Oaks sweep Stompers with 9-3 win to claim CCL Championship

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers didn’t record their first hit until the sixth inning, but it was too little, too late to overcome the Oaks’ seven-run lead, as Conejo secured the CCL Championship for the second consecutive year.

Persistence. Gritty. Resilient. Relentless.

In a general sense, a stomper is someone or something that stomps — moves with heavy, forceful steps, often showing power, confidence or aggression. In a sports sense, it’s a dominant player or team that overpowers opponents.

There’s no other way to describe it. A wrecking force. Ruthless. Driven. A powerhouse. It can all be said. The 2025 Sonoma Stompers were a machine. They displayed drive, might, surge and their energy rose by the final leg. But all good things must come to an end.

Sonoma’s season was closing this weekend. Whether it was with a trophy in hand or while sulking in defeat, the Stompers were returning to Northern California with their campaign in the rearview mirror.

Unfortunately, it was the latter. Sonoma didn’t have it in them. It was an underdog all season. Cruising through a schedule filled with the Seagulls, Merchants and Legends only prepared the Stompers for contests with the heavyweight Blues and Crawdads. After 48 games, Sonoma was atop the CCL North standings.

It defeated Walnut Creek in an instant classic, with Nic Sebastiani playing the hero with a two-run walk-off home run. Yet the Conejo Oaks were too much to handle. They were the team to beat, but the Stompers couldn’t pull it off.

After being stunned 10-9 Friday in Game 1 of the CCL Championship Series, Sonoma’s (32-19, 25-15 CCL) season ended one day later following a 9-3 defeat to the Oaks. It was the furthest the Stompers had made it since joining the CCL in 2022, but Conejo carried the trophy when it was all said and done.

When looking at Sonoma’s season, there’s far more positives than negatives. A 32-win season under seven-year manager Zack Pace? Unreal. Leading the CCL North in the standings for more than a month? Next level. A CCL Championship appearance? Must be a joke.

Just two years ago, the Stompers were clinging to their competition. They’d recently transitioned from the Pacific Association — which they won in 2016 — to a collegiate summer league focused on forming the next generation of college baseball stars.

They grew from the ground. Pace adapted alongside a staff of Paul Maytorena, Mike Nunes, Casey Gilroy and Dave Hoch, among others. A brand new roster was formed, and expectations were minimal. But four years later, with its back against the wall, Sonoma was competing for it all.

After scoring six runs in the ninth inning Friday, Conejo started Saturday’s contest right where it left off. Its spark in the opening innings became the difference in taking control for the remainder of the game.

Across the season, Brandon Leon made six appearances on the mound but only started two. His most recent outing lasted 3.2 innings against the Philippines, in which the Modesto Junior College righty surrendered just one run and three hits. He’d shown he could go the distance, at least to the point Pace needed him to with a bolstered bullpen.

But Leon’s performance was far from what was displayed on July 26. This time around, he gave up three hits in the opening frame, which resulted in Tommy Kendlinger and Tyler Holley — Friday’s walk-off hero — coming home.

Instead of the Stompers matching the Oaks’ output, they sat quietly. Going down 1-2-3 in the first inning? Just the championship jitters. But as the game progressed, Sonoma’s offense remained stagnant, and Conejo took advantage.

Xander Sielken, who recorded four hits in Friday’s loss, grounded out to open the second. Cam Hegamin then copied Sielken before Kyle Olimpia was retired on strikes. Two innings were a bit of a concern, but a two-run lead was still manageable to mount a comeback. Until it became four, then six and finally seven.

By the sixth inning, Sonoma sat scoreless. With a third of the game to go, the Stompers looked more focused on cutting the deficit than winning. They hadn’t recorded a hit. Their only offensive output to that point was one error and a hit-by-pitch in the third inning.

All of a sudden, a run came across the board. Finally, a step in the right direction. Esteban Sepulveda and Trent Keys opened the inning with walks. Max Handron — in his final collegiate game — then singled to score the catcher and cut Sonoma’s deficit to six.

One by one, all the Stompers had to do was produce. All season, they’d found ways to win. Whether it was by a “Stompers’ special,” a defensive miscue or a no-doubt nuke, as Sebastiani displayed Wednesday, Sonoma had seen it all. On Saturday, however, the exciting moments belonged to the past.

Gabe Howard was lights out for the Oaks all year. Sporting a 0.75 ERA across six showings, there was no doubt he would come through when the lights shined brightest. With Oregon, the West Linn native carried a 5.87 ERA, but his season with Conejo was an entirely different story.

Pitching at least four innings in his final four outings, Howard’s shown he has what it takes to lead the Oaks to victory. Saturday was no different. As he cruised through five no-hit innings, his slight slip in the sixth didn’t really push him back.

Howard pitched through one more inning, allowing one more run, but finished with six strikeouts while giving up just one hit.

The Stompers were down to their final leg. In the eighth, they went down in order.

