Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Curley Wolves Hold Off Bismarck In 7AA Conference Opener

With two down in the ninth, runners on second and third, Ross Cowling fanned the batter to preserve an 8-7 win for the Prescott Curley Wolves against Bismarck.

The Wolves, as Coach Steve Crow said, hit a wall in the fourth inning with an 8-1 lead, and had to hang on for dear life for the remainder of the contest.

Ironically, Cowling (4-0) pitched well in going the distance. He faced only 36 batters, giving up the seven runs on four hits, but suffered control problems in allowing nine walks. But, he also recorded nine strikeouts.

Hubbard took the loss for the Lions, going one and a third innings. He took on nine Wolves, allowed two runs, three walks and three walks in his short stay on the hill.

J. Brawley finished the game for Bismarck, tangling with 22 hitters, giving up five hits, six runs, four walks and fanning eight.

The Lions drew first blood in the opening frame. Hubbard was the first walk issued by Cowling, with M. Brawley the second.

Cowling settled down and fanned the next two hitters, before issuing his third walk of the inning. A wild pitch allowed Hubbard to cross home. But, the third K of the frame ended Bismarck's threat.

The Wolves, on the other hand, were quiet in the first. Ben Jones walked, as did Jimmy Stockton, but Jared Yates grounded out, with Jones being tagged in a rundown.

Stockton was nailed attempting to head to third, thereby ending Prescott's first inning.

It was three up, one walk and a pickoff for Cowling in the second, as the Lions offense was tamed.

The Wolves, though, took control of the game offensively with three in their portion.

Al Formby grounded out, with Williams smacking a single. He came home when Al Johnston took one out of the park.

This was followed by a double from Jason Webb and a walk to Cowling and Jones to load the bases. Stockton laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to bring Webb in.

The top of the third saw the Lions remain under Cowling's leash, as the visitors could generate no offensive threat.

However, the Wolves doubled their score in the bottom of the inning, which started with Yates going down on strikes.

Formby reached on an error and Williams walked. Johnston connected with a two-bagger, driving Formby and Williams in.

Webb fanned, but a wild pitch allowed Johnston to complete the circuit.

Bismarck was still in check in the top of the fourth, as Cowling was deadly in his accuracy from the hill. He fanned two and got the other batter to ground out.

Prescott's offense fired its last salvo of the game with a pair in the bottom of the inning.

Jones walked, advancing on a Stockton single. Both scored on a pick off attempt which saw the ball go into the outfield.

And that was if for the Wolves, as their bats turned into icicles.

But, the lack of offense for the rest of the game wasn't Prescott's only problem. Cowling apparently lost some concentration, or Bismarck batters finally figured his pitches out, as the Lions roared back.

In the top of the fifth, Cimino and Howell walked. Hubbard lifted a fly to bring Cimino in. M. Brawley ripped a single to bring Howell in.

Schultz then walked and J. Brawley fanned, before Jackson reached on an error, which allowed Schultz to score and cut Prescott's lead to 8-5.

Johnston managed to get on first for Prescott in the fifth with a single, but was caught napping. Webb and Cowling also reached, Webb by way of a walk and Cowling a single, but both were left stranded.

Neither team could generate a threat in the sixth, though both were able to get runners on.

Then came the seventh and a near coronary for Coach Crow.

Shultz led off with a double. J. Brawley followed by striking out, as did Jackson.

At this point, things looked to be in control for the Wolves, but the scare was just around the corner. Ashcraft walked, putting runners at first and second.

Jeter smacked a single, bringing Shultz across. Cowling hit Cimino with a pitch to put fill the bags, with Ashcraft scoring on a wild pitch.

The wild pitch also allowed the other two runners to advance, putting them at second and third.

Any mistake could have cost the Wolves the game. Coach Crow stopped breathing as Cowling faced Howell, sweating as his ace went into the wind up.

Three strikes later, Crow was able to breath a big sigh of relief, as Howell was fanned and the Wolves recorded their first conference win of the season.

The win improves Prescott's record to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in 7AA play. Bismarck fell to 3-3 and 0-1.

The junior varsity Prescott team suffered its first defeat of the year, falling 7-0 to Bismarck in five innings.

M. Brawley fanned 14 Wolves, allowing only one hit by Brent Jordan.