Sox last weekend begins
Thursday, August 4, 2005 - If you haven't made it to All Seasons RV Stadium to see the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox in action this year, you've got just four chances left.
“We've played some exciting baseball this year,” said Gold Sox manager Brad Peek. “This is a chance to see some guys who'll be playing professionally by this time next year.”
The Gold Sox will play their final Horizon Air Summer Series game tonight against the visiting Solano Thunderbirds before wrapping up the season with a three-game series against the Solano Mudcats in Marysville starting Friday. All four games will start at 7:15 p.m.
The Thunderbirds clinched the McCullough Division title Wednesday with a 4-2 win over the Oakland Eagles. They lead the Gold Sox by two and a half games.
The Gold Sox will have a post-game ceremony Sunday night that will include the presentation of a team MVP, Pitcher of the Year, Most Inspirational Player, and Gold Glove. Host families will also be recognized at that time.
“We're looking forward to a big weekend,” Gold Sox co-managing partner Peter Bavasi said. “One day these players will look back on this summer as one of their favorite memories, so we want to give them a big sendoff.”
The Gold Sox are 29-9 in the Summer Series and 34-14 for the season in their third year as a collegiate, wood-bat team.
Matt Huff (7-2) will try to be the first Gold Sox collegiate player to win eight games ever as he takes the hill tonight against the Thunderbirds.
Hill is carrying a 1.37 ERA, the lowest among the Gold Sox regular starters.
Though Peek has not yet named a starter for the season finale on Sunday, staff ace Tyler Pearson (7-3) could potentially take the ball for Yuba-Sutter. If he does, Pearson would also be going for his eighth win.
Fan favorite A.J. Valentine leads the team in most offensive categories including batting average (.341), slugging percentage (.478), runs scored (32), RBI (40), doubles (13), and home runs (4).
“It's been a great time to build relationships with the guys and it'll be hard to see them go,” said Peek. “We want to finish the season as strong as we can so it's a positive experience for the guys.”
Also scheduled for the weekend are a myriad of promotions including “Mascot Mania” on Friday when 10 different mascots will be on hand to entertain the crowd and “Fan Appreciation Night” on Sunday when the Gold Sox will give away what Bavasi described as, “a giant number of prizes throughout the night.”
There will also be ten post-game drawings for $2,500 in real gold nuggets.
Appeal-Democrat reporter Nathan Collier can be reached at 743-0512. You may e-mail him at ncollier@appeal-democrat.com.
