Stompers rout Bercovich Honors 14-3 to complete undefeated non-league slate

By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer

Stompers catcher Andrew Bonfigli went 3 for 4 in Saturday’s contest with two RBIs. He also made several crucial defensive plays behind the dish, including catching two Honors runners attempting to steal second base.

The Sonoma Stompers defeated the Bercovich Honors 14-3 Saturday night at Arnold Field in Sonoma, Calif. The Stompers jumped out to a 5-0 lead through two innings and never looked back in their third win of the season. 

Sonoma struck first in the first inning on an error by Bercovich infielder Santino Nunez. The Stompers added onto their lead with a four-run second inning, capped by a two-run home run by designated hitter Hunter Carlson over the right field wall. 

Bercovich responded with three runs in the top of the third inning to cut Sonoma’s lead down to 5-3. With the bases loaded and two outs, right-handed pitcher Scotty Kato entered the game in relief of right-handed pitcher Patrick Richardson. Kate recorded a three-pitch strikeout to end the top half of the frame.

Richardson struggled, lasting only 0.2 innings pitched and allowing three earned runs in his first outing of the year.  

However, the Stompers put up one run in the bottom of the inning before scoring three in the fourth to blow the game open. Catcher Andrew Bonfigli and Carlson both hit RBI doubles in the fourth. 

Carlson had been due for a big offensive game, and Saturday night he delivered, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs. 

Bonfigli was also all over the field Saturday.  

In the opening frame, the 6-foot-1 backstop made a couple of stops to prevent further runners from advancing and threw out a runner attempting to steal second base on a double steal to end the opening frame.  

His high level of play stayed the same as the game progressed. 

Stompers manager Zack Pace called Bonfigli’s 3 for 4 day at the plate and performance in the field “impressive” postgame. 

“He had some great defensive plays tonight,” Pace said. “I was just impressed by his first at-bat particularly... he kind of set the ball rolling offensively.” 

In the sixth inning, the long ball struck again for the Stompers. Infielder Bryson Alaya hit a two-run home run that cleared the left field wall to give Sonoma an 11-3 lead.  

Then, catcher Angel Garcia delivered a two-run double to wrap up a four-run inning. Sonoma added its 14th run of the affair the next inning. 

Ultimately, the offensive outburst carried the Stompers to victory.  

“They [the offense] did quite a good job; they had a lot of quality at-bats,” Pace said. “The guys just grinded and got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it and took what the game gave us.” 

Strong defense and shutdown pitching outside of the third inning helped preserve the Sonoma’s lead. 

Infielder Caze Derammelaere made two plays that helped seal the lead for Sonoma. 

The first came on a barehanded play, where he charged a slow roller and threw across the diamond, where infielder Anthony Scheppler scooped it at first base, in time to retire the runner 

The second came on a line-drive double play that ended the inning and helped Sonoma escape a jam with runners on second and third. 

Pace called Derammelaere’s play “one of the better barehand” efforts he had seen in his nine-year tenure as the Stompers’ manager. 

After allowing three runs in the third inning, Sonoma's pitching staff held the Honors scoreless over the final six innings to secure the blowout victory. 

After two days off, Sonoma will continue its five-game homestand Tuesday night against the San Luis Obispo Blues to begin North Division California Collegiate League play. First pitch will be at 6:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed on YouTube. 

Stompers battle back from early deficit to sweep the Red Tails

By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer

Stompers infielder Caze Derammelaere went 2 for 4 in the contest, picking up two RBIs including a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth inning.

The Sonoma Stompers defeated the California Red Tails for the second straight day, completing a sweep, Friday night at Arnold Field in Sonoma, California. The Stompers overcame an early deficit to secure a 6-4 victory and remain undefeated on the season. 

The Red Tails struck first in the second inning. After an error by infielder Ben Sebastiani put runners on second and third, consecutive singles gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. One hit dropped in front of infielder Anthony Scheppler, while the other found its way through the right side of the infield. 

Sonoma answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

The rally began when designated hitter Ryland Heckman laid down a sacrifice bunt. The Red Tails overthrew first base on the play, allowing two Stompers runners to score. Two batters later, outfielder Trent Keys delivered an RBI single to tie the game. 

The successful small-ball sequence wasn't something Stompers manager Zack Pace called from the dugout intentionally. 

"I didn't call the bunt; I had him do it on his own," Pace said after the game. "I kind of want to see if they will do it on their own these first few games. I did emphasize today how huge that was and what that leads to." 

The Stompers took their first lead of the game in the fifth inning when infielder Caze Derammelaere drove in two runs with a single, putting Sonoma in front for good. 

Pace praised Derammelaere's all-around approach and leadership on the field, pointing him out as one of the leaders of the group early on. 

"He's going to play the game the right way. He's going to play the small-ball game. He's going to play good defense," Pace said. "He's what a coach wants; he says the right things. He's a great glue guy for us." 

After allowing two runs early, Sonoma's pitching staff settled in and dominated the middle innings. Stompers pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts while limiting the Red Tails' offense the rest of the way. 

Sonoma added an insurance run in the eighth inning, a run that proved crucial in the ninth. 

Right-handed pitcher Wesley Harwell opened the frame by issuing four consecutive walks, forcing Pace to make a change. He turned to right-handed pitcher Gage McCown, who had been scheduled to start Saturday's game, 

McCown recorded the final three outs by striking out the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 hitters in order to seal the victory. 

"It was a great job out of Gage," Pace said. "He picked up a teammate, and that's all you can ask for from a pitcher." 

Sonoma will look to stay undefeated Saturday night when it hosts the Bercovich Honors at Arnold Field to conclude non-league play. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m., and the game will be streamed on YouTube. 

Stompers pull away late to secure Opening Day victory against the Red Tails

By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer

Stompers starter Shawn McBroom pitched two scoreless innings and recorded three strikeouts in Sonoma’s 7-3 win at Arnold Field Thursday night.

Sonoma Stompers manager Zack Pace walked to the mound and motioned to the bullpen. Right-handed pitcher Sam Schnitzer jogged in with runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the eighth inning Thursday night at Arnold Field in Sonoma, California. 

