Stompers Sean Conroy Voted Pacific Association's Top Relief Pitcher

Stompers rookie right-handed pitcher Sean Conroy was one of the best stories in the Pacific Association in 2015, and he was voted the league's best relief pitcher.

Danielle Putonen/Sonoma Stompers

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

Sonoma Stompers right-handed pitcher Sean Conroy enjoyed an historic 2015 season. And after being voted the Pacific Association’s top defender off the mound, he’s earning even more hardware. On Wednesday, Conroy was named league’s top relief pitcher for the 2015 season.

Conroy, 23, of Clifton Park, New York, pitched in 22 games for Sonoma and was outstanding in his first year of professional baseball. The rookie tallied a 5-3 record with a 2.70 ERA, including 10 saves (second in the league among qualified pitchers), and a remarkable strikeout-to-walk ratio of 52-15. Opposing batters hit just .192 against him with a WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 0.950, tops in the league among pitchers who pitched at least 20 innings.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound was a true asset to the Stompers, pitching in a variety of roles. In addition to his four starts, Conroy appeared out of the bullpen 18 times, earning three wins along with his 10 saves. In the second half, Conroy was used in a “fireman’s” role, pitching multiple innings of relief after coming in at the game’s most critical point – not simply in the final inning.

When opposing hitters put the ball in play against Conroy, their luck didn’t change much. They accumulated a meager .202 batting average in those at-bats. His component ERA, (ERC is a baseball statistic invented by famed baseball statistician Bill James, and attempts to forecast a pitcher's earned run average from the number of hits and walks allowed rather than the standard formula of average number of earned runs per nine innings). Using that metric, Conroy was the second best pitcher in the Association with an ERC of 1.986, and best among pitchers who pitched at least 20 innings.

Conroy garnered international attention in late June becoming the first openly gay active professional baseball player. Conroy then made his first career start on the team’s Pride Night in spectacular fashion. Conroy threw a complete game shutout against the Vallejo Admirals, allowing only three hits and striking out 11, leading the Stompers to a 7-0 victory in front of a packed house and hordes of reporters, and television cameras.

The award signifies a continued theme of Stompers representation. The team saw seven of it's players voted the best defenders at their positions, and outfielder Mark Hurley was voted the league's rookie of the year.

The voting body for the league was comprised of front office personnel, managers, coaches and broadcasters. Voters selected the top two defensive players by position. The league will announce more awards based on the following schedule:

Manager of the Year: Monday, October 26
Pitcher of the Year: Wednesday, October 28
Most Valuable Player: Monday, November 2

Boston Red Sox Sign Former Sonoma Stompers OF Jayce Ray

Sonoma’s Jayce Ray, seen sliding safely into home plate during a Stompers 2014 home game at Arnold Field, has had his contract acquired by the Boston Red Sox.

Staff Photo/Sonoma Stompers

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

The contract of former Sonoma Stompers outfielder and Sonoma Valley High graduate, Jayce Ray, has been purchased by the Boston Red Sox organization, the American Association announced on Tuesday.

In 2015, his first season with the independent American Association’s Wichita Wingnuts, Ray led his team with a .310 average and 17 stolen bases, to go along with 15 doubles, 35 RBI and 57 runs scored as the Wingnuts won their fifth consecutive division championship.

In 2014, Ray was an instrumental part of the Stompers inaugural season, where he was named the Pacific Association’s MVP, as well as winning the league’s batting championship. Ray hit .355 with 44 RBI in 64 games for Sonoma. He also belted eight homers, scored 62, and had 27 extra-base hits, while drawing 46 walks with 23 stolen bases.

He joined Windy City of the Frontier League in 2013 after playing collegiately at the University of Washington, where he earned honorable mention all-Pac-12 honors after leading the Huskies in hits, at bats, triples, and stolen bases in his junior year.

"This is a big step for Jayce, who I couldn't more happier for, and who I'm incredibly proud of," Stompers VP and GM, Theo Fightmaster said. "It's also a great sign that our league has been signing and developing legitimate ballplayers. I hope more guys can follow in Jayce's footsteps."

Stompers Hurley Named 2015 Pacific Assoc. Rookie of the Year

Sonoma Stompers outfielder, Mark Hurley, was named the 2015 Pacific Association's Rookie of the Year.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

With a field of deserving candidates vying for the honors for the 2015 Pacific Association Rookie of the Year, it was Sonoma Stompers outfielder Mark Hurley who came away with the most votes, and the award.

