Rice tosses gem as Dragons defeat Pepperell
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports February 20, 2026
Jasper, Ga — After a successful trip to Ellijay on Monday, the Pickens Dragons, were back home on Thursday, February 19th for the first of three straight at Dunn Field as they took on the Pepperell Dragons in non-region action. Pickens, came into the game at 4-0 and ranked in the top ten in AAA. Pepperell, came into the game a 3-1 and ranked in the top ten in 1A D-1. While it took a little bit for the offense to break through, the Pitching was solid for Pickens as they came away with a 7-1 win.
Pickens starter and Auburn signee AJ Rice, took the mound in the top of the first. After back to back strikeouts to start the inning, M. Garcia, would look to get a rally going with a 2-out double to center. Rice, would settle down to strikeout the side to send it to the bottom of the first. Pickens, would go down in order in the bottom half of the first as we’d head to the second inning still tied at 0.
Rice, would continue his hot start in the top of the second by picking up a pair of strikeouts and a ground out in a scoreless frame. In the bottom of the second, Boogie Lowitt, would lead off with a double. Matthew Davis, would then reach by getting hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd. A sharp single by Christian Starks, would load the bases with nobody out.
Lowitt, would be forced out at home as Jennings Allen would reach on a fielder’s choice. Pepperell, would get out of the second by turning a double play to keep the score tied at 0 heading to the third.
Rice, would strikeout the side for the second time in three innings to send it to the bottom of the third. Truitt Grubbs, would lead off the bottom of the third with a single. Kam Jenkins, would keep the inning going with a 2-out single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Grubbs, would be tagged by the 3rd baseman after a grounder for the third out to send it to the fourth still scoreless.
Rice, fully in a groove, would pick up a fly out and a pair of strikeouts in the top of the fourth. Pickens, would go down in order in the bottom of the inning as we were still deadlocked at 0 heading to the fifth. Rice, would need just four pitches to get out of the top of the fifth as he forced two pop outs and a ground out. Pickens, would finally break the tie in the bottom of the fifth.
Everett Grubbs, would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Everett’s brother, Truitt, would advance him over to 2nd with a sacrifice bunt. Robert Turner, would drive in Everett with an RBI double to make it 1-0 Pickens. Rice, would help himself out by bringing in Turner with an RBI triple to make it 2-0. Jenkins, would pick up his 2nd hit of the game with an RBI single to make it 3-0 Pickens.
After a pop out, Davis, would keep the inning going by drawing a walk. Davis, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Pepperell, would get out of the fifth with a ground out as Pickens would take a 3-0 lead into the sixth.
Rice, would end his outing the way he began it. For the third time in six innings of work, Rice would strikeout the side. Ending his night with 12 punch outs. In the bottom of the sixth, Pickens, would draw 6 walks in the bottom of the frame as 4 runs would come across to score to make it 7-0 heading to the seventh.
Turner, would come on in relief of Rice in the top of the seventh. T. Glenn, would lead off the seventh with a solo home run, to make it 7-1. Turner, would do a good job of settling in as he would pick up two ground outs and a strikeout to seal to the 7-1 win for Pickens.
Stats for the Dragons:
Robert Turner: 1-3 with 1 double, 1 walk, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 13 pitches
AJ Rice: 1-3 with 1 triple, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, and 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K on 77 pitches
Kam Jenkins: 2-4 with 2 singles and 1 RBI
Boogie Lowitt: 1-2 with 1 double, 1 walk, and 1 RBI
Matthew Davis: 1 HBP, 2 walks, 1 steal, and 1 RBI
Christian Starks: 1-1 with 1 single
Jennings Allen: 1 walk, 1 steal, and 1 run scored
Everett Grubbs: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored
Truitt Grubbs: 2-2 with 2 singles, 1 sacrifice bunt, and 1 run scored
The Dragons, the Pickens Dragons that is, will be back at Dunn Field on Friday, February 20th as they take on the Haralson County Rebels in a late night tilt. First pitch is set for 7 pm.
Dragons continue win streak against Bobcats
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports February 17, 2026
Ellijay, Ga — The 515 rivalry shifted to the diamond on Monday, February 16th as the Pickens Dragons made the short ride up to Ellijay to take on the Gilmer Bobcats. Coming into the game, the Dragons, were 3-0, while the Bobcats, were 1-2. In a game that saw nearly double digit hit batsman, it was a 6-run sixth inning that broke things open for the Dragons as they came away with a 15-3 win in six.
