Sonoma Stompers Welcome Three-Time World Series Champion Vida Blue, Fall 7-3 to Vallejo Admirals

Three-time World Series Champion Vida Blue was on hand at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark Wednesday night to share insight with Sonoma Stompers players, throw out the first pitch and mingle with fans. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Hayley M. Slye / Sonoma Stompers

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, welcomed former Major League Most Valuable Player and three-time World Series Champion Vida Blue prior to Wednesday night’s matchup with the Vallejo Admirals.

Blue played 17 years in the Major Leagues for teams including the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. He was part of the A’s team that won three consecutive World Series titles in 1972-74 and won both the MVP and the Cy Young Award in 1971.

Before the game, Blue met with the Stompers team to answer questions and share insight from his illustrious baseball career.

“He’s a force in the game. He’s a big name. It was just an honor to even have him in our presence and come talk to us,” said Stompers shortstop Derrick Fox. “It was a joy to meet him.”

Blue also threw the first pitch, a strike, and signed autographs for fans.  

James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers

James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers

James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers

James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers

James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers

James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers

STOMPERS DOWNED BY ADMIRALS

Derrick Fox is greeted with a tunnel in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Vallejo Admirals at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Later in the night, the Admirals defeated the Stompers 7-3 in part with a pair of two-run homers.

The Admirals, who finished in last at the end of the first half, have caught fire in the second and sit just one game back of the league-leading Stompers.

Fox also caught fire, but for Sonoma. Fox knocked two base hits on Wednesday, one of which was a solo shot to right in the third. It was Fox’s first home run as a Stomper since returning to the team this season.

“I was just looking for something to drive, really just trying to get on base at that point in the game,” Fox said. “When I hit it, I kind of knew it was gone.”

The Admirals also made noise early with the long ball. Mike Blank went yard in the first, driving in two Vallejo runs. Sonoma starter Scott Plaza struck out eight in six innings of work, allowing four earned runs.`

The Stompers offense steadied in the later innings. By the end of the night, all but two Stompers had a hit. Fox and Matt Hibbert, who celebrated a birthday on Wednesday, both recorded a pair of hits while Brennan Metzger extended a hitting streak to 11 games.

“We had good approaches, we stayed positive throughout the whole game. I feel like we’ve just got to come out and play hard and just keep upping the intensity,” Fox said.

It was a two-run home run in the ninth that solidified the win for Vallejo. With Graylin Derke on base, Quintin Rohrbaugh homered to make the score 7-2. The Stompers answered with one run in the bottom of the frame, but did not overcome the five-run lead.

With the loss, the Stompers drop to 40-19 on the season and 12-8 in the second half while the Admirals climb to 23-36 overall, 11-9 in the second half. Since they won the first half title, if the Stompers finish in first place in the second half they will be the outright champions.

“I love being out here in Sonoma. I love having this jersey on my back,” Fox said. “I came out here just to try to get another championship for this organization.”

ON DECK AT THE BALLPARK

The last game of the series is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday night, which will also feature a pre-game ceremony for Japanese Heritage Night and a book signing from Ila Borders biographer Jean Ardell.

Ardell will be selling and signing copies of the book she and Borders wrote together, “Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey.”

STOMPERS TICKETS

Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Sonoma Stompers Sunk by Vallejo Admirals 4-1 in Low-Offense Affair

Brennan Metzger was the only Sonoma Stomper to record more than one hit in Tuesday night's 4-1 loss to the Vallejo Admirals. (James W. Toy III  / Sonoma Stompers)

Hayley M. Slye / Sonoma Stompers

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, let Tuesday’s matchup with the Vallejo Admirals slip away as they fell 4-1.

The Admirals inch closer to the top of the Pacific Association standings, improving to 10-9 in the half as the Stompers drop to 12-7. The Admirals finished in the bottom of the Pacific Association first half, but have surged early as the only other team in the league over .500 in the second.

With the Stompers still looking for their first hit in the fifth, Brennan Metzger knocked a single through the hole in left. He got caught on the basepaths and the Stompers only managed two hits through seven off of Vallejo starter Marquis Hutchinson, the reigning Pacific Association Rookie of the Year.

With the hit, Metzger extended his hitting streak to ten games.

Derrick Fox was the only other Stomper to record a hit, sending a ball to the warning track in left before getting picked off on the basepaths as well. The low-offense night paired with three errors.

Eric Gonsalves made his second outing in 2017, returning to the Stompers as a member of the 2016 championship team. His last time out, he gave up a home run on his first pitch back. This time, Gonsalves pitched a clean, 11-pitch inning in the seventh before conjuring a strikeout to get out of a jam in the eighth.

