PACIFICS SHUT OUT STOMPERS IN PACIFIC ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP

Kenny Mathews walks off the mound in the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, September 2, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – What was a magical season came to an end for the Sonoma Stompers Sunday night and not in the way they wanted, as the San Rafael Pacifics captured the 2018 Pacific Association Championship with a 6-0 victory over the Stompers.

Angel Ventura compiled the best pitching performance Sonoma saw in 2018, allowing just three baserunners in the game. Kam Stewart and Rob DeAngelis recorded back-to-back hits in the fourth inning and Stewart walked in the sixth, but nobody else reached base for Sonoma in the heartbreaking loss.

San Rafael rallied for four runs in the second inning off Tyler Sharp, who showed uncharacteristic struggles early on.

The Stompers bullpen pitched 7.2 innings of the game and did their best to keep it within reach, combining to allow two runs and five hits, but solo home runs from the Pacifics in the sixth and seventh innings put the final nails in the coffin for Sonoma.

The Stompers still, however, finished the regular season 57-23, seven games ahead of San Rafael in first place, breaking the league’s record for wins in a season. As the offseason begins, the team will prepare to retool for a new season in 2019.

STOMPERS BLANK DIAMONDS TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP

Ethan Gibbons throws a pitch in the Sonoma Stompers game against the Pittsburg Diamonds, September 1, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – After a shutout to end the regular season, the Sonoma Stompers continued their pitching prowess, keeping the Pittsburg Diamonds off the board Saturday night for a 5-0 victory in the Pacific Association semifinal game, advancing themselves to the league championship Sunday.

Joseph Broderick’s magic from Friday transferred to Ethan Gibbons, who pitched six shutout innings, allowing only three hits in the first postseason victory in the history of the franchise.

“I just wanted to attack the hitters and give our team the chance to win today,” Gibbons said. “That’s all you can ask out of your starting pitcher and I was happy I was able to do that.”

Gibbons was relieved by Vijay Patel, who after starting nine games during the 2018 season pitched three scoreless frames out of the bullpen with three strikeouts to seal the victory and earn a save.

Patel’s three innings continued a scoreless stretch from the staff, a streak of 21 scoreless innings dating back to Thursday’s game against San Rafael.

The offense came alive early in the game, tagging Diamonds starter and former Major League Baseball pitcher Travis Blackley for two runs in the second inning. Bronson Butcher singled to score Brock Hartley and Marcus Bradley brought home Butcher a few batters later with a single of his own to give the Stompers a 2-0 lead.

Sonoma added more in the third when Daniel Baptista reached on an error that scored Rob DeAngelis and Kenny Meimerstorf came home on a Butcher sacrifice fly.

Hartley connected for a solo home run in the fifth inning, adding insurance for good measure and making him one of two players, along with Butcher, to record two hits in the game.

Six different Stompers recorded hits in the victory as the team looks to continue the trend of all-around effort into Sunday.

In a rematch of the 2018 Pacific Association championship game, Sonoma will face the San Rafael Pacifics, this time playing host to their league rivals.

 “Tomorrow we’ve just got to come out like we did today and I think we’ll be just fine,” Hartley said. “The pitching is great, we have a fresh bullpen after the last couple of days and I like our chances.

The Stompers went 8-8 against the Pacifics in 2018, including a 6-2 record in Sonoma. The San Rafael won the right to face Sonoma after a close 3-2 victory over the Vallejo Admirals Saturday evening.

First pitch Sunday will be at 7:05 p.m. from Palooza Park at Arnold Field with the game’s winner taking home the Pacific Association title.

BRODERICK SHUTS OUTS SAN RAFAEL TO END REGULAR SEASON

Joseph Broderick throws a pitch in the third inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 31, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – In the final game of the regular season, the Sonoma Stompers shut out the San Rafael Pacifics 1-0 on a complete game shutout from Joseph Broderick.

Broderick, a native of West Islip, New York, was one of the top pitchers in the Pecos League in 2018 and joined the Stompers in mid-August.

His first appearance with Sonoma was a rough start against San Rafael on Aug. 10, but after four outings as a reliever without allowing an earned run, manager Zack Pace tasked him with once again facing the league’s top offense.

In the season’s 80th game, Broderick’s complete game was the first from a Stompers pitcher in 2018. The shutout was Sonoma’s fourth of the year and second against San Rafael.

Over nine innings, Broderick allowed just five hits while not walking any batters and striking out 11.