When Handron walked to the plate in the ninth, everything was on the line. There was nothing to lose. Yet Handron kept Sonoma’s offensive trend going with a strikeout swinging. Sebastiani tripled before scoring on a single by Sielken, but it was far too late.

The Oaks crowded the dugout fence. Olimpia popped out to first base. Gabriel Tapia then took two strikes before whiffing through the final offering from Conejo’s Matthew Queen, closing the game and season for the Oaks.

Persistence. Gritty. Resilient. Relentless.

These words defined the 2025 Sonoma Stompers. While their season ended short of a championship, they proved they’re built to rise again.

Oaks stun Stompers with 6-run 9th to take CCL Championship Game 1, 10-9

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After facing a 9-4 deficit in the ninth inning, the Oaks used five free passes and recorded three hits to stun the Stompers and take Game 1 of the CCL Championship Series.

It was anything but silent, yet the Stompers were at a loss for words.

Entering the bottom of the ninth inning, they’d written the script in Game 1 of the CCL Championship Series. Sonoma led 9-4. Its offense had exploded for seven runs in the first five innings.

The Oaks rank second to last in the CCL in errors with 65, and the Stompers abused them. Conejo made five miscues in the field. In return, Sonoma scored two unearned runs that proved crucial.

It was three outs away from a Game 1 victory, further cementing its greatest season since joining the CCL in 2021. Tyler Holley grabbed the pen, though. He inked all over the Stompers’ script.

In a split second, a Gatorade jug was being aggressively poured on a man in blue. It wasn’t Sonoma manager Zack Pace in his navy blue. Instead, it was Holley in his sky blue uniform with 20-plus teammates chasing him through left field. Designated hitter Landon West stripped Holley’s No. 7 jersey and held it high toward Sonoma’s dugout. It cut deep. Absolute stunner.

After the Stompers seemed poised to take the win, Holley became Conejo’s hero with a two-run walk-off double to cap a six-run ninth inning. With the 10-9 loss, Sonoma (32-18, 25-15 CCL) now faces elimination, while the Oaks sit just one win away from repeating as CCL champions.

Holley’s all too familiar in Wine Country. A La Verne native, he made the move up to Northern California last summer to serve as an infielder and power bat for the Stompers. The Cal State Fullerton junior hit .233 across 40 games at Arnold Field, but he was ready for a change. So he joined the 2024 champion Oaks, where he’s enjoyed an offensive resurgence.

He leads Conejo in home runs and RBIs and has displayed a clutch gene that fueled it to the finals. His most recent showing was a two-hit, two-RBI day in the Oaks’ win over the Arroyo Seco Saints in the South Championship. In the sixth inning, with the score knotted at one apiece, Holley annihilated the eventual game-winner, a 96-mile-per-hour double off the right-field wall to clear the bases and give Conejo a 3-1 lead.

Sonoma must keep a heating-up Holley cool. On Friday, it did no such thing. Dealing with a 2-2 count, Chris Albee — who was a member of the Stompers last season — tossed a middle-middle fastball Holley’s way; He clobbered it down the left-field line. Tommy Kendlinger scored. Devon Wilkes crossed home. 1-0 Oaks.

Holley’s knock entirely flipped the script. A team that never led until the final swing burst into an outrageous celebration. It was Sonoma’s game to lose. It set the rhythm. What had happened? It didn’t look like a collapse was coming. The Stompers had the edge.

In the first inning, Xander Sielken scorched a line drive to second baseman Ethan Gonzalez, who gloved it and nearly doubled Nic Sebastiani up at first base. Instead, Gonzalez’s throw rolled near the Stompers' dugout. Quinn Medin came in, quickly putting Sonoma ahead.

Gonzalez righted his wrong in the second with an RBI single, but in the next frame, Sielken traded places with Max Handron at second base when he doubled toward the 320-sign in right field.

The Stompers’ feet remained on the gas. Handron drove in Trent Keys when he pinned a single over the leap of shortstop Zach Mora in the fourth. Medin scored on a passed ball. Sielken singled to plate Handron. All of a sudden, a 2-1 lead had ballooned into a 5-1 cushion.

Anthony Scheppler continued the breakout when he placed Oaks’ reliever Spencer Kratt’s 0-0 offering off the right-field fence, chugging into third base with a double before advancing 90 feet on an error. Paul Lizzul scored on the play.

Two pitches later, Scheppler was home after Connor Pawlowski joined the party with a single. Devon Laguinto held it down on the mound through six innings. Sonoma backed him up on the other side of the ball. In the eighth, Pawlowski and Keys both singled to make the lead 9-4.

Then, all at once, everything came crashing down.

A CCL Showcase selection, Harun Pelja often opened games for the Stompers. But despite making four starts this season, he’s shifted to a relief role down the stretch. The Melbourne, Australia, native can pitch multiple innings, helping Sonoma limit bullpen usage in games where every arm counts. With everything on the line, a 9-4 lead is the perfect situation to let Pelja keep working if his stuff is on.

