Gold Sox clinch division crown

Six hours before the Marysville Gold Sox would dogpile on the pitcher's mound at Appeal-Democrat Park in jubilation, they decided to have a little fun with their manager.

Before Sunday's game against the Nor Cal Longhorns, Gold Sox players filed in and out of Marysville manager Jack Johnson's office and left their jerseys on his desk.

In a parody of the football flick "Rudy," the players gave Johnson their retro uniform tops that bear the name "Hub City" across the front and uttered, "This one's for Hub City, coach."

Any thoughts of pregame jitters proceeding a possible division-clinching victory went away quickly with laughter filling up the clubhouse.

The Gold Sox held up their promise to Johnson and clinched the franchise's second ever Horizon Air Summer Series McCullough Division title with a 9-5 victory.

Following Brandon Creel's game-ending strikeout, a brigade of Gold Sox stormed out of the dugout and commenced the postgame celebration.

Johnson received a Gatorade bath from the team and across the marquee on the center field scoreboard read, "Congratulations Gold Sox, 2011 HASS McCullough Division CHAMPS!!!"

"I think they're happy because they've invested in each other all summer long," Johnson said. "When you invest in each other and act as professional as they have, they deserve something like this."

Sunday's win marks Marysville's first McCullough Division championship since 2006. The team is still riding a gaudy winning streak, which currently sits at 16 straight.

The Gold Sox (35-8-1, 30-8-1 in HASS) broke open a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with six runs.

With the bases loaded, first baseman Brock Neil hit a double to bring in two runs. The Gold Sox ended the frame with a 9-3 lead.

Overall, Marysville totaled 13 hits.

Drenched from his victory bath, Johnson said his team's accomplishments, namely a 30-win season and division title, are experiences his players need to share with their respective programs when school begins.

Several Gold Sox players hail from teams that haven't had winning seasons or playoff aspirations in years. Now that they have had a taste of success, they need to carry that over to the spring season.

"That's the biggest message," Johnson said. "They need to lead by example."