Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PHS Starts Tournament With Win, Lose To Nevada Squad

Prescott warmed up for the Prescott Classic Baseball Tournament by edging Blevins 9-7 on Feb. 23.

The Hornets opened the game by scoring in the top of the first, only to see the Wolves send four around the basepath to take a 4-1 lead.

Matt Yates got things started with a single and scored on a DeColen Prater single. Prater came home on a Mark Jones single, while Jones completed the circuit on an effort.

Keon Sockwell reached on the error and scored when Gabe Morman singled.

Blevins made it 4-2 in the top of the third while keeping the Wolves at bay.

But Prescott added another four runs to its side of the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-2 lead.

Sockwell reached on another error and scored when Josh Bullock took one out of the park.

Morman singled with Ronnie Nolen walking and both scored when John Fulmer singled.

The Hornets made the game interesting in the top of the fifth by scoring four runs to cut Prescott's lead to 8-6.

The Wolves rallied in the bottom of the sixth scoring their final run of the game. Fulmer reached on an error and made it home on a Trent Crow double.

Blevins finished scoring in the top of the seventh with one run.

Bullock picked up the win going the distance on the hill. He allowed seven runs on four hits, walked six and fanned 11.

Bullock also led the team offensively with three hits, and two RBIs.

Sockwell, Jones, Morman and Yates all contributed two hits to the win as well. Fulmer also had a pair of hits, adding two RBIs to his stats as well.

This set things up for the Classic, only to see the Nevada Blue Jays clip Prescott's wings 7-5 in the opening game.

Prescott scored in the bottom of the first on a Jones walk. Jones later scored on an error from a ball hit by Bullock.

Nevada tied the game in the top of the third, only to see Prescott take a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the frame.

Prater and Jones walked to put a runner in scoring position. A single by Bullock brought Prater in, while Jones scored on a Nolen walk.

The Jays, though, were yet to have their wings clipped and scored four to take a 5-3 lead.

Prescott tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. Prater singled with Jones walking, and both scored on a Sockwell single.

Scoring ended in the top of the fifth when Nevada added two.

The Wolves had every chance to win the game as they loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. However, the next three batters were fanned to end the threat.

Ryan Burdue went three innings for Prescott, with Fulmer and Bullock pitching an inning each.

Jones scored three runs, with Prater scoring twice. Sockwell and Bullock each had two RBIs in the game.

Lockesburg's Blue Darters were next up for the Wolves, and posted a 7-6 win over Prescott.

The Darters jumped all over Prescott pitching in the first for four runs, adding three more in the second to take a 7-0 lead before the Wolves' offense got in gear.

In the bottom of the second Prescott scored twice. Nolen doubled and scored on a Yates single.

Yates went home on a Fulmer double.

The Wolves scored two more in the third to cut the lead to 7-4.

Sockwell was hit by a pitch and went to third on a Bullock double. The next batter was walked, with Sockwell scoring on another walk by Yates.

Bullock scored when Fulmer walked, but the threat ended shortly thereafter.

In the fourth Prescott added its fifth run, with Sockwell walking and scoring on a Bullock single.

Scoring in the game ended in the fifth when Fulmer singled and scored on a Joey Wyman single.

Nolen went 1 1/3 innings on the hill, with Prater pitching 3 2/3 innings.

Prater, a sophomore, faced 13 batters, giving up two hits, no runs, walking none and striking out three.

Fulmer had two RBIs and two hits in the game, Bullock had two hits, with Sockwell scoring twice. Yates drove in two as well.

Gurdon's Go Devils took the Wolves on Thursday, March 2, and won 7-4.

After a scoreless first, the Devils pushed a run across in the second.

Prescott responded with two in the third, after Sockwell and Bullock walked. A single by Morman scored both.

The Devils added three in the fourth to go up 4-2, and sent another three around the bases in the fifth to take a 7-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the inning the Wolves managed to score two.

Sockwell doubled and scored on a Ben Ratcliff single. Ratcliff went home on an error off a ball hit by Nolen.

Bullock went four innings in the game, leaving after getting hit in the shin by a line drive. Prater pitched the last inning.

Sockwell scored twice, while Morman had two hits and two RBIs.

Gurdon won the classic by beating all three of its opponents. The Devils dumped Lockesburg 4-3 and clipped Nevada 8-7.

Lockesburg managed to beat the Jays 8-6 in their game to finish second in the event.

Prescott Coach Steve Crow said this was the most competitive classic in its three-year history. Three games were decided by one run, with two decided by two. Only one game had a three run victory.