Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Open Baseball Season Monday Against Blevins

While the Curley Wolves and Wolverettes are still battling on the hardwood, the Wolf baseball team is getting ready for its 1998 campaign on the diamond.

In fact, the team hits the dirt Monday, March 2, hosting a pair of games against Blevins. The first contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Last year, the Wolves finished with a 12-6 record, the team's second best winning percentage ever.

The squad also finished third during the regular season in district standings, its highest finish since 1993. The league record was 3-3.

For the second year in a row, and second time in school history, the Wolves made it to the finals of the district tourney, where they battled for the title.

They also went to the state tournament for the second consecutive year. This was also the second time this occurred in school history.

For the first time ever, the Wolves won two games in the state tilt, coming within two outs of earning a berth in the championship game.

The seniors in '97 won more games during their careers with the Wolves than any other previous groups of seniors. This group posted 31 wins.

Because of the skill the Wolves had last season, they earned a number 4 ranking in the state in Class AA.

However, the Wolves will have to replace some key players, starting with Ross Cowling.

As a pitcher, Cowling earned all district, all state and all star honors. This was the first time a Wolf had ever made the all star team. He was also the most valuable player in the Arkansas High School Baseball Coaches Association All Star Game.

He ended his career with a 9-2 record, tied for the most wins in a season by a Prescott pitcher.

Cowling was on the hill for 71 innings, recording 119 strikeouts and giving up 52 hits. He also had a batting average of .296.

The Wolves also lose Jim Stockton, an all district second baseman. Stockton batted .283, with a total of 41 career runs scored, the second highest total ever.

First baseman Jason Webb is also gone. This all district player hit .250 and had three homers last season. This tied him for the most ever in a campaign. During his career, Webb sent five over the fence, this tied him for the second most ever.

Catcher Jamie Williams also graduated last season. This all district player had a .362 average and a .667 on base percentage. His on base average was the third highest ever in a season.

Williams boasts the most runs scored during a career at PHS, as he circled the bases 43 times. His 36 hits ties him for third, while the 11 doubles puts him in a deadlock for second. He walked a total of 26 times in his career, tying him in fourth place, while driving in 38 runs. This ties him for the top spot in RBIs.

While the Wolves lost these talented players, they do not return to the diamond empty handed.

Coach Steve Crow will have plenty of leadership with 15 seniors on the field, along with four juniors and eight sophomores.

He said 16 of the 25 players saw action in 1997. This total would have been 19, but two decided not to play this season and Jason Kisselburg broke his arm pole vaulting and can't play.

The Wolves return five starters, including senior Al Johnston in center.

Last season Johnston, an all district player, scored 21 runs (4th), had 22 hits (5th), seven doubles (2nd), three homers (1st tie), 16 walks (1st tie), 24 RBIs (1st), and a .423 batting average (4th).

Johnston is on the verge of moving up the career list. He needs four doubles to pass Robert Poole's record of 14 from 1992-94. Two more round trippers moves him ahead of Braden Bradley's record of six, from 1991-93; and one more RBI puts him atop this list alone.

Crow said Johnston has the potential to be all district again and all state this year.

He will likely be batting in the number three spot and is expected to have a great year.

Ben Jones, another senior, will be the shortstop. In '97 he walked 16 times (1st tie) and batted .228 (but had a .369 average as a sophomore).

Jones needs five more runs to pass Jamie Williams' record of 43, set from 1995- 97; nine hits to pass Poole's record of 45, from '92-94; and seven walks to pass Bradley's record of 36, set from '91-93.

Crow said Jones has all district potential if he's hitting this season.

Jones, he said, has a solid glove at short and will be counted on to be a leading pitcher as well this year. In '97, he posted a 2-2 record, with 11 1/3 innings on the hill. He fanned 11 and gave up 15 hits.

Jarod Yates, a junior, will be at the hot corner, third base. He brings a .328 average with him, and an on base percentage of .464.

Last year he had 19 hits, scored 15 runs, had five doubles, one homer and drove in 17.

As a power hitter, Crow said, Yates had a good sophomore year and will be counted on for more of the same this year. He's expected to be one of the team's leading hitters.

Yates will see more time on the hill as well, and could be a good pitcher, Crow said. In '97 he had no decisions, but was up for 11 2/3 innings, recording 14 K's and giving up 10 hits.

Heath Duke returns in left field. This senior cooled down at the plate last season with a .139 average after a hot start early on.

Duke brings a good glove back, along with good speed and a good arm, Crow said. However, he needs to get off to a good start at the plate and stay there this year.

Al Formby a senior pitcher and utility player, also had an off year batting with a .136 average in '97.

While his bat was cold, he was still a tough out as he had an on base average of .521.

Crow said Formby will be counted on big as a pitcher this year, and needs to contribute with the bat as well.

In '97 he had a 1-2 record as a pitcher in 21 innings. He recorded 32 strikeouts and gave up 23 hits.

"He can play any position on the field except catcher," Crow said. "This is the type of player a successful team needs because he can play anywhere."

Crow said Formby has a strong arm, good glove and plenty of range in the outfield.

Ricky Hamrick, a senior pitcher and outfielder, will also be counted on heavily as a pitcher. Crow said he pitched three strong innings in the state tourney last year.

Hamrick has a good glove in the field and could start there if his hitting improves.

Justin Jernigan is another to look for this season. The junior outfielder had a .143 average last year, but had four big RBI in a scant seven appearances at the plate.

Crow said Jernigan's a hard worker who gives the maximum effort each time out. This is a player, he said, who will be hard to keep out of the lineup.

Senior infielder Tucker Baker spent last year as a backup third baseman. This year, Crow said, he could switch to first base and vie for a start