Gold Sox bite back against visiting Vipers

It almost felt like graduation at All Seasons RV Stadium on Saturday night.

There was a send-off, people signing things for each other, lots of pictures taken — and that was just the pregame festivities.

Jack Johnson's ballclub threw themselves an early going-away party by putting up a gaudy 17 runs against the El Dorado Hills Vipers and coasting to a 17-4 beatdown in the penultimate game of the season.

Yuba-Sutter led for most of the ballgame but really broke things open with its biggest inning of the season, a 10-run output in the seventh.

Sixteen batters came to the dish in the inning and 10 of them reached base by walk. Only three Gold Sox hitters picked up hits in the seventh, but two of those hits produced five runs.

Andy Quiring smashed a bases-clearing double to the left-center field gap and Max Stassi added a two-run double of his own.

The Gold Sox almost matched their season-high run total of 18, but their 13 hits was the team's third highest effort of the summer.

Johnson was all smiles following Saturday's victory and has enjoyed this weekend because not only is his team 3-0, but they're having fun at the same time.

"We had fun, but still took care of business," Johnson said. "They're holding on to the fact they'll be playing (tonight) for one last time as a team. They realize that this is it."

It's beginning to become a trend that the Gold Sox get down early, but manage to come back.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, Danny Brown smashed his second homer in two games over the left field wall to put Yuba-Sutter back on top 2-1.

The Vipers regained the lead the very next inning with two runs, but the Gold Sox would take the lead for good in the bottom of the third.

Mikey Raudenbush singled in two runs and Dan Black added another RBI to extend the lead to 6-3.

"The bottom line is (today) they have to come out here and play one last game for the fans," Johnson said. "I'll enjoy all nine innings tomorrow before we have to say goodbye."

Gold Sox fans aren't looking forward to bidding farewell to one of their favorites - starting pitcher Andy Hebrard.

The right-hander out of Missouri Western State University was a consistent presence in leading the YMCA, chicken and many other dances during ballgames, but he also did some work on the mound.

He improved to 3-0 on Saturday and tossed six innings, allowing four earned runs and he struck out six.

Gold Sox starters haven't walked a single batter this weekend.

Hebrard wishes he could return next summer, but as a senior he will be done playing after next spring.

Yuba-Sutter closes out the season tonight against the Vipers with Fan Appreciation Night.

With his signature smile, Hebrard laughed and said the pleasure was all his.

"I love the guys, love the community, the coaches and everything about the Gold Sox organization," Hebrard said. "It's been an awesome experience. I was just happy to be here."