As if both teams were stuck in a time-warp, the Tigers and Vikings seemed destined to become locked in another crazy high-scoring game.

But no one could have predicted that the two squads would battle to another 20-19 finish almost exactly one year after Dawson topped East Hall by the same score.

In last years game, it only took the standard seven innings, but last Friday fans experienced a 14-inning marathon.

The early going was looking rough as East Hall pounded Dawson to go up 17-5 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Dawson head coach Jimmy Pruett recalled how proud he was of his players for not giving up at that point.

I told the guys we are going to win this game, Pruett said. Going into the bottom of the third, I said we are going to win 20-19We did it last year and we are going to do it again.

The coach was right, and the comeback started immediately as the Tigers went on to score nine runs in the third to cut the Vikings lead to 17-14.

Still trailing East Hall 18-16 going into the bottom of the seventh, Dawson pushed across two runs to send the game into extra innings.

After both teams offenses stalled for six full innings, the Vikings managed one run off a pair of sinlges in the top of the 14th inning, but the Tigers once again found a way to get it done.

In the bottom of the 14th with the bases loaded, Dawsons Jacob Wilkie was hit by a pitch to force home the run number 20 for the Tigers.

Junior Logan Burt was the offensive star of the night for Dawson with six total hits, two home runs, a double, and nine RBIs.

Junior Harley Pruitt added three hits and three RBIs, while Wilkie and Kobe Rogers knocked in two RBIs each.

With a standout pitching performance, Jeff Partington entered the game and settled things down for the Tigers. For his troubles, the senior picked up the win as he pitched eight innings with 10 strikeouts.

The victory was the fifth in the past six games for a Dawson team that is locked in a race to secure one of the top four places in Region 7-AAA.

The Tigers (11-6, 9-3) currently occupy the third spot, but a resilient White County Squad is snapping at their heals.

The Warriors (11-6, 8-5) will visit Dawsonville on Monday at 5:55 p.m. for a big Region showdown.

But The Tigers must not look past West Hall on Friday as they travel to Oakwood to take on the Spartans (7-9, 5-8), the fifth place team in the Region.