STOMPERS 10 GAMES OVER .500 WITH WIN OVER SECOND PLACE SAN RAFAEL

SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers needed every bit of contribution in a hard-fought dogfight against the San Rafael Pacifics and in the end came out of the pile victorious 5-4.

Vijay Patel (2-0) took the hill after his historic performance in his last start but he did not have his A-game against the Pacifics.

Patel hit Mike Annone to open the top of the 2nd inning who later came around to score on a Dante Biagini RBI to put San Rafael out to an early 1-0 lead.

In the home half of the 2nd inning Pedro Barrios lined a 1-out single through the infield for the first Stomper hit. Jacob Barfield, in his first start this year at first base, launched his 5th homerun of the season to left field which gave the Stompers a 2-1 lead.

Patel struggled in the top of the 5th inning allowing 3 runs. 2 on a 2-out 2-run flare double by Axel Johnson down the right field line; then an unearned run when Jimmy Lunardelli bounced to Nick Kern at third base who then threw it away to allow the run to score and give San Rafael a 4-2 lead.

The Stompers offense quickly answered in the last of the 5th inning. Kern redeemed himself with a leadoff single and advanced to second base on a Chip White (1-1) wild pitch. After Nick Gotta grounded to short and Miles Williams struck out, Rob DeAngelis was hit by a pitch. With runners at first and second Dondrei Hubbard doubled to center field to bring Kern home and bring the Stompers within 1. In a 3-1 count, Brent Gillespie doubled down the right field line, past a diving Johnson at first base, to bring home DeAngelis and Hubbard to give the Stompers a 5-4 lead.

Patel lasted just 4.2 innings while allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on 5 hits and struck 4 with 3 walks.

Willie Ethington (1-0) threw 3.1 masterful innings out of the pen, allowing just 2 measly hits. Still in a 1-run game in the 9th, Manager Zack Pace brought in the closer Ryan Richardson who struck out the side for his third save in as many tries and bringing the Stompers to a league best 15-5.

The Stompers are back home next Tuesday July 2 for Napa night and then again on July 4th where fans can enjoy fireworks in the field after the game.

Tickets can be purchased at stompersbaseball.com.

STOMPERS OUTLAST BRANDON PHILLIPS AND THE ADMIRALS IN 10-7 WIN

SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers were able to get past Brandon Phillips and the Vallejo Admirals in a win that surely everyone in the lineup contributed to as they beat the Admirals 10-7. 

Konner Arnold (4-0) has been a vital part of the 2019 Stompers starting rotation that has thrived in the month of June. He retired the Admirals in order in the first, including a Brandon Phillips flyout, lowering his heartrate and allowing him to finally breathe. 

The Stompers got on the board first in the bottom of the 1stinning on a rather whacky play. On a 1-1 pitch, Miles Williams scorched a triple over the head of Chevy Clarke in centerfield. On the relay throw in, Tillman Pugh’s throw went wide of third base and out of play, allowing Williams to score and open the scoring 1-0. 

Vallejo answered in the top of the second on a Wilkyns Jimenez 2-run mammoth homerun to left-center on the first pitch he saw of the 2019 season, putting the Admirals ahead 2-1. 

The Stompers offense got to work against Jesse Remington (1-2) in the bottom half of the 2nd. Brent Gillespie led off the inning with a single into center and advanced to second on an error by Clarke in centerfield. Daniel Molinari then drove him in with an RBI single to right, tying the game 2-2. Walks to Nick Kern and Nick Gotta loaded the bases for Williams who hit a sacrifice fly to score Molinari and giving the Stompers the 3-2 lead. A Rob DeAngelis single loaded the bases for Dondrei Hubbard who destroyed a grand slam to left, blowing it open 7-2. 

Vallejo tacked on two in the top of the 3rdon a Tillman Pugh solo shot and a Clarke RBI double, closing the gap 7-4. 

The lead got narrower in the top of the 5th when Vlad Gomez hit a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5. Then even closer in the top of the 6thon Brandon Phillips’ RBI single to center, closing the Stompers lead 7-6. 

Alex Leach was the 4thman to pitch for PJ Phillips and with a 0.00 ERA he has been unhittable, until now. The Stompers relentless offense collected 4 hits off of Leach including a Molinari RBI double to left, and a DeAngelis 2-run double to left, capping off a 3-run 7thand knocking Leach out after just 1/3 of an inning. Tyler Herr came in an slammed the door but the damage had already been done as the Stompers led 10-6 after 7.

