Dragons lose heart breaker to 7A Hillgrove

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — It was a rain filled afternoon on Thursday, February 23rd as the Pickens Dragons took on the Hillgrove Hawks out of the 7A classification as part of the Pickens Mountain Classic. After having to deal with two rain delays, the game was able to be played all the way through. Fans were treated to a good one as it came down to the very last out. The Hawks, were able to hold off a late rally by the Dragons and pick up a 6-5 win.

 

In the top of the first, the Hawks got on base with a lead off double. The runner, would then steal 3rd, and score on a wild pitch to put Hillgrove up 1-0. Dragons starter Connor Shouse, was then able to work around a pair of walks as he struck out the side to keep the Hawks from adding on. In the bottom of the first, Shouse led off by drawing a walk. He then took 2nd as the Dragons now had a runner in scoring position. Then, the rain came.

After about a 40 minute rain delay, the game was back underway. Dawson Holland, who was up when the delay started, drew a 1-out walk. Tyler Payne, flew out to right for the second out. The bottom of the first ended with the Hawks tagging Shouse at the plate to keep it 1-0 Hillgrove going to the top of the second.

 

In the top of the second, the Dragons made a pitching change after Shouse and the rest of the team had to sit for 40 minutes. Enter James Tilley, who competed with the Dragons basketball team in the first round of the 3A State Tournament at Monroe Area on Wednesday. In his first inning of work, Tilley collected 2 strikeouts, and Tyler Payne threw a runner out attempting to steal 2nd to send it to the bottom half of the second inning.

In the bottom of the second, Harlan Will led off by being hit with a pitch. Trey Payne then followed that up with the Dragons first hit of the game. After Cade Sutton bunted the runners over, Evan Giddens drew a walk to load the bases. The Hawks, were able to escape the danger and get two straight fly outs to keep it 1-0 going to the top of the third.

 

In the top of the third, Tilley, continued the good work in his first appearance of the season as he struck out the side in between giving up a single and a walk.. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom half of the third. Going to the top of the fourth, Hillgrove still led Pickens, 1-0.

 

In the top of the fourth, Tilley gave up a 2-out double, but that would be it for the Hawks. Tilley picked up his 6th and 7th strikeout in his 3rd inning of work to keep the Hawks lead at 1-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Cade Sutton would be hit by a pitch with 2 outs, but he would be left stranded at 1st. Going to the fifth, the Hawks still maintained that slim 1-0 lead over the Dragons.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Hawks extended their lead as they were able to plate a run to make it  2-0. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Dragons were finally able to break through. After a 1-out double by Shouse and a 2-out walk by Holland, Tyler Payne brought in Shouse with an RBI single to make it 2-1. Sam Hammontree, who came on to hit for Will, reached on an error. That error, allowed Holland to come in and score to tie things up at 2 going to the sixth.

 

In the top of the sixth, the Hawks were able to take the lead right back as they scored 4 runs to take a 6-2 lead over the Dragons. In the bottom of the sixth, the Dragons would cut that lead down to 6-3 as Sutton came in to score after Trace Ledbetter reached on an error. Going to the seventh, Hillgrove led Pickens, 6-3.

 

In the top of the seventh, the Dragons, now on their 6th pitcher of the game, turned to Freshman Christian Starks to keep the deficit at 3. That is exactly what Starks did as he kept them scoreless on just 12 pitches. In the bottom of the seventh, Harlan Will, who checked back into the game, drew a 1-out walk. Sutton, then kept the game alive with a 2-out double. Giddens, was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kam Jenkins, who came on to pitch hit for Colby Brooks, also got hit with a pitch to bring in pitch runner Tee Knight to make it 6-4.