The Stompers clung to a 4-3 lead as fans sat anxiously in their seats.  

Schnitzer walked the first batter he faced. But he responded with a four-pitch strikeout, escaping the jam. Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Sonoma pulled away late by scoring three runs to secure a 7-3 Opening Day win over the California Red Tails. 

Pace said that Schnitzer’s performance was “gutsy”, one that helped solidify the Stompers’ first victory of the year.  

“It was huge... he had a tough at-bat on the first one. But then, he, you know, he shut the door and got us out of the inning,” Pace said. “It was just outstanding; those are the kinds of things you live for as a pitcher.” 

In last year’s opening contest, Sonoma blew a four-run lead in the final inning. This year, it was able to close the door with the same lead, which came as a relief to Pace despite inheriting mostly a “new squad” aside from a few returning players. 

“That’s the tough part at the beginning of the year. I don’t know any of these guys,” Pace said. “I haven’t seen any of these guys throw really for the most part... and for these guys too, it’s the first time they’ve played in front of a big crowd and atmosphere.” 

Despite the unfamiliarity with the pitching, the arms were able to deliver for the Stompers. 

The successful performance was started by right-handed pitcher Shawn McBroom, who went two innings and picked up three strikeouts over six batters. The Antioch, California native didn’t allow a base hit in his first start of the season. 

Pace described McBroom as "the quiet guy who gets his work done and goes about his business." 

“He doesn’t say a lot,” Pace said. “But he says a lot with his arm; he fills [the strike zone] up and does a heck of a job.” 

The bullpen finished the job. Six pitchers covered the final seven innings and allowed only three earned runs. The bullpen picked up 11 strikeouts as a group. 

In crucial situations, the bullpen was able to navigate through a couple of bases loaded jams without surrendering a run. In each of those situations, Stompers pitching coach Mike Nunez came out to the mound to speak to his pitcher. 

“I think our pitchers have a lot of good stuff which is why they got a lot of swing and miss,” Pace said. “We call Nune the genius. Every time he goes out there, he has good chatter for the pitcher; he gets us out of the inning.” 

Sonoma’s offense found its footing in the bottom of the second to back up the dominant pitching. The Stompers scored two runs on singles by both outfielder Trent Keys and infielder Tino Vasell.  

It took five innings for the Stompers to score another run, but with Sonoma’s shut down pitching it didn’t matter. Designated hitter Ryland Heckman delivered with a two-run single to extend Sonoma’s lead to 4-0 in the seventh inning. 

For Heckman, it was his first time playing since high school — a full year — as he redshirted his freshman season at Umpqua Community College. Yet, it didn’t matter. Ultimately, the Gig Harbor, Washington native went 1 for 2 with two RBIs and one strikeout from the plate in Thursday’s contest.  

“He came through in a clutch situation,” Pace said. “I was definitely impressed... he was impressive at the plate tonight.” 

The victory on Opening Day was a step in the right direction for the Stompers. But they will have to continue to build on that success as league play starts Tuesday against the San Luis Obispo Blues after two more non-league contests. 

The Stompers will look to extend their win streak and remain undefeated on the season as they return to Arnold Field Friday night to host the Red Tails again. First pitch will be at 6:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed on YouTube.  

Forever a Stomper: Max Handron’s baseball legacy thrives through Sonoma

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After three seasons with the Stompers and countless more across Northern California, Max Handron’s final summer in Sonoma before moving to Australia was a true homecoming. Photos Courtesy of Max Handron. Collage by Jordan Kimball.

Max Handron knew an operating room in San Francisco, a team of surgeons and months of recovery awaited him the next morning. His quad was completely torn. The plan was to rest, but instead, Handron grabbed his glove.

It was June 30, 2022, and Handron was swinging a hot bat entering his final game before hitting the sidelines. The Stompers were set to face the Lincoln Potters, who sat in third place in the CCL North; Sonoma ranked last. Handron was determined to give his team a fighting chance at making the playoffs.

So instead of resting for surgery, he made the nearly three-hour drive to McBean Stadium for the Stompers’ 6:37 p.m. matchup with the Potters. Without a second thought, manager Zack Pace penciled Handron into the three-hole, where he recorded one hit in five at-bats.

When the final out was recorded at 9:06 p.m., Handron drove home, catching only a few hours of sleep before leaving for San Francisco at dawn for his 8 a.m. surgery.

“It felt like yet another blow. It was one more obstacle. But he was ready for it,” Handron’s father, Mark, said. “There was such mental discipline and strength for him.”

That game in Lincoln was one of many defining moments in Handron’s three-year career with the Stompers. While the 2025 season marked his final summer with the team and at Arnold Field, it’s a place that became a second home. 

“It’s been incredible to have the (Stompers) as a hometown resource and team to come back to every year,” Handron said. “It’s a really comfortable spot for me.”

“It’s been incredible to have the (Stompers) as a hometown resource and team to come back to every year.””

— Max Handron, Stompers Infielder

In his Glen Ellen cul-de-sac, bursting with kids a few years older, Handron just tried to keep up. But once the wiffle ball gear came out, all eyes turned his way. Running around in his flip-flops, 4-year-old Handron’s love for baseball was born. Standing in the left-handed batter’s box, he swung like he’d been practicing for years, Mark said.

While he started on the pitch, Handron’s play on the diamond took center stage. He played T-ball at age 6, spending hours at the formerly known Paul’s Field.

After transitioning from Sonoma Valley Little League to Sonoma’s Babe Ruth League, Handron’s passion for baseball reached its peak. He was 13, playing up with his 15-year-old brother, Liam. With Handron’s short frame and minimal power, the opposing outfield shifted inward; He struck a ball far over their heads, he said. That moment not only solidified Handron’s passion for the game but also became the day Liam chose to walk away.

“It became pretty clear that, No. 1, he knew he had to keep up, but No. 2, he was a damn good baseball player, and he was better than everyone else,” Mark said of Handron.

On Arnold Field for Babe Ruth baseball and eventually Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity squad during his sophomore year, Handron became a mainstay in the infield.