“I figured I’d go out there and attack from pitch one and let the defense make plays and they did,” Broderick said. “Niko [Pacheco] and I were on the same page from pitch one and the defense made plays for me.”

The right-hander only threw 113 pitches, never more than 17 in an inning. He never faced more than four batters in any inning and retired the side in order three times, including in the ninth inning to conclude the game.

While San Rafael’s pitching was strong as well, limiting the Stompers to only four hits, Sonoma was able to take advantage of defensive miscue from Pacifics starting pitcher Nick DeBarr. While DeBarr had to leave the game after suffering an injury on the play, Rob DeAngelis was able to immediately double home Kam Stewart as soon as a new pitcher entered the game.

Marcus Bradley, Stewart and Kenny Meimerstorf were the only other Stompers to record hits in the game.

Finishing the regular season at 57-23 (.713) and on a five-game winning streak, the Stompers prepare for the Pacific Association semifinal, where they will host the Pittsburg Diamonds at 7:05 p.m. at Palooza Park at Arnold Field. San Rafael will host the Vallejo Admirals with the winners of those two meeting in the league championship Sunday.

LATE RALLY PUSHES STOMPERS PAST PACIFICS

Rayson Romero follows through on his home run in the second inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 30, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – Despite breaking the league’s win record Wednesday night, the Sonoma Stompers kept rolling into Thursday with a 6-4 win over the second place San Rafael Pacifics.

The Stompers scored three runs in the second inning on home runs from Niko Pacheco and Rayson Romero but did not back town despite San Rafael taking a 4-3 lead.

Kenny Meimerstorf tied the score in the seventh with an RBI double and Bronson Butcher gave Sonoma the lead with a single to score Meimerstorf, his 15th hit and eighth RBI in his 14th game as a Stomper.

“I’m just trying to stay aggressive,” Butcher said. “I’m not really letting myself get passive in the box. Some guys have helped me try to be a little more patient with pitching but I’m a very, very aggressive hitter as far as jumping on balls early.”

Insurance in the eighth on a Kam Stewart sacrifice fly gave Sonoma two-run lead, enough for D.J. Sharabi to earn his first save of the season.

Juan Espinosa started on the mound and pitched six outstanding innings, allowing just three hits and one walk, while striking out eight and not giving up an earned run.

Once Espinosa left the game, Vijay Patel pitched out of the bullpen for the first time since early July and pitched two shutout innings with three strikeouts to record his ninth win of the season. The victory made Patel the first Stompers pitcher to earn more than eight in a season.

“It’s really crazy, considering most of them were out of the bullpen,” Patel said. “It’s a great team. Every time I come in the game, no matter what the score is, those guys end up fighting for me and finding a way to get the lead. A lot of the credit goes to them, but it feels great to have a record though, I’m not going to lie.”

With one regular season game left, the Stompers and Pacifics face each other once more Friday night before both teams prepare to host playoff games Saturday.

Sonoma will host the league’s fourth place team, either Pittsburg or Vallejo, at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Palooza Park at Arnold Field. Should the Stompers win that game, they would host the league championship game at Arnold Field Sunday, Sept. 2, at 7:05 p.m.

STOMPERS BREAK LEAGUE WINS RECORD WITH 4-2 VICTORY OVER NAPA

Tim Henry bats in the second inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Napa Silverados, August 29, 2018 in Napa, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

NAPA, Calif. – After clinching first place Tuesday night, the Sonoma Stompers won their third straight game Wednesday, the team’s 55th of the season to set the Pacific Association’s record of wins in a season, previously set by the San Rafael Pacifics in 2013.

After the 17-run extravaganza Tuesday, Wednesday’s contest was much calmer, a 4-2 final in favor of Sonoma.

The Stompers scored two runs in the second and third innings with Kevin Farley connecting for two hits and driving in runs along with Daniel Baptista, Ryan Cooper and Tim Henry.

“I was really just looking for a good pitch to hit,” Farley said. “I try to look for mistakes because that’s what people are going to hit well most of the time.”

The Stompers used seven different pitches in the game rather than going with a traditional starter in order to align their starting pitchers for the upcoming playoff games.

Ethan Gibbons pitched two scoreless innings at the start and was relieved by Kenny Mathews, who also threw two.

Joseph Broderick, Jason Seever, Ryan Richardson and Jacob Cox combined to not allow an earned run the remainder of the night. Kam Stewart recorded the first two outs of the seventh inning as well, the shortstop’s second pitching appearance of the year.

