By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Infielder Nic Sebastiani squares up the baseball Friday at Arnold Friday. The Stompers defeated the Philippines Baseball Group 14-1, extending their winning streak to six straight games. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma Stompers exploded for 14 runs on 11 hits and held the Philippines Baseball Group to one run Friday in a 14-1 victory at Arnold Field. The Stompers secured their sixth consecutive California Collegiate League victory.
Sonoma sits at 16-13, still occupying third place in the CCL’s North Division behind the San Luis Obispo Blues and Walnut Creek Crawdads. The Philippines are 0-16 in the CCL and sit in last place of the South Division.
The Stompers took the early advantage in the second inning after scoring four runs, building a lead they never relinquished.
The rally was kickstarted after a two-out fielding error from Philippines infielder Nomar Vazquez at shortstop, allowing infielder Ben Sebastiani (College of Marin) to score from second. Then, outfielder Nic Sebastiani drove in two runs on an RBI single to left field to make it 3-0. The inning was capped off with an RBI single by infielder Mateo Heredia (Cal State Northridge).
Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame that he was “happy” with the performance and thought his team “hit some hard ground balls” during the four-run second inning.
“That just tells me our guys were taking a good approach, especially against a slower pitcher,” Pace said. “That’s what I really liked.”
Making his first start of the season, right-hander Mason Cortez (San Joaquin Delta College) pitched three scoreless innings and collected his first win of the season. The Danville, Calif., native allowed two hits but picked up three strikeouts in his sixth appearance. Cortez’s ERA went from 4.91 to 3.86 in 14 innings pitched.
Pace said Cortez has been “getting better and better” as the season has progressed.
“He’s been filling up that zone pretty good,” Pace said. “I think he’ll do a good job for us down the stretch.”
In the sixth, Sonoma sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs while drawing seven free passes and collecting three hits.
Infielder Anthony Scheppler (San Jose State) hit a two-run home run to make it 6-0 — his third home run and 14th RBI of the season of the season. Nic Sebastiani tallied a two-run single, recording his fourth RBI of the night before Ben Sebastiani capped the frame with an RBI single into left field.
Nic Sebastiani went 3-for-5 with four RBIs in the contest. It was the Sonoma native’s first three hit and second multi-RBI game of the season.
Pace said his at-bats were “quality” and he “squared up a few balls.”
“He did a great job,” Pace said. “He took some big pitches, hit a couple of lines drives. He didn’t get too big in the box.”
Sonoma’s pitching continued to shut down the Philippines’ bats. Six relievers entered the contest for the Stompers, allowing a combined two hits and one walk.
Pace said that when his team is “filling up the zone” the results will come with it.
“The key is, especially if you’re coming out of the pen, you have to throw strikes,” Pace said. “We did a good job of that today.”
After a leadoff double in the eighth, the Philippines broke through in the eighth inning with an RBI groundout to third. However, it couldn’t add any further runs in the ninth.
The Stompers look to build on their successful week Saturday at home against Philippines in the final contest of the two-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed on YouTube.