Jefferson Dragons Baseball: May 2015

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Jefferson Dragons Earn First Ever Trip to Baseball State Finals!

Already on a history making run making it to the Final Four in their first year as a AAA school and the first time since 2007, the Jefferson Dragons kept their historic season rolling this week. They traveled to Atlanta to take on the Westminster Wildcats and taking the Final Four series in 3 games to earn the teams first ever trip to the baseball state finals. The series was delayed by a day after sever storms rolled through on Monday, but the Dragons got rolling when the series resumed Tuesday. Jefferson took Game 1 by a score of 5-4. Game 2 went to Westminster by a 6-0 forcing a 3rd game. On Wednesday jumped on the board quickly and rolled to a 5-2 win to take the series.

Game 1 saw the Dragons jump on the board early. #20 Taylor Wilkes (2-for-4 RBI 2Runs) reached based on a error and later scored when #9 Jake Franklin (2-for-4 3RBI) drove and RBI Single to right. Franklin tacked on the second run with an RBI Single in the 3rd scoring #19 Christian Hutch (2-for-3 Run) who reached on Single. Wilkes then added a 3rd run in the 4th off an RBI Single scoring #12 Zack Boobas (0-for-2 Run Walk), who previously walked. Moving to the 6th, #10 Joshua Hutch (0-for-3 Run) reached on an error and later scored on a RBI Single by #8 Hunter Thompson (1-for-4 RBI). The 5th run went Franklin drove his 3rd RBI on a Fielders Choice scoring Wilkes. #22 Micah Carpenter took mound for Game 1. Carpenter recorded 6 innings of work where he recorded 7 Ks and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits. #14 Asher Standridge came on in relief to close the game in the 7th. After Westminster tried to rally, Standridge was able to put the game a close recording 1 K and allowing 1 run on 1 hit.

Game 2 went all to Westminster as they rolled to a 6-0 win. The Dragons only managed 3 hits off Westminster's Hunter Davis who recorded a complete game 7 innings. Westminster turned 4 Double Plays to keep the Dragons quiet through the game. #7 Ethan Garner took the mound to start. Garner recorded 5 innings of work, allowing 5 runs (only 2 earned) and 5 hits. Christian Hutch came on in relief recording 2 innings of work to close out the game, recording 1 K and allowing 1 run on 2 Hits.

Returning on Wednesday for Game 3, the Dragons won the coin toss to be Home Team. Jefferson took advantage, throwing 3 runs on the board in the 1st inning. Hunter Thompson (1-for-2 2Runs) Walked and then scored on a RBI Single by Micah Carpenter (2-for-2 2RBI Run). Jake Franklin (1-for-3 RBI Run) then scored when Ethan Garner reach on an error, then Carpenter followed for the 3rd run. Jefferson added their next 2 runs in the 5th. The first run came when Taylor Wilkes (0-for-3 Run) reached on a Drop 3rd Strike and scored on an RBI Single by Jake Franklin. Hunter Thompson, who reached on Single later scored on a Sacrifice Fly RBI by Micah Carpenter. This gave Jefferson all the runs they needed. Jake Franklin took the mound for Game 3. Franklin recorded a complete game, 7 innings where he recorded 3 Ks and allowed just 2 runs on 4 hits securing the win and the series for Jefferson.

The Dragons will now travel to Roswell this weekend where they will face the Titans of Blessed Trinity to compete for the AAA State Title. The series will take place Saturday 5/23 at Blessed Trinity with Game 1 set to start a 4:30 PM followed by Game 2. Game 3 will be Monday, 5/25, if necessary.

This team has earned their way this season. Let's get out there Dragon Nation and support this team as they push forward in this historic season. GO DRAGONS!

Jefferson Dragons Earn First Ever Trip to Baseball State Finals! - Pictures 1 of 3

Final Four Series Pictures...

Humble and United

Hunter Thompson with the drive

Micah Carpenter takes the hill

Killing time during lightning delay

Joshua Hutch firing the ball in

Chaz Evans looking to fire home

Josh Cole and Hunter McCaslin in Right during pre-game

Jake Franklin firing the ball across the diamond

Taylor Wilkes putting the ball in play

Taylor getting the dugout fired-up after reaching 2nd

Christian Hutch with the drive

Jake Franklin looking oppo

Micah Carpenter putting the ball in play

Joshua Hutch drives to the ball to left

Jefferson Dragons Earn First Ever Trip to Baseball State Finals! - Pictures 2 of 3

Final Four Series Pictures Continued...

