Dragons defeat Shiloh on Senior Night
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports April 18, 2024
Jasper, Ga — The rain held off long enough for there to be high school baseball on Wednesday, April 17th as the Pickens Dragons hosted the Shiloh Generals for Senior Night. Coming into the game, the Dragons were 24-4 overall, 17-1 in 7-AAA, and ranked #2 in AAA. The Generals, came into the game 5-19 overall, and 1-15 in 6-AAAAAA Sub-Region B. In something you don’t see everyday, the Dragons drew more walks (14) than they had hits (6) in their 11-1 win.
In the top of the first, Senior starter for the Dragons, James Tilley, needed just 8 pitches to get out of the inning as he picked up his 1st strikeout, and two ground outs. In the bottom of the frame, Senior Connor Shouse, Senior Trey Payne, and Cade Sutton, drew three straight walks to load the bases with no one out. Kam Jenkins, would drive in Shouse with an RBI ground out to make it 1-0 Dragons.
Senior Trace Ledbetter, would then reach on an error as both Trey Payne and Sutton would come in to score to make it 3-0. After Christian Starks and Senior Tyler Payne drew back to back walks to load the bases once again, Dawson Holland would bring in Ledbetter by drawing a walk on a full count to make it 4-0 Dragons, The Generals, would get out of the first by getting a double play. Going to the second, Pickens led Shiloh, 4-0.
In the top of the second, Tilley, tossed a scoreless inning as he forced a ground out, and picked up two more strike outs to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the second, Shouse, would reach by getting hit with a pitch. He would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. A single by Trey Payne, would put runners at the corners with nobody out. Sutton, would then draw his 2nd walk to load the bases.
Jenkins, would drive in Shouse with a sacrifice fly RBI to make it 5-o Dragons. Ledbetter, would then draw a walk to load the bases with 1-out. Trey Payne, would come in to score after a wild pitch to make it 6-0. Starks, would bring in Sutton with an RBI ground out to make it 7-0. The Generals, would get out of the second with a fly out. Going to the third, Pickens led Shiloh, 7-0.
In the top of the third, the Generals, would have their first base runner of the game as Nathan Miller would reach after an error. Miller, would then be thrown out trying to steal 2nd. Tilley and the Dragons, would get out of the third after a ground out. In the bottom of the third, Holland would lead off with a single. Shouse, would reach base for a 3rd time with a 1-out single to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Trey Payne, would reach on a fielder’s choice as Holland would advance to 3rd, while Shouse would be forced out at 2nd. The Generals, would force a pop up to center for the third out. Going to the fourth, Pickens still led Shiloh, 7-0.
Senior Tate Hales came on in relief of Tilley in the top of the fourth. Anthony Vu, would look to get things going for the Generals as he led off with their first hit of the game. His courtesy runner, Brayden Brown, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Brown, would then steal 3rd. Traden Davis, would then draw a walk to put runners at the corners with nobody out.
Davis, would be thrown out by Jenkins as he tried to steal 2nd. Kendrick Green, would then draw a walk on a full count to put runners at 1st and 3rd with 1-out. Green, would advance to 2nd after a wild pitch. Brown, would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 7-1. Green, would advance to 3rd on the same pitch. Hales and the Dragons, would get out of the 3rd after a pop up to 1st and a ground out to send it to the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Ledbetter, would reach for the 3rd time as he drew his 2nd walk of the game with 1-out. Tyler Payne, would keep the inning going with a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2-out. The Generals, were able to force a fly out to get out of the fourth without any damage done. Going to the fifth, Pickens led Shiloh, 7-1.
Senior Cason Cannon, came on in relief of Hales in the top of the fifth. Cannon, would get the Generals in order as he picked up a ground out and two strikeouts. Going to the bottom of the inning, it remained 7-1 Pickens. In the bottom of the fifth, A.J. Rice, would lead off by reaching on a single. He would advance to 2nd on an error. After a fly out, Trey Payne and Sutton would both be hit by pitches to load the bases with 1-out.
Ledbetter, would come through for the Dragons as he drove in Rice and Payne with a 2-RBI single to make it 9-1. Sutton would advance to 3rd on the hit. Ledbetter, would move up to 2nd on a passed ball to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. The Generals, would force a pop out to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading Shiloh, 9-1.