As one of the Dragons’ youngest players, he often learned from his teammates’ and coaches’ examples, allowing his performances to do the talking. At one point during his first year with the squad, he rode a 13-game hit streak.

On April 14, 2017, in a contest with Rancho Cotate, there were two outs in the bottom of the ninth. A runner straddled third base with Handron at the dish. There was no time for doubt. Handron rifled a ground ball up the middle and into the outfield. The Arnold Field crowd erupted as two runners crossed home. 

“He was always the kid that was clutch for his team. His best moments are when there’s a full count, tons of pressure, bottom of the ninth. He found the gap and just got it done,” Mark said.

After reaching the North Coast Section playoffs in his junior and senior seasons, Handron wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats. His only offers were from Santa Rosa Junior College and Menlo College, though, and the then-5-foot-10, 170-pound infielder dreamed of playing Division I baseball.

At the College of the Holy Cross, Handron’s great-grandfather, Clement J. Handron, pitched to Lou Gehrig when he dug in for Columbia. As Clement forged a semi-professional career with the Albany Senators in 1927, Handron aspired to follow in his footsteps.

With Handron’s sister, Emma, at St. Bonaventure, he decided to join her and walk on to its baseball team. In his lone year with the Bonnies, though, Handron received just two at-bats off the bench in three games.

While he enjoyed his time in New York, he was looking for more competitive baseball. Handron knew what he was capable of, deciding to return home and play for Santa Rosa Junior College to develop and work his way back to a D-I program. His first step in the move was speaking with Bear Cubs manager Damon Neidlinger.

“You’re gonna get a sh*t ton of reps. You’re going to develop. But nothing will be given to you. Once you get here, you prove you can play in my lineup,” Neidlinger said in his first conversation with Handron.

Max Handron takes a swing during an at-bat at Santa Rosa Junior College. Just 30 minutes away from Arnold Field, Handron felt at home during his two seasons with the Bear Cubs, finishing with a .306 batting average. Courtesy of Max Handron

He wasn’t looking for a spot, but instead, an opportunity. Neidlinger’s mentality and instilled mindset in Handron unleashed his potential. Transitioning from D-I to junior college allowed him to refine his mechanics. He built power working with Neidlinger and Joey Gomes — a former Minor League Baseball player. The proof was in the performance.

In a shortened 2021 season, Handron posted a .315 batting average across 13 games. In the Big 8 Bash that year — an annual showcase among the teams of the Big 8 Conference — Handron drew California, Berkeley manager Mike Neu’s attention.

Facing 93-mile-per-hour fastballs from a potential MLB Draft pick, Handron delivered bullet after bullet up the middle, Neidlinger said. When Neu approached Neidlinger after the event concluded, the praise came naturally.

“Max did the work himself. He wants the truth. Our program has always been based on the fact there are no givens to anybody,” Neidlinger said. “Max never had a problem with that and actually excelled in that environment.”

Handron’s second season with SRJC saw him perform at an even higher level. He hit .303 in 34 games, while driving in 21 runs, propelling the Bear Cubs to the first round of the CCCAA Northern Regional.

That’s when Handron tore his quad. The pain was intense, but he took just 10 days off after being told it was a pulled muscle. Through the remainder of that season, Handron hobbled from shortstop to second base. Yet he refused to quit. 

“If he knew how bad that (injury was), that is some hero sh*t,” Neidlinger said. “For him to just keep playing shows a lot about who Max is.”

Handron’s entire first fall at Cal consisted of physical therapy and recovery. Alongside Tyler Stasiowski, his roommate and a teammate from SRJC, Handron still breathed baseball. 

Stasiowski, a Sebastopol native, also worked from SRJC to Cal. He’d pitch to Handron, helping him build strength that resulted in 42 starts at second and third base in his first season with the Golden Bears.

Max Handron prepares to make a play for the Stompers in 2024. The third baseman finished the season hitting .421 with a .950 OPS through five games.

During the campaign, they traveled south to play UCLA for a three-game set. In the series, the infielder hit .375 (6-for-16) with four home runs and eight RBIs.

“He just walks in there, and you instantly know he’s hitting a home run,” Stasiowski said of that weekend. “He just shows up in the big moments.”

In Handron’s next two years in Berkeley, he continued to produce. On May 15, in his second-to-last collegiate series, Boston College traveled west for an Atlantic Coast Conference contest with the Golden Bears. BC jumped out to an early 3-2 lead, which eventually grew to 6-4 in the ninth inning. But in the bottom half, Jacob French drove in two runs with a home run.

Then, after PJ Moutzouridis singled up the middle, Handron stepped to the plate. Down 0-1 in the count, he lifted a ball deep to right field. Eagles outfielder Jack Toomey raced it to the warning track but could only watch as it sailed well over the fence.

As Handron’s Cal career was capped by that moment, his time on the diamond also looked to be over. Yet he had one last chance to play for the Stompers and wouldn’t let it pass up.

Handron’s return to Sonoma was nothing short of storybook. He grew up there, played two seasons just 30 minutes away at SRJC and was about an hour south at Cal. This was his homecoming.

And he didn’t disappoint. Over 19 games, Handron batted .439 with a team-high six home runs.

“That’s the guy I want up. He’s our best hitter and a veteran guy for a reason,” Pace said. “I have all the confidence in the world he’ll get the job done.”

As the Stompers fell to the Conejo Oaks in the CCL Championship, Handron’s time in orange and blue came to an end. But his journey is far from over. He’s set to head to Melbourne, Australia, to chase his professional dreams. Though he’s moving on, the mark Handron left on the Stompers — and the mark they left on him — will endure.

“Sonoma is my home, and the Sonoma Stompers are my home,” Handron said. “At the end of the day, there’s no place like home.”

Analyzing the numbers behind the Stompers’ 2025 campaign

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers led the California Collegiate League with 282 runs, powering their way to a CCL North title, 32 wins and their first-ever CCL Championship appearance.

