Dragons pull off shocker; Advance to Final Four
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports May 8, 2025
Harlem, Ga — A trip to the Final Four was on the line as the Pickens Dragons made the trip down to Harlem to take on the #1 seeded Bulldogs on Wednesday, May 7th. Coming into the game, the Bulldogs, were sporting a 107-3 record since 2023, and were ranked 10th in the nation by MaxPreps. The Dragons, came in winners of five straight, and were looking to avenge last year’s loss. The Dragons, would do just that as they swept the doubleheader, 8-3 and 5-1.
Game one:
The Dragons, would go down in order in the top of the first after a fly out, a strikeout, and a ground out. In the bottom of the frame, D. Titus would look to get something going by drawing a 1-out walk. W. Holder, would follow with a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. A. Fox, would give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with a 2-run double. Dragons starter Christian Starks, would get out of the first with a pair of strikeouts. Heading to the second, the Bulldogs led the Dragons, 2-0.
In the top of the second, Kam Jenkins, would draw a lead off walk. Dawson Lowit, would follow by drawing a walk of his own. After a strikeout, courtesy runner Drew Dunlap, would come around to score as Matthew Davis reached on an error. Dawson Holland, would then draw a walk to load the bases with 1-out. Jennings Allen, would draw the fourth walk of the inning to bring in Lowit to tie the game at 2.
A.J. Rice, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as Davis would be forced out at home. Starks, would help himself out by driving in both Holland and Allen with a 2-RBI single to make it 4-2 Dragons heading to the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the inning, D. Smith would draw a 1-out walk. The Bulldogs, would then decide to test the arm of Kam Jenkins and Jenkins would throw out Smith at 2nd.
Starks, would pick up his 3rd strikeout of the game to get out of the second and send it to the third with the Dragons leading, 4-2.
In the top of the third, Lowit, would draw his 2nd walk of the game to reach base with 1-out. Sam Hammontree, would follow that with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Davis, would follow with a single to load the bases. Holland, would bring in both Lowit and pitch runner Ezra Faber with a 2-RBI single to make it 6-2 Dragons. Davis, would come in to score after Allen reached on a fielder’s choice.
The Bulldogs, would get out of the third with a pop out. Heading to the bottom of the inning, the Dragons led it, 7-2. In the bottom of the third, Starks, would toss a scoreless frame with a ground out, a fly out, and a strikeout. Heading to the fourth, the Dragons led the Bulldogs, 7-2.
In the top of the fourth, Cade Sutton, would reach with a 1-out single. Jenkins, would follow that with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Sutton and courtesy runner Dunlap, would move up a base on a dropped 3rd strike. Sutton would come in to score as Faber would reach on an error as the ball fell in between the pitcher and the 1st baseman.
The Bulldogs, would get out of the fourth with a ground out. Heading to the bottom of the inning, the Dragons led it, 7-2. The Bulldogs, would look to get something started to begin the bottom of the fourth as A. Fox would draw a walk, and B. Knight would be hit by a pitch. Daven Abernathy, would then come on in relief of Starks. After picking up a strikeout, T. Lindo would reach with a 1-out single to load the bases.
Abernathy, would pick up his 2nd strikeout and a fly out to get out of the jam and send it to the fifth with the Dragons leading, 8-2.
In the top of the fifth, Allen, would reach with a 1-out single. He would be left stranded as the Bulldogs would pick up a pop out, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, D. Titus, would lead off with a double. Titus, would look to advance to 3rd after a passed ball, but he would be thrown out. W. Holder and S. Harshbarger would then reach with back to back singles.
The Dragons, would get out of the fifth after turning a 4-6-3 double play. Heading to the sixth, Pickens led Harlem, 8-2.
The Dragons, would go down 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth on a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. In the bottom of the sixth, Abernathy, would pick up the first two outs on a pair of strikeouts. T. Lindo, would keep the inning alive for the Bulldogs with a 2-out single. D. Reed, would follow that up by drawing a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. W. Spivey, would bring in Lindo with an RBI single to make it 8-3.
