Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bluejays Unable To Repeat Baseball Win Over Prescott

After dropping a 6-4 decision to Nevada earlier in the season, Prescott got even with the Bluejays.

The Diamond Wolves pummelled Nevada 12-1 on March 31 to run their record to 3-1 on the season.

Ross Cowling pushed his record to 3-0 on the young season, going the distance in a no-hitter. Cowling faced 26 batters, walking six and fanning 15, while only allowing one run.

Julius Gulley took the loss for the Jays, going two frames, facing 14, giving up three hits, four walks and six runs, while striking one out.

Other Nevada pitchers included Tony Key, who spent three innings on the hill, taking on 14 Wolves, allowing four hits, two runs, no walks and seven strikeouts.

Terry Sanders was the third Jaybird to pitch. He spent two innings winging the ball, pitching to 13, allowing seven hits, one walk and four runs.

The game opened badly for Nevada, but great for Prescott as Al Johnston belted a double. Jimmy Stockton followed with a walk, before Heath Duke singled, driving both in.

Jared Yates walked, putting runners at first and second before Formby and Williams both grounded out. Williams' grounder, though, allowed Duke to score.

Cowling was dead-on as he fanned the side in the bottom of the frame.

The Wolves added another trio of runs in the top of the second, which began with Ben Jones walking.

A single by Jason Webb brought Jones in. Webb advanced when Johnston walked, and scored on a ground out by Stockton. Duke reached on an error, which allowed Johnston to cross home for the final run of the inning.

The bottom of the second was no better than the bottom of the first for Nevada as Cowling struck two out, with Key grounding out.

There was promise of more scoring from Prescott in the third when Williams doubled, but the next three batters went down on strikes to end the threat.

Again, Cowling was untouchable in the bottom of the third, as he fired three consecutive strikeouts.

Prescott's scoring machine geared up again in the top of the fourth, as the Wolves added two to their tally.

Johnston went down swinging, but Stockton singled. Duke went to first on an error and Yates belted a single to complete the circuit for Stockton.

Formby reached on an error, bringing Duke in. Yates was gunned down trying to score, and Formby was stranded when Williams lofted a fly ball.

Nevada got its first baserunner in the bottom of the frame. Following a ground out by Sam Evans, Kretz walked.

However, Todd Evans hit into a fielder's choice, with Kretz being forced at second. Key was fanned to end the inning.

It was a quiet fifth as neither team threatened, but Cowling added three more K's to his stat sheet.

The Wolves added a pair of singles in the sixth, following two fly outs. Yates, though, was caught trying pushing his luck as he attempted to go from first to third on Formby's single.

The Jays managed to score in their half the inning, but still without the benefit of a hit.

Gentry walked, but was picked off while napping at first. Gulley went down on strikes.

Sam Evans walked, as did Kretz. A passed ball allowed Evans to finish the circuit before the inning ended.

Not getting a shutout irritated the Wolves, who responded with four runs in the top of the seventh.

Williams got things started with a one-bagger, going to third on a double by Cowling. Jones belted a single to drive Williams in.

Webb flied out, but Cowling scored on a passed ball. Jones crossed home when Johnston smacked a sacrifice fly.

Stockton walked and scored on a Shane Pipkin single. Yates also singled, but was left stranded with Stockton when Formby flied out.

Four Jays went up in the bottom of the inning, with one walking, two striking out and one grounding out.

The Wolves were no kinder in the JV game as they pounded Nevada 12-2.