Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Trumann Handles Prescott For Second Consecutive Year In State AA Action

Three consecutive trips to Searcy may have taken some of the starch out of the Prescott Curley Wolves baseball team.

The squad, though, had good reason to be on the road so much, as the Diamond Wolves were working toward the finals of the state class AA baseball tournament.

But, the team fell short, in its third outing, dropping an 11-7 decision to Trumann Thursday, May 15.

Trumann's Wildcats knocked the Wolves out of the tourney last season in the second round, finishing the year as runner up in the state. The Wildcats returned six starters from its 1995-96 team.

PRESCOTT 3

CAC 2

The Wolves opened their title quest against Central Arkansas Christian, posting a 3-2 win.

In fact, Prescott needed a three-run sixth.

Ross Cowling, Prescott's ace hurler, went the distance, facing 29. He gave up two runs on seven hits, while fanning 11. Cowling surrendered no walks.

Chris Pozza took the loss for CAC, staying on the hill for 5 2/3 innings, tangling with 27 Wolves. He gave up three runs on three hits, with six walks. He also struck 13 out.

John Carter relieved Pozza for the final 1 1/3 innings. He faced five, giving up nothing, while fanning three.

Prescott managed to load the bases in the top of the first, as Al Johnston singled while Jamie Williams and Jared Yates walked.

However, before this occurred, Jim Stockton and Ben Jones had been fanned. With two down, Cowling was the third to go down on strikes.

Cowling returned the favor, fanning Pozza and Julian, while Carter grounded out.

The second saw Jason Webb and Shawn Pipkin walk before Ricky Hammrick, Stockton and Jones went down on strikes.

Vincent singled with one down for the Mustangs, but Cowling made sure he was left at first as Heckman flied out and Osburn was fanned.

The pitcher's duel continued in the third with Johnston fanning, Williams walking and the tandem of Yates and Cowling going down on strikes.

But, Cowling was all but untouchable on the hill himself. Schroeder opened CAC's third with a single, but was stranded as the side was then retired.

The fourth saw three Wolves head to the plate and all three return to the dugout empty handed.

CAC's Mustangs drew first blood in the bottom of the frame, which started with a ground out by Carter. Young singled in front of Vincent being fanned, before Heckman doubled him in. Cowling struck Osburn out to end the threat.

Prescott's fifth was a mirror image of the fourth, three up and three down.

An error allowed one of the Ponies to reach in the bottom of the inning, but solid pitching kept him stranded.

Two straight hits put the Wolves on the board as the offense finally came alive.

Williams opened by flying out. Yates was then hit by a pitch before Cowling singled. Webb ripped a triple to drive Cowling and Yates in, giving Prescott a 2-1 lead.

Webb scored when the throw to third wound up in the dugout.

Justin Jernigan was fanned, but reached first when the catcher failed to field the ball on the third strike, then threw wildly to first.

Formby followed with a walk, while Stockton hit into a fielder's choice. Jones struck out to end the inning.

After a Carter fly ball sent him back to the pines, Young singled. However, Vincent grounded to second to start the 4-6-3 double play and finish the Mustang's run.

The Wolves went down in order in the seventh, firing their only offensive salvo in the previous frame.

But, the Mustangs had one shot left in their arsenal.

Vincent grounded out to get things started, while Heckman was fanned. The two-out rally began when Osburn singled.

An error allowed Schroeder to reach and Osburn to score. Stotelmyer made it interesting with a single, but Cowling fanned Pozza to preserve the win.

PRESCOTT 11

MENA 10

Prescott's next test came from the Mena Bearcats.

Game two proved to be an offensive showcase as both teams put runs on the board throughout the contest.

Again, a big inning was needed by the Wolves to pull out the win and go from the quarter-finals to the semi-finals in the tourney. This time, they had to have a five run seventh to keep their hopes alive.

Formby earned the win, spending four frames on the hill against 20 batters. He gave up four runs on five hits, walking two and fanning five.

Hammrick replaced Formby for the final three. He tangled with 23, giving up six runs on five hits, with five walks and four Ks.

Blair went the distance for the Bearcats, seeing 45 Wolves, dishing out 11 runs on 15 hits and eight walks, while striking nine out.

Two errors allowed Mena to score in the top of first, as Wright reached on an error. DePriest and Blair grounded out, before Davis got on board from the second error. This one allowed Wright to score.

Davis completed the circuit when Hunter singled. Harrison was fanned to put the fire out.

After Johnston walked to open Prescott's first, Stockton grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Williams also singled, but was left when Cowling struck out.

The 'Cats added a run in the top of the second, starting with a one-bagger by Thompson. Kirk was fanned, but Rowland reached on an error. The play culminated with Thompson scoring on a wild pitch.

The bags were packed when Wright singled and DePriest reached on an error. They were left that way when Blair was fanned and Davis flied out.

A pair of Wolves circled the bases in the bottom of the frame, starting with a double by Yates and a walk issued to Webb.

Jones reached on a fielder's choice with Yates nailed at third. Pipkin followed with an RBI single, bringing Webb in.

Hammrick hit into a fielder's choice, with Jones caught trying for home. Johnston singled Pipkin in for the final run of the frame.

Another two Bearcats scored in the top of the third, both runs coming with two outs.

Hunter and Harrison had flied out, before Thompson walked, Kirk singled and Rowland's walk filled the bases with 'Cats. Wright brought two in with his single before DePriest was fanned.

But, Mena held a 5-2 lead over the Wolves at the time.

All year long, the Wolves have been able to rally when they were down. This game was no exception.

Down by three in the bottom of the third, Prescott picked away at Mena's lead by scoring two in its part of the frame.

Williams opened by getting a free pass to first, and was replaced by Mike Fountain on the bases. Cowling, though, went down on strikes. Yates was nailed by a pitch to put runners at first and second.

A fielder's choice allowed Webb to reach first, but saw Fountain forced at third. Jones, though, ripped a single to score Yates.

Pipkin kept the inning alive with a walk, before a wild pitch allowed Webb to score. Hammrick ended the attack by striking out.

Mena exploded with four runs in the fourth to take a seemingly insurmountable 9-4 lead.

Blair,