As it has been all season, the pitching staff continued to excel in the win, striking out 14 batters while just walking two.

Cox finished the game in the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame for his 26th save of the season. The appearance was his 70th lifetime and broke the Stompers’ all-time game pitched record, which had previously been held by Mike Jackson Jr.

The Stompers wrap up the regular season at home Thursday and Friday against the San Rafael Pacifics at 6:05 p.m. both days.

STOMPERS CLINCH FIRST PLACE, TIE LEAGUE WINS RECORD

Bronson Butcher drive in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Napa Silverados, August 28, 2018 in Napa, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

NAPA, Calif. – Now winners of 54 games in 2018, the Sonoma Stompers clinched first place in the Pacific Association regular season standings, while also tying the league’s record for wins in a season with their 13-4 victory over the Napa Silverados.

The game began as a pitcher’s duel, with neither team scoring in the first three innings. Innings four through six saw just four combined runs scored, but with time running out, the Stompers tied the game in the seventh and took control in the eighth.

Tyler Sharp delivered another good outing, striking out seven over five innings of two-run ball. He did not walk anyone and gave up just three hits.

Cole Watts and D.J. Sharabi followed him in the game, keeping the offense within reach.

Tim Henry drove in his first run as a Stomper on a sacrifice fly in the fourth but the hitters struggled to score runs until the seventh when walks to Rayson Romero and Marcus Bradley proved costly to the Silverados, as both later scored in the inning to tie the game.

Sonoma sent 15 batters to the plate in the eighth inning and scored nine runs on the power of an error, two hit batters, three hits and six walks.

The first nine batters in the inning reached base with Bronson Butcher giving the Stompers a 5-3 lead on a 2-RBI bases-loaded single. Romero was hit by a pitch to load the bases once more and the next three Stompers walked with the bases loaded to bring home three more runs.

Up five runs, 8-3, Brock Hartley punctuated the inning with a grand slam to increase the lead further. Sonoma loaded the bases again but held off scoring more until the ninth when the Stompers added their 13th run of the game.

Jacob Cox pitched the ninth inning, giving up a run but holding the end of of the game down for the 13-4 victory.

“I’m proud of these guys, they battled all the way through,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said. “They found a way to battle back like they always do. I was hoping we were going to score some runs there and we put up the nine-spot, I got to breath a little bit and relax a little bit.”

With first place clinched, the Stompers turn their attention to preparing for postseason play, which begins Saturday, Sept. 1.

EARLY RUNS HELP BREAK FRANCHISE WIN RECORD

Brock Hartley scores in the second inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Pittsburg Diamonds, August 26, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers rebounded quickly from their close loss Saturday, scoring early and holding their lead for nearly the entire game as they topped the Pittsburg Diamonds 7-5.

Vijay Patel pitched out of trouble in the first, then ran into trouble in the third when the Diamonds scored five runs. To preserve his arm for the final week of the regular season, Patel left the game after that third inning.

Before Pittsburg scored its five runs, the Stompers got the scoring started with five of their own, including singles from Kenny Meimerstorf and Daniel Baptista, then a two-run knock from Brock Hartley.

Rayson Romero went on to single in Hartley, Marcus Bradley drove in Bronson Butcher, who had been hit by a pitch and Kam Stewart doubled in Romero.

While five runs on five hits was not enough offense at first, the Stompers countered the Diamonds’ five-run inning with two more to take the lead on a two-run single off the bat of Butcher.

The two run lead held through the remainder of the game, as Jason Seever was the first out of the bullpen once Patel left, pitching the next three innings, allowing just one hit and retiring the final nine Diamonds he faced. Cole Watts and Ryan Richardson both pitched scoreless innings as well, preserving Sonoma’s two-run lead.

Jacob Cox entered the game in the ninth, saving his seventh straight game, eighth in August and 25th of the season. The win was Sonoma’s 53rd of the season, settling a franchise record for wins in a season, breaking the mark of 52 the team set in 2017.

After a Monday off, the Stompers enter the final week of the regular season before gearing up for the playoffs. They play their final road games of the season in Napa against the Silverados Tuesday and Wednesday, then welcome the San Rafael Pacifics to Palooza Park at Arnold Field for the last two games of the year.