Senior Brodie Keener came on in relief of Cannon in the top of the sixth. Keener, would work a scoreless frame with a strikeout, a pop out, and a ground out to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Payne would lead off by drawing a walk on a full count. Daven Abernathy, would come in to pitch run for Tyler as he came out of the ball game to a nice ovation from the crowd.
Kyle Grno, who came on as a defensive substitution for Holland in the top of the inning, stayed in the game to hit and drew a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out. Jennings Allen, who came on to pitch hit for Rice, also drew a walk to load the bases. Coleman Keener, who came on as a defensive substitution for Shouse in the top of the inning, would bring in Abernathy after drawing a bases loaded walk to make it 10-1 Dragons.
Sam Dart, who came on as a defensive substitution for Trey Payne in the top of the sixth, would draw a walk on a full count to bring in Grno as the Dragons would get the win on Senior Night, 11-1.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, 1 steal, and 2 runs scored
Trey Payne: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, and 3 runs scored
Cade Sutton: 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch, and 2 runs scored
Kam Jenkins: 2 RBI
Trace Ledbetter: 1-2 with 1 single, 2 walks, 1 run scored, and 4 RBI
Christian Starks: 1 walk, and 1 RBI
Tyler Payne: 1-2 with 1 double, and 2 walks
Dawson Holland: 1-2 with 1 single, 1 walk, and 1 RBI
A.J. Rice: 1-3 with 1 single, and 1 run scored
Coleman Keener: 1 walk and 1 RBI
Sam Dart: 1 walk and 1 RBI
Kyle Grno: 1 walk and 1 run scored
Daven Abernathy: 1 run scored
Jennings Allen: 1 walk
James Tilley: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K on 36 pitches
Tate Hales: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB on 24 pitches
Cason Cannon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K on 16 pitches
Brodie Keener: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 15 pitches
While it was Senior Night on Wednesday, April 17th, the Dragons will be right back on the turf of Dunn Field on Thursday, April 18th as they take on the Dominion Christian Knights in the final game before the 3A State Tournament. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.
Dragons drop non-region game to 7A #10 Carrollton
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports April 16, 2024
Carrollton, GA — On Monday, April 15th, the Pickens Dragons headed down to Carrollton to take on the Trojans in a very intriguing late regular season ball game. Coming into the game, the Dragons, were ranked #1 or #2 in AAA, (depending on the site), 23-4 overall, 17-1 in 7-AAA, and riding a 15-game win streak. The Trojans, came into the game ranked 10th in 7A, 17-8 overall, and 6-3 in 7-AAAAAAA. The game lived up to the billing as it would be the home team getting the win in the final inning, 5-4.
In the top of the first, Connor Shouse got things going for the Dragons as he led off by being hit with a pitch. Trey Payne, would then reach on a fielder’s choice as he was able to beat out a double play. Payne, would move over to 2nd after Cade Sutton grounded out to short. The Trojans, would get out of the top of the first two send it to the bottom of the frame.
In the bottom of the first, Shouse, started off the inning by recording a strikeout for the first out. Landon Eubanks, would reach with a 1-out single. Eubanks, would advance to 3rd on a single by Bryce Kingeter. Kingeter, would be thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch that single into a double. Kaleb Binion, would bring in Eubanks with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Trojans.
Jordan White, would keep the inning going for the Trojans as he reached with a 2-out single. Binion would advance to 3rd on the hit. Shouse, would be able to limit the damage to just the one run as he struck out his 2nd batter of the inning to send it to the second with Carrollton leading Pickens, 1-0.
In the top of the second, Trace Ledbetter would reach with 1-out after being hit with a pitch. Ledbetter would then advance to 2nd as Dawson Holland grounded out to short. The Trojans, again would get out of a potential jam to send it to the bottom of the second. In the bottom half of the second, Shouse, had a nice bounce back as he forced two ground outs and a line out on 10 pitches to send it to the third with Carrollton still leading Pickens, 1-0.
In the top of the third, Shouse, would look to start a rally as he would draw a 2-out walk to reach base. Trey Payne, would follow that up by drawing a walk himself to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Trojans, would pick up a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third, Shouse, picked up his 3rd K and a ground out for the first two outs of the frame.