The Admirals got one more run in the top of the 8thoff of Connor Leedholm on a Matt Eureste RBI single but that was all.

Ethan Gibbons worked a clean 2/3 to end the 8th and Ryan Richardson collected his 2nd save in as many opportunities to close the game out. 

The Stompers end the home stand Friday night at 6:05 against the San Rafael Pacifcs and it’s also Avengers Night, so wear your favorite Avengers costume to the ballgame!

BARNESE, OFFENSE GET STOMPERS BACK INTO WIN COLUMN 11-4 OVER NAPA

NAPA, Calif-Nick Barnese (2-0) tossed in another brilliant performance on the hill for the Stompers against the Silverados Wednesday night in the 11-4 win.

The Stompers first two batters of the game were retired quickly before Rob DeAngelis doubled to set up an early scoring opportunity. Dondrei Hubbard cashed in the run on an RBI single to centerfield giving the Stompers an early 1-0 lead. With Hubbard at first, Napa starter Sean Johnson picked over but threw it away, allowing Hubbard to go all the way to third. Then Chris Kwitzer drove him in with an RBI single to double the lead 2-0. 

Napa answered in the bottom of the 1stafter Willie Salas scored to cut the Stomper lead in half, 2-1.

Two more runs came across in the top of the 2ndfor the Stompers on Miles Williams’ second homerun of the season, a 2-run bomb to right-center, increasing the lead 4-1. 

After Hubbard led off the top of the 3rdwith a double, Kwitzer followed with a double of his own to drive Hubbard in to make it 5-1. After a Pedro Barrios sacrifice bunt to move Kwitzer to third, Brent Gillespie drove in his first run of the season on an RBI single to center field and the Stompers led 6-1 after 3. 

Napa got back on the board in the bottom of the 4thinning on a Jordan Garr double to right-center and a Nico Toni RBI single to right. Cutting into the lead 6-2. 

DeAngelis led off the top of the 5thinning with his second double of the game and later scored on a passed ball, upping the lead 7-2. After yet another double, this time by Barrios, Gillespie launched his first homerun of the year, a 2-run shot down the right field line, pouring it on 9-2 in a 3-run 5thfor the Stompers. 

Two more runs came across for the Stompers in the top of the 6thon an RBI single from DeAngelis and a Kwitzer sacrifice fly which made the score 11-2. 

Napa got one more run in the bottom of the 7thon a Jake Marshall RBI groundout to drive in Sean Jackson, 11-3. They got one more in the last of the 8thon a Jordan Anderson RBI groundout to drive in Garr, chipping away 11-4. 

Barnese tossed 6 innings and allowed only 2 runs while scattering 7 hits and striking out 7. Luke Laurtia, Marshall Shill and Ethan Gibbons shut the door to end the game and combined collected 10 k’s and did not walk anybody. 

The Stompers are back home Thursday and Friday night, 6:05 at Palooza Park at Arnold Field. 

STOMPERS DROP SECOND STRAIGHT IN PITCHERS DUEL AGAINST VALLEJO 4-1

VALLEJO, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers looked to get back on track at the start of the new week in Vallejo. They sent trusted right-hander Henry Omana to the hill who did all he could, but it wasn’t enough as Vallejo won the game 4-1. 

Nick Gotta reached to open the game after drawing a walk. After reaching second base on a wild pitch, Gotta was caught trying to steal third. This one play seemed to set the mood for the rest of the ballgame which was an uncharacteristic one at best. 

After 2 quick outs, Omana allowed a double to Nick Akins Sr whose grounder took a funky hop on third baseman Jacob Barfield, which allowed it to squeak down the left field line. Then, Graylin Derke poked a single to left on an excuse-me swing to drive in Akins and give Vallejo the 1-0 lead.

The Admirals got another in the bottom of the 2ndinning. Once again, after 2 quick outs, Omana Allowed a double to Matt Eureste to put him in scoring position. With 2 strikes Jacob Wark hit a ground ball to Barfield who threw it away, allowing Eureste to score, doubling the Vallejo lead to 2-0.

The Stompers got in the board in the top of the 3rdinning. after a pair of walks to Gotta and Rob DeAngelis, Chris Kwitzer hit a topper between the mound and first base in which he beat pitcher Mike Melendez in a footrace to the bag to bring home Gotta, cutting the Vallejo lead to 2-1. 