First it was. Pelja escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning after winning an 11-pitch battle with Gonzalez. The next frame, one walk nullified what would’ve been a 1-2-3 inning for the Youngstown State righty. Then came the ninth, the biggest appearance in Pelja’s young Stompers career.

After taking a ball, Nolan Johnson grounded out to Handron at shortstop. One away. Jax Gimenez followed with a walk. Then Landon West walked. Mora was hit. Gonzalez plated a run on another free pass. Just like that, 9-5.

Kendlinger singled, cutting the lead to 9-6. Albee entered in relief for Pelja. Nothing changed. Wilkes doubled. Mora and Gonzalez scored. The lead was cut to one run. Joey Donnelly was intentionally walked.

A familiar face stepped up: Holley. He’d done damage before. He was ready again. Six pitches later, the game was over. Sonoma’s script had been rewritten.

Everything to know about the Oaks before Sonoma’s first-ever CCL Championship

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Conejo Oaks have committed 65 errors, the second-most in the CCL. If the Stompers can capitalize on those mistakes, they might end up hoisting the CCL trophy for the first time in franchise history.

There were once 14 teams. Then six. Four followed. Now, two teams remain in the CCL. After 10 weeks of intense competition, the Stompers have surpassed the rest and nearly stand alone. They face one last test: the Conejo Oaks.

Everything’s fresh for Sonoma. Boarding a bus to Thousand Oaks is an unfamiliar experience. Seeing the Oaks on its schedule is a first. The pressure feels foreign yet exciting for the squad.

This is what Conejo does, though. It won the CCL Championship in 2018 when the Stompers still played in the Pacific Association. After five failed attempts to battle back, the Oaks finally returned to glory last season when they defeated the Crawdads in two games by a combined score of 11-2.

Conejo’s made its mark on the league. Sonoma’s still fighting to. A battle between the past and the present awaits, and the stakes are higher than ever.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Stompers’ (32-17, 25-15 CCL) first-ever CCL Championship series against the defending champion Conejo Oaks (25-13 CCL):

How’d the Oaks get here?

It’s no secret the Oaks were the team to beat this season. Last year, they finished 24-12 before cruising through the CCL postseason with a 9-2 win over the Riptide and 7-2 and 4-0 victories over Walnut Creek. They controlled last season from start to finish and repeated the feat this year.

The CCL South and North rarely mix, so Conejo didn’t see the competition Sonoma did. But they coasted through the South’s seven other teams to claim the one-seed for the second straight year. 

At the plate, Jacob Galloway and Devon Wilkes did the heavy lifting. They both finished batting nearly .300 through 31 games. Galloway, often in the three-hole, led the squad with 22 runs and 20 walks. His OPS ranked second among remaining starters at .825, while Wilkes’ sat just 82 points lower at .743.

Charlie Decker emerged as the Oaks’ ace on the mound. His 2.57 ERA topped the team among pitchers with over 25 innings pitched, while his four wins and 39 strikeouts ranked in the CCL’s top five. After making 14 relief appearances for Conejo last season, he led the team with seven starts this time around.

Number to know: 65

Manager Zack Pace has always emphasized capitalizing on the opponent’s mistakes, but this year, his squad has taken it to a different level. People often call it the “Stompers’ special.” It’s as simple as tying games, taking leads and mounting comebacks on wild pitches and catchers’ mistakes.

The Oaks won’t let them do that much. Their 29 wild pitches are the third-lowest mark in the league. But in terms of the defense behind the pitcher, Sonoma might be running for days.

Conejo’s committed 65 errors this season, the second-most in the CCL. While the Stompers’ defense has dialed in, if their offense punishes the Oaks’ miscues, they may be hoisting the trophy come Sunday.

Sonoma’s player to watch: Nic Sebastiani

Calling Nic Sebastiani’s walk-off two-run homer on Wednesday a storybook ending doesn’t do it justice. It was a moment years in the making, dating back to his days at Sonoma Valley High School. If there’s one player to lead the Stompers to their first-ever CCL Championship, it’s Sebastiani.

After beginning 2025 slowly and being sidelined for three weeks due to injury, the Santa Rosa Junior College sophomore has been unstoppable since. He’s raised his batting average to .300 through 26 games and 90 at-bats. After not hitting a home run since June 29, Sebastiani’s long ball in the CCL North finals powered the Stompers to the CCL Championship.

There’s no better time for the hometown kid to hit his stride. His 3-for-5 day with two extra-base hits in Sonoma’s extra-innings thriller Wednesday shows Sebastiani’s a name Conejo can’t afford to overlook.

Conejo’s player to watch: Tyler Holley

One swing can define a season. On Wednesday, it went the Stompers’ way. Yet with Tyler Holley at the plate for the Oaks, momentum can shift in an instant. The Cal State Fullerton junior may not be the most consistent hitter — his .243 average reflects that — but his bat packs power, evident in his team-leading four home runs.

