Gold Sox luck changes

To try and change their look, several Gold Sox players and coaches tried hiking up their pants, revealing more of their “gold socks.”

The team insisted the change was not a superstition, although the act might have put a hex on the Solano Mudcats.

Solano made four crucial errors, and the Gold Sox (37-15) took advantage for a 4-3 win to open the final series of the 2004 season in Marysville on Friday night.

Three of Yuba-Sutter's four runs were unearned.

“We didn't play great tonight, but we played good enough,” said Gold Sox manager Brad Peek. “I'm not sure we were supposed to win, but I'll take it.”

Wes Porter (2-0) earned the win with 32/3 no-hit innings of relief. Even though Porter made his team-leading 22nd appearance, he earned his first decision since opening night.

Porter recently learned he'll receive a scholarship to play baseball at San Jose State next season. Originally, he was going to walk on for the Division I program.

Porter, who pitched for Yuba College the last two seasons, couldn't quite put his finger on why he has pitched so well this summer.

“I don't know. It just seems like I've gotten a lot of support in this community,” he said. “I have more confidence, and it helps being around good players all the time.”

The Gold Sox broke a 3-3 tie with an unearned run in the seventh against relievers Mike Louthian and Ryan P. Adams.

R.C. Dickerson beat out a bunt to begin the inning and stole second. Solano center fielder Da'Ronte Hollins dropped Brennan Garr's fly ball. With one out, Louthian walked Jason Searle to load the bases.

Adams entered, and Buddy Morales tapped the ball back to the pitcher, who threw home to force Dickerson for the second out. However, catcher Ryan A. Adams threw a bomb over first base, allowing Garr to score.

Dickerson was 3-for-5 with a triple.

Peek acknowledged that Dickerson's speed helped ignite the inning. Louthian fumbled Dickerson's bunt for a split-second and had to sling the ball to first just as the center fielder touched the bag.

“That was a bang-bang play,” Peek said. “Speed makes people do funny things defensively sometimes.”

Yuba-Sutter had trouble figuring out Solano starting pitcher Mike Kass, who struck out 11 in 52/3 innings but left with a no-decision. Only the first run he allowed was earned.

The Gold Sox tied the game 3-3 in the sixth after Kyle Maunus' ground ball went under the legs of third baseman Price Kendall, scoring Morales.

Gold Sox starting pitcher Craig Ayers was cruising with a 2-0 shutout until the fifth when he ran into a jam.

With two outs, Ayers walked No. 9 batter Victor Davis to load the bases and after a long battle, walked Brian Colip to force in a run.

Ryan P. Adams then followed with a two-run single to left with Chris Wilhite scoring the tying run and Davis the go-ahead one.

Yuba-Sutter took a 1-0 lead against Kass in the third inning when Ryan Angel doubled with one out and scored on Frank Jeney's two-out double.

Notes: When the Gold Sox scored in the third, it broke a string of 22 straight scoreless innings.

... Friday was the final game for Searle and reliever Gary Simmons. Simmons pitched to the final two batters and earned his first save ... The Mudcats featured Yuba City High graduate Brad Indelicato, who pinch-hit in the sixth and stayed in the game. Yuba College player C.J. Mills was also on Solano's roster, although he did not play.