Kingeter, would then reach base on a 2-out single. Kingeter, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. Shouse, would get out of the third with his 4th strikeout to send it to the fourth with Carrollton leading Pickens, 1-0.
In the top of the fourth, Ledbetter, would reach on an error with 1-out. Holland, would then break up the no hitter as he reached with a single to put runners at 1st and 2nd. The Trojans, would pick up a strikeout and a ground out to keep the Dragons scoreless. Going to the bottom of the fourth, Carrollton still led it, 1-0. In the bottom of the fourth, White, would lead off with a single.
White, would then steal 2nd to advance into scoring position. After Shouse picked up his 5th strikeout, the Dragons defense would come up with a big play as Holland would catch a fly ball in right field, then fire back to 2nd to double up White to send it to the fifth with Carrollton leading, 1-0.
In the top of the fifth, Shouse, would reach base for a third time as he would be hit with a pitch for the 2nd time. Sutton, would draw a walk with 2-outs to reach 1st. The Dragons, would tie the ball game up after Shouse and Sutton executed a double steal as Sutton took 2nd, and Shouse swiped home. Kam Jenkins, would keep the inning going as he reached on an error to put runners at 1st and 3rd with 2-outs.
The Trojans, would get out of the top of the fifth with just the one run given up. Going to the bottom of the inning, Pickens and Carrollton were tied at 1. In the bottom of the fifth, Gunner Fokken, would lead off with a single. Courtesy runner Caleb Hudson, would advance to 2nd after an error. Hudson, would then advance to 3rd on a passed ball. Dylan Bishop, would draw a walk to put runners at 1st and 3rd with nobody out.
Bishop, would then steal 2nd to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Maddox Monsour, would drive in Hudson and Bishop with a 2-run double to make it 3-1 Trojans. Eubanks, would advance Monsour to 3rd after a ground out. Monsour, would then come in to score on a passed ball to make it 4-1. Brodie Keener, who came on in relief of Shouse, would pick up a line out and a strikeout to send it to the sixth with Carrollton leading Pickens, 4-1.
In the top of the sixth, Holland, led off by drawing a walk. That walk would be erased as the Trojans would turn a double play. Christian Starks, would keep the inning alive for the Dragons as he reached on an error. The Trojans, would pick up a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, JP Nunn, would come on in relief of Keener.
Nunn, would get the Trojans in order on a pop out, and two fly outs. Going to the seventh, Carrollton led Pickens, 4-1.
Shouse, would lead off the top of the seventh by drawing a walk on a full count. Trey Payne, would follow up with a single. Shouse, would advance to 3rd on the hit. Sutton, would then draw a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Shouse, would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. Payne, would advance to 3rd and Sutton would advance to 2nd on the play.
After the Trojans got a fly out for the first out, Payne, would come in to score on another wild pitch to make it 4-3. Sutton, advanced to 3rd on the play. Ledbetter, would drive in Sutton with an RBI single to tie the game at 4. Ledbetter, would be tagged out at 3rd trying to stretch it to a triple. The Trojans, would get a ground out to send it to the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at 4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Fokken, would reach on an infield single and then advance to 2nd on an error. Courtesy runner Logan Turner, would advance to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt by Bishop. The Dragons, would then intentionally walk the next two batters to load to bases for a possible force out at any base. After a strikeout for the 2nd out, Binion, would draw a full count walk to bring in Turner as the Trojans picked up the win, 5-4.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 2 hit by pitch, 2 walks, 1 steal, and 2 runs scored
Trey Payne: 1-3 with a single, a walk, and 1 run scored
Cade Sutton: 2 walks, 1 steal, and 1 run scored
Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with a double, 1 hit by pitch, and 1 RBI
Dawson Holland: 1-2 with a single and a walk
The Dragons, will be back home on the turf of Dunn Field on Wednesday, April 17th as they host the Shiloh Generals in another non-region ball game. First pitch time is set for 5:30 pm.
