Gold Sox still undefeated heading into weekend

Call it amateur baseball, call it "not just baseball, it's just fun," like their slogan, but the Marysville Gold Sox's 32-game winning streak, dating back to last season, is just plain impressive.

And it's fun.

This season's Gold Sox team has started off with a bang, going 12-0 in three weekends of play, and while the pitching has been shaky at times, there has been no shortage of offense.

The Gold Sox are averaging more than 10 runs a game, astonishing numbers no matter how you look at it.

One of the biggest cogs for the team this season has been Kyle Davis.

The outfielder made his debut after a season with New Mexico Highlands and a long drive to Marysville before throwing on a jersey a day later.

In 11 games, Davis is hitting .522 with 11 runs scored, nine doubles, 16 doubles, a slugging percentage of .870 and an on-base percentage of .569 — all team-leading numbers.

Also carrying the bats for the Gold Sox are Yuba City native Justin Lamb (.400 BA, six doubles, 14 RBIs) and Colby Harrison (.391, two HRs, nine runs, 10 RBIs).

On the mound, Chris Bataska (0.00 ERA), Brandon Creel (1.29, 1-0), Paul Moeller (1.35, 1-0), Nick Hudson (1.50, 2-0), Bobby Raymos (1.69, 2-0) and Corey Rhodes (2.25, 2-0) have been the standouts.

In 48 innings pitched, the six hurlers have combined on 80 strikeouts and just 16 walks.

However, those numbers will soon be challenged.

The Gold Sox enter their toughest stretch of the season, playing 10 games in 11 days beginning tonight.

Marysville will play the formidable Redding Colt .45s in a four-game series this weekend. The Gold Sox then head north to play their only road games of the season Tuesday and Wednesday at the Arcata Ballpark in Humboldt County against one of the top teams in Northern California — the Humboldt Crabs.

It doesn't get any easier.

The Gold Sox return home the following day to play a string of four games against a perennial power in the Seattle Studs next Thursday.