Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott's 1998 Baseball Team Posted Best Record In School History

Prescott's 1998 baseball team posted the best record in school history at 13-5.

The Wolves finished third in the district's regular season standings with a 3-3 mark and lost in the semi-finals of the district tournament.

This was the fifth time in the past seven years the Wolves made it to the semi-finals

In the first year of the regional tournament the Wolves made it to the semi-finals. The final four teams in the tourney were from the 7AAA district.

And, Coach Steve Crow said, the seniors last season won more games during their career than any other group. This group posted 40 wins.

They were a more successful group than any other, he said. They were district runners up twice, made the district semi-finals once, the state semi-finals once, the state quarter-finals once and the regional semi-finals once.

However, the problem is 11 seniors graduated from the 1998 squad. This will be no easy task. Four members of this team earned All-District honors, with one being named All-State and one an All-Star MVP.

Those players lost include Al Formby. He posted a 10-3 record on the hill for the Wolves and hurled the horsehide a total of 74 innings. He fanned 109 batters, walked 30 and gave up 67 hits and 43 runs.

Offensively, Formby hit .317 for the year, belted a pair of doubles, one home run, 19 singles and drove in 16 runners. He now holds the record for most wins in a season by a PHS pitcher and was named All-District.

Another loss will be infielder Heath Ingram. This All-District player was nearly impossible to get out as he hit .508 for the season.

Ingram scored 25 runs, belted 30 hits, had four doubles and nine RBIs. He had a .653 on base percentage and scored the fourth most runs in a season. He also boasts the most hits in a season, third highest batting average and fifth highest on-base percentage. Ingram holds the record for highest career batting average at PHS.

Another who will be missed is Al Johnston, who was All-District and earned All-State honors twice. He was the second Wolf to be named All-State.

Johnston was also an All-Star and was voted most valuable player on his All-Star team.

At the plate he had a .455 batting average, scored 34 runs, had 25 hits, including six doubles, a pair of triples and went deep five times. He drove in 27 RBIs and had a .634 on base percentage.

Johnston's season records include being first with most runs scored, first with most hits, second with most doubles, second with most homers, second in most walks, second in RBIs and fifth in batting average.

His career records show him being the most proficient in scoring, having the most hits, most round trippers, most doubles, most RBIs, second in most walks and fifth overall in batting average.

Next on the list of losses is Ben Jones. He was an All-District player who had a batting average of .339.

Last season he scored 26 runs, had 20 hits, two doubles, six homers and 21 RBIs. His on base percentage was .532.

Jones' season records include being third with most runs scored, first in the home run department and first in walks.

Career-wise, Jones is first with runs scored, first in hits, second in the home run category, tops in walks and third with most RBIs.

Ricky Hammrick posted a 3-2 record on the mound. He pitched 29 1/3 innings, fanned 26, walked 13, gave up 38 hits and 33 runs.

Seth Collins left with a .310 batting average, while Tony Overton ended his PHS career betting .270.

Catcher Brent Jordan left with a .256 average at the place.

Overall, the Wolves lost eight starters, and three of the four pitchers from last season.

Prescott will see one returning position starter, one designated hitter and six from the '98 roster of 17 players.

Those returning, however, include senior Jarrod Yates. He will see time on the hill, as an infielder but primarily behind the plate as catcher.

Yates, in '98, recorded a .563 batting average, scored 27 runs, had 27 hits, four doubles and went deep three times. He drove in 32 and had a .696 on base percentage.

Yates' season records include being fifth in runs scored, second in hits, third in most homers, first in RBIs, the highest batting average and third in on base percentage.

His career stats, to date, see him fifth in funs scored, second in hits, fourth in doubles, fifth in homers, second in RBIs and second in batting average.

Yates is only the second junior in PHS history to be named All-District in baseball, and has the potential, Crow said, to repeat and possibly be tabbed with the honor of All-State.

According to Crow, Yates will likely be moved up in the batting order and hit third. He is expected to have a good year at the plate, behind the plate, in the field or on the hill.

With 11 more hits and 16 more RBIs, Yates will move into the No. 1 position in these categories. He is expected to be the team's leading hitter and pitcher.

Senior player Justin Jernigan returns as designated hitter and infielder.

Last season he had a .327 batting average, scoring 15 runs, getting 17 hits, driving 17 in and earning a .576 on base percentage.

But, Jernigan had reconstructive knee surgery following the 1998 football season and his baseball skills will be limited, Crow said.

When the season starts, Jernigan will only be used as the DH. Following Spring Break, though, he could help in the infield, Crow said.

He should have a good year at the plate and could well be an All-District player when the dust settles.

Seniors James McGough and Evan Webb will be battling for starting jobs at first and in left field.

Neither of these players, Crow said, has varsity experience, but through hard work and dedication both could see playing time this year.

Doug Young, a senior right fielder, returns after sitting out the '98 campaign. So far, Crow said, he's picked up where he left off in '97 and is in contention for a starting role.

Jarrod Miller, a senior who looks to play second, joins the Wolves after not playing baseball for nearly six years.

However, Crow said, he practices well and will push hard for playing time.

Senior Angelo Haynes never played baseball before this season, but has a lot of natural talent, Crow said. Determination and hard work, along with a lot of hustle could see Haynes as a starter in centerfield.

Junior Brad Harris is the only player on the roster, besides Yates and Jernigan, with varsity experience. He has a good glove at first and expected to be better at the plate.

Junior second baseman Gabe Morman has been working hard and has a good glove. He gives maximum effort, Crow said, which will make it hard to keep him out of the lineup.

In junior varsity games, Crow continued, Morman showed some pop at the plate and could be a pleasant surprise this season.

Ottis Harris and Ronnie Nolen, both juniors, will likely see time in center, at first and on the mound.

Both, he said, could start if they make up t