Robert Turner, who has been a hitting machine to start the season, continued his early tear with a lead off single. Turner, would then show off the wheels as he would steal 2nd. Turner, would then advance to 3rd after a balk was called. AJ Rice, would bring in Turner after reaching on an error. After a ground out, Boogie Lowitt, would be hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. Rice, would advance to 3rd after a pop out by Matthew Davis.
Christian Starks, would keep the inning going with a 2-out single that would score Rice to make it 2-0. Jennings Allen, would then be hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Bobcats, would get out of the top of the first with a ground out. Blake Grizzle, would lead off the bottom of the frame with a double. Grizzle, would come around to score after Cooper Cochran reached on an error to cut the lead to 2-1.
Peyton Chancey, would give the Bobcats 3-2 lead after a 2-run home run. Dragons starter Everett Grubbs, would do a good job of settling down after giving up the home run as he picked up two ground outs and a fly out. Heading to the second inning, the Bobcats, led the Dragons, 3-2.
In the top of the second, Turner, would reach for the second time with a 1-out single. Turner, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Rice, would follow with a single of his own to put runners at the corners with 1-out. Kam Jenkins, would bring in Turner with an RBI ground out to tie the game at 3. Jayden Grizzle, would lead off the bottom half of the 2nd with a double.
J. Grizzle, would be forced out at 3rd as Landen McClure reached on a fielder’s choice. After a strikeout, Blake Grizzle, would be hit by a pitch to keep the inning going. Jenkins, would throw out McClure trying to steal 3rd to send us to the third with the score still tied at 3.
Davis, would draw a walk to lead off the top of the third. Starks, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as Davis would be forced out at 2nd. Starks, would advance to 2nd after an error. Allen, would reach after drawing a four pitch walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Brock Teal, would then be hit by a pitch to load the bases with 1-out.
Drew Dunlap, would also be hit by a pitch to bring in Starks to make it 4-3 Dragons. Turner, would add to the lead as he would drive in Allen and Teal with a 2-RBI double to make it 6-3. Rice, would draw a walk to once again load the bases. The Bobcats, would escape further possible damage with an inning ending double play. After a long at bat, Cochran, would lead off the bottom of the third by drawing a walk.
After back to back strikeouts, Zander Shute, would be hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2-out. Grubbs and the Dragons, would get out of the third after a line out to center to send it to the fourth with the Dragons ahead, 6-3.
Lowitt, would be hit by the first pitch in the top of the fourth. Davis, would follow by drawing his second walk of the game to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Lowitt and Davis, would then advance after a wild pitch. Starks, would also draw a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Lowitt, would come in to score as the Bobcats would turn a double play. Davis, would advance to 3rd on the play.
Teal, would keep the inning alive for the Dragons as he would be hit by a pitch for the second time in as many innings. The Bobcats, would get out of the fourth with a ground out as the Dragons led it, 7-3. MT Crenshaw, would come on in relief of Everett Grubbs in the bottom of the fourth. Jayden Grizzle, would lead off the inning by drawing a walk. McClure, would follow by reaching on a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Jayden Grizzle, would then be thrown out trying to steal 3rd. After a strikeout, McClure, would advance to 2nd on a wild pitch. Crenshaw, would get out of the fourth with his 2nd strikeout. Heading to the fifth, the Dragons, led the Bobats, 7-3.
In the top of the fifth, Rice, would reach by getting hit by a pitch. Rice, would then advance to 2nd after a wild pitch. Jenkins, would then follow with a 1-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Tanner Bail, who came on as a defensive replacement for Lowitt in the bottom of the fourth, would drive in both Rice and courtesy runner Caden Kirchoff with a 2-RBI double to make it 9-3 Dragons. Davis, would then draw his third walk of the game to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Starks, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as Bail would be forced out at 3rd for the second out. The Bobcats, would get out of the fifth after a force out at 2nd. Crenshaw, on in his second inning of relief, would work around a 2-out single by Jase McCollum as he picked up a pair of strikeouts and a ground out in a scoreless frame. Heading to the sixth, the Dragons still led the Bobcats, 9-3.
Teal, would lead off the top of the sixth by drawing a walk. Truitt Grubbs, pitch hitting for Dunlap, would follow with a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Turner, would drive in both Teal and Grubbs with a 2-RBI triple to make it 11-3. Rice, would follow that with an RBI triple of his own to make it 12-3. Jenkins, would keep the line moving with an RBI single to make it 13-3.
Kirchoff, would come in to pitch hit for Bail, and would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Courtesy runner Zach Williams and Kirchoff, would advance after a wild pitch. Jackson Walker, would reach on a fielder’s choice as Williams would be forced out at home. Starks, would bring in Kirchoff on an RBI ground out to make it 14-3. Allen, would drive in Walker with an RBI double to make it 15-3 Dragons heading to the bottom of the inning.
