By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer
Heartbreak hung over Arnold Field following the Stompers’ 9-8 nail-biting loss to the Legends Saturday. Despite Sonoma falling just short of overcoming a four-run deficit, it didn’t have time to dwell.
Just 15 hours later, the Stompers would drive south to the College of San Mateo for 16 innings of baseball. Stakes were high; Sonoma and Menlo Park split the series’ first two contests, and a doubleheader sweep would likely put the Stomps one game back of first place in the CCL North.
Sonoma rose to the occasion. Behind timely hitting and pitching from nine arms, the Stompers (10-7, 7-5 CCL) won both matchups against the Legends Sunday. In an 11-3 Game 1 win, Sonoma’s offense tallied 19 base runners while immense depth on the mound was showcased in a 4-1 Game 2 victory.
“Our guys grinded it out… but our pitching staff really stepped up,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said following the two wins. “We got a lot of outs, and hopefully we can keep that momentum going.”
Following eight days of rest, Nick Santivanez was chosen to start Game 1 for Sonoma. He displayed length and confidence in his outing on June 7 against the Seagulls, pitching four shutout innings. But with extensive time since that performance, Pace was prepared for rust, having nine pitchers active and healthy to split Sunday’s two games.
Instead, Santivanez pitched five innings of one-run baseball while allowing just four hits and striking out six. Pace never had to worry about relief options, and Santivanez’s outing translated to momentum on the offensive side.
Sonoma opened the scoring in the second inning, courtesy of three hit-by-pitches. Menlo Park starter Thomas Egbert struggled with command, and the Stompers — all with two outs — made him pay.
After Connor Pawlowski and Brady Shannon were retired on strikes, three beanballs and a walk plated Anthony Scheppler to put the Stompers ahead. But hitless in the first two innings, the floodgates really opened in the third.
Landon Akers singled, yet McCann Libby and Pawlowski were quickly sat down. Shannon, however, was hungry to extend Sonoma’s lead. The two-sport athlete from Youngstown State hit 10 home runs in his redshirt sophomore season. He hadn’t shown that same power in his time in Wine Country, notching just two RBIs and one extra-base hit through eight games.
That was until Sunday. Facing a 1-1 count, Shannon roped an offering over CSM’s fences for a two-run shot. The longball gave the Stompers a commanding three-run lead.
“(Shannon’s finding) barrels. He’s been hitting the ball really hard,” Pace said. “He’s been swinging it really good, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of that.”
The lead only grew from there. As Santivanez dealt with Menlo Park’s high-powered offense, which scored 15 runs in the series’ first two contests, Pawlowski and Shannon drove in the Stompers’ fourth and fifth runs. Still, they were far from done.
Already ahead by four runs, Sonoma plated its final six in the seventh inning. Libby, Shannon, Scheppler, Cameron Taylor, Colton Boardman and Kieran Baker all reached and scored, capping the one-sided victory.
But similar to Saturday’s deflating loss, the Stompers didn’t have time to reflect. About an hour later, the Stomps and Legends started fresh. For Sonoma, the game plan changed completely, but the execution remained.
Unlike Santivanez’s start, the Stompers relied on their bullpen through Game 2, with seven pitchers making appearances. Each Stomper was prepared to set down Menlo Park’s offense.
Per usual, Sonoma got going early with two runs through three innings. On the mound, though, Nikolas Haas, Christian Klostermann, Micah Marquez and Sean DeBoard held the Legends in check through six, surrendering just two hits.
In the first, second, fourth and fifth innings, a base runner reached for Menlo Park; It was still held scoreless. Not much changed in the seventh, eighth and ninth, as Jaden Mason, Jason Olvera and Chris Albee entered the game. The two set-up guys and closer allowed three hits and struck out five.
The Stompers applied the finishing touch in the ninth when Shannon scored on an Esteban Sepulveda single, who later came home on Paul Lizzul’s base hit.
The Legends’ lone run of the game came in the ninth, when Quincy Via hit a sacrifice fly. However, it was far too late to overcome Sonoma’s pitching masterclass, as the Stompers took Game 2.
“Just everybody (did great). It started with Haas leading it off. I could name off every guy,” Pace said. “They filled up the zone and put up zeroes. It was an outstanding job by our staff.”
Sonoma will have a much-needed day off Monday before heading down the Pacific Coast to face the San Luis Obispo Blues on Tuesday.