Gabriel Tapia took two strikes from Oaks reliever Matthew Queen. He then whiffed at Queen’s final offering. Conejo stormed the mound. Sonoma watched in defeat. The Stompers quickly raced out to right field, where manager Zack Pace often holds his postgame meetings. As soon as it was over, the team posed for pictures. Smiles all around.

It’s no secret second-place often stings the most, but for Sonoma, it signaled a step in the right direction. The Stompers were an underdog all season. The Merchants put up a fight, and with Sonoma’s immense roster turnover, the Blues and Crawdads had a chance to capitalize on the lack of continuity and make a push for the top spot. But the Stompers stood tall.

For nearly two months, Sonoma sat atop the CCL North. Nic Sebastiani’s two-run walk-off home run in the CCL North title game powered the Stompers to their first-ever CCL Championship. The Oaks were a challenge, but for eight innings in Game 1, Sonoma competed. It led 9-4, and while its collapse in the ninth may have foreshadowed Saturday’s elimination game, the Stompers’ lows were only footnotes in an otherwise standout season.

Here are the numbers that defined Sonoma’s (32-19, 25-15 CCL) 2025 campaign:

282 runs

In 2024, the Stompers were in a nearly identical spot as this year. They were one of the three teams that qualified for the CCL playoffs and, after defeating SLO in the divisional semifinals, faced Walnut Creek in the title game. Sound familiar? Yet what limited Sonoma from making its mark was its inability to score runs.

This time around, the Stompers rewrote the narrative; Offensive production was the least of their worries. Across its 40 games, Sonoma scored 282 runs, the highest mark in the CCL. It’s a 101-run increase from 2024, and ultimately, it propelled the Stompers toward stronger results. They averaged 7.05 runs per game and plated seven-plus runs 18 times.

Whether by small or large margins, Sonoma scored runs when needed. In early June, its offense jump-started by scoring 14 runs in two straight games against the Seagulls. It had an 18-run showing a month later, again against San Francisco, and defeated the Legends in a 17-13 four-hour battle. The Stompers’ bats caught fire on multiple occasions, and without those bursts, their success wouldn’t have been possible.

23 home runs

Pace has emphasized keeping the line moving, regularly saying Sonoma is a small-ball organization. The statistics say otherwise. When the regular season wrapped up, the Stompers had hit a CCL-best 23 home runs. Their most significant one came against the Crawdads in the playoffs, though, their 24th and final homer of the season.

Sebastiani entered the batter’s box with composure. Pace and his staff had already relayed the message to him to swing away, and that was all he needed. In the 10th inning, with Max Handron on second base down one run, Sebastiani lifted a hanging curveball over the left-field fence. Arnold Field erupted, and Sonoma’s dugout streamed onto the field.

Sebastiani’s long ball may have been the most memorable, but there were lots of contributors to the power surge. Leading the way was two-spot athlete Brady Shannon. His 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame spurred his five home runs ahead of his departure following the CCL Showcase Game. Taking his place on the leaderboard was Handron, who ended the season with a team-high six home runs and a team-best .439 batting average. Sebastiani had five, Paul Lizzul hit three and four other players tallied at least one.

109 hit-by-pitches

The phrase “free passes” was often repeated between Pace and his staff. Sonoma’s margins in most categories were slim, but hit-by-pitches stood out clearly. The Stompers finished with 109 hit-by-pitches, well ahead of the Merchants, who ranked second with 78.

Trent Keys, who was hit a league-high 18 times, also scored a team-high 30 runs. Anthony Scheppler followed with 13 hit-by-pitches, while Sebastiani and Colton Boardman were each plunked 11 times. In total, 21 of Sonoma’s 27 players were hit at least once over the season. Those free passes played a key role in boosting the Stompers’ offense.

3.30 earned run average

On the mound, the Stompers’ arms were occasionally shaky, but their 3.30 ERA still ranked second in the CCL. Their bullpen found common ground with the starters, as down the stretch, Pace was able to rely on two or three arms per game instead of burning through four or five.

Devon Laguinto paced Sonoma’s rotation. The Delta College transfer led the team with 32.2 innings pitched, showcasing his dominance with a complete game shutout against the Legends on July 1 — the CCL’s only complete game this season.

In terms of ERA, Jayden Harper led starters at 0.50 through four outings. Shawn McBroom — who opened Wednesday’s semifinal matchup with the Crawdads — displayed a 2.12 ERA while Harun Pelja’s, Nick Santivanez’s and David Howard’s all sat below four.

Out of the bullpen, flamethrower Luke Duncan completed all eight of his outings without allowing an earned run. Justin Jones posted a 0.60 ERA, and Heeryun Han finished at 1.80. Three additional Stompers relievers ended the season with ERAs under 3.00, giving Sonoma steady support in high-pressure innings.

Oaks sweep Stompers with 9-3 win to claim CCL Championship

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers didn’t record their first hit until the sixth inning, but it was too little, too late to overcome the Oaks’ seven-run lead, as Conejo secured the CCL Championship for the second consecutive year.

Persistence. Gritty. Resilient. Relentless.

In a general sense, a stomper is someone or something that stomps — moves with heavy, forceful steps, often showing power, confidence or aggression. In a sports sense, it’s a dominant player or team that overpowers opponents.

There’s no other way to describe it. A wrecking force. Ruthless. Driven. A powerhouse. It can all be said. The 2025 Sonoma Stompers were a machine. They displayed drive, might, surge and their energy rose by the final leg. But all good things must come to an end.

Sonoma’s season was closing this weekend. Whether it was with a trophy in hand or while sulking in defeat, the Stompers were returning to Northern California with their campaign in the rearview mirror.

Unfortunately, it was the latter. Sonoma didn’t have it in them. It was an underdog all season. Cruising through a schedule filled with the Seagulls, Merchants and Legends only prepared the Stompers for contests with the heavyweight Blues and Crawdads. After 48 games, Sonoma was atop the CCL North standings.

It defeated Walnut Creek in an instant classic, with Nic Sebastiani playing the hero with a two-run walk-off home run. Yet the Conejo Oaks were too much to handle. They were the team to beat, but the Stompers couldn’t pull it off.