Abernathy, would get out of the sixth with his 3rd strikeout of the inning to send it to the seventh with the Dragons leading, 8-3.
Faber, would lead off the seventh with a single. Davis, would move Faber up to 2nd with a sacrifice bunt. Faber, would advance to 3rd after a ground out by Holland. The Bulldogs, would get out of the seventh with a ground out. W. Holder, would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Dylan Walls, would then come on in relief of Abernathy. After an intentional walk, the Dragons would pick up a fly out for the first out.
Walls, would then force a pop out and a line out to close things out as the Dragons would take game one, 8-3.
Stats for the Dragons in Game one:
Christian Starks: 1-4 with 1 single, 2 RBI, and 3 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K on 54 pitches
Cade Sutton: 1-4 with 1 single and 1 run scored
Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with 1 single and 1 walk
Dawson Lowit: 2 walks and 2 runs scored
Sam Hammontree: 1-2 with 1 single
Ezra Faber: 1-2 with 1 single and 1 run scored
Matthew Davis: 1-3 with 1 single, and 1 run scored
Dawson Holland: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 walk, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored
Jennings Allen: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Drew Dunlap: 1 run scored
Daven Abernathy: 3 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K on 53 pitches
Dylan Walls: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K on 6 pitches
Game two:
For the second game of the doubleheader, the Dragons, would be the home team. In the top of the first, D. Titus would draw a 1-out walk. W. Holder, would follow that up with a single. After the Dragons decided to intentionally walk the next batter to load the bases for a chance at a force out at any base, starter A.J. Rice, would pick up a strikeout and a ground out to get out of the early jam.
The Dragons, would go down quietly in the bottom of the first on a strikeout, a ground out, and a pop out. Heading to the second, the game was tied at 0.
Rice, would toss a 1-2-3 top of the second with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out. In the bottom of the inning, Dawson Lowit, would reach with a 1-out double. Christian Starks, would follow that with an RBI double that scored Lowit to make it 1-0 Dragons. Starks, would be thrown out at 3rd trying to stretch it into a triple. The Bulldogs, would get out of the second with a pop out. Heading to the third, the Dragons led it, 1-0.
Rice, picked up his 4th and 5th strikeout and a ground out in a scoreless top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, Georgia Southern commit Will Holder, would strike out the side to send it to the fourth with the Dragons still ahead, 1-0.
Rice, would continue his nice outing with a scoreless fourth inning as he picked up his 6th strikeout, a fly out, and a pop out. In the bottom of the fourth, Cade Sutton, would reach on a 1-out triple. After a strikeout, Sutton, would come in to score as Lowit would reach on an error. Starks, would follow that up with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out.
Pitch runner Zach Williams, would come around to score on a single by Sam Hammontree to make it 3-0 Dragons. Matthew Davis, would then draw a walk to load the bases. Dawson Holland, would add to the lead with a 2-RBI double that scored Starks and Hammontree. It looked like Davis got under the tag, but he would be called out to end the fourth. Heading to the fifth, the Dragons led the Bulldogs, 5-0.
Rice, would pick up his 7th, 8th, and 9th strikeout in the top of the fifth as he struck out the side to send it to the bottom of the frame. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the fifth on a line out and a pair of ground outs. Heading to the sixth, the Dragons led it, 5-0.
The Bulldogs, would look to make it a game in the top of the sixth as W. Spivey, D. Titus, and Holder, reached back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases with nobody out. Rice, would settle down as he picked up his 10th and 11th strikeout and a ground out to get out of the sixth without any damage done. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the inning. Heading to the seventh, Pickens led Harlem, 5-0.
