Six-run eighth lifts Yuba to win in finale

The Yuba College baseball team ended its season on a high note by scoring six runs in the eighth inning to come away with a 9-3 Bay Valley Conference win over Napa Valley at Gary Engleken Field on Saturday.

Travis Mraz, Jason Hamel, Nick Gauldin and Ryan Williams had consecutive RBI singles with two outs in the eighth inning before Wesley Tom cleared the bases with two-RBI double.

"They brought in some side-armer and he threw gasoline on the fire," said Yuba coach Tim Gloyd.

Zack Vawter-Scoggins allowed one earned run in 71⁄3 inning before giving way to Mike Weiler, who earned the win.

"It was a pretty good outing for him," Gloyd said of Vawter-Scoggins, who allowed four hits and struck out five in a 101-pitch effort. "He only had one bad start all year."

Hamel finished the game 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, Tom went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, Joey Gonzalez went 3-for-5 and Javier Solis went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead Yuba's 13-hit attack.

The 49ers ended the year on a roll by winning 12 of their final 15 games to finish the season 20-23 overall and 14-14 in the BVC.

"I wish we could have played all year like we did our last 15," Gloyd said, noting that injuries plagued his team and more importantly the pitching staff all year. "I'm really pleased with the way things turned out. They continued to battle."

Gauldin, who was an all-league pitcher the previous season, made just two starts after separating his shoulder early in the year, although he came back to make three appearances in the 49ers' final 10 games.

Vawter-Scoggins was scratched from a few starts due to injury and former Yuba City High product Chris Pope was a medical redshirt, leaving Yuba without its top three starters for the majority of the season.

"If our top three pitchers didn't get hurt I honestly believe we would have won league," said Gloyd. "When you lose your 1, 2 and 3 it's tough, I don't care who you are."

With Vawter-Scoggins, Woodland product Adrian Perez and Pope returning next year, the 49ers' pitching staff should be in good shape barring injury.

Offensively the 49ers will need to replace several big bats that carried the team through much of this season.

"Our pitching should be good, but we lose seven pretty good hitters," Gloyd said, noting the loss of Hamel, Mraz, Gauldin, Tom and Ed Ryan among others.

However with the return of catcher Steven Davis, who missed the entire season after being an all-BVC performer the year before, and Lindhurst High grad Ryan DeLozier at shortstop the 49ers will have two important pieces to the puzzle.