After being stunned 10-9 Friday in Game 1 of the CCL Championship Series, Sonoma’s (32-19, 25-15 CCL) season ended one day later following a 9-3 defeat to the Oaks. It was the furthest the Stompers had made it since joining the CCL in 2022, but Conejo carried the trophy when it was all said and done.

When looking at Sonoma’s season, there’s far more positives than negatives. A 32-win season under seven-year manager Zack Pace? Unreal. Leading the CCL North in the standings for more than a month? Next level. A CCL Championship appearance? Must be a joke.

Just two years ago, the Stompers were clinging to their competition. They’d recently transitioned from the Pacific Association — which they won in 2016 — to a collegiate summer league focused on forming the next generation of college baseball stars.

They grew from the ground. Pace adapted alongside a staff of Paul Maytorena, Mike Nunes, Casey Gilroy and Dave Hoch, among others. A brand new roster was formed, and expectations were minimal. But four years later, with its back against the wall, Sonoma was competing for it all.

After scoring six runs in the ninth inning Friday, Conejo started Saturday’s contest right where it left off. Its spark in the opening innings became the difference in taking control for the remainder of the game.

Across the season, Brandon Leon made six appearances on the mound but only started two. His most recent outing lasted 3.2 innings against the Philippines, in which the Modesto Junior College righty surrendered just one run and three hits. He’d shown he could go the distance, at least to the point Pace needed him to with a bolstered bullpen.

But Leon’s performance was far from what was displayed on July 26. This time around, he gave up three hits in the opening frame, which resulted in Tommy Kendlinger and Tyler Holley — Friday’s walk-off hero — coming home.

Instead of the Stompers matching the Oaks’ output, they sat quietly. Going down 1-2-3 in the first inning? Just the championship jitters. But as the game progressed, Sonoma’s offense remained stagnant, and Conejo took advantage.

Xander Sielken, who recorded four hits in Friday’s loss, grounded out to open the second. Cam Hegamin then copied Sielken before Kyle Olimpia was retired on strikes. Two innings were a bit of a concern, but a two-run lead was still manageable to mount a comeback. Until it became four, then six and finally seven.

By the sixth inning, Sonoma sat scoreless. With a third of the game to go, the Stompers looked more focused on cutting the deficit than winning. They hadn’t recorded a hit. Their only offensive output to that point was one error and a hit-by-pitch in the third inning.

All of a sudden, a run came across the board. Finally, a step in the right direction. Esteban Sepulveda and Trent Keys opened the inning with walks. Max Handron — in his final collegiate game — then singled to score the catcher and cut Sonoma’s deficit to six.

One by one, all the Stompers had to do was produce. All season, they’d found ways to win. Whether it was by a “Stompers’ special,” a defensive miscue or a no-doubt nuke, as Sebastiani displayed Wednesday, Sonoma had seen it all. On Saturday, however, the exciting moments belonged to the past.

Gabe Howard was lights out for the Oaks all year. Sporting a 0.75 ERA across six showings, there was no doubt he would come through when the lights shined brightest. With Oregon, the West Linn native carried a 5.87 ERA, but his season with Conejo was an entirely different story.

Pitching at least four innings in his final four outings, Howard’s shown he has what it takes to lead the Oaks to victory. Saturday was no different. As he cruised through five no-hit innings, his slight slip in the sixth didn’t really push him back.

Howard pitched through one more inning, allowing one more run, but finished with six strikeouts while giving up just one hit.

The Stompers were down to their final leg. In the eighth, they went down in order.

When Handron walked to the plate in the ninth, everything was on the line. There was nothing to lose. Yet Handron kept Sonoma’s offensive trend going with a strikeout swinging. Sebastiani tripled before scoring on a single by Sielken, but it was far too late.

The Oaks crowded the dugout fence. Olimpia popped out to first base. Gabriel Tapia then took two strikes before whiffing through the final offering from Conejo’s Matthew Queen, closing the game and season for the Oaks.

Persistence. Gritty. Resilient. Relentless.

These words defined the 2025 Sonoma Stompers. While their season ended short of a championship, they proved they’re built to rise again.

Oaks stun Stompers with 6-run 9th to take CCL Championship Game 1, 10-9

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After facing a 9-4 deficit in the ninth inning, the Oaks used five free passes and recorded three hits to stun the Stompers and take Game 1 of the CCL Championship Series.

It was anything but silent, yet the Stompers were at a loss for words.

Entering the bottom of the ninth inning, they’d written the script in Game 1 of the CCL Championship Series. Sonoma led 9-4. Its offense had exploded for seven runs in the first five innings.

The Oaks rank second to last in the CCL in errors with 65, and the Stompers abused them. Conejo made five miscues in the field. In return, Sonoma scored two unearned runs that proved crucial.

It was three outs away from a Game 1 victory, further cementing its greatest season since joining the CCL in 2021. Tyler Holley grabbed the pen, though. He inked all over the Stompers’ script.

In a split second, a Gatorade jug was being aggressively poured on a man in blue. It wasn’t Sonoma manager Zack Pace in his navy blue. Instead, it was Holley in his sky blue uniform with 20-plus teammates chasing him through left field. Designated hitter Landon West stripped Holley’s No. 7 jersey and held it high toward Sonoma’s dugout. It cut deep. Absolute stunner.

After the Stompers seemed poised to take the win, Holley became Conejo’s hero with a two-run walk-off double to cap a six-run ninth inning. With the 10-9 loss, Sonoma (32-18, 25-15 CCL) now faces elimination, while the Oaks sit just one win away from repeating as CCL champions.

Holley’s all too familiar in Wine Country. A La Verne native, he made the move up to Northern California last summer to serve as an infielder and power bat for the Stompers. The Cal State Fullerton junior hit .233 across 40 games at Arnold Field, but he was ready for a change. So he joined the 2024 champion Oaks, where he’s enjoyed an offensive resurgence.