The Stompers made noise in that frame as Marcus Bradley and Eddie Mora-Loera reached base on two consecutive walks. A pair of sacrifice hits moved them over twice, Bradley across the plate for the first Stompers run of the game.

Mike Jackson Jr. also pitched a solid inning in relief, blanking the Admirals in the ninth. In the bottom of the frame, the Stompers refused to go down easily. Down to their last out, Isaac Wenrich walked and Metzger knocked his second hit of the night, but a flyout ended the inning.

Overall, the Stompers drop to 40-18 while the Admirals improve to 22-36.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Sonoma Stompers Fall 7-6 Despite Solid Efforts From Thurber, Bradley as San Rafael Pacifics Walk Off

Starter Taylor Thurber struck out nine in seven and one-thirds innings pitched in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the San Rafael Pacifics at Albert Park. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Hayley M. Slye / Director of Media Relations

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, lost 7-6 in the ninth to the San Rafael Pacifics on Sunday at Albert Park.

It was the third time in the series that the score became knotted in the ninth inning. The Stompers won the two extra-inning endeavors and take the series despite Sunday’s loss.

Starter Taylor Thurber was solid on the mound, retiring the side in order four times and beginning the game by sending seven straight Pacifics back to the dugout. In seven and one-thirds innings, Thurber struck out nine and issued zero walks.

Thurber's offense gave him a five-run lead to work with, thanks to a second-inning rally that featured four straight base hits off of San Rafael starter Dakota Freese.

Thurber's only blemishes came by way of the long ball. The Pacifics scored four runs on three pitches off of Thurber–Two solo home runs from Miles Williams and a two-run shot from Juan Herrera.

Jake Taylor also went yard in the eighth, finishing a wave of three home runs in the frame, making the score 6-5 and putting the Pacifics within crashing distance. Jacob Cox, a bullpen stalwart for most of the season, ended the inning on a groundout.

Marcus Bradley was the firestarter on offense Sunday, going 3-3 with a walk and two runs batted in and a walk. Derrick Fox also delivered an RBI and two hits as all but one Stomper reached base in the game.

The Stompers drop to 40-17 overall and sit at first place with a 12-6 second-half record, while the Pacifics improve to 24-33, 7-11 in the second half.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Stompers to Host Ila Borders Biographer Jean Ardell for "Making My Pitch" Book Signing Aug. 10

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, are pleased to welcome Ila Borders biographer Jean Ardell on Aug. 10.

Ardell will be signing copies of the book they wrote together, “Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey,” a biography of Borders. Borders became the first woman to play in a men’s professional baseball league since the 1950’s when the St. Paul Saints signed her in 1998.

The Stompers, in partnership with Virginia Dare Winery, have been advocates for the advancement of women in baseball. When the team signed Stacy Piagno and Kelsie Whitmore in 2016, the two joined Borders in the history books.

More recently, Piagno solidified her place in women’s baseball history by pitching seven strong innings to earn the win against the Pittsburg Diamonds on July 15. In doing so, Piagno became one of just three women to earn a win in a men’s professional baseball league since the 1950’s. One of those three women was Borders.

Ardell will be selling and signing books on the concourse and mingling with fans during the game.

The “Making My Pitch” book signing comes during a homestand that features several special events, including Vida Blue Night on Aug. 9, Japanese Heritage Night on Aug. 10 and First Responders Night on Aug. 11.

Tickets still available:

GENERAL ADMISSION | RESERVED SEATING

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Tyler Garkow Twirls No-Hitter Into Seventh, Sonoma Stompers Pull Off 7-4 Victory Over San Rafael Pacifics in Extras

Starter Tyler Garkow threw six and two-thirds innings of no-hit ball in Thursday's 7-4 victory over the San Rafael Pacifics at Albert Park. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, came back to win 7-4 in extras on Saturday night as starter Tyler Garkow twirled a no-hitter against the San Rafael Pacifics through six and two thirds innings.

"That was actually the first time I've gone into the sixth inning perfect and seventh with a no-hitter," Garkow said. "Thought I could have done something special tonight, but you know what, I'm still getting better and this was just a product of a good work week."

Until first baseman Jake Taylor dropped a bloop single into right field for the Pacific’s first hit of the night, a single walk from Aaron Brill in the sixth was San Rafael’s only baserunner.

"We stuck to a game plan today. Garkow, he battled," said catcher Isaac Wenrich. "He didn't have his best stuff but the results spoke for themselves. He did an unbelievable job."

Despite Garkow’s dominance through most of the game, a hit and three errors in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Pacifics to tie the game at four. In extras, the Stompers rallied to take three-run lead on two hits and an error. 

