Dragons fall in close game with 6A Woodstock

PHS Baseball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Baseball Mountain Classic started up on Thursday, February 15th and it features teams from around the state and in different classifications. The first game of the night saw East Forsyth defeat Calhoun 8-2. The second game, was the hosting Pickens Dragons, and the Woodstock Wolverines. Pickens, came into the game 1-0, and ranked 4th in AAA. Woodstock, came in 0-1, and ranked 6th in AAAAAA. With a number of MLB scouts in attendance, the Wolverines were able to come away with a 4-2 win.

 

Georgia Tech signee Connor Shouse, got the start for the Dragons in this one. With teams like the Brewers, Red Sox, Tigers, and Yankees watching, Shouse struck out 2 and forced a ground out on 15 pitches in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, Shouse led off with a solo shot to left field to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. Trace Ledbetter followed that up with a single. Cade Sutton, would then hit a double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.

The Wolverines, were able to get out of that jam as they struck out the side to keep the score at 1-0 going to the second.

 

In the top of the second, Shouse, would get into a bit of trouble by hitting the lead off batter, then giving up a hit. A passed ball would move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. The Senior, would work his way out of the jam with back to back strikeouts, and James Tilley would be at the right place at the right time to catch a line drive for the third out.

Trey Payne, would lead off the bottom of the second by reaching on an error. A single by Tyler Payne, would put runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out. A,J, Rice, would then lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt as Payne and pitch runner Davin Abernathy advanced on the play. Again, the Wolverines would get out of the jam with back to back strikeouts to send it to the third with the Dragons still ahead, 1-0.

 

The Wolverines, would lead off the top of the third with a single. After Shouse struck out his 5th batter, the runner from 1st stole 2nd to advance into scoring position. Shouse, and catcher Kam Jenkins, combined for a strike them out throw them out to send it to the bottom of the third with Pickens still leading, 1-0. The Dragons, would go down in order in the bottom of the third as they headed to the fourth with the Dragons still clinging to a 1-0 lead.

 

Woodstock, would tie the game in the top of the fourth on 1 hit, 2 walks, and 2 passed balls. Tilley, who came on in relief of Shouse, was able to get out of the jam and keep the game tied going to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the fourth, the Dragons again would go down in order. Going to the fifth, the Dragons and Wolverines were tied at 1.

 

In the top of the fifth, Tilley, would be able to work around a 1-out walk as he struck out the side to send it to the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons went down 1-2-3 to send it to the top of the sixth with the game tied up at 1.

 

In the top of the sixth, the Wolverines, were able to plate 2 runs to take the lead for the first time on the night. Going to the bottom of the sixth, Woodstock now led it, 3-1. Dawson Holland, got on with a 1-out single to try and start a rally for the Dragons. Christian Starks, would then hit a sharp ground ball to the short stop, who threw the ball away trying to get the out at second. Both runners would advance on the throw.

Jenkins, would drive in Holland with a sacrifice fly RBI to cut the Wolverine lead down to 3-2. Woodstock, would be able to preserve the lead after forcing a fly out. Going to the seventh, the Wolverines led the Dragons, 3-2.

 

The Wolverines, were looking to add to their lead as they loaded up the bases with no one out. JP Nunn, who came on in relief of Tilley to begin the seventh, looked to get out of the jam as he got back to back strikeouts. With the potential third out down 0-2 in the count, the pitch would hit the batter, allowing a run to score. Nunn, would strike the next batter out to send it to the bottom of the inning with Woodstock now leading, 4-2.

Rice, would work a 4-pitch walk to get on base to try to start a final inning rally. The Wolverines, were able to get a pop out and a fly out to secure the 4-2 victory.

 

Stats for the Dragons:

Connor Shouse: 1-4 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored

Trace Ledbetter: 1-4 with a single

Cade Sutton: 1-3 with a double

Dawson Holland: 1-3 with a single and 1 run scored

Christian Starks: 1-3 with a single

Kam Jenkins: 1 RBI

Tyler Payne: 1-3 with a single

A.J. Rice: 1 sacrifice bunt and 1 walk

 

The Dragons, will be back at Dunn Field on Saturday, February 17th as they take on the Fort Payne Wildcats (AL). First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.

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