Fighting weather over the last two weeks, Head Coach Thad Burgess' baseball team finally opened the season Feb. 23 with a 6-1 win at Chestatee High School.

The Tigers then traveled to Jekyll Island last weekend to compete against two of Georgia's best teams.

In the "Baseball at the Beach" tournament, the Tigers played against Brunswick High School and Ware County High School.

Dawson County dropped both contests. The team fell 7-2 to Brunswick before losing 9-4 to Ware County.

In last week's win over Chestatee High School, Connor Bearden was the hero.

Bearden connected with a pitch for a three run homer in the sixth inning.

He also picked up the win on the mound for the Tigers. He gave up just two hits in three innings of work.

Tiger senior J.T. Eggert also pitched fine in the game. He recorded six strikeouts, no hits or runs in three innings of work.

"I was pleased with our offense, scoring five runs with two outs.

"I'm glad to get our game in and win. It was the first time on the field in two weeks," Burgess said.

The bad weather seemed to follow the Tigers to Jekyll Island for the weekend tournament.

Friday's game was windy and cold, while on Saturday the team had to fight cold and rain.

"The weather was miserable again," Burgess said. "We played two very good teams that are two of the better baseball programs in Georgia. We battled for four innings, but allowed a big inning in each game."

In Friday's game with Brunswick, the Tigers allowed a two-run fifth inning and a back breaking four-run sixth inning for the loss.

Despite Friday's defeat, the Tigers pounded out seven hits, highlighted by a sixth inning home run by Eggert.

Also getting hits for Dawson County were Bearden, with two singles, Levi Whitmore, Brody Chester, Luke Martin and Austin Young.

Saturday's game was questionable because of the rain, but the Tigers were able to get the game in against Ware County.

The Gators scored two runs in the first inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Ware County added three more runs in the fourth inning to hold 5-2 advantage.

The team from Waycross added one run in the fifth and sixth and two runs in the seventh inning to seal the victory.

The bats were not the problems for Dawson County.

The Tigers pounded out 11 hits led by Zack Buchan.

Buchan stroked three hits, including a double. Picking up two hits each were Martin and Logan Crumley.

Adding to the hit total were Keaton Coates, Bearden, Levi Whitmire and Dylan Heller.

"We needed to play quality teams, especially since the weather has, and will, play havoc on everyone with region games starting in about a week's time."

It will be a busy week, weather permitting, for Dawson County.

The Tigers will play host to Elbert County Thursday, followed by a Friday game at Pickens County.

Both games will begin at 5:30 p.m.