Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Tournament Unfriendly To Go-Devils

Four innings may not seem like much in baseball, but when the pitching isn't there, it's an eternity.

And, it seemed like eternity for Gurdon's Antonio Gatlin when he faced Prescott Friday, March 21, in the Prescott Tournament. The Wolves shellacked the Go-Devils 19-7 in a game called because of the time limit.

The way the tourney was set up, Gurdon was the home team, though the contest was played in Prescott. The Wolves took advantage of being the first squad to bat and recorded three runs in the top of the inning.

Formby started the game by reaching on an error. This was followed by Ross Cowling fanning. Heath Duke walked and Jared Yates being hit by a pitch to load the bases.

The Wolves scored when Williams walked, bringing Formby across, and keeping the bags packed. Jimmy Stockton laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Duke, with Yates crossing home on a wild pitch.

But, the Devils rallied, scoring two in their half of the inning. Gatlin managed to get to first on an error.

Josh Griffin followed by striking out. Justin Griffin and Josh Thomas reached on errors, which allowed Gatlin to score. Paul McMillan ripped a single to drive in Griffin. From there, though, two of the next three batters were struck out.

Prescott had a big second inning, sending five runners to touch them all.

The attack began with Ben Jones beating out a single and Webb reaching on an error which brought Jones home and Webb to advance. Formby singled, driving Webb in.

Cowling, the winning pitcher for Prescott, grounded out, before Duke walked and Yates had an RBI single to bring Formby in.

Williams came through with a double to score Duke, while Stockton's single brought Yates across the plate to end scoring.

Down, but not out, the Devils responded with a single run in the bottom of the frame.

Jennings went down on strikes before Gatlin singled. Josh Griffin grounded out, but a wild pitch allowed Gatlin to complete the scoring circuit. The frame ended with Justin Griffin grounding out.

Relentlessly, the Wolves continued their assault with another three runs in the top of the third.

This inning began with a double by Webb. For a while, it looked like the Devils may escape with no further damage done as Formby and Cowling flied out.

But, with two down, Duke reached on an error which scored Webb. This was followed by a two-run shot from Yates.

Still, the Devils fought back, adding a run in their portion of the frame.

Thomas walked, went to second when McMillan singled, and third when White walked to load the bases. Crain grounded into a fielder's choice to bring Thomas home. Hatley and Jennings were fanned to end the threat.

Unfortunately for Gurdon, the bottom fell out in the top of the fourth as the Wolves circled the bases eight times.

There was nothing pretty about it. Stockton opened with a single, scoring when Al Johnston tripled. Jones and Webb walked to fill the bags, and a fielder's choice by Formby brought Johnston home.

However, Formby was also safe at first. This meant the bases remained loaded with no one out. Cowling reached on a catcher's interference call to bring Jones across.

An error let Duke reach first safely and score Webb, still leaving the bags filled with no outs.

Yates stepped up and belted a single to bring in Formby and Cowling. Williams smacked into a fielder's choice to score Duke, and was safe himself.

Stockton reached safely on the third fielder's choice of the inning. Williams fell asleep at second and was picked off, before Johnston lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to bring Yates in. A grounder by Jones ended the inning.

Trailing 19-4, the Devils attempted to come back, and did manage to add three runs before the game ended.

Gatlin started the final frame with a walk. Josh Griffin went down swinging. Justin Griffin managed to get on due to a fielder's choice. Thomas walked to pack the bags again and McMillan singled to drive Gatlin and Griffin in.

White fanned, but Crain singled, scoring Thomas. The game ended when Hatley struck out.

The Devils are scheduled to make a trip to Fountain Lake Tuesday, April 1 to play an All Fool's Day joke on the Cobras. Gametime is set for 4 p.m., with the A and B teams to play.