Chase Hulsey, would come on in relief of Crenshaw in the bottom half of the sixth. Hulsey, would work around a lead off double and a single as he picked up two ground outs and a strikeout to seal the 15-3 win for the Dragons.
Stats for the Dragons:
Robert Turner: 3-4 with 2 singles, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 steals, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored
AJ Rice: 2-3 with 1 single, 1 triple, 1 walk, 1 HBP, 2 RBI, 3 caught stealing, and 3 runs scored
Kam Jenkins: 2-5 with 1 single, 1 double, and 2 RBI
Dawson Lowitt: 2 HBP, and 1 run scored
Tanner Bail: 1-1 with 1 double and 2 RBI
Caden Kirchoff: 1 walk and 2 runs scored
Matthew Davis: 3 walks
Jackson Walker: 1 run scored
Christian Starks: 1-4 with 1 single, and 1 walk
Jennings Allen: 1-2 with 1 double, 1 walk, 1 HBP, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored
Brock Teal: 1 walk, 2 HBP, and 2 runs scored
Drew Dunlap: 1 HBP, and 1 RBI
Truitt Grubbs: 1-1 with 1 double and 1 run scored
Zach Williams: 1 run scored
Everett Grubbs: 3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 3 K on 56 pitches
MT Crenshaw: 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K on 40 pitches
Chase Hulsey: 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K on 17 pitches
The Dragons, will be back at Dunn Field on Thursday, February 19th as they take on the Pepperell Dragons in a battle of top ten teams. Pepperell, is ranked inside the top ten for 1A D-1. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.
Dragons open 2025 season with road win
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports August 16, 2025
Lindale, Ga — With pre-season scrimmages over with, it was go time for high school football teams around the state of Georgia this week. Two of those teams, were Pickens and Pepperell in a battle of Dragons. In a closely contested ball game throughout, it was the Pickens Dragons that came out on top, 28-20.
The Pepperell Dragons, would receive the opening kickoff. They would take the opening kickoff nearly 70 yards to the Pickens 30-yd line. Facing a fourth down, Pepperell, would draw Pickens offsides to move the fourth down attempt closer. A QB sneak would give Pepperell the first down. The drive would end with points for Pepperell as they connected on a 4-yd touchdown pass. With 6:37 left in the first quarter, Pepperell led Pickens, 7-0.
Pickens, on their first drive of the game, picked up a nice gain, but was called back due to a penalty. A nice run by Ezra Faber, would set Pickens up with a manageable third down. Pickens QB Hayden Jones, would roll to his left on the next play, and found an open Faber for a 51-yd completion. That play would help set up a 24-yd touchdown run by Ike Wyngaard. Heading to the second quarter, the ball game was tied at 7 a piece.
The second quarter saw both teams stall out offensively as the defenses for both teams and penalties, were main factors in drives ending with no points. The only points of the second quarter came when McCord Purdy booted a 43-yd field goal through the uprights with just over 12 seconds left in the first half to give the Pickens Dragons a 10-7 lead over the Pepperell Dragons heading into halftime.
Pickens, who received the second half kickoff, would turn that first possession into points as Jones would score on a 38-yd touchdown run. With McCord Purdy out due to a cramping issue, Toccoa McGraw would step in to kick the PAT to give Pickens a 17-7 lead. Later on in the quarter, McGraw, would come on to try a 25-yd field goal. She would knock it through to extend the lead out to 20-7 with 6:10 left in the third. Pepperell, would cut into the lead after returning a punt 50-yds for the touchdown. Heading to the fourth, Pickens, led Pepperell 20-14.
Almost midway through the fourth quarter, Jones, found Brock Teal and Teal would leap into the end zone for a 24-yd touchdown. Pickens, would then look to make it a two touchdown game as they would go for two. After a defensive pass interference was called on the first attempt, Pickens, would send in a heavy package as Freshman Cal Morrison, would take the snap and barrel into the end zone for the conversion. With 6:10 left in the game, Pickens led Pepperell, 28-14.
Pepperell, would not go away quietly as they would score points on their next possession after a 3-yd touchdown run by QB Moss Tant, would cut the lead down to a one score game. The ensuing PAT would be no good however meaning that Pickens, was up 28-20 with 2:17 left in the game. After Pickens recovered an onside kick attempt by Pepperell, Faber, would pretty much seal the win for Pickens after a long run.
Pickens, would then drain the remaining time off the clock as they would come away with a 28-20 road win to open the season.
The Pickens Dragons, will be back in action next Friday night as they will host the Sonoraville Phoenix for the home opener. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.