By Jordan Kimball
With bases loaded and no outs, Hee-Ryun Han calmly approached the plate. He took one practice-swing, grabbed the brim of his helmet, used the remaining pine tar from the handle of his bat and stepped into the box.
On third base stood Kieran Baker. Landon Akers straddled second, and Adam Alharbi was on first. The Alameda Anchors drew their infield in, knowing if they didn’t catch Baker at home, the game would be over.
The lefty Han took Jafari Williams’ first offering inside for a ball. Then, Han came through.
On the 1-0 count, he pulled a chopper to first base, where an outstretched dive from Titus Wheelock wasn’t enough. The ball rolled into right field, and Baker came home to seal Sonoma’s win.
“I just try not to strikeout first,” Han said postgame of his approach in that final at-bat. “I just try to hit middle middle. I think that was my goal and my job.”
With Han’s heroics, Sonoma (3-2, 0-0 CCL) survived an offensive battle, as the Anchors and Stomps combined for 25 hits. After giving up a six-run lead after the eighth inning, Sonoma battled back to score one in the ninth to take a 15-14 victory in its final non-league matchup.
“Just trying to score and keep it up, cheer me up. That’s why we get the (runs) in the ninth inning. It worked out today,” Han said.
Prior to Han’s game-winning at-bat, he could be spotted down the right field line in the bullpen warming up.
In nine appearances on the rubber at the New Mexico Military Institute in 2023-24, Han pitched 12 innings with a 6.00 ERA. He also had 52 hits in 150 at-bats, including 13 doubles and four triples.
After Han’s time with the Broncos concluded, he attended Los Medanos College, where his two-way presence was displayed. In 43 games, Han sported a .404 batting average with 41 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He also pitched 10 innings.
If Sunday’s game was extended, Han was again ready to showcase his unique prowess.
“Going two ways is a hard job, but when I throw on the mound and warm up to pitch, I just think about how I’m still facing the hitter,” Han said. “That’s why, when I go on deck, I can think about (the approach to take).”
Despite Han’s game-winning hit, contributions from other Stomps led him to that position. On the mound to open the afternoon was Nick Santivanez. His command was in check early, striking out the side to begin the game.
In the second inning, his dominance remained, as the Anchors were again retired in order after a strikeout, groundout and popout. However, Sonoma couldn’t capitalize, with Matt Orozco matching each of Santivanez’s moves.
Finally, the Stomps opened the scoring during their third time at the dish. After Connor Pawlowski and Paul Lizzul were put away on 10 total pitches, Akers — Sonoma’s leadoff hitter — was up. He took the first pitch from Orozco for a ball before crushing a pitch inside over the left field fence to put the Stomps ahead.
The run proved crucial, as Alameda battled back and took a 3-1 lead after its next time at the plate. But in a seesaw battle, Sonoma scored two courtesy of a McCann Libby double and a Trent Keys single to even the score.
The fifth inning is when things escalated. The Anchors immediately attacked Shane Aldridge when he replaced Santivanez. They scored five runs on five hits against him and Jaden Mason before the Stomps returned to the dugout.
But with Lawrence Westbrook entering for Alameda, Sonoma answered back. Led by an Akers single, an Alharbi single, a wild pitch and a Charlie Malton sacrifice-fly, the Stomps entered the sixth trailing 8-7.
After Mason and Dylan Adelman each settled down — pitching scoreless sixth and seventh innings — the Stomps finally exploded. To take the lead, they scored seven runs on just two hits in the bottom of the seventh. Five walks and a hit-by-pitch pushed Sonoma ahead.
But while the outcome looked decided, Alameda wasn’t done. It scored six runs on six hits between the eighth and ninth innings, setting up Han in the bottom half of the final frame to do his job.
As mentioned, he delivered.
The Stomps will look to extend their three-game win streak when they open CCL play on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. against the San Luis Obispo Blues at Arnold Field.