Gold Sox drop home finale to Potters

The Yuba-sutter Gold Sox won’t be making the Great West League playoffs for the third straight year, but that doesn’t mean they are going down without a fight.

One night after rallying late for a thrilling 14-13 victory, the Gold Sox gave the Lincoln Potters all they could handle again on Wednesday night after receiving a stellar complete-game pitching performance from starter Mason Verhees.

Unfortunately for Verhees, he didn’t receive enough run support as Yuba-sutter suffered a tough 2-1 loss to the Potters in the home finale at Colusa Casino Stadium in Marysville.

Before Wednesday’s game, the GWL announced the playoffs will consist of three teams this year instead of four. They will begin Sunday with Lincoln traveling to play Medford to start a best-of-three series. The Chico Heat, who wrapped up first place, received a first-round bye and play the winner between Lincoln and Medford in the championship series beginning next Wednesday.

Verhees allowed only four hits and two earned runs while throwing 115 pitches in Wednesday’s loss. He struck out six and walked three, giving up both of his runs in the top of the second inning.

The Gold Sox scored their only run of the night in the bottom of the first when Tanner Harper drove in Brody Clifford with a single.

Tuesday night’s hero, Tyler Smith, finished with two of Yuba-sutter’s five hits as the Gold Sox finished the season 10-20 at home.

In a schedule change, Yuba-sutter will travel to play the San Francisco Seals today before concluding the season on Friday and Saturday in Oregon against the Medford Rogues. The Gold Sox (15-39) were originally slated to close the season with three games against San Francisco along with a make-up game.