In an airtight ballot, Hurley edged out teammate right-handed pitcher Sean Conroy, who himself narrowly inched out Pittsburg Diamonds third baseman, Rich Mejia. Stompers first baseman, Daniel Baptista, finished fourth.

Hurley, who played collegiate baseball at Cal State Monterrey Bay State, appeared in 74 games with Sonoma, leading the Stompers with 51 RBI, a .302 batting average (90 for 298), belted nine home runs, scored 61 times, and stole 11 bases.

The 23-year-old rookie impressed with a .362 OBP, slugged .466 for an OPS of .828. Hurley, also earned top defensive honors for his play in left field. The Hollister, Calif. native handled 106 of 109 chances. Primarily a left fielder, the Hollister, Calif. Native was perfect in right (20 putouts in 20 chances). Hurley also had a league best six outfield assists.

“It wouldn’t have happened without my teammates, coaches, the entire Stompers front office, and the people of Sonoma,” Hurley said. “I’m grateful and I thank everyone for this honor.”

Conroy, 23, of Clifton Park, New York, pitched in 22 games for Sonoma, and made an impact with his quick reactions off the mound. Conroy was perfect with the leather, tallying five assists and recording 13 putouts without making an error. Conroy, a rookie, was outstanding in his first year of professional baseball, going 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA, including 10 saves, and a remarkable strikeout-to-walk ratio of 52-15. Opposing batters hit just .192 against him with a WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 0.950.

Mejia hit .290 in 75 games for Pittsburg. The third baseman belted four homers, 11 doubles, drove in 38 runs and scored 40 while carrying an OBP of .366.

The voting body was comprised of league front office personnel, managers, coaches and broadcasters. Voters selected the top two defensive players by position. The league will announce more awards based on the following schedule:

Reliever of the Year: Wednesday, October 21
Manager of the Year: Monday, October 26
Pitcher of the Year: Wednesday, October 28
ost Valuable Player: Monday, November 2

Seven Stompers Selected Defensive Players Of The Year

TJ Gavlik's fantastic defense at multiple positions made him one of seven Stompers to receive a Defensive Player of the Year award.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club was statistically the best defensive team in the Pacific Association during the 2015 regular season. And now the club has some the hardware to prove it after the league announced the Defensive Players of the Year for the 2015 season. Seven of the nine awards were given to Stompers players. The recipients of the Defensive Players of the Year awards were recognized and voted on by the managers, coaches and front offices of the league as the top defenders at each position.

Pitcher Sean Conroy, catcher Isaac Wenrich, first baseman Daniel Baptista, second baseman Yuki Yasuda, third baseman T.J. Gavlik, and outfielders Mark Hurley and Matt Hibbert were honored for their defensive talents.

The individual awards match the numbers, as Sonoma led the league in defense. As a team, the Stompers committed just 77 errors in 2,813 total chances, good enough for a team fielding percentage of .973. San Rafael was second with a .965 clip having committed 102 errors in 2,930 chances.

Conroy, 23, of Clifton Park, New York, pitched in 22 games for Sonoma, and made an impact with his quick reactions off the mound. Conroy was perfect with the leather, tallying five assists and recording 13 putouts without making an error. Conroy, a rookie, was outstanding in his first year of professional baseball, going 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA, including 10 saves, and a remarkable strikeout-to-walk ratio of 52-15. Opposing batters hit just .192 against him with a WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of 0.950.

Wenrich appeared in 54 games with Sonoma before his promotion to the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League. He amassed a .990 fielding percentage, committing just four errors in 408 chances. In his third season in the Pacific Association, Wenrich had his best year yet, batting .296 with 10 homers, 33 RBIs and an OBP of .365.

Baptista, Yasuda and Gavlik were recognized as the league’s top first baseman, second baseman and third baseman, respectively.

Baptista, a 6-foot-5, Fairfield, Calif. Native proved nearly as valuable with the leather as he did with his bat. With a fielding percentage of .985, Baptista converted 317 putouts, and had 16 assists, committing only five errors in 338 chances in 42 games at first base. The left-handed-hitting rookie hit .321 with six homers, drove in 41 runs, reached base at a .386 clip and tallied an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .811. Prior to the 2015 season, Baptista had only accumulated 30 at bats in the pro ranks.