He leads Conejo in home runs and RBIs and has displayed a clutch gene that fueled it to the finals. His most recent showing was a two-hit, two-RBI day in the Oaks’ win over the Arroyo Seco Saints in the South Championship. In the sixth inning, with the score knotted at one apiece, Holley annihilated the eventual game-winner, a 96-mile-per-hour double off the right-field wall to clear the bases and give Conejo a 3-1 lead.

Sonoma must keep a heating-up Holley cool. On Friday, it did no such thing. Dealing with a 2-2 count, Chris Albee — who was a member of the Stompers last season — tossed a middle-middle fastball Holley’s way; He clobbered it down the left-field line. Tommy Kendlinger scored. Devon Wilkes crossed home. 1-0 Oaks.

Holley’s knock entirely flipped the script. A team that never led until the final swing burst into an outrageous celebration. It was Sonoma’s game to lose. It set the rhythm. What had happened? It didn’t look like a collapse was coming. The Stompers had the edge.

In the first inning, Xander Sielken scorched a line drive to second baseman Ethan Gonzalez, who gloved it and nearly doubled Nic Sebastiani up at first base. Instead, Gonzalez’s throw rolled near the Stompers' dugout. Quinn Medin came in, quickly putting Sonoma ahead.

Gonzalez righted his wrong in the second with an RBI single, but in the next frame, Sielken traded places with Max Handron at second base when he doubled toward the 320-sign in right field.

The Stompers’ feet remained on the gas. Handron drove in Trent Keys when he pinned a single over the leap of shortstop Zach Mora in the fourth. Medin scored on a passed ball. Sielken singled to plate Handron. All of a sudden, a 2-1 lead had ballooned into a 5-1 cushion.

Anthony Scheppler continued the breakout when he placed Oaks’ reliever Spencer Kratt’s 0-0 offering off the right-field fence, chugging into third base with a double before advancing 90 feet on an error. Paul Lizzul scored on the play.

Two pitches later, Scheppler was home after Connor Pawlowski joined the party with a single. Devon Laguinto held it down on the mound through six innings. Sonoma backed him up on the other side of the ball. In the eighth, Pawlowski and Keys both singled to make the lead 9-4.

Then, all at once, everything came crashing down.

A CCL Showcase selection, Harun Pelja often opened games for the Stompers. But despite making four starts this season, he’s shifted to a relief role down the stretch. The Melbourne, Australia, native can pitch multiple innings, helping Sonoma limit bullpen usage in games where every arm counts. With everything on the line, a 9-4 lead is the perfect situation to let Pelja keep working if his stuff is on.

First it was. Pelja escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning after winning an 11-pitch battle with Gonzalez. The next frame, one walk nullified what would’ve been a 1-2-3 inning for the Youngstown State righty. Then came the ninth, the biggest appearance in Pelja’s young Stompers career.

After taking a ball, Nolan Johnson grounded out to Handron at shortstop. One away. Jax Gimenez followed with a walk. Then Landon West walked. Mora was hit. Gonzalez plated a run on another free pass. Just like that, 9-5.

Kendlinger singled, cutting the lead to 9-6. Albee entered in relief for Pelja. Nothing changed. Wilkes doubled. Mora and Gonzalez scored. The lead was cut to one run. Joey Donnelly was intentionally walked.

A familiar face stepped up: Holley. He’d done damage before. He was ready again. Six pitches later, the game was over. Sonoma’s script had been rewritten.

Everything to know about the Oaks before Sonoma’s first-ever CCL Championship

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Conejo Oaks have committed 65 errors, the second-most in the CCL. If the Stompers can capitalize on those mistakes, they might end up hoisting the CCL trophy for the first time in franchise history.

There were once 14 teams. Then six. Four followed. Now, two teams remain in the CCL. After 10 weeks of intense competition, the Stompers have surpassed the rest and nearly stand alone. They face one last test: the Conejo Oaks.

Everything’s fresh for Sonoma. Boarding a bus to Thousand Oaks is an unfamiliar experience. Seeing the Oaks on its schedule is a first. The pressure feels foreign yet exciting for the squad.

This is what Conejo does, though. It won the CCL Championship in 2018 when the Stompers still played in the Pacific Association. After five failed attempts to battle back, the Oaks finally returned to glory last season when they defeated the Crawdads in two games by a combined score of 11-2.

Conejo’s made its mark on the league. Sonoma’s still fighting to. A battle between the past and the present awaits, and the stakes are higher than ever.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Stompers’ (32-17, 25-15 CCL) first-ever CCL Championship series against the defending champion Conejo Oaks (25-13 CCL):

How’d the Oaks get here?

It’s no secret the Oaks were the team to beat this season. Last year, they finished 24-12 before cruising through the CCL postseason with a 9-2 win over the Riptide and 7-2 and 4-0 victories over Walnut Creek. They controlled last season from start to finish and repeated the feat this year.

The CCL South and North rarely mix, so Conejo didn’t see the competition Sonoma did. But they coasted through the South’s seven other teams to claim the one-seed for the second straight year. 

At the plate, Jacob Galloway and Devon Wilkes did the heavy lifting. They both finished batting nearly .300 through 31 games. Galloway, often in the three-hole, led the squad with 22 runs and 20 walks. His OPS ranked second among remaining starters at .825, while Wilkes’ sat just 82 points lower at .743.

Charlie Decker emerged as the Oaks’ ace on the mound. His 2.57 ERA topped the team among pitchers with over 25 innings pitched, while his four wins and 39 strikeouts ranked in the CCL’s top five. After making 14 relief appearances for Conejo last season, he led the team with seven starts this time around.

Number to know: 65

Manager Zack Pace has always emphasized capitalizing on the opponent’s mistakes, but this year, his squad has taken it to a different level. People often call it the “Stompers’ special.” It’s as simple as tying games, taking leads and mounting comebacks on wild pitches and catchers’ mistakes.

The Oaks won’t let them do that much. Their 29 wild pitches are the third-lowest mark in the league. But in terms of the defense behind the pitcher, Sonoma might be running for days.

Conejo’s committed 65 errors this season, the second-most in the CCL. While the Stompers’ defense has dialed in, if their offense punishes the Oaks’ miscues, they may be hoisting the trophy come Sunday.

