Dragons Sweep Elbert County Winning Region 8AAA Title

The Jefferson Dragons faced off against the Elbert County Blue Devils in their final Region Series to close out the 2016 regular season.  Needing to take 2 of 3 from Elbert to win the Region, the Dragons wound up sweeping Elbert County securing the Region 8AAA Title, their 3rd region title in 4 years and 7th in the last 10 years, securing home field advantage to start the state playoffs.  The Dragons cruised to a 11-3 win in game 1 of the series at home and then battled closely in the Double-header at Elbert on Friday to win both games by scores of 2-1.

In game 1, the Dragons took advantage 5 walks and a hit batsman to score 4 runs in the 1st.  #8 Hunter Thompson (3-for-4 2B 3RBI Run) added some offensive power with a 2 RBI Double.  The other two runs came on bases loaded walks.  Jefferson tacked on another run in the 2nd with a RBI Double for #12 Zack Boobas (2-for-3 2B 2RBI Run).  Another crossed in the 4th of Single for another RBI hit for Thompson.  Up 6-3 going to the bottom of the 6th, the Dragons broke the game open with 5 runs scoring.  #22 Lane Wakins (1-for-4 2Runs), #10 Joshua Hutch (3-for-3 4Runs), and Thompson each reached on Singles to load the bases.  3 straight runs then scored on 2 hit batsmen and a walk.  #18 Will Breese (0-for-2 SacFly RBI) drove another run in with a Sacrifice Fly to left and then #20 Taylor Wilkes (2-for-4 RBI Run) drove a RBI Single.
On the mound for Jefferson, Wilkes got the start.  Taylor pitched 6 inning, recording 3 Ks and allowing 3 runs (0 earned) on 3 hits.  #7 Patrick Hickox came on in relief in the 7th, facing the minimum with 1 K.

Moving to Friday night for the double-header at Elbert, Jefferson found themselves in defensive battles in both games.  In the first game of the twin-bill, the Dragons only 2 runs came in the 3rd inning.  #13 Billy Finch (1-for-2 Run) and #20 Taylor Wilkes (1-for-4 Run) got things started with back-to-back Singles.  #22 Lane Watkins (1-for-4 RBI) then drove an RBI Single scoring Finch and #12 Zack Boobas (2-for-3 RBI) drove in Wilkes with an RBI Single.  That would be the only offense the Dragons could manage.
On the mound, #14 Asher Standridge got the start.  Standridge pitched 6 innings, recording 6 Ks and allowed just 1 run in the 1st and 4 hits.  #7 Patrick Hickox came on in relief in the 7th, facing the minimum once again, recording 1 K to get the save.

For the final game of the series and regular season, the Dragons could only manage 2 runs again, but that's all they would need.  Those 2 runs came in 4th inning.  #13 Billy Finch (0-for-1 Run) reached on a Fielders Choice and then scored on a RBI Double from #22 Lane Watkins (1-for-4 2B RBI Run). Watkins then scored on a RBI Single by #10 Joshua Hutch (2-for-3 RBI).
On the mound for Jefferson, Hutch got the start.  Joshua pitched 6 innings, recording 6 Ks, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run that crossed in the 4th.  #24 Brooks Beddow came on in relief in the 7th.  Beddow recorded 3 Ks to secure the save and the win for Jefferson.

With this series win, the Dragons finish the 2016 regular season with a record of 19-6 (14-4 Region 8AAA).  With the Region Title, they will hold home-field advantage to start the playoffs and will host Carroll County Central for best-for-3 series in round 1. The first 2 games  are Friday night April 29, with game 3 on Saturday, April 30 if necessary.

Come out and support the Dragons on their playoff run.