Dylan Walls would come on in relief of Rice in the top of the seventh to try and close things out. After a line out, T. Lindo, would draw a 1-out walk to reach base. Lindo, would then advance to 2nd on a wild pitch. D. Smith, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. An RBI single by W. Spivey, would bring in Lindo to make it 5-1. Walls, would settle in and pick up a strikeout for the 2nd out.
Walls, would then get Holder to ground out to Rice at short. Rice would step on 2nd to force out Spivey and the Dragons would take game two, 5-1 to sweep the series and advance to the Final Four.
Stats for the Dragons in Game Two:
A.J. Rice: 6 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 11 K on 105 pitches
Cade Sutton: 1-3 with 1 triple and 1 run scored
Dawson Lowit: 1-3 with 1 double and 1 run scored
Christian Starks: 2-3 with 1 double, 1 single, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Sam Hammontree: 1-2 with 1 single and 1 run scored
Matthew Davis: 1 walk
Dawson Holland: 1-2 with 1 double and 2 RBI
Zach Williams: 1 run scored
Dylan Walls: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K on 27 pitches
The Dragons, will have to be road warriors once again as they head down to LaGrange to take on Troup County in a best of three series starting on Tuesday, May 13th in a doubleheader.
Dragons season ends in Elite 8
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports May 7, 2024
Harlem, Ga — The Pickens Dragons and the Harlem Bulldogs were finally able to get their best of three series started on Monday, May 6th. They were originally scheduled to begin their series on Saturday, May 4th, but mother nature had other ideas. The Dragons, came into the series with a 29-6 overall record and making their first ever appearance in the Elite 8. The Bulldogs, came in 32-1 overall, ranked the 16th best team in the nation, and defending AAA State Champions. The Bulldogs, would take both games of the doubleheader winning 2-1, and 12-0.
Game 1:
In the top of the first, the Dragons would go down in order on a ground out, a line out, and a pop out. Dragons starter Connor Shouse, was able to work around a lead of walk as he picked up two strikeouts. The runner on the base path would be called for interference. Heading to the second inning, both Pickens and Harlem were tied at 0.
In the top of the second, the Dragons again would go down in order. This time on two ground outs and a strikeout. In the bottom half of the frame, Shouse, would work around a walk and a stolen base as the Bulldogs would leave a runner stranded at 3rd. Going to the third, Pickens and Harlem were still tied at 0.
The Dragons, would get their first base runner of the game in the top of the third as Trey Payne would reach with a 2-out single. Shouse, would follow that up with a single of his own to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Bulldogs, would get out of the jam with a pop out to right to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs, would have a runner reach on an error with 2-outs, but Shouse would be able to send it to the fourth still tied.
In the top of the fourth, Trace Ledbetter would lead off by drawing a walk. Kam Jenkins, would then move pitch runner Coleman Keener up to 2nd with a sacrifice bunt. An infield single by Christian Starks would put runners at the corners with 1-out. Keener, would come in to score on a sacrifice fly RBI by Cade Sutton to make it 1-0 Dragons. The Bulldogs, would get out of the fourth with just the one run given up.
In the bottom of the inning, Shouse, had his first clean frame of the game picking up two more strikeouts and a ground out. Heading to the fifth, Pickens led Harlem, 1-0.
In the top half of the fifth, Kyle Grno, would lead off with a single. After a pop out, Shouse, would pick up his 2nd hit of the day to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. The Bulldogs, would be able to get out of the potential jam as they induced an inning ending 5-3 double play. In the bottom of the fifth, Shouse, worked around a 1-out walk and stolen base as he picked up a ground out and a double play to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading, 1-0.
The Dragons, would go down in order in the top of the sixth after two ground outs and a strikeout. In the bottom half of the inning, Shouse, once again worked around a walk and a stolen base as he picked up two more K’s and a force out to send it to the seventh with Pickens leading Harlem, 1-0.