In his freshman campaign with the Stompers, Yasuda willed his way into the lineup, then proved to be one of the best all-around players in the league in 2015. In 56 games, the native of Yokohama, Japan, was errorless in 176 chances at the keystone. Yasuda batted .307 (seventh best in the league) with a .448 OBP, and his 16 stolen bases (18 attempts) were fourth most in the league. He also drew 40 walks, the third most in the Pacific Association, and was hit by a league-high 12 pitches.

Gavlik, in his second year in Sonoma, was one of the most versatile players on the Stompers roster. But it was his play at the hot corner where he distinguished himself. In 92 chances, Gavlik made just six errors, and the Hong Kong native was even better around the rest of the field. While playing third, short stop, second base and both left and right field, Gavlik committed seven miscues in 133 chances, good for a .955 fielding percentage.

In 50 games, Gavlik hit .235 with a .444 slugging percentage, including three homers and 15 RBIs. The product of North Florida University drew 20 walks, and scored 24 runs.

Mark Hurley and Matt Hibbert (left field and right field) rounded out the winners, and were staples in the Stompers first-half championship run. Hurley, who played collegiately at Cal State Monterey Bay State, appeared in 74 games, and handled 106 of 109 chances. Primarily a left fielder, the Hollister, Calif. Native was perfect in right (20 putouts in 20 chances). Hurley also had a league best six outfield assists.

Hibbert, another Stompers returner, was sensational in every facet for Sonoma. Not the least of which was his defense. The Chandler, Ariz. native and Long Beach State product, was superlative in the outfield, making only one error in 139 chances, a .993 fielding percentage, and added four outfield assists. After starting the season as the right fielder, Hibbert moved to center and was just as good.

“I’m incredibly proud of these guys, and our organization as a whole,” said Stompers Vice President and General Manager, Theo Fightmaster. “They are deserving of this recognition, and every one of them was an integral part to the success we enjoyed this season.”

The San Rafael Pacifics Daniel Gonzalez, short stop, and Zack Pace, centerfield, rounded out the field of recipients.

The voting body was comprised of league front office personnel, managers, coaches and broadcasters. Voters selected the top two defensive players by position. The league will announce more awards over the coming weeks.

Carranza's Trois-Rivieres Aigles Win First CanAm championship

Joel Carranza's new team celebrates their victory in the CanAm League Championship Series.

Jakub Deptula/LaPresse

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

Joel Carranza, a charter member of the Sonoma Stompers who was promoted in July after a sensational start to his 2015 Pacific Association season, helped lead the Trois-Rivieres Aigles to the franchise’s first CanAm League Championship. Trois-Rivieres topped the New Jersey Jackals 2-1 in the decisive Game 5 of the CanAm League Championship Series on Sunday in New Jersey.

Carranza went 0 for 4 in the deciding game, but proved to be key acquisition for the Aigiles down the stretch. The Pembrooke Pines, Florida native hit .260 in 38 games (including 10 post season contests), with five home runs five doubles, 20 runs batted in, and an OPS of .795.

Carranza, 27, had been one of the most prolific offensive players in the Pacific Association since his arrival in 2014 – the Stompers’ inaugural season. After setting the league’s single-season home run record in 2014 with 19 dingers, Carranza put together one of the best all-around seasons from any player in the league in 2015, hitting .358/.406/.575 with 10 home runs, nine doubles, 39 RBI and 36 runs scored. Carranza was an integral part of the Stompers first-half championship team that went 26-11, clinching the first half title by 7 ½ games.

In Sunday’s action, the Aigles took the lead in the top of the fourth inning as they broke the scoreless tie with a Kyle Lafrenz sacrifice fly.

Trois-Rivieres added to that lead in the fifth inning when Javier Herrera singled to plate Eric Grabe who had singled to lead off the inning.

The Jackals scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. There, CF Dvontrey Richardson reached on an error and moved to second on a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat. Richardson moved to third when Tim Quinn drew a walk and scored when Peter Mooney lifted a sac fly to center field.

But the Aigles’ pitching staff made sure that was the only damage done on the night. Starting pitcher Mike Bradstreet earned the Game 5 win for working 7 2/3 innings and allowing just the one unearned run on seven hits. He walked just one batter and struck out five. Reliever Scott Kuzminsky took over in the bottom of the eighth and recorded a four-out save to seal the win.

Offensively for the Aigles, Pedro Lopez was the only player to have more than one hit in the game as he went 2 for 5. For the Jackals, both LF Matt Helms and Quinn had two-hit games.