Vlad Gomez led off the 3rdinning with a base hit but Omana quickly got a flyball and a comeback for the first two outs. Chevy Clarke then hit a TaylorMade two-hopper to Perdo Barrios at shortstop who watch the ball bounce over his head off of the lip of the grass and into left field to drive in Gomez making it 3-0. 

Omana (2-1) lasted 5 innings an d allowed 3 runs, 2 earned on 6 hits while striking out 4. 

Willie Ethington came out of the bullpen in relief of Omana in the 6thinning. with one out he allowed a double to Aaron Brill and a single to Wark to put runners at the corners. With 2 strikes a wild pitch allowed Brill to score, extending the lead 4-1. 

The Stompers are in Napa on Wednesday, 5:05 first pitch, before returning home for 2 games on Thursday and Friday, both at 6:05. 

Upcoming at PALOOZA PARK AT ARNOLD FIELD

Upcoming promotional nights at Palooza Park at Arnold Field:

June 28: Avengers Night

Come out to the ballpark for Avengers night! We will have special games and a costume contest!

July 2: Napa Night

come out and watch the Stompers take on Napa Silverados for Napa night!

July 4: Fourth of July

Bring your own blanket and patriotic pride for the Fourth of July at Palooza Park Arnold field! After the game stay a little longer and watch the fireworks with a perfect view!

July 6: Pride Night

Come out and show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community and cheer on the Stompers at our fifth annual Pride Night at the ballpark!

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July 10: Wine Night

Alert all wine lovers! Come out to the ballpark for wine night! We will be featuring Sonoma’s top tasting rooms’ wines. Come out for ballgame and get to taste Sonoma’s top wine.

July 13: Autism Awareness Night

Come out for Autism Awareness Night presented by Sweetwater Spectrum!

July 18: Women in Sports Night

Come out to the Palooza Park at Arnold Field for Women in Sports Night

July 21: Military Appreciation Night

Come out to Palooza Park at Arnold Field and support those who protect us during Military Appreciation Night and watch Zack Hample take an-bat.

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July 25: First Responder Night

Come out to Palooza Park at Arnold field to watch the Stompers take on the Salina Stockade and honor the first responders in our community!

July 26: Health and Wellness Night

Health and Wellness Night at Palooza Park at Arnold Field presented by Sonoma Valley Health Community Center. We will also be having a drive and collecting school supplies for students!

July 27: Italian Heritage Night

Come out for Italian Heritage Night presented by Sonoma Greve! We will have special fun and games for our fans!

Aug 3: Jack London Night

Watch the Sonoma Stompers take on the Napa Silverados and honor Jack London who is such a big part of our community’s history!

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Aug 4: Arnold History Night

Arnold Field has a long history an the Stompers are honored to call it home. Come out and celebrate history that makes us proud to call it home!

Aug 5: Educator Night

Come out to Palooza Park at Arnold Field and support our local educators in the community!

Aug 8: Boys and Girls Club Night

It’s Boy and Girls Club Night at Palooza Parka at Arnold Field presented by the Sonoma Boys and Girls Club!

Aug 9: Hispanic Heritage Night

Come out to Palooza Park at Arnold Field for Hispanic Heritage Night and watch Baile Folklorico perform.

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Aug 10: Stompercon

STOMPERCON presented by No Ordinary nNerd! Come out to the ballpark and get your nerd on with No Ordinary Nerd!

Aug 16: Bark in the Park

Its Bark in the Park night at Palooza Park at Arnold Field! Come out with your furry best friends and enjoy a ballgame!

Aug 17: Bocce Night

Bocce and baseball go hand in hand! Come out to Palooza Park at Arnold Field for Bocce Night!

Aug 21: Host Family Appreciation Night

The Stompers wouldn’t survive without the support of out host families. Come out as we honor them!

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COME OUT AND WATCH MAJOR LEAGUER BRANDON PHILLIPS PLAY IN SONOMA

SONOMA, Calif.-The Vallejo Admirals have signed MLB veteran and Vallejo manager P.J.’s brother, Brandon Phillips.

“It's a pleasure to be managing my brother,” P.J. Phillips said. “It was a dream to play with him and it's exciting to have him be part of the Admirals.”

Brandon Phillips last played in the Major Leagues last year, playing nine games for the World Champion Boston Red Sox. He spent 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, starting mostly at second base. He is a lifetime .275 hitter with 209 stolen bases in the big leagues. He was named to three all-star teams (all during his time with the Reds) and earned four Gold Glove awards at second base. He also won one Silver Slugger award.