The Stompers are now 9-1 on the season in extra inning games, also taking the victory in extras on Friday. In eight extra-inning games this season, the Pacifics have not recorded a win. 

Sharabi pitched a scoreless tenth frame, striking out the side to ensure the Stompers' victory. 

"(Sharabi) came through for us in a big way," Garkow said.

Garkow’s stunning outing was held up by timely hitting from the Stompers offense. Though Pacifics starter Max Beatty kept Sonoma to just two runs through six, the Stompers took advantage of opportunities with runners in scoring position. 

"Anytime they can give me any runs at any point and I haven't given up any, I know it's a good day," Garkow said.

Derrick Fox lead the offensive effort Saturday, going 3 for 4 and scoring two of the Stompers’ four runs. Scott David also contributed two runs batted in.

The Stompers solidify their lead at the top of the Pacific Association head back to San Rafael on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Sonoma Stompers Come Back in Ninth Inning, Win in Extras 9-4 Over San Rafael Pacifics

Marcus Bradley went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in, including the tying run in the ninth inning of Friday's 9-4 win over the San Rafael Pacifics at Albert Park (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Hayley M. Slye / Sonoma Stompers

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, pulled off their second comeback victory in two days with a 9-4, extra-inning win over the San Rafael Pacifics on Friday.

“When our backs are against the wall our true talent comes out,” said right fielder Marcus Bradley. “Pressure either breaks pipes or makes diamonds.”

Down to their last two outs and trailing by one run in the top of the ninth, Bradley knocked in the Stompers’ tying run.

“Their pitcher kind of fell into a pitch sequence. I knew after he got his first strike he was going to throw an offspeed pitch so I just sat back and tried to see something up and hit it,” Bradley said. “It felt amazing.”

The Sonoma offense shored up the clutch effort, dousing the Pacifics with six runs in the top of the tenth. After hitting a solo home run in the first, Joel Carranza also knocked in one of the Stompers’ 10th-inning runs. Carranza and Bradley both finished the night with multi-hit games and a pair of RBIs apiece.

Carranza’s teammates followed him with three base hits and a walk to give closer Jacob Cox a six-run lead to work with going into the bottom of the inning. Cox was excellent in relief, allowing no hits and no runs in two innings of work.

While Cox silenced the Pacifics in the last two frames, starter Ty’Relle Harris kept the Stompers in striking distance through eight. He walked just two in that span and did not let the San Rafael lead leak into anything more than two runs.

With the victory, the Stompers improve to 39-16 on the season and 11-5 in the second half, while the Pacifics drop to  6-10  in the second half (23-32 overall) at last place. First pitch of the second game of the series is slated for 6 p.m. at Albert Park on Saturday.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Sonoma Stompers Find Groove, Big Offense in Thursday's 8-6 VIctory Over Pittsburg Diamonds

Scott David celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning on Thursday's 8-6 win over the Pittsburg Diamonds. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Hayley M. Slye / Sonoma Stompers

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, notched their first earth-shaking hit in a handful of games, a three-run home run by Scott David in the fifth inning of Thursday’s 8-6 win over the Pittsburg Diamonds.

“We’re not going to get shut down too many games in a row. It was a good comeback here,” David said.

Sonoma had left 25 runners on base in the first two games of the series. With one swing of the bat, David made the score 5-4 and lit the fuse for Sonoma. David went 3 for 3 on the night with a walk and three runs batted in.

“Early in the season… We came back so many times. Why not the second half? Even in a 5-1 ballgame tonight, I never gave up,” said manager Takashi Miyoshi.

David also started a two-run rally in the seventh inning, leading off the frame with a single. While David provided the fireworks, the rest of the lineup provided the sky. Daniel Baptista and Marcus Bradley picked up two RBIs apiece, Bradley’s being the go-ahead pair.

Matt Hibbert also provided a spark, going 3 for 4 and scoring two of the Stompers’ eight runs.

While the offense shined, the Stompers locked in on the mound after the third. Starter Juan Espinosa allowed four runs through the first three innings, but kept Pittsburg to just one after that frame. Zach Wendorf and Jacob Cox secured the rest of the game, allowing just one hit between them.

With the win, the Stompers improve to 38-16 (10-5) on the season, solidifying their lead at the top of the Pacific Association and breaking a three-game skid–Sonoma’s longest losing streak of the season. The Diamonds drop to 28-26 (7-8) at second.

“We’ve got a great lineup. You’re going to go through skids every once in a while. Three games is nothing,” David said.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Sonoma Stompers Drop Close Game 6-4 to Pittsburg Diamonds

Yuki Yasuda went 2 for 4 in Wednesday night's loss to the Pittsburg Diamonds, marking the first time the Stompers have lost three games in a row this season. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, lost their third straight game for the first time this season with a 6-4 loss to the Pittsburg Diamonds on Wednesday night at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark.

