Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devils Fall In Offensive Game To Prescott, 15-7

Whenever Gurdon and Prescott meet in an athletic event, fireworks are sure to follow.

It was no different when the Go-Devils traveled to Prescott Wednesday, April 3, to tangle with the Curley Wolves in baseball at the James Johnson Sports Complex.

Offense was the name of the game as both teams opened league play. However, when the final run crossed the plate, Gurdon was on the wrong end of a 15-7 score.

The Devils faced Prescott ace hurler Barrett Yates, who is 5-0 on the season. Jim Ed Hayes challenged him on the hill.

As the game began, it appeared as though Gurdon would take command and go home with a win. Cliff Hunter led off with a home run to put the Devils up 1-0.

Tony Gatlin followed by grounding out. Hayes went down on strikes and Brian McGalliard gave his team another base runner by reaching on an error. He was stranded at first when Jeff Rhodes was fanned.

Hayes was tagged for three Wolf runs in the bottom of the frame.

Yates started the attack with a single. He was replaced on the base paths by Al Johnston, who went to second when Jerome Fulks walked.

Johnston to reach third on a theft charge and scored on a passed ball. Montra Montgomery singled Fulks home to make it 2-0.

Charlie Rockett was beaned and went to first. Jamie Williams went down on strikes, but Ross Cowling singles, driving Montgomery in. John Cornelius fanned to end the inning.

The Devils were far from done as they added another run to their tally in the second.

Wade Griffin, though started the inning by grounding out. N. Griffin followed by striking out. Josh Griffin walked and advanced on Paul McMillan's single.

Hunter ripped a solid single to drive J. Griffin in. The inning ended on a fly ball by Gatlin.

Hayes ran into some problems on the hill as the Wolves scored five times in the bottom of the inning.

Jason Webb was fanned immediately, but Yates doubled. He was again replaced by Johnston.

Fulks singled Johnston in and scored when Ben Jones tripled. Jones crossed home plate when Montgomery singled.

Rockett grounded out, but Montgomery was able to circle the bases. The inning ended with Williams grounding out as well.

Trailing 7-2, the Devils again responded to the challenge. This time with a pair of runs in the top of the third.

Hayes helped himself somewhat with an inning opening double. McGalliard singled Hayes to third. Rhodes was fanned and W. Griffin grounded out, scoring Hayes and leaving a man on.

With two down, N. Griffin reached on an error, which allowed McGalliard to score. J. Griffin belted a long fly ball, that ended the inning.

The Wolves took advantage of Hayes in the bottom of the frame, by sending five runners around the bases.

Cowling singled to start the assault. Cornelius was issued a free pass. Webb's single brought Cowling in. Yates followed with an RBI single to score Cornelius.

Fulks singled to load the bases. Jones belted a sacrifice fly, scoring Webb. Montgomery ripped a single, bringing Yates and Fulks home.

Rockett went down swinging for the second out of the inning. Williams, however, was walked.

Cowling, in his second at-bat of the frame, ripped a shot back to the mound. Montgomery had started for home, reversed his field and was tagged out at third to end the inning.

From there on out, the Devils were only able to score one run a frame.

Gurdon was able to get men on base in all innings, but couldn't come up with clutch hits to bring them in.

McMillan opened the fourth by fanning. Hunter and Gatlin singled before Hayes hit into a fielder's choice. Hunter scored on the play, which saw Gatlin forced at second.

McGalliard and Rhodes walked to load the bags, but all three were left when W. Griffin flied out.

The Wolves added two more in their half the frame. Cornelius walked and scored when Webb took one over the fence, his second of the season.

The next two batters single, but never get to third as the inning ended.

The Devils added run number six in the fifth on a McMillan homer.

Prescott added its final run in the bottom of the inning.

Rockett singled, and was replaced by Shane Pipkin. Jimmy Stockton followed with a single, but Pipkin got careless and was picked off second. Brian Vanhook walked, as did Johnston.

A wild pitch allowed Stockton to go home from third.

Vanhook was tagged trying to score after the catcher's throw to the pitcher was wild. The errant toss allowed Stockton to score, but not Vanhook.

Gurdon's final offensive shot was fired in the top of the sixth.

Hayes doubled and scored on an error which allowed McGalliard to reach base. However, no other Devil runner was able to complete the circuit.

The Wolves did nothing in their half of the inning.

Four Gurdon batters went to the plate in the top of the seventh. McMillan walked and watched the next three men go down in order on strikes.

The Devils travel to Hampton today with a 4 p.m. gametime. They host Nashville in conference play Monday, April 15 at 4 p.m. on Cabe Field.