STOMPERS DROP CLOSE CONTEST TO PACIFICS

Kevin Farley makes a throw from third base in the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 25, 2018 in San Rafael, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – With a chance to clinch the regular season title, the Sonoma Stompers fought all game long, but came up on the short end in the game with the San Rafael Pacifics Saturday night, losing 5-3.

While San Rafael scored a run in the first, Sonoma countered with two in the second on a two-run double from Brock Hartley that scored Daniel Baptista and Kevin Farley.

This, however, was the majority of the Stompers’ offense for the game. Sonoma was able to add on a run in the seventh when Rob DeAngelis singled in Marcus Bradley, but San Rafael was able to score in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings to keep their advantage.

Bradley was once again a bright spot at the top of the lineup, going 3-4 with a walk and stolen base, his 21st swiped bag of 2018.

DeAngelis and Hartley also had two hits each, while Bronson Butcher connected for his second late-inning pinch-hit single this week.

The Stompers return home Sunday afternoon to play the Pittsburg Diamonds for the final time this season. The 1:05 p.m. game will also be the team’s Military Appreciation Game.

STOMPERS RALLY LATE TO WIN TIE FRANCHISE WIN RECORD

Rayson Romero (left) and Kenny Meimerstorf (right) smile after taking the lead in the eighth inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Vallejo Admirals, August 24, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – Despite falling behind early, the Sonoma Stompers battled all game long Friday night, tying the contest in the seventh and taking their only lead of the game in the eighth to win the game 5-4.

The Vallejo Admirals struck for three runs in the first and Sonoma soon countered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a Vallejo error. Rayson Romero brought his team within one in the second, connecting for his first home run of the season, also his professional home run.

“I thought it was a matter of time,” Romero said. “It has been a pretty long season and to finally get the first home run off my back feels really good.”

Even though Vallejo scored in the fourth, Sonoma added a run in the fifth to stay within one run, again taking advantage of an Admiral error.

The tides turned in the seventh when Kam Stewart tied the game with a double that scored Marcus Bradley, the third of three runs Bradley scored in the game, also after his third of three walks.

“That is my job, to get on base,” Bradley said. “It just happened to be that they couldn’t find the zone against me. That’s all I’m trying to do, disrupt the game with my speed and let the big boppers behind me do their job and score me.

Looking to break the tie in the eighth, Niko Pacheco singled, then another error from Vallejo scored Kenny Meimerstorf to give the Stompers their first and only lead of the game.

After D.J. Sharabi, Jason Seever and Ryan Richardson combined for 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, Jacob Cox took the ball in the ninth and sent Vallejo packing to pick up his 24th save of 2018.

The Stompers travel to Albert Park Saturday evening for a 5:05 p.m. game against the San Rafael Pacifics. Should the Stompers win, they would not only break the franchise record for wins in a season, but they would also clinch the regular season title and ensure home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  

PACHECO HITS FIRST PRO HOMER AS STOMPERS ROUTE ADMIRALS

Niko Pacheco rounds the bases after hitting his first processional home run in the third inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Vallejo Admirals, August 23, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers’ offense erupted early Thursday night, as the Vallejo Admirals could not come back from a five first inning and Sonoma went on to win 13-5.

The Stompers took advantage of two Admirals errors in the first inning, as Brock Hartley brought home the game’s first run on an E6, then scored on a wild pitch.

Ryan Cooper then went on to clear the bases with a double, plating three more runs and advancing to third on an E4, providing a large lead after just one inning.

Niko Pacheco continued the scoring in the third, responding to Vallejo’s four-run inning with his first professional home run, a two-run shot with no outs that scored Bronson Butcher.

“It’s been a long time coming, it felt really good,” Pacheco said. “I got a fastball out over the plate and put a good swing on it and it flew over the fence.”

Sonoma didn’t stop there, sending 10 batters to the plate in the sixth, plating six runs and once again taking advantage of a Vallejo error.

Marcus Bradley singled home Cooper and Rayson Romero, then came around on a single from Hartley. Kevin Farley dashed home on a wild pitch and Butcher singled in two and advanced to second on an E3.

This lead was more than enough for Ethan Gibbons, who pitched six innings, allowing just two earned runs with three strikeouts.

Jason Seever, Cole Watts and Josepeh Broderick combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts to keep Vallejo off the board for the remainder of the game.

Now 51-22, the Stompers now look to jump to 30 games above .500 and tie the franchise record for wins in a season of 52, which they set in 2017. The Admirals will play in Sonoma again Friday at 6:05 p.m.