In the cleanup spot, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound former Stomper has done damage. His most recent display was a two-hit, two-RBI day in Conejo’s 3-1 win over the Arroyo Seco Saints in the South Championship.

In the sixth inning, with the score knotted at one apiece, Holley roped a 96-mile-per-hour double off the right-field wall to clear the bases and give the Oaks a 3-1 lead, which they never relinquished.

While Sebastiani’s heating up, Holley’s just as dangerous at the plate. To be crowned 2025 CCL Champions, Sonoma must keep him quiet.

Sebastiani’s walk-off home run sends Stompers past Crawdads 3-2, into CCL Championship

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers trailed by one run entering the bottom of the 10th inning, but one swing from Nic Sebastiani was all it took to power them past the Crawdads and into the CCL Championship.

The crack of the bat silenced the dugout chatter. The entire Stompers’ bench rose to their feet and straddled the fence. Five relief pitchers from the bullpen exited onto the field. For a split second, everyone at Arnold Field stood still. Time slowed, as eyes fixed on the ball soaring toward left field.

Most fans and players couldn’t have been more attentive to the flying white sphere. Nic Sebastiani, however, blacked out. Sonoma’s lineup is filled with local kids, but in that moment, Sebastiani was so much more. He was the final heartbeat of a team on the brink of elimination.

The Stompers trailed by one run. They were hanging onto the defending CCL North champion Walnut Creek Crawdads by a thread. The Crawdads had the momentum. Sonoma had Sebastiani.

After taking pitch No. 1 from Walnut Creek reliever Brady Wilson, Sebastiani readjusted his batting gloves. His feet remained planted in the batter’s box. He didn’t move an inch.

Chants echoed across Arnold Field. They all came to a halt when Sebastiani annihilated Wilson’s second pitch down the left field line. Max Handron was on second base from the CCL’s ghost runner rule. As the ball traveled over the fence, the Crawdads’ defense slumped into place. Motionless. Resigned. Beaten.

Handron crossed home. Then came the hometown kid.

“This is definitely the coolest baseball moment I’ve ever had,” Sebastiani said postgame. “I can’t really describe what I’m feeling.”

Sebastiani’s home run didn’t tie the game. It didn’t pad a lead. It ended it, the final swing in a must-win contest for Sonoma. 

“That was just a great, outstanding moment for the kid. He’s one heck of a ball player,” manager Zack Pace said of Sebastiani postgame. “To do it in front of this crowd tonight, in front of his family, in that moment, it doesn’t really get much bigger than that.”

With the 3-2 victory, the Stompers (32-17, 25-15 CCL) head to their first-ever CCL Championship series to face the defending champion Conejo Oaks.

Sebastiani is no stranger to Arnold Field. He knows the confines all too well from his four seasons with Sonoma Valley High School. But the lights had never been as bright as they were Wednesday.

Since joining the CCL in 2022, the Stompers’ most notable run came in 2024, when they reached the North Championship against the Crawdads. In that game, Sebastiani hit fifth in the lineup as Sonoma’s designated hitter but finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The Stompers lost 5-2 at Monte Vista High School, ending their season one win short of the CCL Championship.

For Sebastiani, among others, it was a game to forget. Yet for Pace, that loss served as fuel. Success is hard to come by in one of the nation’s premier collegiate summer leagues, but settling was never an option. Since that defeat, Pace has been driven by redemption. He finally got it.

After starter Shawn McBroom twirled three shutout innings, he returned to the mound. Things started as usual. Cam Calvillo flew out to Trent Keys in left field. Joey Donnelly was then put away for out No. 2. Zach Justice then popped a shallow fly ball back to Keys.

Sonoma’s defense began jogging toward its dugout. Justice approached first base ready to turn around. Yet the ball ricocheted off Keys’ glove, dropping into left field. If he had 99 more chances, he’d catch every single one, Pace said, but not that time; The Crawdads made him pay.

As Keys turned in disarray, McBroom fired a strike to Kam Taylor. His next pitch, though, was clubbed down the right field line. Quinn Medin chased it down and fired a rocket to second baseman Xander Sielken, who one-hopped Connor Pawlowski at the plate. Pawlowski fielded it cleanly, but Justice, just in time, slid past the tag to break the deadlock. The run was charged to McBroom, but Keys wore the mistake in left field.

“He knows that cost us in that situation,” Pace said. “He’s been with us all year and had to be the guy in the lineup today. Unfortunately, he had one mistake in the outfield, but so what?”

Though Keys’ error set up what would have been the season-ending run, his response at the plate was spectacular. In 84 at-bats before Wednesday, the Delta College sophomore had just three doubles. Against the Crawdads alone, he matched that total.

Keys’ bat sparked the Stompers’ offense. Still trailing by one in the eighth, the lineup finally came alive. Keys began the frame with a two-bagger. Medin was hit by a pitch, and Keys advanced to third base when Handron flew out. After Sebastiani singled, Sielken kept the line moving with a base hit of his own to plate Keys and tie things up.

