The boys are back

The Marysville Gold Sox looked to extend two streaks when they kicked off their 2010 Horizon Air Summer Series campaign against the Redding Colt .45s on Thursday night.

Not only was the collegiate wood-bat team looking to run its record to a perfect 8-0 in season openers, but the Sox were also looking to extend their streak of never having a game rained out at the friendly confines of Appeal-Democrat Park.

And while the weather was cold and many of the seats were still soaking wet, the rain just cooperated long enough for the 1,129 fans in attendance to see the Gold Sox open the summer with a 6-1 victory.

"Our grounds crew did a good job tonight because I don't think that many people thought this game would be played," said Gold Sox manager Jack Johnson. "Just to be able to play tonight in such weird weather was nothing less than special."

It was a solid all-around opener for Marysville, which saw excellent pitching and defense while pounding out 10 hits at the plate.

"We looked good tonight — and we made some great plays up the middle," said Johnson, who praised shortstop Stephen Malcolm and third baseman Adrian Perez for their strong defensive efforts, which was one of the manager's goals for the summer. "I was really happy with our defense tonight."

Malcolm flashed the glove early with a diving stop in the top of the second that saved a run and followed that up by gunning down a runner at the plate to end the inning.

Although the Gold Sox fell behind 1-0 after one inning of play, their bats would soon erupt — and leading the way was one of their key returners.

Catcher Michael Wiseman, the team's MVP from last season, got things started by crushing the first pitch of the second inning off the top of the wall in right for the Gold Sox's first hit of the year.

Wiseman eventually scored on an RBI-single by Wade Koester to tie the game, and when Niko Saladis drew a walk with the bases loaded, the Gold Sox took the lead for good.

Malcolm added to the early cushion by delivering a two-run single with two outs and Jared Thompson capped the inning hitting a line drive off the chest of Redding second baseman Garrett Yatch to bring home Brock Neil, giving the Gold Sox an insurmountable 5-1 lead at the end of the third.

The offensive output was more than enough for starting pitcher Trent Evins, who allowed one run on five hits in his six innings of work. The New Mexico Highlands junior right-hander struck out three and walked two to earn the win in his first start of the summer.

"The battery was great tonight and it was the veterans who stepped up," Johnson said. "They led us out there, so it was two good starts by those guys."

Justin Haley relieved Evins in the seventh and struck out three in two scoreless innings, while Erik Gonzalvez pitched the ninth to close out the win. Yuba City High product Aaron Crouch knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to cap the scoring for the Gold Sox.

"I didn't want to jinx anything, so I didn't even mention it," Johnson said of the home-opening win streak. "Without taking BP or infield practice before the game, all I wanted them to do was play hard. I was pleased."

Wiseman finished his big day 3 for 4 with a run scored, Koester was 2 for 3 with a double and Neil scored three runs to lead the Gold Sox, who continue the four-game series today at 7 p.m. Colusa High and Yuba College product Matt Vedo is scheduled to get the start.