Shouse, on an 0-2 count, would then also be hit by a pitch to bring in Sutton to make it 6-5. The Hawks, were able to get the final out and escape the bases loaded jam with the 6-5 win.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 1-3 with a walk, a double, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 2 walks, & 1 run scored

Tyler Payne: 1-4 with a single, & 1 RBI

Harlan Will: 1 hit by pitch, & 1 walk

Trey Payne: 1-4 with a single

Cade Sutton: 1-1 with a sacrifice bunt, 1 hit by pitch, 1 walk, 1 double, & 2 runs scored

Evan Giddens: 2 walks, & 1 hit by pitch

Kam Jenkins: 1 hit by pitch, & 1 RBI

Tee Knight: 1 run scored

 

 

Dragons suffer first loss of the season to 6A Sequoyah

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — It was makeup Monday as the Pickens Dragons welcomed the Sequoyah Chiefs to Dunn Field as part of the Pickens Mountain Classic Tournament on Monday, February 20th. This game, was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 16th, but was pushed back due to a weather threat. The Chiefs, used a 5 run top of the 5th to break the game open and come away with a 9-3 win.

 

In the top of the first, the Chiefs got on the board early as they scored 3 runs on 3 hits to take a 3-0 lead going to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the first, Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, got down 0-2 quickly, but fought off a pitch to send it to right field for a lead off single. Sequoyah, was able to get a double play and a grounder to the 2nd baseman to end any potential scoring chances for the Dragons. Going to the second, it was 3-0 Chiefs.

 

In the top of the second, Dragons starter and Jacksonville State commit JP Nunn, settled down after a tough first inning and forced two ground outs and collected his lone strikeout of the game during a 9 pitch top half of the frame. In the bottom of the second, Pickens drew three straight 1-out walks to load the bases. The Chiefs, got out of the jam with back to back strikeouts and to keep the lead at 3-0 going to the third.

 

In the top of the third, the Chiefs extended their lead with a solo home run to left field to make it 4-0. The Dragons defense, then got a ground out to 3rd, catcher Tyler Payne threw out a runner trying to steal 2nd, and Nunn was able to glove a ground ball and flip it to 1st to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third, the Dragons offense broke threw. They did that, by using patience.

Shouse, Trace Ledbetter, and Trey Payne all walked to load the bases with nobody out. Shouse, came home to score on an error to make it 4-1. Harlan Will, brought in Ledbetter on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. Dawson Holland, picked up the Dragons 2nd hit of the game with an RBI single to bring in Trey Payne and make it 4-3 Chiefs going to the fourth.

 

Nunn, carried that momentum built by the offense in the bottom of the third to the top of the fourth as he sat down the Chiefs on 7 pitches with 2 ground outs and a fly out. In the bottom of the fourth, the Dragons couldn’t get anything going as Sequoyah struck out the side to send it to the top of the fifth with the Chiefs still ahead, 4-3.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Chiefs added 5 runs as a 3-run double was the big blow in the top half of the frame. Going to the bottom half of the fifth, Sequoyah now led it, 9-3. In the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons got a lead off hit from Ledbetter. Trey Payne, then reached on a fielder’s choice as Ledbetter would be out at 2nd. Tyler Payne, was then hit by a pitch to put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1-out. The Chiefs, were able to get out of trouble again as they forced back to back pop ups to send it to the top of the sixth with Sequoyah up, 9-3.

 

In the top of the sixth, Freshman AJ Rice, did a really great job of bouncing back after a tough fifth inning as he needed 10 pitches to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Dragons again got the lead off man on as Cade Sutton was hit by a pitch. Evan Giddens then followed it up with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. As they had done all game, the Chiefs got out of trouble with back to back strikeouts and a fly out to keep it 9-3 going to the seventh.

 

In the top of the seventh, Tate Hales came on in relief of Rice and he picked up where Rice left off in the top of the sixth as Hales needed 9 pitches to send it to the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Trey Payne led off with a walk. He then moved over to 2nd after Tyler Payne grounded to 1st. Payne would be left stranded at 2nd as the Chiefs got a strikeout and a fly out to end the game and take this one, 9-3.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 1 run scored

Trey Payne: 2 walks & 1 run scored

Tyler Payne: 1 sacrifice bunt, & 1 hit by pitch

Harlan Will: 1 walk, 1 sacrifice fly, & 1 RBI

Dawson Holland: 1-3 with a single, a walk, & 1 RBI

Cade Sutton: 1 walk & 1 hit by pitch

Evan Giddens: 1-3 with a single

 

The Dragons, will be back on the field on Tuesday, February 21st as they host the Union County Panthers for the conclusion of their home and home series. Pickens, won 8-2 at Union on February 14th, and will look to take the series outright with a win on their turf. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.