All of a sudden, it was a brand new ballgame. This time, Sonoma held the momentum. Its once-deficit felt like a distant memory. Kyle Olimpia opened the ninth with a walk. An error by Justice at the plate put Gabriel Tapia on first. Pawlowski walked right after.

Up to the plate came Keys. It was his moment to erase his previous error and walk things off as he had last week against the Tigers. However, it took four pitches for Keys to go down. Then six for Medin. Finally, five for Handron. After having bases loaded with no outs, the energy flipped entirely.

In the top of the 10th, Walnut Creek broke the deadlock with a sacrifice fly. As Sebastiani watched the Crawdads seize control, he stayed composed. Pace pulled him aside before he was due up in the bottom half. The message was simple.

“I just told him to walk their sh*t off,” Pace said.

Sebastiani stepped into the box and glanced back at Pace one final time. The message hadn’t changed. Two pitches later, the local product turned on a fastball and sent it soaring over the left-field fence. Sonoma was headed to the CCL Championship.

What to know about the Crawdads ahead of Wednesday’s CCL North title game

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After falling to the Crawdads in the 2024 CCL North title game and dropping the season series this year, the Stompers are out for revenge in Wednesday’s rematch at Arnold Field.

The 2024 season was filled with celebrations for the Stompers. Manager Zack Pace earned 30 wins for the first time in his six years at the helm. Sonoma sent six players to the CCL Showcase Game in mid-July. The Stompers won their first CCL playoff game against the San Luis Obispo Blues. Yet everything came crashing down the next day in the CCL North title game. Their opponent: the Walnut Creek Crawdads.

After burning their arms the day prior at Sinsheimer Stadium, the lights were too bright for Sonoma’s back half of its bullpen. Walnut Creek scored all five of its runs in the fifth inning or later, while the Stompers' bats didn’t come alive until the ninth, far too late to build any positive momentum.

Pace sulked after the win but remained proud of his group. However, after a whole year to analyze what went wrong and play more baseball, Sonoma’s back for revenge, this time on home turf at Arnold Field.

“That’s the goal at the start of the year, to be the CCL North champions,” Pace said. “Need to get into that playoff dance. We’re in, we have a good spot. We win (on Wednesday), we go to the final show. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Here’s everything to know about the Walnut Creek Crawdads ahead of their CCL North title game matchup Wednesday with the Stompers (31-17, 25-15 CCL):

Season series

Crawdads won 5-4.

Last time they played…

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Sonoma faced its last true test: a three-game series against the Crawdads. The Stompers entered each week with determination, but Walnut Creek has consistently been a roadblock. This time, the stakes were higher than ever.

Both teams were heavily in contention for first place in the CCL North, and the Crawdads were up two games in the season series. But after being defeated 9-1 the night prior, Sonoma stormed southeast to Monte Vista High School and took them down 7-3 on July 20.

Fueled by a six-run first inning, the Stompers never looked back with Justin Jones on the mound. The Los Medanos right-handed pitcher lasted a season-long four innings while allowing just one run on three hits. David Howard entered in relief and cruised through the last five frames while surrendering two runs.

On the offensive side, Sonoma punted Crawdads’ starter Dylan McShane out of the game after he recorded just one out. It took its foot off the gas after the first inning, scoring just one more run in the ninth, but Max Handron and Cam Hegamin ended with multiple hits, nevertheless.

Number to know: 241

At the halfway point of the season, the Stompers’ defense fell into a rut. They were committing three-plus errors nearly every evening, yet were still finding ways to win games. It may have been because they were facing bottom-feeder teams such as the Merchants, Seagulls and Legends. However, Walnut Creek would’ve punished them.

Over the season, the Crawdads have struck out just 241 times, the fewest among teams still in the CCL playoffs and the fifth fewest in the league overall. Meanwhile, Sonoma’s 371 pitching strikeouts rank second in the league, setting the stage for a clash of play style at Arnold Field. If Walnut Creek sticks to its usual approach, the Stompers’ defense will face a barrage of balls in play and with that, a heightened risk of errors.

Sonoma’s player to watch: Quinn Medin

While there may be no one in the CCL playing as well as Handron, the Crawdads have seen him dozens of times. Quinn Medin, on the other hand, brings an element of surprise. An addition to Sonoma’s roster on July 19, Medin’s quickly drawn attention from the leadoff spot. Pace has placed Landon Akers, Colton Boardman and Hegamin, among others, in the position, yet no one’s performed to Medin’s level.

Through five games, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs outfielder is hitting .471. His on-base percentage sits at .609 while his slugging percentage (.529) brings his OPS well above 1.000 (1.138).

Though the sample size is limited, Medin’s ability to get on base has been his greatest asset. Across a three-game stretch from July 25-27, the newly appointed starting right fielder reached on 15 straight plate appearances. In Sonoma’s 18-2 win over the Philippines National Team on July 26, Medin also recorded five hits in six at-bats.