“I'm excited to be playing for my brother.” Brandon Phillips said. “I've always hit the ball well in California.”

Brandon Phillips twice earned Most Valuable Player votes, finishing 13th in 2012 and 22nd in 2007. In 2007, he hit a career-high 30 home runs with 94 RBI to go along with 32 stolen bases (also a career-high). He was the third player in Cincinnati history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season.

In 2012, Brandon Phillips hit .281 with 18 home runs and 77 RBI to help the Reds win the National League Central Division. In 2013, he knocked in a career-high 103 runs.

The Phillips brothers both graduated from Redan High School-Stone Mountain (Ga.) and each was drafted in the second round of the MLB draft: Brandon in 1999 by the Montreal Expos and P.J. in 2005 by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Their sister Porsha Phillips played for the San Antonio Silver of the WNBA and their brother Jamil played in the Texas Rangers organization.

The Vallejo Admirals are in their seventh season as members of the Pacific Association. The Admirals have made the playoffs the past two seasons and won the 2017 Pacific Association championship.

P.J. Phillips is in his fourth season as manager of the Admirals. He played six seasons in the Angels organization and one in the Reds organization.

Brandon Phillips is expected to be activated in time for Vallejo's game on Thursday, June 27 at Pacific Association-leading Sonoma. First pitch at Palooza Park at Arnold Field is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Tickets are still available.

To purchase Stompers tickets and to find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com, call us at (707) 938-7277 or send an email to info@stompersbaseball.com.

STOMPERS’ WIN STREAK SNAPPED IN 19-1 BLOWOUT BY NAPA

NAPA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers has their hopes of setting a new win streak snapped on a day to forget in Napa after being blown out 19-1.

Nick Gotta had the offense going early when he led off the game with a single and came around to score on a Rob DeAngelis RBI groundout to second to put the Stompers up 1-0 but that is all they would get offensively.

Ethan Gibbons (0-2) lasted only 1.1 innings, allowing 8 runs on 10 hits and striking out just 1. In his short outing he surrendered two homeruns, including a grand slam, knocking the right-hander out of the ballgame.

In the bottom of the 4th inning Napa scored 5 more runs, only one earned, off left-hander Luke Laurita. Napa’s runs were caused by defensive mishaps, which played a key theme for the Stompers defensively.

Marshall Shill then came out of the bullpen and allowed 4 runs but none earned on 2 more errors by shortstop Pedro Barrios. After 5 innings of play, Napa led 17-1.

The Silverados tacked on two more in the 7th on a Jordan Garr 2-run homerun, capping off the win 19-1.

The Stompers will have Sunday and Monday off before returning to action on Tuesday in Vallejo, 6:35 first pitch.

PATEL TIES RECORD WITH 12 K’S, STOMPERS TIE FRANCHISE RECORD 9-GAME WIN STREAK

SONOMA, Calif- Vijay Patel recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts inn a masterful performance on the hill against the Vallejo Admirals in the Stompers 4-3 win.

 The Stompers got on the board firth in the bottom of the 2ndinning. back-to-back-to-back singles by Chris Kwitzer, Miles Williams and Jacob Barfield loaded the bases against Vallejo lefty Jesse Remington (1-1). Bronson Butcher grounded into a twin-killing but Kwitzer scored, putting the Stompers on top first 1-0. 

 In the bottom of the 5thinning Kwitzer notched his third hit of the game with an RBI single, doubling the lead 2-0, but the offense did not stop there. Williams hit a sacrifice fly and Butcher singled softly into center to grow the lead 4-0. 

 Patel’s night ended after 7.2 shutout innings, while allowing only 2 hits and striking out 12. Luke Lauritar eplaced him to record the final out of the 8th. 

 Connor Leedholm came out of the bullpen for the 9thand got banged around, allowing three runs on two hits, giving way to closer Jacob Cox. Cox needed only 7 pitchers to induce a groundout and a strikeout to end the ballgame. 

 The Stompers extend their winning streak to 9 games in a 4-3 win over Vallejo. They will go for the franchise record 10thstraight on Saturday afternoon in Napa, first pitch 1:05.

STOMPERS ROLLING, WIN 8TH STRAIGHT IN 12-6 WIN OVER SALINA

SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers returned home on Thursday night for the first game of a two game home stand. The Salina Stockade were out to an early lead but the Stompers offense ignited in the 12-3 victory, increasing the win-streak to 8 games.  