Dragons defeat Shiloh in non-region action
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports April 19, 2023
Snellvelle, Ga — What a warm day for baseball it was on Wednesday, April 19th as the Pickens Dragons made the trip down to Snellville to take on the Shiloh Generals in non-region action. The Generals, are out of region 8 in the 6A classification. The bats for the Dragons, were just as hot as the weather as they scored 10 runs in the 4th in route to a 13-2 win in 5 innings.
In the top of the first, Trace Ledbetter reached by drawing a 1-out walk. He would be left stranded as Generals starter Rodney Mudd, got a fly out and a ground out to go along with a strikeout to send it to the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the frame, Dragons starter Trey Payne, worked around DuShawn Andrews reaching on a dropped 3rd strike, and Nicholas Johnson getting hit by a pitch with 1-out, as he picked up his 1st strikeout and a ground out.
Going to the top of the second, the Dragons and Generals were tied up at 0.
In the top of the second, Dawson Holland led off with a single. He then advanced to 2nd on an error. Freshman Kam Jenkins, drove him in with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Dragons. After a 2-out single by Senior Young Harris commit Evan Giddens reached with a single, Colby Brooks would bring Jenkins in on the fielder’s choice to make it 2-0 Dragons going to the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the second, Anthony Vu led off with a single. Vu, would advance to 2nd after a sacrifice bunt from Malcolm Robinson. David Johnson, drove in Vu with an RBI double to cut the Dragons lead down to 2-1. Jaden Mercedes, would move Johnson over to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt. Johnson, would come in to score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2 going to the top of the third.
In the top of the third, the Dragons tried to get a little 2-out rally going as Holland would draw a full count walk, and Jenkins would get hit with a pitch on a 3-0 count. Mudd, got a pop up to 2nd for the third out to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the third, Trey Payne, worked around a lead off single by Andrews as he picked up 2 strikeouts and a ground out to send it to the fourth inning still tied at 2.
In the top of the fourth, the Dragons, broke the game open as they plated 10 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, a balk, and a passed ball to lead it 12-2 going to the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Prep Baseball Georgia Player of the Week James Tilley, came on in relief of Trey Payne and picked up a 1-2-3 inning with a ground out, a strikeout, and a pop up to send it to the fifth with the Dragons leading, 12-2.
In the top of the fifth, Holland and Tilley both reached on 1-out walks. Giddens, drove in Holland with an RBI single to make it 13-2 Dragons going to the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Junior Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, came on in relief of Tilley. Shouse, worked around a 1-out hit batter as he struck out 2 and induced a ground out as the Dragons defeat the Generals, 13-2 in 5 innings.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 2-4 with a single, a double, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored & 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K on 13 pitches
Trace Ledbetter: 1-3 with a single, a walk, and 1 run scored
Trey Payne: 1-4 with 1 single, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored & 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K on 40 pitches
Harlan Will: 1 walk and 1 run scored
Dawson Holland: 2-2 with 2 singles, 2 walks, 1 RBI, and 3 runs scored
Kam Jenkins: 1-1 with 1 single, 1 HBP, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
Tyler Payne: 1 walk and 1 run scored
Christian Starks: 1 walk and 1 run scored
James Tilley: 1 walk & 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 7 pitches
Evan Giddens: 3-3 with 3 singles, 1 HBP, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Colby Brooks: 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
The Dragons, will be back home on Friday, April 21st as they will host the Tallulah Falls Indians at Dunn Field for Senior Night. It will be the final game of the 2023 regular season. The first pitch is set for 5:30 pm.
Dragons pick up series win against Indians
PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports April 15, 2023
Dahlonega, Ga — The weather was touch and go, but the Pickens Dragons and the Lumpkin County Indians got the series finale in on Friday, April 14th. After the Indians took game 1 on Tuesday, the Dragons came back on Thursday to even up the series and to capture the 7-AAA region championship. In a game dominated by pitching, the Dragons got another great start from Freshman A.J. Rice as they won game 3, 2-1.
In the top of the first, Trey Payne, reached on a full count walk with 2-outs. Indians starter Alejandro Narvaez, got a fly out and 2 ground outs to send it to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the inning, Narvaez led off with a double. After a strikeout by Dragons starter A.J. Rice, Narvaez advanced to 3rd on a fly out to left. Narvaez, would be left stranded at 3rd as Rice picked up his 2nd K to send it to the second with the game still scoreless.