Walnut Creek’s player to watch: Joey Donnelly

Similar to the Crawdads’ situation with Handron, the Stompers know most of Walnut Creek’s key pieces all too well. But it’s impossible not to mention Joey Donnelly when looking at its star-studded roster.

In 2022, Donnelly first joined the Crawdads’ roster, where he struggled with a .210 batting average. After posting a .305 average the following year, Donnelly joined the Arroyo Seco Saints of the CCL South, notching a .327 average down in Pasadena.

Back with Walnut Creek in 2025, Donnelly’s started right where he left off. The UC Berkeley utility man ranks second on the Crawdads’ roster with a .341 batting average. He’s appeared in the second-most games for Walnut Creek and is the last remaining member of the team’s top five hitters.

Against Sonoma this season, Donnelly’s tallied 16 hits in eight games. His most significant performance was a six-RBI day in the Crawdads’ 10-1 victory on June 25. If the Stompers want to reach their first-ever CCL Championship, they’ll need to shut down Donnelly.

‘MR. STOMPER’: How Jeff Garrison turned the Stompers into his family

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Since the Stompers were founded in 2014, the team has gone through plenty of changes, but superfan Jeff Garrison has remained loyal through it all. Photo by Phil Duncan

The ball hung in the air for a moment before dropping into Jeff Garrison’s glove. It sailed in slowly, each spin prolonging time. It was the Stompers’ first pitch at Arnold Field, and Garrison had to be the one behind the plate. His father, Warren, wouldn’t have thrown it otherwise.

Children frolicked through the gates as their parents tried to keep up. Blue skies were overhead. A buzz flowed through Arnold Field — one Garrison had anticipated for years. The smell of freshly cut grass filled the air. The pop of the glove echoed through the stadium. Professional baseball had arrived in Sonoma.

A month into the inaugural 2014 season, the Stompers had yet to step onto their own diamond. They’d traveled to San Rafael, Vallejo and Pittsburg as Sonoma County’s Babe Ruth league occupied their field. When they finally arrived, it was a moment that had been months in the making. The community united. Pro baseball felt unfamiliar to all fans except one: Garrison.

He’d attended nearly all of the Stompers’ road games, forming relationships with General Manager Theo Fightmaster and numerous players. Garrison couldn’t get enough of it, aiming to establish a legacy that would positively impact the team and its fans.

“We were spoiled. It was a really good brand of ball. Having to go nowhere for a professional level was just incredible,” Garrison said.

As the Stompers gear up for a playoff run in 2025, the team’s identity has evolved since that season. No longer a professional club, they’ve transitioned to a collegiate level with a renewed focus on youth development. Yet, Garrison’s commitment remains. He attends nearly 40 games each season, as loyal as ever, with no intention of slowing down.

“We were definitely missing a team for our hometown and something that could bring our community closer. Who doesn’t love baseball?” Garrison’s stepdaughter, Amber Brown, said. “It’s brought a lot of people who didn’t know each other together as a family.”

Garrison was relaxing in his home in El Verano — about 2.5 miles west of Arnold Field — flipping through the Sonoma Index-Tribune. On Jan. 1, 2014, he came across an advertisement suggesting professional baseball might be coming to Sonoma. Excitement rushed through his mind, but a decision hadn’t been made.

For Garrison, pro baseball in Sonoma had been a quiet wish. However, he left work each day at 2 p.m. and drove north to Healdsburg or south to San Rafael, unable to shake the idea of watching that same level in his own town.

Jeff Garrison watches the Stompers while proudly wearing his 2016 Pacific Association Champions sweatshirt. He and his wife, Kim, were in San Rafael when Sonoma clinched the title. Photo by Phil Duncan

One Saturday soon after, a city council meeting took place at the Sonoma Police Department. Garrison couldn’t attend, so his wife, Kim, went in his place.

With over 300 people in attendance, Fightmaster presented what the Stompers would bring to Wine Country. He spoke about their schedule, the Pacific Association and the support they’d need from others.

The room was split.

A large group of people, representing the condominiums and townhouses adjacent to Arnold Field, stood up. One man spoke. He didn’t want to listen to an announcer each night. His argument was straightforward, but Kim didn’t care.

“Why would you move next to three built baseball fields, a football field and a soccer field? If you don’t wanna live here, you never should’ve moved here,” Kim told the man.

The room went silent. The man didn’t say another word.

When the meeting concluded, Fightmaster approached Kim. She described how badly her “better half” wanted the Stompers. Garrison was born and raised in Sonoma. Kim had moved there when she was 2. The rolling hills and lush vineyards were in their blood. Sports were also.

Garrison became Brown’s stepfather when she was 9, and he immediately immersed himself in her youth sports. He was Brown’s street hockey coach at age 12. He’d talk strategy and analyze the game when they weren’t playing. Brown loved it, she said.

