Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, came into their game against the North Hall Trojans on Thursday, March 13th looking to even up the series after a tough defeat on Tuesday in the series opener. After a bit of a weather delay, the game would get going and as you would expect, was tightly contested. The Trojans, would use some more late inning heroics to pull off another 3-2 win over the Dragons.

Starting pitcher for the Dragons, Ezra Faber, would work around a 1-out single as he would force a ground out, a pop out, and pick up his first strikeout of the game to send it to the bottom half of the first. In the bottom half of the first, A.J. Rice, would lead off by drawing a four pitch walk. Rice, would then advance to 2nd on a wild pitch. Trojans starter Smith McGarvey, would make a nice play on a come backer by Christian Starks for the first out.

Cade Sutton, would draw a four pitch walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. Rice, would steal 3rd to put runners at the corners. Kam Jenkins, would then draw a full count walk to load the bases. McGarvey, would pick up a strikeout for the second out. Matthew Davis, would then draw a bases loaded walk to bring in Rice to make it 1-0. Sam Hammontree, would follow by drawing another walk to bring in Sutton to make it 2-0 Dragons.

The Trojans, would then make a pitching change as starting 1st baseman Micah Jimmerson, would come on in relief of McGarvey. Jimmerson, would get the Trojans out of the first as Hammontree would be forced out at 2nd. Heading to the second, Pickens led North Hall, 2-0.

Faber, would pick up a fly out, and his 2nd strikeout for the first two outs of the second inning. A lined shot by Custis Honeycutt, that just got past Rice at short, would keep the inning alive for the Trojans. Campbell Payton, would then draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out. An RBI single by Jake Beard, would bring in Honeycutt to make it 2-1. Faber, would get out of the second with a ground out.

In the bottom of the second, Rice, would reach with a 1-out single. He would be left stranded at 1st however as Jimmerson would pick up a fly out and a strikeout to send it to the third with the Dragons leading the Trojans, 2-1.

The Trojans, were looking to tie or even take the lead as Ty Kemp and McGarvey, would draw back to back walks to begin the top of the third. Faber, would get out of the third after picking up his 3rd strikeout, and a 5-3 double play to send it to the bottom of the inning. Jenkins, would lead off the bottom of the third with an infield single. Dawson Holland, would then drive one to deep right field, which allowed courtesy runner Coleman Keener, to advance to 2nd.

Jimmerson, would again escape with no damage done as he picked up a pop out and a fly out to send it to the fourth with the Dragons still leading, 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, Faber, would work around a 1-out single by Honeycutt, as he picked up a pop out, a fly out, and his 4th strikeout to send it to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the fourth, Dawson Lowitt and Jennings Allen, would lead off with back to back singles. Rice, would bunt pitch runner Caden Kirchoff and Allen over to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1-out.

Kirchoff, would get caught in a rundown for the second out. The play allowed Allen to advance to 3rd, and Starks to 2nd. Jimmerson, would get out of the inning with a ground out to send it to the fifth with the Dragons still ahead, 2-1.

Daven Abernathy, would come on in relief of Faber in the top of the fifth. He would pick up a ground out for the first out. After a 1-out single by Kemp, Abernathy would get McGarvey to fly out to left field. Kenny Foudy, would give the Trojans the lead with a 2-run home run. Abernathy, would bounce back with a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the fifth with the Trojans leading, 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Holland, would reach with a 1-out single. He would be left stranded as Jimmerson, would pick up a pop out and a ground out to send it to the sixth with the Trojans leading, 3-2.

In the top of the sixth, Abernathy, would strikeout the side to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Rice, would look to get something started as he would be hit by a pitch with 2-outs. Jimmerson and the Trojans, would get out of the sixth with a fly out to send it to the seventh with North Hall leading Pickens, 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, Abernathy, in his third inning of relief, would pick up his 5th strikeout, and a pair of fly outs in a scoreless frame to send it to the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Jimmerson, would get the Dragons in order as the Trojans would come away with another 3-2 win.

Stats for the Dragons:

A.J. Rice: 1-1 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 HBP, 1 steal, and 1 run scored

Cade Sutton: 1 walk and 1 run scored

Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with 1 single, and 1 walk

Dawson Holland: 1-4 with 1 single

Matthew Davis: 1 walk and 1 RBI

Sam Hammontree: 1 walk and 1 RBI

Dawson Lowitt: 1-3 with 1 single

Jennings Allen: 1-3 with 1 single

Ezra Faber: 4 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 4 K, 3 BB on 62 pitches

Daven Abernathy: 3 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 5 K, 0 BB on 41 pitches

The Dragons, will look to end the series on a good note as game three takes place on Friday, March 14th back at North Hall. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:55 pm.