The Jefferson Dragons hosted the first round of the GHSA AAA Playoffs last week as the Lions of Central Carroll came to town. The series started off with the Dragons in the hole as they dropped game 1 in the tight, extra inning game, 3-1, and then bounced back to force a game 3 with a 9-3 win in game 2. Returning on Saturday, the Dragons put up big runs to take a decisive 18-8 win to take the series and advance to the next round of the playoffs.
For Game 1, pitching dominated. The Dragons were held to just 2 hits, that did not come until the 7th, with 1 run crossing. #15 Zac Corbin (1-for-3 Run), broke up the no-hitter with a lead-off Single in the 7th. He later scored to tie the game and force extra innings when #12 Zack Boobas (1-for-3 RBI) drove a RBI Single. This was all the Dragons could muster offensively as The Lion's Nic Dye pitched a dominating game, with 8 complete-game innings and fanning 14 Dragons.
On the mound for Jefferson, #20 Taylor Wilkes got the start for Jefferson. Wilkes allowed just 1 hit in 4 1/3 innings with 3 Ks before pain to his side forced him to come off the mound early. #7 Patrick Hickox came in to close out the game for Jefferson. Hickox pitched 3 2/3 innings with 3 Ks and allowing 3 runs on 5 hits..
Moving to Game 2 on Friday night, the game started off as another showdown with the game tied at 3 through the 3rd inning. Jefferson kept the Lions off the board the rest of the game while they scored 6 more runs to take the win. The Dragons first 2 runs came in the 2nd when #4 Justin Cole (3-for-4 3RBI 2 2B) drove a 2 RBI Single. #12 Zack Boobas (1-for-2 2B RBI) drove another run in the 3rd with a RBI Double. The game opened up in the 5th with 3 runs scoring following a series of walks. Another crossed in the 6th with a RBI Single for #15 Zac Corbin (1-for-2 RBI). Two more runs came in the 7th including a RBI Double for #5 Chaz Evans (2-for-4 RBI) and a RBI Double for Justin Cole.
On the mound for Jefferson, #14 Asher Standridge got the start. Standridge pitched 6 1/3 innings with, recording 8 Ks and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. #24 Brooks Beddow came on in relief. Beddow pitched 2/3 of an inning, facing 2 batters and forcing a flyout and groundout to close the inning and secure the win for Jefferson.
Moving on the decisive Game 3 on Saturday, Jefferson opened things up with a big 18-8 win. While full game stats are not available currently, The Dragons were boosted with a lot offensive production beginning in the 3rd. This included RBIs for #4 Justin Cole with 2 RBI Singles, #8 Hunter Thompson with a RBI Double, #5 Chaz Evans with a RBI infield hit. The Dragons had another big production inning in the 6th including #18 Will Breese with a 2RBI Double, #10 Joshua Hutch with a 2 RBI Double, and #2 Jacob Richards with a RBI Single.
The Dragons sent 4 pitchers to the mound for game 3 to help secure the series when. #10 Joshua Hutch got the start who pitched 5 innings, allowing just 2 runs. #24 Brooks Beddoe came on in relief in the 6th, followed by #12 Zack Boobas, and then #7 Patrick Hickox to hold of the Lions and take the series win.
With this series win, the Dragons move on to the Sweet 16 as they host the Westminster Wildcats in a re-match of last year's AAA Semi-Final round. Come out, be loud, and support the Dragons in this next crucial series!
