Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Wins Curley Wolves' Baseball Classic

Prescott's first annual Wolves Baseball Classic was a success in spite of the weather.

Of course, it helps with the home team winning the classic, taking all three games it played.

According to Coach Steve Crow, there were some good ball games in spite of the cold weather last week, and the fans who did show for the game were greatly appreciated.

However, Prescott only has four home games remaining on its schedule, with the rest slated for travel time on the road.

Of course, when the weather does finally warm up, the fans can come to those remaining games and root the currently undefeated Wolves on.

Crow said this year's crew is already being compared as with the teams of the past two years which contended for state titles.

The other teams in the classic besides Prescott were Gurdon, Nevada and Blevins. Each team played three games.

With the tourney starting Tuesday, Blevins opened with a 7-6 win over Gurdon's Go-Devils in the first game, while Prescott manhandled Nevada 15-0.

Wednesday's action saw the Wolves cool the Devils 11-4, while Blevins clipped the Blue Jays 2-1.

Still, the Devils managed to finish third in the Classic with a 16-6 win over Nevada in Thursday's games, while Prescott posted an 11-1 win over Blevins for the championship.

In Prescott's opening game against Nevada, the Wolves went on an offensive tear in the first and third frames, as the game was called after four innings because of the 15-run rule after four.

The Wolves opened with a four spot in the first, added a pair in the second, assailed the Hornets for seven in the third, capping off scoring with two more in the bottom of the fourth.

Ricky Hammrick went the distance for his first win of the season. He faced 15 batters, gave up two hits, walked one and fanned four.

Patton was the losing hurler for Nevada.

The game opened with Gulley striking out and Curtis walking for the Jays. Kretz and Smelser both flied out to end the inning.

When the Wolves went on offense, Ben Jones walked. Ingram flied out and Al Johnston reached on an error allowing Jones to score.

Jarrod Yates walked, with Justin Jernigan belting the game's first hit to score Johnston and Yates. Formby followed by flying out. Brent Jordan ripped a double to bring Jernigan in for the fourth run. Heath Duke went down on strikes.

Nevada's second went much like the first. Evans grounded out to begin. Cross reached on an error and was doubled up when Poindexter lined into a 5-3 twin killing.

The Wolves added two more in the their part of the inning, starting with Tony Overton smacking a one-bagger. This was followed by singles from Jones and Ingram. Johnston fanned, but Yates belted a two RBI single to bring Overton and Jones in.

Jernigan hit into a fielder's choice, which resulted in Yates being forced out at second. Formby flied out to close the attack.

Inning three for the Jays went very similar to frames one and two. Murphy was fanned and Dixon grounded out. Gulley and Curtis recorded the only Nevada hits of the day, but were stranded when Kretz flied out.

The slaughter began early in the first as Brent Jordan doubled. Duke walked and Overton's double brought Jordan in. Jones walked to load the bases and Ingram earned an RBI with a walk that scored Duke.

With the bags still packed, Johnston doubled, bringing Overton and Jones back home. Yates walked and Jernigan reached on an error that scored Ingram.

This still wasn't enough. Formby reached on a fielder's choice with Jernigan being forced at second. Johnston, though scored on the play. Jordan flied out, but Duke walked and Overton reaching on an error brought Yates in. The Jays were thankful when Jones flied out to end the inning with the score 13-0.

Hammrick was on fire to start the final inning. He fanned Smelser and Evans and got Cross to fly out for an easy frame.

Mercy was quick as the Wolves added the final two, starting with singles from Ingram and Johnston. A Yates groundout brought Ingram in, while a second ground ball scored Johnston, ending the contest.

Hammrick's pitching brought cheer to the heart of his coach. In four frames, he allowed next to nothing.

Ingram was two for three, scoring twice and driving one in. Jordan was also two for three at the plate, with a pair of doubles to his credit.

Overton did his part going two for three with two runs and a pair of RBIs. Johnston scored twice and drove three in, while Jones scored three times. Yates crossed home twice and drove another three in, with Jernigan having a big RBI day with four.

Jones' three runs gives him a total of 46 for his career, breaking the school record of 43, set by Jamie Williams from 195-97.

Johnston's double in the bottom of the third was his 14th, tying the school record, set by Robert Poole from 1992-94.

Additionally, in last week's story, Johnston was short changed somewhat. His home run tied him with Bradon Bradley's career record of six, set from 1991-93, and the season is young.

Game two saw the Wolves hammer Gurdon 11-4 in a five inning outing called because of time.

Formby earned his third win of the year going the distance, facing 25, giving up four runs on three hits, while walking four and fanning seven.

Though Gurdon's first batter reached on an error, he was stranded as the next three went down in order.

On the other side of the diamond, the Wolves posted five runs.

Jones opened with a single, moved to second when Ingram walked and scored on a one-bagger by Johnston.

Yates singled to bring Ingram and Johnston in and make it 3-0.

From there, Jernigan singled and Formby reached on an error. Brent Jordan hit into a fielder's choice that saw Formby forced at second and Yates score. A passed ball allowed Jernigan to score and end the assault from the Wolves.

Overton walked and Calvon Flemons, who was pinch running for Jordan, was tagged at the plate while trying to score on a wild pitch. After Duke walked, Jones was fanned to end the inning.

Gurdon's second was much the same as the first. The lead batter reached on a walk, but the next three went down in order.

Ingram singled to start the second for Prescott, but was tagged at second when Johnston hit into a fielder's choice.

From there, it was downhill for the Wolves. Yates grounded out, Jernigan walked and Formby flied out to bring Gurdon's offense back to the plate.

The Devils unleashed their only offensive salve of the game as they put four on the board.

Jarrod Toland fanned, but reached first on a passed ball on strike three. Brandon Gattis walked before Plyler flied out. J. Griffin singled in Toland, while S. Griffin's single brought Gattis in.

Rhodes followed by hitting into a fie