By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Outfielder Connor Johnston (Bellarmine University) slides into third base June 28 at Arnold Field. Johnston went 0-for-3 during Sonoma’s 6-5 defeat against the Novato Knicks on Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
SONOMA, Calif. — Two early defensive errors put the Sonoma Stompers in a five-run hole Saturday, and despite a late comeback attempt, they fell 6-5 to the Novato Knicks at Arnold Field.
Stompers starting pitcher right-hander Justin Jones escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out in the first inning. However, as he was warming up for the second, he called for Stompers manager Zack Pace from the dugout after appearing to injure himself before exiting the contest shortly afterward.
In relief for Jones, Sonoma turned to right-handed pitcher Jacoby Hyer (Santa Rosa High School) — Pace’s son. Hyer pitched one inning but allowed a three-run home run that gave the Knicks a 3-0 lead. Prior to the home run, Stompers infielder Anthony Scheppler committed a throwing error that would have ended the inning without any damage.
The Knicks extended their lead in the third. Sonoma infielder Caze Derammelaere (Vanguard University) booted a ground ball that would have been the third out of the frame. Then, Novato hit a two-run home run to extend its advantage to 5-0.
The Stompers answered with one run on an RBI single by outfielder Nic Sebastiani that scored designated hitter Ryland Heckman (Umpqua Community College). Yet, the Knicks continued to build their lead after scoring another run in the fifth.
The Stompers scored a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to trim the deficit to 6-4. Outfielder Trent Keys (San Joaquin Delta College) and Derammelaere delivered with RBI singles.
In the seventh inning, infielder Ben Sebastiani (College of Marin) worked a leadoff double. Two batters later, outfielder Mike Jones (University of San Francisco) brought in Sebastiani with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one.
Sonoma couldn’t put together another rally. The Stompers went down scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings. Novato right-handed pitcher Kai Beehler pitched the final two innings to collect the save.
The Stompers return to California Collegiate League play Tuesday at home against the San Francisco Seagulls. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on YouTube.