Sonoma’s player to watch: Nic Sebastiani

Calling Nic Sebastiani’s walk-off two-run homer on Wednesday a storybook ending doesn’t do it justice. It was a moment years in the making, dating back to his days at Sonoma Valley High School. If there’s one player to lead the Stompers to their first-ever CCL Championship, it’s Sebastiani.

After beginning 2025 slowly and being sidelined for three weeks due to injury, the Santa Rosa Junior College sophomore has been unstoppable since. He’s raised his batting average to .300 through 26 games and 90 at-bats. After not hitting a home run since June 29, Sebastiani’s long ball in the CCL North finals powered the Stompers to the CCL Championship.

There’s no better time for the hometown kid to hit his stride. His 3-for-5 day with two extra-base hits in Sonoma’s extra-innings thriller Wednesday shows Sebastiani’s a name Conejo can’t afford to overlook.

Conejo’s player to watch: Tyler Holley

One swing can define a season. On Wednesday, it went the Stompers’ way. Yet with Tyler Holley at the plate for the Oaks, momentum can shift in an instant. The Cal State Fullerton junior may not be the most consistent hitter — his .243 average reflects that — but his bat packs power, evident in his team-leading four home runs.

In the cleanup spot, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound former Stomper has done damage. His most recent display was a two-hit, two-RBI day in Conejo’s 3-1 win over the Arroyo Seco Saints in the South Championship.

In the sixth inning, with the score knotted at one apiece, Holley roped a 96-mile-per-hour double off the right-field wall to clear the bases and give the Oaks a 3-1 lead, which they never relinquished.

While Sebastiani’s heating up, Holley’s just as dangerous at the plate. To be crowned 2025 CCL Champions, Sonoma must keep him quiet.

Sebastiani’s walk-off home run sends Stompers past Crawdads 3-2, into CCL Championship

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers trailed by one run entering the bottom of the 10th inning, but one swing from Nic Sebastiani was all it took to power them past the Crawdads and into the CCL Championship.

The crack of the bat silenced the dugout chatter. The entire Stompers’ bench rose to their feet and straddled the fence. Five relief pitchers from the bullpen exited onto the field. For a split second, everyone at Arnold Field stood still. Time slowed, as eyes fixed on the ball soaring toward left field.

Most fans and players couldn’t have been more attentive to the flying white sphere. Nic Sebastiani, however, blacked out. Sonoma’s lineup is filled with local kids, but in that moment, Sebastiani was so much more. He was the final heartbeat of a team on the brink of elimination.

The Stompers trailed by one run. They were hanging onto the defending CCL North champion Walnut Creek Crawdads by a thread. The Crawdads had the momentum. Sonoma had Sebastiani.

After taking pitch No. 1 from Walnut Creek reliever Brady Wilson, Sebastiani readjusted his batting gloves. His feet remained planted in the batter’s box. He didn’t move an inch.

Chants echoed across Arnold Field. They all came to a halt when Sebastiani annihilated Wilson’s second pitch down the left field line. Max Handron was on second base from the CCL’s ghost runner rule. As the ball traveled over the fence, the Crawdads’ defense slumped into place. Motionless. Resigned. Beaten.

Handron crossed home. Then came the hometown kid.

“This is definitely the coolest baseball moment I’ve ever had,” Sebastiani said postgame. “I can’t really describe what I’m feeling.”

Sebastiani’s home run didn’t tie the game. It didn’t pad a lead. It ended it, the final swing in a must-win contest for Sonoma. 

“That was just a great, outstanding moment for the kid. He’s one heck of a ball player,” manager Zack Pace said of Sebastiani postgame. “To do it in front of this crowd tonight, in front of his family, in that moment, it doesn’t really get much bigger than that.”

With the 3-2 victory, the Stompers (32-17, 25-15 CCL) head to their first-ever CCL Championship series to face the defending champion Conejo Oaks.

Sebastiani is no stranger to Arnold Field. He knows the confines all too well from his four seasons with Sonoma Valley High School. But the lights had never been as bright as they were Wednesday.

Since joining the CCL in 2022, the Stompers’ most notable run came in 2024, when they reached the North Championship against the Crawdads. In that game, Sebastiani hit fifth in the lineup as Sonoma’s designated hitter but finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The Stompers lost 5-2 at Monte Vista High School, ending their season one win short of the CCL Championship.

For Sebastiani, among others, it was a game to forget. Yet for Pace, that loss served as fuel. Success is hard to come by in one of the nation’s premier collegiate summer leagues, but settling was never an option. Since that defeat, Pace has been driven by redemption. He finally got it.

After starter Shawn McBroom twirled three shutout innings, he returned to the mound. Things started as usual. Cam Calvillo flew out to Trent Keys in left field. Joey Donnelly was then put away for out No. 2. Zach Justice then popped a shallow fly ball back to Keys.

Sonoma’s defense began jogging toward its dugout. Justice approached first base ready to turn around. Yet the ball ricocheted off Keys’ glove, dropping into left field. If he had 99 more chances, he’d catch every single one, Pace said, but not that time; The Crawdads made him pay.

As Keys turned in disarray, McBroom fired a strike to Kam Taylor. His next pitch, though, was clubbed down the right field line. Quinn Medin chased it down and fired a rocket to second baseman Xander Sielken, who one-hopped Connor Pawlowski at the plate. Pawlowski fielded it cleanly, but Justice, just in time, slid past the tag to break the deadlock. The run was charged to McBroom, but Keys wore the mistake in left field.

“He knows that cost us in that situation,” Pace said. “He’s been with us all year and had to be the guy in the lineup today. Unfortunately, he had one mistake in the outfield, but so what?”

Though Keys’ error set up what would have been the season-ending run, his response at the plate was spectacular. In 84 at-bats before Wednesday, the Delta College sophomore had just three doubles. Against the Crawdads alone, he matched that total.

