By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Mike Jones (#37 - University of San Francisco) touches helmets with three teammates after hitting a home run July 22 against the Menlo Park Legends. The Stompers finished the regular season 25-18 (22-18 in the California Collegiate North). Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
Following a season where the Sonoma Stompers finished 25-18 and 22-18 in the California Collegiate League North Division, it claimed the third seed in the North. Sonoma begins its playoff run Tuesday against the No. 2 seed San Luis Obispo Blues at Sinsheimer Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Here are three takeaways from the Stompers 43-game regular season CCL schedule:
Newcomers lead the way for the offense:
The two guys who led the charge for Sonoma’s bats were first-year guys and both were named to the All-Star Team. Utility player Hunter Carlson (Georgia State) and Infielder Tino Vasell (University of San Francisco) batted near the top of the lineup on a regular basis, delivering consistent play for Stompers manager Zack Pace.
Carlson appeared in 36 games and tallied 166 plate appearances. The Hudson, Wisconsin, native hit .345 with a 1.051 OPS and recorded 34 RBIs — the second most in the league behind Vasell.
Vasell started 36 games and recorded the same amount of plate appearances (166) as Carlson. The 5-foot-10 infielder batted .325 with a 1.018 OPS and hit five home runs. Vasell led the league in triples (3), total bases (69), RBIs (35) and strikeouts (44).
Both players, amongst others, need to continue their regular-season success in the postseason for Sonoma to make a run.
Stompers pitching has potential for a deep playoff run:
Sonoma’s pitching finished the season No. 7 in the CCL, finding itself in the middle of the pack, holding held a 5.23 team ERA in 380 innings pitched.
The Stompers were led by right-handed pitcher Mason Cortez (San Joaquin Delta College) who posted a 3.68 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 22 innings. Right-handed pitcher Ayden Tinsley (Modesto College) allowed five earned runs and struck out 14 in 13 innings pitched.
Other key contributors in the pitching staff included right-handed pitcher Matthew Schallberger (San Joaquin Delta College) and Jaxen Rowland (Modesto College). Schallberger went 4-0 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in seven appearances. Rowland held a 2.31 ERA in seven appearances.
If all the pitchers are clicking at the same time in a one-game playoff format, Sonoma’s offense should be able to chip in.
Stompers struggled against playoff teams in regular season:
If Sonoma beats the Blues on Tuesday, it will have to face the No. 1 seed Walnut Creek Crawdads on the road again to claim the CCL North Title. In the regular season, the Stompers had a combined record of 3-10 when facing both playoff teams. Sonoma was 1-3 against the Blues and 2-7 against the Crawdads.
The Stompers need to flip the script against both teams to advance to the CCL Championship Series.