of the 7th, Rogers, reached on a 1-out single. Pearson, was then hit by a pitch. With 2 outs, Densmore was able to induce a grounder to third for the 3rd out and the Dragons took this one, 9-0.
Dragons Stats:
Connor Shouse: 2-4 with a home run, a double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Hunter White: 1-4 with a single, and 1 RBI
Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with a hit by pitch, a single, and 1 run scored
Seth Densmore: 2-3 with 2 doubles, 1 walk, and 1 RBI & 3 IP, 3 K, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP
Anthony Antinozzi: 1 hit by pitch
Drake Sutton: 1-3 with a double, a hit by pitch, and 1 RBI & 4 IP, 5 K, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 76 pitches
Harlan Will: 1 hit by pitch
James Tilley: 1 walk, and 1 run scored
Colby Brooks: 2 runs scored
Ethan Gemberling: 2 runs scored
Logan Shirley: 1 run scored
Rebels Stats:
Jason Pearson: 1 hit by pitch
Brady Martin: 1-2 with a hit by pitch, 1 walk, and 1 double
Logan Hughes: 1-3 with a single
Sawyer Moreland: 1-2 with a single, and a walk
Wyatt Rogers: 1-3 with a single
Dragons pick up road win against Fannin
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports April 14, 2021
Fannin County, Ga — It was a 515 Tuesday as the Pickens Dragons (12-12, 5-10) headed north to Blue Ridge to take on the Fannin Rebels (6-17, 3-11) for a non-region ball game. The Dragons and Rebels bot came into the game looking to get back in the win column after both dropped a series last week. In a game that was very much a pitchers duel for the majority of it, the Dragons got 3 runs in the final 3 innings to pick up a 5-2 win.
In the top of the 1st, Hunter White got things going by reaching on an error. Seth Densmore then drew a 2-out walk. Jarod Whitmore, drove in White with a single to make it 1-0 Dragons. Anthony Antinozzi, then followed by getting hit with a pitch to load the bases. Rebels starter Logan Hughes, got out of the jam to keep the score 1-0 going to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the 1st, the Rebels got back to back hits from Brady Martin and Bradley Holloway.Dragons starter JP Nunn, got out of a jam of his own as he left Bradley and Martin stranded at 2nd and 3rd to send us to the 2nd, Pickens ahead, 1-0.
In the top of the 2nd, Tyler Payne led off by getting hit with a pitch. The Rebels, got a big lift when they picked up a strikeout/pick off double play. With 2 outs, Connor Shouse drew a walk. Shouse would be left stranded at 1st as we’d head to the bottom of the 2nd, still 1-0 Dragons. In the bottom of the frame, Carter Mann led off with a single. Landon Norton, then followed by drawing a walk. After back to back strikeouts by Nunn, Jason Pearson got hit by a pitch to load the bases full of Rebels. Nunn, got out of a jam for the 2nd straight inning to keep the Dragons ahead going to the 3rd, 1-0.
Densmore got the top of the 3rd going for Pickens after he reached on an error. Antinozzi, drew a 2-out walk, but that would be all in the top half of the 3rd for the Dragons. In the bottom half of the 3rd, Nunn picked up his 4th strikeout of the game as he worked the first 1-2-3 inning for either side. Going to the 4th, Pickens still led the Rebels, 1-0.
In the top of the 4th, James Tilley drew a 1-out walk to reach base. White, brought Tilley home with a 2-out double to make it 2-0 Dragons. Nunn, continued his impressive outing by again working a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 4th. Going to the 5th, the Dragons held a 2-0 advantage.
Whitmore picked up his 2nd hit of the game with 1-out in the top of the 5th. Antinozzi and Drake Sutton then followed by drawing back to back walks to load the bases. With 2 outs, Tilley drew a walk to bring in Whitmore. Shouse, followed by drawing the 4th walk of the inning to bring in Antinozzi. Going to the bottom of the 5th, the Dragons now led the Rebels, 4-0. In the bottom of the 5th, Fannin looked to get things going offensively. Pearson, reached with a 1-out double. Martin, followed with a single. Holloway, drove in Pearson with an RBI single. Martin, was thrown out at home trying to come in to score. Nunn then forced a ground out to end the 5th and send us to the top of the 6th with the Dragons up, 4-1.
The top of the 6th saw the Rebels collect their first 1-2-3 inning of the game to keep the score at 4-1. In the bottom of the 6th, Tyler Fox reached after drawing a 1-out walk. Norton, then followed with a single. After a strikeout, Luke Bright drew a walk. Pearson, then brought in Fox with an RBI single. On the same play, the Dragons threw out a runner for the final out of the frame. Going to the top of the 7th, Pickens led Fannin, 4-2.
In the top of the 7th, Antinozzi led off with a walk. Sutton then moved him over to 2nd with a sacrifice bunt. Payne then drew a walk. Tilley, kept the line moving by reaching on an error. Shouse, brought in Antinozzi after drawing his 3rd walk of the game. After a strikeout and a force out, we’d head to the bottom of the 7th with the Dragons up, 5-2. In the bottom of the 7th, Holloway picked up a 1-out single. Densmore, was able to get a 6-4-3 double play from his defense and the Dragons picked up the win, 5-2.
Dragons Stats:
Connor Shouse: 3 walks and 2 RBI
Hunter White: 1-5 with a double, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI
Seth Densmore: 1 walk
Jarod Whitmore: 2-4 with 1 run scored
Anthony Antinozzi: 1 hit by pitch, 3 walks, and 2 runs scored
Drake Sutton: 1 walk
Tyler Payne: 1 hit by pitch, and 1 walk
James Tilley: 2 walks, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
JP Nunn: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 R, 1 ER, 68 pitches
Rebels Stats:
Jason Pearson: 2-3 with a single, a double, 1 hit by pitch, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Brady Martin: 2-4 with 2 singles
Bradley Holloway: 3-4 with 3 singles, and 1 RBI
Carter Mann: 1-2 with a single
Tyler Fox: 1 walk, and 1 run scored
Landon Norton: 1 walk and 1 single
Luke Bright: 1 walk
These same two teams will meet in Jasper on Friday in the finale of their home and home series. First pitch set for 5:30 pm.