Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Big Innings Spell Doom For Wolves In Last Two Games

Nashville and Bismarck hammered Prescott's Curley Wolf baseball team last week.

Nashville, playing here Wednesday, April 7, posted a 14-2 win in six frames.

There was no score until the Scrappers pushed one across in the top of the second. A lead-off double and wild pitch with two down led to the score.

The Wolves managed to get a runner on in the bottom of the frame when Angelo Haynes walked, but he was later caught stealing.

Nashville added a run to its tally in the third. This one came from a walk with the bags packed.

All three Wolf batters went down on strikes.

Inning four was a big one for the Scrappers as they added seven more to their side of the scoreboard.

After a lead-off single, the next man reached on an error. A single brought one in, with a fielder's choice scoring another a batter later.

The fifth batter grounded out, but the sixth walked to force one in as the bases were loaded. A single by the next man up brought two in, while an error scored one more.

In all, 11 batters went to the plate with seven scoring on three hits and a like number of errors.

Gabe Morman got the Wolves on the board with his third home run of the season. His round-tripper broke up Nashville's no-hitter.

The Wolves got two more runners on board, but left them stranded.

Still, the gap was cut to 9-1.

Nashville's first two batters were retired in order, one by flying out and the other on a grounder.

However, an error and two singles padded the Scrapper lead by two to make it 11-1 and put Nashville up by 10 runs.

The Wolves avoided the 10-run rule after five in the fifth by getting their second run.

Brad Harris walked to open the fifth, with Jarrod Yates also walking to move Harris to second.

Harris stole third and scored when Morman grounded out.

Nashville ended the game in the top of the sixth with two more runs.

The first batter grounded out, while the next man up reached on an error. Batter number three walked, and the fourth hitter flied out.

With two down, the next man went deep and cleared the bases with a three-run shot to give Nashville a 14-2 advantage.

Bullock reached on an error for Prescott, but was left to end the game.

Yates took the loss for the Wolves, going six innings, giving up 14 runs on seven hits while walking six and fanning two.

McGary was the winning pitcher. He spent five innings on the hill, allowing one hit, two runs, walked six and fanned 13.

Reeves picked up the save, with on inning as pitcher. He gave up nothing and struck three out.

Nashville forfeited the junior varsity game.

"We can't seem to avoid the one big inning everyone continues to have against us," said Coach Steve Crow. "Take away the seven-run fourth inning, and we played them a good 7-2 game. That one big inning really hurt.

"Also, we can't seem to get that third out before runs score," he continued." The Scrappers scored eight of their 14 runs with two down.

"But give them credit, they're awfully good this year. McGary pitched very well, holding us to one hit and striking out 13.

"Yates deserved a better fate, allowing only seven hits against a good hitting ball club, but errors continue to hurt us as well. I think we had at least seven, and it's hard to win with that many."

The remainder of Prescott's schedule doesn't get any easier as the Wolves have played their final innings at Prescott and will be on the road for the rest of the year.

They went to De Queen Monday, with the Leopards ranked fifth in the state in AAA ball. De Queen handed Nashville a 5-4 loss in eight innings before the Scrappers met Prescott.

Friday, the Wolves travel to Fordyce and end the regular season Monday, April 19, with a trip to Fouke.

Fordyce and Fouke each have won twice as many games as they've lost this season, so all three games will be tough for the Wolves.

"If we can get back to hitting the ball, playing defense and getting quality pitching like we were getting before spring break, we'll be able to compete with these teams," Crow said.