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!