In the top of the seventh, the Dragons, would go down quietly after a pop out, a ground out, and a line out. The Bulldogs, would begin the bottom of the seventh by picking up their first hit of the game. They would follow it up with two straight infield singles to load the bases with nobody out. The tying run would score after an error. JP Nunn, would come in to try and keep the game tied at 1.
Nunn, would get the first two batters he faced to set up a bases loaded, 2-out situation. The Bulldogs, would be able to draw a walk and the winning run would come into score as the Bulldogs took game 1, 2-1.
Stats for the Dragons in Game 1:
Connor Shouse: 2-3 with 2 singles (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K on 101 pitches)
Trace Ledbetter: 1 walk
Kam Jenkins: 1 sacrifice bunt
Christian Starks: 1-3 with 1 single
Cade Sutton: 1 RBI
Kyle Grno: 1-3 with 1 single
Trey Payne: 1-2 with 1 single
Coleman Keener: 1 run scored
Game 2:
For game 2 of the doubleheader, the Dragons were the “home” team. Dragons starter James Tilley, would strike out the side in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, A.J. Rice, would reach with a 1-out single. Rice, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Rice, would move up to 3rd after a balk was called. The Bulldogs, would get out of the first with a strikeout and a ground out to send it to the second with the game still tied at 0.
In the top of the second, the Bulldogs, would plate 5 runs on 4 hits and 2 errors to take a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Starks, would reach with a lead off single. Starks, would get picked off for the first out of the inning. After a strikeout, Tyler Payne, would look to keep the second alive for the Dragons with a 2-out single. The Bulldogs, would get out of the second with a strikeout to send it to the third with Harlem leading Pickens, 5-0.
The Bulldogs, would add to their lead in the top of the third as they scored 3 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 hit by pitch to make it 8-0. In the bottom of the frame, Shouse, would look to try and get a rally started by drawing a 1-out walk. The Bulldogs, would get out of the third with back to back fly outs. Going to the fourth, Harlem led Pickens, 8-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs would plate 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks to make it 12-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Dragons would go down in order with a pair of strikeouts and a pop out. Going to the fifth, Harlem led Pickens, 12-0.
In the top of the fifth, Dylan Walls, who came on in relief of Brodie Keener to pick up the final out in the fourth, worked a clean frame with two ground outs and a strikeout. In the bottom of the fifth, Trey Payne, would reach with a 2-out single. The Bulldogs, would force a pop out as they took game 2, 12-0, to win the series.
Stats for the Dragons in Game 2:
Connor Shouse: 1 walk
A.J. Rice: 1-2 with 1 single and 1 steal
Christian Starks: 1-2 with 1 single
Tyler Payne: 1-2 with 1 single
Trey Payne: 1-2 with 1 single
The Dragons, end the 2024 season with a 29-8 overall record, a second straight region championship, and their first ever appearance in the Elite 8. The class of 2024, will go down as one of the more successful classes in PHS history. While the Dragons will lose multiple seniors and a lot of production, they will return a good nucleus as they enter a new region in 2025.
Dragons reach Elite 8 for first time in school history
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports May 1, 2024
Jasper, Ga — It was win or go home for the Pickens Dragons and the Hebron Christian Lions on Tuesday, April 30th as Dunn Field was the site for game three of the best of three series. The Dragons and Lions, split a doubleheader on Monday, April 29th with the Dragons winning the first game, and the Lions winning the second game. The winner of the deciding third game, would move on to face the Harlem Bulldogs. The Dragons, pulled away from the Lions early on and came away with a 10-0 win in 6 innings.
In the top of the first, Dragons starter James Tilley, worked around a 2-out walk as he picked up two ground outs, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom half of the frame. In the bottom of the first, Connor Shouse, got things started by leading off with a single. A.J. Rice, would then ground into a fielder’s choice as Shouse would be forced out at 2nd. Lions starter Dallas Rice, would then force an inning ending double play to send it to the second still tied at 0.