The Diamonds took an early lead, managing three runs off of Stompers starter Scott Plaza in the fourth. Other than the two runs they shook out of Dominic Topoozian in the fifth, the Sonoma bullpen mostly quieted the Pittsburg offense.

Topoozian and Zach Wendorf combined to keep Pittsburg off the board for the next two frames. A home run off of DJ Sharabi by Gerald Bautista in the ninth was the only other blemish for the Stompers’ bullpen.

On the Sonoma side, Yuki Yasuda and Daniel Comstock lead the offensive effort. Both the catcher and the second baseman went 2 for 4 with a run driven in. Matt Hibbert also reached base every time he stepped up to the plate.

It was Comstock and Brennan Metzger who scored Sonoma’s first runs of the game in the fourth. Metzger was in the lineup for the first time since July 22.

The Stompers came into the game having scored just two runs in their last two games.

With the loss, the first-place Stompers drop to 27-16 (9-5) on the season. The Diamonds improve to 27-26 (7-7). It was the first time the Diamonds won a game against Sonoma with starter Dennis Neal on the mound.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Sonoma Stompers to Welcome Former Major League MVP and World Series Champion Vida Blue on Aug. 9, Among Other Promotional Events in August

Hayley M. Slye / Media Relations

SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, are pleased to announce upcoming events for the month of August, including Vida Blue Night on Aug. 9.

Blue, a former Oakland Athletics pitcher and three-time World Series Champion, will head to Peoples Home Equity Ballpark to sign autographs and throw out the first pitch before the Stompers take on the Vallejo Admirals. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

In his 17-year Major League career, Blue earned All-Star honors six times and is the first of only five pitchers in Major League history to start the All-Star game for both the American and National League. Blue won the American League MVP award in 1971 and was a member of the A’s team in the 1970’s that won three World Series titles in a row.

Tickets still available here:  GENERAL ADMISSION  | RESERVED SEATING

ALSO COMING UP AT PEOPLES HOME EQUITY BALLPARK

The Stompers have also added several other events to their promotional calendar, including Japanese Heritage Night, First Responders Night and Bark in the Park.

Aug. 10 is Japanese Heritage Night and will feature a special pre-game ceremony, plus concourse activities. To participate in this special evening or schedule a group event for Japanese Heritage Night, please contact the Stompers front office.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

On First Responders Night on Aug. 11, the Stompers will offer $5 off at the gate for all first responders with an ID or uniform to honor every day heroes. For $15, fans can also sign up for a post-game Home Run Derby and test their skills against reigning Pacific Association Most Valuable Player Joel Carranza and first baseman Daniel Baptista.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

HOME RUN DERBY TICKETS

Fans can bring their dog to the game on Aug. 18 for Bark in the Park, sponsored by Pets Lifeline. Best-dressed dogs can compete in a costume contest, judged by fan favorite Yuki Yasuda. Pets Lifeline, which seeks to protect and improve the lives of cats and dogs in need in Sonoma Valley, will also be accepting donations, providing information on pet adoptions and participating in on-field games.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Members of both the Empire and Resistance can head to Peoples Home Equity Ballpark for Star Wars Night on Aug. 19 and participate in a costume contest and on-field games.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

STOMPERS TICKETS

Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets will also be available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.

Reliever Ryan Richardson Signs with Japanese Independent Team

Ryan Richardson has been a valuable member of the Sonoma Stompers' bullpen in 2017. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

Hayley M. Slye / Media Relations

SONOMA, Calif.– Sonoma Stompers reliever Ryan Richardson will head to Japan after being signed by the Kagawa Olive Guyners of the Shikoku Island League.

In his 2017 season with the Stompers Professional Baseball Club, presented by Virginia Dare Winery, Richardson notched a 3.46 ERA in 26 innings. Richardson was also a member of the 2016 Pacific Association Championship Stompers team, throwing a scoreless outing in all but one of his nine appearances.

“This is a great opportunity for Ryan. While we'll miss him as a pitcher and as a person, this is one way the Stompers measure our success; giving players a platform to perform and watching them grow to earn greater opportunities. I'm really happy for Ryan,” said Stompers President and General Manager Theo Fightmaster.

In leaving the Stompers, Richardson joins another organization with championships under its belt. The Olive Guyners were established in 2005 and have since won five Island League Championships, most recently in 2012.

STOMPERS TICKETS
Tickets and merchandise are available now either online or at the fan shop at 234 W Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. Tickets are also available at the box office on game days, beginning 30 minutes prior to the game.

For more information, please contact the front office at 707-938-7277, or email info@stompersbaseball.com.