As Brown grew up and had kids of her own, the trend continued. Garrison coached Tristan, Brown’s oldest son, in Babe Ruth baseball. He also worked at the Hanna Center in North Sonoma, overseeing recreational sports.

With the Stompers’ establishment, something new infused his lifestyle. Garrison never just watched games. He wanted to expand the community’s horizons, opening them to a professional level of sports Sonoma hadn’t seen. His arrival isn’t just by first pitch but rather when batting practice starts.

At Pacifics games before the Stompers’ existence, Garrison would watch San Rafael’s starting centerfielder. His name was Zack Pace, and he had six pro seasons under his belt before joining San Rafael.

What connected their stories was Pace’s past at Sonoma State. Across two seasons with the Seawolves, he hit .365, which ranks fifth in school history. The two exchanged phone numbers, which Garrison now constantly uses since Pace’s appointment as manager of the Stompers seven years ago.

At home games, they “talk shop” with each other before Garrison wanders off to build relationships with players.

In 2014, Isaac Wenrich was Sonoma’s starting catcher. Wenrich was called to the Frontier League, so backup catcher Andrew Parker stepped in. Being the backstop for the Stompers’ final 30 games is no joke, but Garrison kept Parker sane. They’d speak daily, often talking about the wear and tear on Parker’s body. Garrison called it inspirational.

Jeff Garrison leads a chant during a Stompers game. While most fans clear out when games stretch past three hours, Garrison is always in the grandstand. Photo by Phil Duncan

A year later, Jacksonville State’s Eddie Mora-Loera returned to the Bay Area to make his debut with the Stompers. Over four seasons, he played 158 games, ranking fifth in franchise history, and helped lead the team to a championship before transitioning to the front office in 2018.

Watching Mora-Loera go from player to personnel influenced Garrison to involve his own family. When Mora-Loera insisted they join the staff, Brown and her husband, Mike, dedicated themselves as the team’s host family coordinators.

Being around the role has drawn Garrison closer to the squad. Prior to each season, Brown receives a confidential roster to prepare host family assignments. During the months leading up to Opening Day, Garrison claws at it, continuously asking Brown if “so and so” is returning.

That’s not what makes Garrison so special to the Stompers’ community, though. It’s what he does each night at Arnold Field that keeps people coming back.

It’s impossible not to notice the man sitting in the third row with his family and friends. That’s Garrison. He often speaks up when people look lost, offering them a hand in finding their seats. When the game begins, Sonoma’s public address announcer, Kaden Sanders, is loud. Garrison might be louder. Whether he’s leading chants or shouting at players, Garrison’s voice overpowers the rest.

A steady tradition in Stompers’ history is selecting a kid to be the team’s bat boy. Tristan was the first one ever. During the “Rawhide Race,” Brown’s other son, Levi — who has cerebral palsy — is wheeled around the bases by pitcher Nikolas Haas. The games have become more than a hobby; they’re a family affair.

“It fills a huge hole in my family. The Stompers have definitely left a print on our hearts because you can’t find that everywhere,” Brown said.

People tuning into the Stompers’ YouTube channel listen to broadcasters Kiran Costa and Roman Raffaeli. In the background, they can hear the faint voice of Garrison screaming, “We will stomp you.” It’s become a routine.

“Loud and proud and cheering. Jeff’s infectious. When he’s cheering, it makes you want to cheer,” Brown said. “It gets you excited. When he gets pumped up, you get pumped up.”

“Jeff’s infectious. When he’s cheering, it makes you want to cheer. It gets you excited.””

— Amber Brown, Jeff Garrison's Stepdaughter

Last year, Garrison was walking around the Sonoma Plaza. A little girl approached him, then hid behind her father. Finally, the girl overcame her shyness and popped her head out.

“You’re Mr. Stomper,” she said to Garrison.

That’s the imprint he’s left on the community. Pace manages the team. The players are the reason Sonoma’s pushing for a CCL title. But none of it would be possible without Garrison’s 11 years of dedication, with many more to go.

“He doesn’t think of it as fans in the grandstands. It’s family,” Brown said of Garrison. “He’s cheering for his family, for his home team. It’s not just ball.”

Stompers claim top spot in CCL North with 8-2 win over PNT

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Guided by three home runs and a dominant pitching performance, the Stompers cruised to an 8-2 victory over the PNT, claiming the No. 1 seed in the CCL North in their regular season finale.

Stompers manager Zack Pace narrowed his goals at the beginning of the season. After leading Sonoma to a 30-win campaign, the seventh-year head coach had nearly checked off everything on his 2024 list. Yet a few things remained. Pace wanted consistency. His intentions for the Stompers were simple: to play good, quality baseball. Nothing more, nothing less.

On his list: keeping the line moving. Usually a single-game goal, Pace looked for his players to string together hits, capitalize on free passes and, as a result, score runs. Then came pitching. He didn’t need dominance, just strikes, few freebies and a staff that stays steady when the lights get bright — eventually with a deep run in sight.

