Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Open Baseball Season Monday Against Blevins (cont)

ing roll.

Baker's experience will be to his advantage.

Brent Jordan, a senior catcher, started some games early last season and will likely start again unless someone else steps forward behind the plate.

Jordan, Crow said, lacks a little where throwing and batting are concerned, but works hard and will do whatever's necessary to improve his weak spots.

Senior second baseman Tony Overton has spent the past two seasons playing behind all district player Stockton.

Now, Crow said, it's his turn to shine. Overton will get his chance to step up and play regularly.

Crow said he has a steady glove with defense being his strong suit. However, he'll need to improve his batting in order to plug the hole left by Stockton's graduation.

Other returning players include senior outfielders Ryan Ellis, Mike Fountain, Heath Gammage and Brock Jordan.

In addition, the team will have junior first baseman James McGough. Evan Webb will be a junior outfielder, while Ellis, Jordan and Webb are expected to provide leadership and depth in the outfield.

Gammage and Fountain will make use of their speed on the bases as pinch runners. McGough, Crow said, could contend as a starter.

New players include senior Seth Collins, senior Heath Ingram, senior Bret Wicker, sophomores Andrew Fellows, Calvin Flemons, Brad Harris, Otis Harris, Gabe Morman, Ronnie Nolen and Brian Woodley.

Ingam and Collins, Crow said, transferred in from other schools and are expected to battle for starting roles as well.

Wicker had to sit out last season after coming to Prescott from Nevada, but will battle for the starting catcher's position in '98.

The sophomore class, he said, is talented and will provide the team with needed depth and could step into starting spots next year.

Looking toward the start of the season, Crow said it is not known how good this team can be. Pitching will definitely be a key.

It is hoped the momentum from the past two seasons will carry over to this year, and there will be enough quality players to field a competitive and exciting team for the fans to watch.

"We don't have anyone to replace Cowling," he said, "but have at least four good pitchers we hope can throw three or four effective innings each time out."

Until the offense and pitching comes around, the team will rely on its defense. The team's offense is also a major question for the season, as new players have no track record.

But, he said, the Wolves will do quite a bit of bunting and use the hit and run frequently until the rest of their game comes together. What the Wolves lack in power this year, they make up in speed, Crow said.

This year's crew will also have depth, something prior teams didn't have. Crow said as many as 12 players have the talent to start, with at least five others seriously pushing for starting jobs.

If this year's squad is as determined to work hard and dedicate itself to do the things it takes to be a winner as the past two teams have," Crow said, "then in the end good things will happen for them."

The team, he continued, gets great support from parents, the booster club, administration and athletic department as well as local baseball fans.

The 7AA district may be the toughest from top to bottom it's ever been, he said.

Nashville, the '97 district champs, will be the team to beat and return enough talent to defend their title.

De Queen comes next, as the Leopards finished second last year. Crow said the Leopards will have one of the league's top players in Justin Powell. This squad has played in strong summer league teams of late and should be a handful once again.

Crow expects the Fordyce Redbugs to be the No. 3 team in the league. The 'Bugs lost three to graduation and have looked forward to the 1998 season since the '97 tilt began. They will be coming to Prescott this year, and the 'Bugs are undefeated in Wolf country.

Next on the list is Fouke. The Panthers had a disappointing year in '97 after being tabbed to have a shot at the title. The team is expected to return to form this season and be in contention till the bitter end.

Bismarck was young last year, and only defeated by the Wolves by one run. They, too, will be better this year.

The Cobras of Fountain Lake won't be easy either, he said. They were young last year and beat the Wolves. This year the Cobras will be more experienced and even harder to beat.

The non-conference slate is no easier for the Wolves. They open the season with Blevins, playing the Hornets twice. Blevins has a new coach, but returns several starters and will be good.

Dierks is a new team for the Wolves to contend with. The sophomores won the Dixie League world title in Georgia as 12-year-olds, while the freshmen were runners up when they were 12. The Outlaws should be very good, Crow said. They will have a solid team, as baseball is a major spring sport there.

The Outlaws, he said, should contend with perennial powers Horatio and Murfreesboro for the district title this year.

The Wolves will play the Nevada Blue Jays twice this year as cross-county rivals meet. The Jays are a well-coaches crew and beat the Wolves for the first time last year. They are expected to be better this season.

An old rivalry is being renewed as Hope has been added to the schedule this year. The Bobcats are a solid class AAA school, contending for the district crown year in and year out. While they have a new coach, the tradition remains.

For the first time every, PHS will host the Wolves Baseball Classic. Crow said it is hoped this will become an annual event.

Four teams will be involved in the round-robbin tourney: Gurdon, Prescott, Blevins and Nevada. Each team in the contest will play every other team.

The classic is scheduled for March 9-12, weather permitting.

The top two teams after three games will receive trophies. In case of a tie, the head-to-head game will be the tiebreaker.