In the top of the second, Dawson Holland led off with a single. Holland, would advance all the way to 3rd as Kam Jenkins laid down a bunt and Narvaez overthrew 1st and allowed Jenkins to advance to 2nd. James Tilley, kept the line moving as he drove in Holland with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Senior Young Harris commit Evan Giddens, brought in courtesy runner Tee Knight with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 Dragons.
Colby Brooks, reached on a fielder’s choice as Tilley would be out at 2nd for the second out. Junior Ga Tech commit Connor Shouse, kept the inning alive with a double. Narvaez, would get out of the inning with just the 2 runs as they’d go to the bottom of the 2nd with the Dragons leading, 2-0. In the bottom of the second, the Indians loaded the bases with no one out after a lead off reach on error, a walk, and a hit by pitch.
The first out of the inning came when Rice got Dakota Bennett to ground into a fielder’s choice and Hayden Gilbert was thrown out at home. Rice, with the bases still loaded, picked up his 3rd and 4th strikeout to end the bottom of the 2nd and keep the Indians scoreless. Going to the top of the third, the Dragons led, 2-0.
In the top of the third, Tyler Payne, reached on a 1-out single. Holland, reached with a walk on 4 straight pitches. Jenkins, loaded the bases with a 1-out single. Narvaez, got Tilley to fly out to shallow right field for the 2nd out. A ground out to short ended the top of the third and the Dragons threat. In the bottom of the third, Adian Rogers, reached on a 2-out bunt single. He would be thrown out by Jenkins trying to steal 2nd to end the third.
Going to the fourth, the Dragons still maintained a 2-0 lead over the Indians.
In the top of the fourth, the Dragons got a 2-out single by Trace Ledbetter, but he would be left stranded as Narvaez got a line out to center for the final out of the top half of the fourth. In the bottom half of the fourth, Gilbert led off with a double. The Indians, would cut the Dragons lead in half as Mason Hester drove in Gilbert with an RBI double to make it 2-1.
Much like he’s done all season, Rice kept his cool and got back to back strikeouts to strand Hester and keep the Dragons ahead going to the fifth, 2-1.
In the top of the fifth, Narvaez picked up his first strikeout of the game and his first 1-2-3 inning of the game to send it to the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Narvaez, led off with a single. The Dragons, then turned a double play as Cooper Scott lined it to Giddens at 3rd and Giddens would toss it over to Ledbetter at 1st to get Narvaez. Rice, then got a fly out to right for the 3rd out to send it to the sixth with Pickens leading Lumpkin, 2-1.
In the top of the sixth, Narvaez, going over 100 pitches on the night, picked up his second straight 1-2-3 inning with his 2nd strikeout, a ground out, and a line out. In the bottom of the sixth, Rice, struck out the side for the 2nd time in the game to give him 10 on the night. Going to the seventh, the Dragons led it, 2-1.
In the top of the seventh, Scott, came on in relief of Narvaez and picked up where he left off as Scott got a pop up, a fly out, and a ground out to send it to the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Junior Jacksonville State commit JP Nunn, came on in relief of Rice to try to pick up the save. Nunn, got a quick welcome to the game as Hester lined one right at him. Nunn, was able to catch the line drive for the first out.
Nunn, would go on to have a clean inning as he picked up a strikeout, and then a fly out to center as the birthday boy picked up the save and the Dragons got the win, 2-1.
Stats for the Dragons:
Connor Shouse: 1-4 with a double
Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with a single
Trey Payne: 1 walk
Tyler Payne: 1-2 with a single
Dawson Holland: 1-2 with a single, a walk, and 1 run scored
Kam Jenkins: 1-3 with a single
Tee Knight: 1 run scored
James Tilley: 1-3 with a single and 1 RBI
Evan Giddens: 1 sacrifice fly
A.J. Rice: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 10 K on 91 pitches
JP Nunn: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K on 8 pitches
The Dragons, finish up region play having won every series and with a record of 16-2. Overall their record is 24-4 on the season. Pickens, will finish up the regular season with a pair of non-region games. First up, a date with the Shiloh Generals on the road on Wednesday, April 19th. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.