The Stompers are planning for their 2016 season, as the league hopes to have a schedule out by 2016. Season ticket and sponsorship packages are available now. For inquiries, call 707.938.7277.

Read more about the CanAm League Championship Series here.

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Stompers Well Represented In Upper Division Playoff Picture

Jayce Ray, Joel Carranza, and Isaac Wenrich have all seen success in the playoffs for the teams they have moved up to in 2015.

Staff Photo/Wichita Wingnuts, Danielle Putonen/Sonoma Stompers, Staff Photo/Florence Freedom 

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

Jayce Ray, a charter member of the Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club, and the 2014 Pacific Association Most Valuable Player, is one of several Stompers alumni getting ready for a postseason pennant drives with upper division teams. Ray and his American Association Wichita Wingnuts begin a best-of-five series with the Laredo Lemurs Wednesday night.  Ray was outstanding in his first year in the Association, batting .310 in 89 games, with a .422 on-base percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .804. The 2008 Sonoma Valley High graduate drove in 35 runs, scored 57, stole 17 bases and walked 56 times against just 39 strikeouts.  Wichita went 59-41 during the regular season, good enough for first place in the AA’s South Division.

Former Stompers slugging first baseman, Joel Carranza, will embark on his first postseason with the Trois-Rivieras Aigles of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. In his first 28 games with the Aigles, Carranza hit .267 with four homers, drove in 18 runs and had an OBP of .362.

Coming off his sensational 2014 campaign with Sonoma, Carranza was even better for the Stompers this summer. In 44 games the powerful right-handed hitter batted .358 with six homers, 41 RBI and an OPS of .981.

2015 Stompers Opening Day catcher, Isaac Wenrich, endured a bittersweet taste of the postseason, as his Florence Freedom (Frontier League) fell 6-5 to the River City Rascals in a one-game playoff.

Wenrich belted his fourth homer since being promoted to the Freedom on Aug. 16. The solo shot gave Florence (49-48), a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning, but the Rascals rallies for four runs in the bottom of the frame. On the season, Florence had been 40-2 when leading after seven innings. Wenrich, who was 2 for 5 in the one-game playoff, batted .250 with three home runs, 10 RBI in 18 games.

Wenrich was a stalwart behind the plate with Sonoma, hitting .296, had an OPS of .846 with 10 homers, 33 RBI and drew 24 walks in 58 games.

Several more Stompers alums enjoyed playing time at higher levels after their promotions. 2015 Opening Day second baseman, Sergio Miranda, led the Sussex County Miners (CanAm) with a .328 average, and an OBP of .431. Fehlandt Lentini batted .302 with three homers, 39 RBI, stole six bags, and scored 24 runs to lead the Long Island Ducks (Atlantic League) to the postseason.

Brennan Metzger, Matt Hibbert and Jaime Del Valle (2014), all finished the 2015 campaign with the Gary South Shore Railcats of the American Association.

Stompers Lose Heartbreaking Title Game On Walk-Off Single

Andrew Parker hits his game-tying RBI ground-rule double in the eighth inning.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

Much like they had done during most of their incredible sophomore campaign, the Sonoma Stompers found just enough late in Monday night’s Pacific Association championship game to pull even with the red-hot San Rafael Pacifics in the eighth inning.

In the end, however, the late push came up just a bit short, as the defending champion Pacifics went back-to-back seasons with a title thanks to Danny Gonzalez’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give San Rafael a 4-3 walkoff victory over the Stompers.

The Stompers had a rough go of it in the month of August, especially over the final three weeks, where they lost 13 of 18 games and saw the Pacifics pull away from the rest of the pack with an incredible run that included eight of nine victories over Sonoma.

Thanks to their early-season dominance, the Stompers were guaranteed a spot in the championship game, but were not at the level they were in the first half due to numerous promotions to higher leagues in professional baseball throughout the second half.

That didn’t stop the Stompers from coming out and giving a fight to San Rafael. Even with their offense not being what it once was, the Stompers boasted perhaps the best set of pitchers in the league coming into Monday's title game, with staff ace Santos Saldivar getting the start and keeping San Rafael off the board early on.

Issues in the fourth stopped Saldivar’s scoreless string, as a two-run single by Chase Tucker gave San Rafael a 2-0 lead. Sonoma got a run in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch to cut the lead in half, but stranded runners at second and third to end the inning.

