Keroher, Sox blank Sultans
07/30/2005 - It was lights out for the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox and the Suisun City Sultans Saturday night at All Seasons RV Stadium, literally.
A small electrical fire in the light tower behind the third-base bleachers ended the Horizon Air Summer Series contest with a 6-0 Yuba-Sutter win officially after 6 1/2 innings.
An unknown malfunction in the transformer box at the base of the pole prompted Gold Sox staffers to clear the left-field bleachers in the top of the seventh inning. The Marysville Fire Department arrived shortly after and pulled the plug on the tower.
The game was called shortly after.
It was not immediately known if the problem could be fixed in time for Sunday night's game, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
“We will have an electrician on hand tomorrow morning at 7 a.m.,” said Peter Bavasi, Gold Sox co-managing partner, after the game.
In the event that the light tower cannot be fixed by mid-afternoon, tonight's game will start at 5:30 p.m. The scheduled pre-game safety awareness events would then happen after the game ends.
The Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox office will have an updated message on the status of tonight's game. The number is 741-3600.
The lighting problems overshadowed a marvelous pitching performance from Gold Sox starter Kody Keroher (5-2) who scattered four hits and allowed only one walk in six strong innings of work.
“He was excellent tonight,” said Peek. “He hasn't been the Kody Keroher I know he is this summer. But tonight he came out focused and pitched great.”
The win lifted the Gold Sox to 33-13 overall and 29-9 in the Summer Series. Tonight's game does not count in the standings. Yuba-Sutter is still locked in a three-way battle for first in the McCullough Division with the Solano Thunderbirds (27-7) and the Aloha Knights (29-10).
Justin Souza pitched a perfect seventh inning for the Gold Sox in his third appearance. In three total innings of work for the Gold Sox this summer, Souza has yet to allow a base runner and has five strikeouts.
Matt Vance doubled down the line to lead off the game. Vance advanced on a Jesse Rodgers single and an A.J. Valentine grounder brought him home to give the Gold Sox an early 1-0 lead.
Yuba-Sutter added a run in the fifth before scoring four runs in the sixth to break it open. The Gold Sox only got two hits in the two innings, but put 10 men on base as Suisun City pitchers Mike McDaniel and Garrett combined to walk six batters. McDaniel also hit Cole Koester with a pitch and Sultan second-baseman Bino Thompson muffed a grounder to add an error.
Jonny Norfolk went 2-for-2 from the plate with two RBIs. He also walked and scored twice.
McDaniel, the Suisun City starter, suffered the loss.
Notes: Bend Elks second baseman Michael Wilhite died in a rafting accident on the Deschutes River on Thursday.