Dragons baseball moves to 3-0 on the season

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper. Ga — The Pickens Dragons baseball team began the 2023 season on Friday, February 10th with a 10-1 win on the road at LaFayette. The Dragons then went to Blairsville on Tuesday, February 14th and beat Union County 8-2. Their home opener scheduled for Thirsday, February 16th against Sequoyah was then rained out. This brings us to Saturday, February 18th as the Dragons welcomed the Athens Christian Eagles for the 3rd day of the Pickens Mountain Classic. Pickens, picked up the win in 5 innings, 13-3.

 

In the top of the first, the Eagles plated the first run of the game on a pair of hits and two walks to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, Georgia Tech commit Connor Shouse got things going with a double down the left field line. After Trace Ledbetter reached on an error, Trey Payne knocked in Shouse with an RBI single to tie it at 1. Harlan Will, drove in Ledbetter to give the Dragons a 2-1 lead going to the second.

 

In the top of the second, Shouse, picked up his 3rd and 4th strikeout of the game as he left a runner stranded on base to send it to the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the frame, the Dragons got back to back hits from Dawson Holland and Evan Giddens to start the inning. Colby Brooks, was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Shouse, brought in Holland after catcher’s interference was called to make it 3-1.

Ledbetter, drove in Giddens and Brooks on a 2 RBI single to stretch the lead to 5-1. Will, knocked in Shouse with a single to make it 6-1 Pickens going to the top of the third.

 

Tate Hales, came on in relief of Shouse in the top of the third, and pitched really well in his one inning of work. Hales, needed 10 pitches to sit down the Eagles in order and send us to the bottom of the inning. After a quick two outs to start the bottom of the third, Shouse, now at shortstop, hit his second double of the game to get into scoring position. Lebetter, knocked him in with a single for his 3rd RBI of the game to make it 7-1 Dragons going to the fourth.

 

Tee Knight, came on to relive Hales in the top of the fourth and much like Hales, pitched very well in his one inning of work. Knight, kept the Athens Christian bats quiet to send it to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the fourth, the Dragons plated 3 runs on 3 hits to extend their lead over the Eagles to 10-1 going to the fifth.

 

In the top of the fifth, Athens Christian looked to get back into the game as they had scored two runs on a hit, a couple walks, and a pair of hit batters. Freshman AJ Rice, came in and shut down the threat with three straight outs to limit the damage to just 2 runs. In the bottom of the fifth, another freshman, Kam Jenkins, led off with a double. His courtesy runner, Brodie Keener, came in to score on an RBI single by Rice to make it 11-3.

Rice, was brought in by an RBI single from Giddens to make it 12-3. After a double by Brooks, Shouse, who re-entered the game after being pitched hit for, drove in Giddens with an RBI single to enforce the run rule and give the Dragons a 13-3 win.

 

Stats for Pickens:

Connor Shouse: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 42 pitches (W) 3-3 with 2 doubles, 1 single, 2 RBI, & 3 runs scored

Trace Ledbetter: 2-3 with 2 singles, 3 RBI, & 1 run scored

Trey Payne: 1-1 with 1 single, 2 hit by pitch, & 1 RBI

Harlan Will: 2-3 with 2 singles & 1 RBI

AJ Rice: 1-4 with 1 single, 1 RBI, & 1 run scored

Dawson Holland: 2-4 with 2 singles & 2 runs scored

Evan Giddens: 3-4 with 3 singles, 2 RBI, & 3 runs scored

Colby Brooks: 1-3 with a double, 1 hit by pitch, & 1 run scored

Kam Jenkins: 1-1 with a double

Ezra Faber: 1 run scored

Brodie Keener: 1 run scored

 

The Dragons, will have a busy week next week as they will play four games. The first game, will take place on Monday, February 20th as Pickens will welcome the Sequoyah Chiefs to Dunn Field. As mentioned earlier, this game, was supposed to take place on Thursday, the 16th, but was pushed back due to weather. First pitch is set for 6 pm.

 

 

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