After Maikel Jova’s RBI double made it 3-1, the Stompers had to figure out how to get to Celson Polanco, who had been cruising outside of that bit of trouble in the fifth. They finally got through in the eighth, but not before some peculiar moves were made.

With two outs, a runner on, and Gered Mochizuki coming to the plate, the Pacifics kept Polanco in the game even with left-hander Chris Lovejoy ready to enter. Polanco walked Mochizuki on four pitches, which forced San Rafael’s hand to go to Lovejoy with consecutive right handed batters coming up.

It also didn’t hurt for Sonoma that the two batters were Mark Hurley and Andrew Parker, the team’s two best hitters against left-handed pitching. Hurley singled through the left side to make it 3-2 before Parker hit a deep drive to left-center field that bounced in front of the fence and over for a ground rule double, tying the game at 3-3.

Stompers fans and players alike argued that the ball didn’t bounce in front of the fence, but over it for a three-run homer. All three umpires came together to agree that it was a ground rule double, keeping the game tied and adding an air of controversy to the proceedings at Albert Park.

Meanwhile, Sean Conroy had been superb in his three innings of relief work after taking over for Saldivar in the sixth. The Pacifics spoiled Conroy’s scoreless streak with a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt, putting the tying run at second base.

After a walk to Zack Pace and a meeting on the mound, Gonzalez got a breaking ball he could handle and ripped it to left field, bringing Johnny Bekakis around for the winning run and causing the entire Pacifics dugout to spill onto the field in celebration.

It was not the ending Sonoma was looking for after such an incredible start to their season. Their 18-3 start led to them clinching the first half title with a 26-11 season, but the team went 18-21 in the second half, due mostly in part to the offense losing so many key cogs to promotion.

The team did better their 2014 win total by two in two fewer games, and now have built up a lot of confidence in bringing in good players due to the success of the players they have promoted.

While Sonoma only had five hits on the evening, Yuki Yasuda, Gered Mochizuki and Eddie Mora-Loera each walked multiple times, with the team drawing seven walks in all against Polanco.

The Stompers will now prepare for their third season in the Pacific Association next June, as Sonoma looks to build upon their successes in 2015 to make another title run in 2016.

Stompers Drop Season Finale, 9-3; Prepare For Title Game

Gered Mochizuki sizes a pitch up during Sunday's loss in San Rafael.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

Even though the Sonoma Stompers took a 9-3 loss on Sunday in the season finale against the San Rafael Pacifics at Albert Park, the Stompers knew going in that the real battle between the two half-champions would take place 30 hours after first pitch. With the Pacifics wrapping up the best overall record in Saturday's come-from-behind win to clinch Albert Park as the site for the Pacific Association title game, Sunday's game amounted to not much more than a warmup game for Monday, and the Stompers were able to do a couple of things that would benefit the team for the big game.

Perhaps most important was that Sean Conroy, who was originally scheduled to start on Sunday, would be able to rest ahead of Monday's game, where he has had tremendous success against the Pacifics in 2015. That means that Monday's pitching available for the Stompers would begin with Santos Saldivar and include Conroy, lefty ace Dylan Stoops and former closer and top-flight starter Mike Jackson, Jr.

On top of saving Conroy, the Stompers also gave rests to Gered Mochizuki (back, hamstring) and Andrew Parker (hand) so that they could be prepared for Monday's game, meaning that when the first pitch is made at 7 p.m., the Stompers should be at 100 percent across the board for everyone who would be featured participants in the title game.

There is the idea looming that the Stompers have lost eight of nine against San Rafael and have lost 12 of 17 overall while the Pacifics have lost only four times in the month of August, including seven straight games to end the season and take the top spot in the overall standings from Sonoma.

However, with the title being decided in only a single game, it essentially comes down to a coin flip, which amplifies every pitch to a higher degree and makes batter/pitcher matchup paramount to anything else. With an entire season's of tendencies available for a lot of players on both sides, those will be leaned on more than ever to give each team an edge.

While the Stompers undoubtedly have the pitching edge, the Pacifics have the best hitter on either side, with corner infielder Jake Taylor hitting much like departed first baseman and probable MVP Matt Chavez. In only 35 games, Taylor has 12 home runs, and his addition to the Pacifics for the second half has been as important as Saldivar's addition for the Stompers on the pitching side.