Will Breese fielding at 2nd

Josh Cole throws the ball in from right

Zack Boobas putting in work behind the dish

Dugout getting the team fired-up

Asher Standridge closing out Game 1

Ethan Garner getting to work on the hill

Jared Bates getting set

Will Breese fist pumps Coach Fowler at 1st

Kasan Rainey firing across the diamond

Christian Hutch on in relief

Devin Humphries steps frames a pitch

Jefferson Dragons Earn First Ever Trip to Baseball State Finals! - Pictures 3 of 3

Final Four Series...Game 3 Pics

Hunter McCaslin taking pre-game in Right

Hunter Thompson camps under a fly-ball in Center

Catcher's Devin Humphries, Brandon Clinton, and Asher Standridge role through pre-game routine

Taylor Wilkes taking pre-game in the outfield

Justin Cole fires a ball in during pre-game

Clayton Jones and Tanner Thurmond role through pre-game with the outfield

Outfielders coming in.

Taylor and Coach V staying loose for the game

Jake Franklin going to work toward a complete game win

Clayton Jones keeping an eye on the Wildcats

Ethan Garner drives a hit

Zack Boobas takes a hack

Will Breese contributing to the win

Jake Franklin locked in

Ethan Garner steps on 1st for the final out.

Dragons rush the field after securing the win

Boys celebrating a huge accomplishment

Coach Knight celebrating with his GrandBaby and Mrs. Knight

"DON'T EAT THE FRUIT!!!!!" ~ Devin Humphries

A well deserving group of young men

Championship Bound - Jefferson Dragons!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Dragons Sweep Callaway in Elite 8...Headed to AAA Final Four!

The Jefferson Dragons hit the road again this week as they traveled down to Lagrange for the 3rd round of the AAA GHSA playoffs, the Elite 8 against the Callaway Cavaliers, the No. 1 seed out of Region 5 AAA. Coming off the excitement of last weeks big series win over Pierce County, the Dragons looked to carry that momentum in to the Elite 8. In an evening that turned into pitching and defensive duels, the Dragons came through to sweep the series taking Game 1 by a score of 5-3 in an 11 inning marathon and then taking Game 2 by a score of 3-0 earning the Dragons a trip to the Final Four in the state playoffs for the first time since 2007 and the first time at the AAA classification.

Game 1 started off as a battle from the start. The Dragons only managed 3 hits through the first 5 innings. Unable to produce much, Callaway carried a 1-0 lead off an unearned run in the 3rd into the 6th inning. Jefferson bats came alive in the 6th. #19 Christian Hutch (3-for-6 Run 2B) roped a double to left. #9 Jake Franklin (2-for-5 RBI 2Runs) immediately followed with an RBI Double scoring Hutch to tie the game a 1. After a Single by #22 Micah Carpenter (2-for-5 Run) pushed Franklin to 3rd, #7 Ethan Garner (1-for-3 SacF RBI) drove a Sacrifice Fly to center scoring Franklin giving the Dragons a 2-1 lead. The Cavaliers tied the game back up the bottom of the 6th off an RBI Single at 2-2. The game then carried into extra innings tied a 2. After turning a double play on a line out to Garner at 1st, the Dragons survived a bases loaded 1 out threat in the 10th to keep the Dragons alive. The Dragons came alive in the 11th. Franklin led off with a Single followed by Carpenter reaching on an error. Franklin later scored on a pass ball and Carpenter scored following an RBI Single by #12 Zack Boobas (1-for-5 RBI Run). Boobas moved around the bags on 3 wild pitches eventually scoring Jefferson's 5th run. Callaway pushed 1 run across in the 11th but could do more as the Dragons held on to take the win.
Micah Carpenter got the start for Jefferson on the hill. Carpenter pitched inning recording 7 Ks and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits. #14 Asher Standridge came on in relief and carried the Dragons through extras. Standridge pitched 5 innings, also striking out 7 and allowing just 1 run in the 11th and 0 hits. Standridge shut down the Cavaliers to help secure the game 1 win.

Jefferson was home team for Game 2 and this game proved to be another pitching battle after the 1st. In the 1st, the Dragons jumped on the board right away with 3 crossing the plate. #20 Taylor Wilkes (0-for-2 Run) was hit by a pitch to lead off followed by #8 Hunter Thompson (0-for-3 Run) reaching on a Drop 3rd Strike. Christian Hutch (1-for-3 RBI Run) then followed with an RBI Double scoring Wilkes. Thompson and Hutch both scored later on pass balls giving the Dragons an early 3-0 lead. That was all that was needed as the Dragons bats were quiet the remainder of the game. Callaway was unable to get any thing going and failed score any runs in Game 2. Ethan Garner came on to pitch for the Dragons. Garner dominated the Cavaliers going 7 innings, recording 10 Ks and allowing just 3 hits helping to give Jefferson the win and sweep the series.

The Dragons have a combined season record of 26-5 for 2015. They will now travel into Atlanta to face Westminster on Monday in the AAA Semi-Finals (Final Four). The winner of this series will face-off against the winner of the Blessed Trinity vs Westside-Augusta series in the State Championship series.

Let's cheer on the Dragons and they make their run for the AAA State Title. Game updates will be posted on Twitter and Facebook through the series as before using #JeffersonDragons.
GO DRAGONS!