Konner Arnold (3-0) started the game on the hill for Zack Pace’s Stompers, looking for his 3rdwin in as many starts. 

The Stockade got to Arnold first in the top of the 1stinning on a solo homerun off the bat of Louis Martini, giving the Stockade and early 1-0 lead. 

The Stompers answered in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by Dondrei Hubbard and a two-out RBI single by Chris Kwitzer to give the Stompers a 2-1 lead against Salina starter Cole Langdon (0-3). 

One run was put on the board in the bottom of the 2ndand 3rdinnings for the Stompers. Jacob Barfield led off the last of the second with a single and later scored on an error by the second baseman Omar Artsen. In the bottom of the 3rd, Hubbard launched his league-leading 6thhomerun to left-center field, extending the lead to 4-1. 

Designated hitter Nick Gotta led off the bottom of the 5thinning against Andrew Merken, the third Salina pitcher of the game, with a base hit. He later scored on an error by Chuck Rocker in center field making in a 5-1 ballgame. 

Salina got one run in the top half of the 6thinning when Eric Kozak knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice, closing the gap 5-2. 

The offense patiently took advantage of pitching miscues by Salina in the bottom of the 6thinning, scoring 7 runs. The Stompers got help on 4 hit-by-pitches, 2 walks, and an error as the lead ballooned to 12-2. 

The Stockade got one more in the top of the 7th and 3 in the 9th but it was not enough as the Stompers win 12-6, extending their win streak to 8 games, one shy of the franchise record. 

The Stompers quick home stand ends Friday night at 6:05 against the Vallejo Admirals. 

Stompers defeat Napa, 3-2

NAPA, Calif.- On Tuesday, June 18, the Sonoma Stompers secured a 3-2 victory in a duel over the Napa Silverados at Miner Family Field in Napa.

Through four innings, Stomper right-hander Nick Barnese made quick work of the Silverado lineup, allowing only one hit and notching four strikeouts.

Napa starting pitcher Billy Felo commanded the early innings as well, holding the Stomper offense to two hits through four innings. Felo, who entered the game 0-1 with a 3.83 ERA, struggled in the fifth inning when Miles Williams hit a lead-off single followed by a Jacob Barfield double in the gap.

Catcher Bronson Butcher followed the hits with a base-on-balls, and shortstop Nick Kern hit an RBI-single in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Jacob Barfield found home plate on a pitch in the dirt that escaped Silverado catcher Nicco Toni, bringing the Stomper lead to 2-0. The offensive damage concluded with a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Pedro Barrios, which scored Butcher from third base.

The Silverado offense was able to respond in the bottom half of the inning, initiated by a ground-rule double by clean-up batter Jacob Bissell. Bissell eventually scored on a fielder’s choice by Nick Ultsch, but Barnese was able to stop the bleeding thereby striking out Sean Jackson to end the inning.

Both teams called on the bullpen for the seventh inning. Andrew Fernandez took the mound in the top half of the inning for Napa and sat down Sonoma in order, recording two strikeouts and a groundout to shortstop William Salas. Willie Ethington replaced Barnese for Sonoma, and made it through the bottom of the seventh flawlessly, getting three straight outs in only seven pitches.

Some excitement, however, arose in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Silverado first baseman Josh Montelongo crushed an opposite-field solo home run to right-center field, bringing the score to 3-2. The Stompers were unable to scratch across any more insurance runs in the top of the last inning, as Silverado reliever Mark Young Jr. struck out the side in order.

The Stompers brought out closer Jacob Cox to stifle any potential last-chance threats from the Napa offense in the bottom of the ninth. Cox faced the two-hole hitter Dakota Connors to begin what would be a climactic finish to the game. Connors roped a double to right field, followed by a five-pitch walk to Jordan Garr. After an overthrow from Sonoma catcher Bronson Butcher on an attempted back-pick to second base, Zack Pace and the Stomper coaching staff elected to intentionally walk Jacob Bissell to load the bases.

Cox then induced a third-to-home-to-first double play on a ground ball off the bat of Nicco Toni, securing two big outs for the Stomper defense. Cox then struck out Josh Montelongo in three straight pitches to end the comeback and the game.

With the road win, the Sonoma Stompers improve to 10-3 on the season, which leads the Pacific Association. The Napa Silverados fall to 4-9 and fourth in the division.