Sonoma will most likely see Celson Polanco across from them as the San Rafael starter in Monday's game, but the official starter has yet to be announced by the Pacifics. Stompers fans are encouraged to come down and root on their team, with tickets available at the gate and also at PacificsBaseball.com. If fans can't make it out, the radio broadcast will begin around 15 minutes before first pitch, which has been initially set at 7:05 p.m. The official start time of the broadcast will be announced on Twitter @SonomaStompers shortly before the game.

9th Inning Rally Costs Sonoma In 2-1 Loss, Pacifics To Host Title Game

Gregory Paulino was phenomenal on Saturday, allowing only one run in eight innings while striking out eight.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

One night after the Stompers were on the wrong end of the luck spectrum against the San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma looked like they had figured things out, leading 1-0 as they went to the top of the ninth inning in yet another pitcher's duel at Albert Park.

Yet on the first pitch of the ninth, Jake Taylor homered against Gregory Paulino to tie the game at 1-1, setting the stage for another stomach punch to Sonoma from the defending champions. Paulino was lifted for Erik Gonsalves, and after a single, an error on a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to load the bases, the Pacifics took the game on a wild pitch that plated Jeremy Williams to give them a 2-1 victory and home field advantage for Monday's championship game.

For eight innings, Paulino was sensational, allowing only four hits and striking out eight while getting out of two jams where there were runners on second and third with two outs. Thanks to some superb defense and top-flight pitch calling from Matt Rubino, the young right-hander looked well on his way to another shutout victory before Taylor hit the first pitch of the ninth out to left on a hanging slider.

Meanwhile, the Sonoma (18-20 2nd half, 44-32 overall) offense didn't get going against the veteran Nick DeBarr, who was matching Paulino zero for zero until the seventh, when both Danny Baptista and Gered Mochizuki singled for the second time in the game. Showing bunt on the first pitch, Mark Hurley pulled back a bunt on the second pitch and lined one through the left side for a base hit, giving Sonoma the lead.

Sonoma has now lost 11 of 16, their worst stretch of baseball of the season. Against San Rafael over that stretch, the Stompers are just 1-7.

Both teams have shown off more pitching and defense than offense the past couple nights, and with Monday's title game looking like another game where pitching and defense will be valued highly, the only game where there might be a lot of offense might be Sunday, as both teams finish up the string at 1 p.m. with Ryusuke Kikusawa starting for Sonoma. The game will be live on TuneIn and the StompersBaseball.com at 12:50.

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Bunda Stifles Stompers As 3-0 Loss Gives Pacifics Overall Lead

Eric Schwieger was a tough luck loser on Friday, needing only 89 pitches in his eight-inning complete game.

James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

The all-important final series of the 2015 season got underway on Friday night at Albert Park and the Sonoma Stompers are now in a position they haven't been all season long.

With only two days left in the regular season, the Stompers were knocked down from atop their overall standings perch for the first time in 2015 by their rivals from San Rafael, as the Pacifics rode a tremendous pitching performance from JR Bunda to a 3-0 victory to put them a win away from hosting Monday's Pacific Association championship game.

While Bunda's (2-1) performance, where he allowed three hits in eight shutout innings and struck out 10, was tremendous in its own right, it was the complete game effort of Eric Schwieger (5-7) that kept Sonoma in the game the entire way, even with Bunda continuing to fire up zeroes.

In fact, Schwieger only needed 89 pitches in his eight innings to keep the Pacifics at bay, and the final two runs came home thanks to an error in the eighth inning on a ground ball that could have ended the inning. Outside of the double that led to San Rafael's first run in the second inning, Schwieger was dominant at times, matching Bunda pitch for pitch.

Unfortunately, the Stompers offense just couldn't figure out what to do with Bunda, who kept hitting his spots and inducing weak contact. Twice they got two runners on with one out in a 1-0 game, but Bunda got out of both jams to keep Sonoma scoreless. In fact, the Stompers never had a runner reach third base in the game.

The high points for Sonoma were on defense. Mark Hurley gunned down David Kiriakos from left field as Kiriakos tried to stretch a single into a double in the third inning and newcomer Keith Kandel making a sliding catch in right field in the sixth that was amongst the finest catches all season for Sonoma.

With the loss, Sonoma falls a half game behind San Rafael for the best overall record in the league, with the league-best mark determining who will host the championship game on Monday. Sonoma will send Gregory Paulino to the mound on Saturday to try and set up a winner-take-all game on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Albert Park.

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