Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Devils Cooled By Hot Prescott Bats

Whenever Gurdon and Prescott meet on the field of competition a battle is sure to occur.

It was no different Wednesday, March 13, when the Go-Devils and Curley Wolves met in the championship game of the Gurdon Invitational Baseball Tournament.

However, the outcome wasn't what the Devils and their fans had hoped for as the visiting Wolves posted an 18-7 win.

The Wolves struck in the first inning to take the early lead. Barrett Yates flied out, but Jamie Williams reached on an error and stole second.

Ben Jones flied out, but Montra Montgomery singled Williams in. Charlie Rockett hit what appeared to be a home run, but the umpires ruled the ball bounced out of the park.

Instead of a four-bagger, Rockett settled for a ground-rule double. Jerome Fulks ended the first half of the inning by flying out.

Clifton Hunter got Gurdon started by walking and stealing second. However, Antonio Gatlin went down on strikes and Jim Ed Hayes grounded out. Hunter was stranded at second when Brian McGalliard fanned.

Hunter, Gurdon's ace on the hill, opened the second by walking Ross Cowling. Jason Webb followed by grounding into a fielder's choice, which saw the lead runner gunned down at second. John Cornelius then flied out. Yates also grounded into a fielder's choice, with Webb caught at second.

The Devils tied the game in their part of the frame. Josh Thomas went down swinging, but Wade Griffin singled. Justin Griffin fanned for the second out. Josh Griffin advanced Wade with a walk, who then scored on a Kenny Hughes single. Hunter walked, but Gatlin was fanned to end the inning.

Prescott regained the lead in the top of the second with Williams belting a single and swiping second. Jones flied out and Montgomery walked to put men on first and second. However, a wild pitch advanced both runners. Rockett grounded out, but got an RBI as Williams scored.

The frame ended with Fulks flying out.

Gurdon responded strongly in the bottom of the third with three runs to take a 4-2 lead.

Hayes got the ball rolling with a single before McGalliard grounded out. Thomas walked and W. Griffin drove Hayes in with a double.

Thomas went home on a wild throw from a pick-off attempt at third. Justin Griffin reached on a fielder's choice, which scored W. Griffin.

Josh Griffin went down on strikes. Hughes and Hunter are issued free passes to first, but Gatlin was fanned to end the scoring assault.

The Wolves pushed five runs across in the top of the fourth, taking command of the game for good.

Cowling and Webb walked. The pair scored when Cornelius ripped a solid double.

Yates reached on an error and Williams got on board on a fielder's choice which saw Cornelius gunned down trying to reach home.

Jones followed with a walk and Montgomery grounded out, but drove Yates in. Rockett walked and Fulks singled in Williams and Jones.

Cowling was the first and last man to bat in the inning as he grounded out.

Gurdon fought back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Hayes, McGalliard and Thomas all drew walks. Wade and Justin Griffin follow with back-to-back flies which leave the bases loaded. Josh Griffin got an easy RBI as he walked, thereby scoring Hayes. Hughes's pass to first sent McGalliard home as well.

However, Hunter went down swinging to end the inning.

But the Wolves weren't done, as they sent three more around to touch them all.

The frame started with Webb being fanned. Cornelius walked and Carlos Vanhook hit into a fielder's choice. Cornelius was again caught at home after trying to stretch the hit into a scoring opportunity.

Williams doubled, driving Vanhook in. Jones cleared the bases by taking one out of the park.

Montgomery's grounder ended the fifth for Prescott.

The Devils fired their final offensive shot in the bottom of the inning.

Gatlin got things started with a walk. Hayes and McGalliard flied out, but Gatlin advances to third on both. He scored on a pick-off attempt gone bad from the catcher to third. Thomas went down swinging.

Prescott has lived and died this season on big innings. The top of the sixth was no exception as the Wolves scored six to put the game on ice.

Rockett ripped a single and was replaced on the bases by Shane Pipkin. Fulks singled and Cowling walked to pack the bags.

All luggage was unloaded when Webb tore the cover off the ball with a grand slam, which gave Prescott a 14-7 lead.

Cornelius walked before C. Vanhook grounded out. Jimmy Stockton doubled Cornelius in.

Jones was next with a grounder for the second out. Montgomery reached on an error which allowed Stockton to score. Montgomery, though was called out trying to steal second because of batter interference by Rockett.

Wade Griffin reached on an error and Justin Griffin made it on a walk to put a runner in scoring position for Gurdon. However, the next three batters, Josh Griffin, Hughes and Hunter, were all fanned.

Just because it was a Prescott-Gurdon game, the Wolves added two more in the seventh for good measure.

With these two teams, if either gets the chance to rub it in, they take it.

The final frame began with Rockett being hit by a pitch. Again, Pipkin replaced him on the paths. Brian Vanhook went down on strikes. Cowling doubled Pipkin home and scored himself when Al Johnston doubles.

Matt Wingfield walked and Johnston was tagged out at home while attempting to score on a wild pitch. C. Vanhook ended the frame by flying out.

Down to their last three outs, the Devils attempted to come back. However, Gatlin opened by striking out before Hayes connected with a double. McGalliard also flied out before Thomas walked. The game, though, ended when Wade Griffin grounded out.

Gurdon's next game is scheduled for March 28 as the Devils host Delight. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

The Devils were slated to meet Prescott in a conference game on March 25, but the contest conflicted with Prescott's Spring Break.

This contest has been rescheduled for April 3 at 4 p.m. in Prescott.