Tilley, had a long inning pitch count wise in the top of the second, but picked up two more strikeouts and a ground out to get out of it. After Rice picked up two quick outs in the bottom of the second, things would turn for both teams as Rice would be hit with a come backer near the wrist of his throwing arm. Sutton, who reached on an error by the 1st baseman on the play, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position.
Tyler Payne, would draw a 4-pitch walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out. Kyle Grno, would draw the second straight walk to load the bases. Trey Payne, would then draw a full count walk to bring in Sutton to make it 1-0 Dragons. Shouse, would clear the bases with a 3-RBI double to make it 4-0 Dragons. Leyton Jones, would come on in relief of Rice and would get out of the inning with a ground out. Going to the third, the Dragons led it, 4-0.
Tilley, carried over that momentum from the bottom of the third to the top of the fourth as he fired a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout, and two ground outs. Kam Jenkins, would look to get something started for the Dragons in the bottom of the inning with a 1-out double. Christian Starks, would drive in courtesy runner JP Nunn with an RBI single to make it 5-0 Dragons. Starks, would then steal 2nd to move into scoring position.
Sutton, would then bring in Starks with an RBI triple to make it 6-0 Dragons. Tag Clement, would come on in relief of Jones and he would force a pop out and a ground out to get out of the third. Going to the fourth, Pickens led Hebron Christian, 6-0.
In the top of the fourth, Tilley, would keep rolling along as he picked up two strikeouts, and a pop out. In the bottom of the fourth, Shouse, would pick up his third hit of the day and his second double. Rice, would drive him in with an RBI single to make it 7-0 Dragons. Rice, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Trace Ledbetter, would bring in Rice with an RBI single to make it 8-0. Ledbetter would advance to 2nd on the throw.
Jenkins, would move pitch runner Jennings Allen up to 3rd on a fly out as he would tag from 2nd. Starks, would drive in Allen with his 2nd RBI knock of the day to make it 9-0 Dragons. Thomas Stallworth, would come on in relief of Clement and he would force a ground out to get out of the inning. Going to the fifth, Pickens led Hebron Christian, 9-0.
In the top of the fifth, Stallworth, would pick up the first hit of the day for the Lions with a 1-out single. Tilley, would shake that off to strike out the next two batters to send it to the bottom of the inning. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the fifth on two pop outs and a ground out. Going to the sixth, Pickens still led Hebron Christian, 9-0.
Brodie Keener, would come on in relief of Tilley in the top of the sixth. Keener, would toss a scoreless frame as he picked up a pop out, a line out, and a strikeout to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, pitch hitter Ezra Faber, would jump on the first pitch he saw and would bloop on down the right field line for a lead off single. Pitch hitter Dawson Lowit, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs.
Faber, would move up to 3rd after a fly out by Ledbetter. Pitch hitter Sam Hammontree, would drive in Faber with an RBI single to take game three 10-0 and send the Dragons to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 3-3 with 1 single, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, and 1 run scored
A.J. Rice: 1-3 with 1 single, 1 steal, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with 1 single and 1 RBI
Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with 1 double
Christian Starks: 2-3 with 2 singles, 2 steals, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored
Cade Sutton: 1-3 with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Tyler Payne: 1 walk
Kyle Grno: 1 walk and 1 run scored
Trey Payne: 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Ezra Faber: 1-1 with 1 single and 1 run scored
Dawson Lowit: 1 walk
Sam Hammontree: 1-1 with 1 single and 1 RBI
Coleman Keener: 1 run scored
JP Nunn: 1 run scored
Jennings Allen: 1 run scored
James Tilley: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K on 70 pitches
Brodie Keener: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 12 pitches
The Dragons, will now get ready for the Elite 8 as they will take on the Harlem Bulldogs on the road in a best of three series starting on Saturday, May 4th in a doubleheader. Game 1 is set to start at 2 pm, and game 2 is set to begin at 4:30 pm. The “if” game is set for Monday, May 6th at 5 pm.