Keys’ bat sparked the Stompers’ offense. Still trailing by one in the eighth, the lineup finally came alive. Keys began the frame with a two-bagger. Medin was hit by a pitch, and Keys advanced to third base when Handron flew out. After Sebastiani singled, Sielken kept the line moving with a base hit of his own to plate Keys and tie things up.

All of a sudden, it was a brand new ballgame. This time, Sonoma held the momentum. Its once-deficit felt like a distant memory. Kyle Olimpia opened the ninth with a walk. An error by Justice at the plate put Gabriel Tapia on first. Pawlowski walked right after.

Up to the plate came Keys. It was his moment to erase his previous error and walk things off as he had last week against the Tigers. However, it took four pitches for Keys to go down. Then six for Medin. Finally, five for Handron. After having bases loaded with no outs, the energy flipped entirely.

In the top of the 10th, Walnut Creek broke the deadlock with a sacrifice fly. As Sebastiani watched the Crawdads seize control, he stayed composed. Pace pulled him aside before he was due up in the bottom half. The message was simple.

“I just told him to walk their sh*t off,” Pace said.

Sebastiani stepped into the box and glanced back at Pace one final time. The message hadn’t changed. Two pitches later, the local product turned on a fastball and sent it soaring over the left-field fence. Sonoma was headed to the CCL Championship.

What to know about the Crawdads ahead of Wednesday’s CCL North title game

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After falling to the Crawdads in the 2024 CCL North title game and dropping the season series this year, the Stompers are out for revenge in Wednesday’s rematch at Arnold Field.

The 2024 season was filled with celebrations for the Stompers. Manager Zack Pace earned 30 wins for the first time in his six years at the helm. Sonoma sent six players to the CCL Showcase Game in mid-July. The Stompers won their first CCL playoff game against the San Luis Obispo Blues. Yet everything came crashing down the next day in the CCL North title game. Their opponent: the Walnut Creek Crawdads.

After burning their arms the day prior at Sinsheimer Stadium, the lights were too bright for Sonoma’s back half of its bullpen. Walnut Creek scored all five of its runs in the fifth inning or later, while the Stompers' bats didn’t come alive until the ninth, far too late to build any positive momentum.

Pace sulked after the win but remained proud of his group. However, after a whole year to analyze what went wrong and play more baseball, Sonoma’s back for revenge, this time on home turf at Arnold Field.

“That’s the goal at the start of the year, to be the CCL North champions,” Pace said. “Need to get into that playoff dance. We’re in, we have a good spot. We win (on Wednesday), we go to the final show. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Here’s everything to know about the Walnut Creek Crawdads ahead of their CCL North title game matchup Wednesday with the Stompers (31-17, 25-15 CCL):

Season series

Crawdads won 5-4.

Last time they played…

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Sonoma faced its last true test: a three-game series against the Crawdads. The Stompers entered each week with determination, but Walnut Creek has consistently been a roadblock. This time, the stakes were higher than ever.

Both teams were heavily in contention for first place in the CCL North, and the Crawdads were up two games in the season series. But after being defeated 9-1 the night prior, Sonoma stormed southeast to Monte Vista High School and took them down 7-3 on July 20.

Fueled by a six-run first inning, the Stompers never looked back with Justin Jones on the mound. The Los Medanos right-handed pitcher lasted a season-long four innings while allowing just one run on three hits. David Howard entered in relief and cruised through the last five frames while surrendering two runs.

On the offensive side, Sonoma punted Crawdads’ starter Dylan McShane out of the game after he recorded just one out. It took its foot off the gas after the first inning, scoring just one more run in the ninth, but Max Handron and Cam Hegamin ended with multiple hits, nevertheless.

Number to know: 241

At the halfway point of the season, the Stompers’ defense fell into a rut. They were committing three-plus errors nearly every evening, yet were still finding ways to win games. It may have been because they were facing bottom-feeder teams such as the Merchants, Seagulls and Legends. However, Walnut Creek would’ve punished them.

Over the season, the Crawdads have struck out just 241 times, the fewest among teams still in the CCL playoffs and the fifth fewest in the league overall. Meanwhile, Sonoma’s 371 pitching strikeouts rank second in the league, setting the stage for a clash of play style at Arnold Field. If Walnut Creek sticks to its usual approach, the Stompers’ defense will face a barrage of balls in play and with that, a heightened risk of errors.

Sonoma’s player to watch: Quinn Medin

While there may be no one in the CCL playing as well as Handron, the Crawdads have seen him dozens of times. Quinn Medin, on the other hand, brings an element of surprise. An addition to Sonoma’s roster on July 19, Medin’s quickly drawn attention from the leadoff spot. Pace has placed Landon Akers, Colton Boardman and Hegamin, among others, in the position, yet no one’s performed to Medin’s level.

Through five games, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs outfielder is hitting .471. His on-base percentage sits at .609 while his slugging percentage (.529) brings his OPS well above 1.000 (1.138).

Though the sample size is limited, Medin’s ability to get on base has been his greatest asset. Across a three-game stretch from July 25-27, the newly appointed starting right fielder reached on 15 straight plate appearances. In Sonoma’s 18-2 win over the Philippines National Team on July 26, Medin also recorded five hits in six at-bats.

Walnut Creek’s player to watch: Joey Donnelly

Similar to the Crawdads’ situation with Handron, the Stompers know most of Walnut Creek’s key pieces all too well. But it’s impossible not to mention Joey Donnelly when looking at its star-studded roster.

In 2022, Donnelly first joined the Crawdads’ roster, where he struggled with a .210 batting average. After posting a .305 average the following year, Donnelly joined the Arroyo Seco Saints of the CCL South, notching a .327 average down in Pasadena.

Back with Walnut Creek in 2025, Donnelly’s started right where he left off. The UC Berkeley utility man ranks second on the Crawdads’ roster with a .341 batting average. He’s appeared in the second-most games for Walnut Creek and is the last remaining member of the team’s top five hitters.

Against Sonoma this season, Donnelly’s tallied 16 hits in eight games. His most significant performance was a six-RBI day in the Crawdads’ 10-1 victory on June 25. If the Stompers want to reach their first-ever CCL Championship, they’ll need to shut down Donnelly.