“There’s nothing better than winning a championship. That’s goal number one,” Pace said before the season began. “Staying locked in on every pitch and trying to win the little battles to win the big battle at the end.”

If Sonoma checked the boxes, Pace knew his squad would be well on its way to the CCL playoffs, ideally with favorable seeding. After Sunday’s 8-2 win over the Philippines National Team, the Stompers (31-17, 25-15 CCL) had done just that, clinching the top seed in the CCL North in their final regular season game.

“I try not to get emotional cause it’s been a long summer, and I know how our guys grinded,” Pace said postgame. “They brought a good attitude, and that’s all we ask. Just really proud of this group.”

In the CCL, champagne bottles aren’t popped after big wins. Partly because most players aren’t of the legal drinking age. But it’s also because the job’s not finished. It’s a cliché yet truthful saying in sports. What’s there to celebrate when the postseason hasn’t even begun?

For Sonoma, though, all week has been a celebration. A surprising fall to the Seagulls on Wednesday started things on the wrong foot, but it was short-lived. The Stompers took the non-league California Tigers to extra innings, bounced back against San Francisco and demolished the PNT 18-2 on Saturday. A spot on the CCL North side of the bracket was already reserved for Sonoma. Until Sunday, though, which spot remained undecided. 

It’s easy to get comfortable after an 18-2 win, Pace said, especially when you’re playing the same team the following day. But in his postgame meeting Saturday, Pace’s main message was that Sunday would be a “dogfight.” He advised his team to play it like game No. 1.

Right from the jump, the enthusiasm, energy and youthful fight that’s shown on Opening Day were displayed on both sides of the ball for the Stompers. Sonoma State’s David Howard took the mound and shoved in front of his home crowd.

Yet it was the bats that fueled Sonoma to the 8-2 victory. The Philippines were running low on arms. They used five pitchers Saturday and three more the day prior. Therefore, Jayden Bagalayos — who carries a 9.90 ERA — received the ball for the PNT.

As his ERA suggests, his command and ability to get outs while limiting runs hadn’t quite been up to par. That continued Sunday, with Quinn Medin reaching base for the 13th straight plate appearance with a walk. Max Handron then ripped a line drive into center field. With immense speed, the ball rolled toward the 450-foot sign, allowing Handron to ease into third base with a standup triple.

That wasn’t all for the newly signed Australian professional. Handron recorded two home runs on the day, both solo shots to add to the Stompers’ lead.

“Some people can just really hit, and he can do it. It’s really fun to see him succeed in his hometown before he gets a professional career going,” Pace said of Handron.

Handron’s a walking highlight reel; Just look at the Stompers’ X account. It’s no secret Handron’s got juice on offense, but it influences the way his teammates also perform.

Since joining the team, San Francisco State’s Kyle Olimpia has bounced around the infield. After an injury sidelined starting shortstop Colton Boardman, Olimpia hopped in to play the anchor. His rise has been inspirational to Pace and his staff.

One week ago, Olimpia hadn’t seen live pitching since the Gators’ season concluded on May 3. Against the Philippines, he tallied three hits, including his first home run of the summer, a three-run shot to bring Sonoma’s lead from three to six. Meanwhile, at shortstop, Olimpia’s meshed with Handron to turn three double plays.

The Stompers strung together hits. Fortunately for Pace, they delivered on the mound, too. In four innings, Howard was lights out. The junior surrendered just three knocks and two walks, shutting out the PNT while lowering his ERA to 3.19.

Chris Albee, Devon Laguinto and Harun Pelja also pitched scoreless frames for Sonoma, recording three combined strikeouts while allowing five hits. As for the Philippines’ runs, Christian Klostermann allowed one, while Braden Guentz’s ninth-inning performance gave up another.

But in a game where Pace had a clear plan and the Stompers were fighting for first, the chances of a last-place PNT comeback were slim to none. As Guentz threw the final pitch —  a diving pop-out to Olimpia in shallow left field — Sonoma showcased its regular celebrations.

There was no dogpile. No champagne. Just a few high fives, because everyone knows the job’s far from finished.

“We’re not done yet,” Pace said. “We’ve still got more baseball.”

Medin sparks Stompers’ 18-2 thrashing of Philippines

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Quinn Medin’s five-hit performance powered the Stompers to a dominant 18–2 win over the Philippines National Team, with just one regular season game remaining.

It’s been a steady but unexpected shift at the leadoff spot for the Stompers. Landon Akers carried it at first. The Bellarmine outfielder was hitting .309 until an injury derailed his season, with his final appearance in orange and blue coming on June 27.

Then came Colton Boardman. One of Sonoma’s most reliable bats, Boardman’s elevation to the leadoff spot paid off. The Cal State Northridge shortstop hit .282 across 32 games for the Stompers. But when he suffered an injury at the CCL Showcase Game in Compton on July 16, manager Zack Pace was left to find another replacement for the most crucial stretch of the season.

First came Cam Hegamin. Trent Keys appeared in the spot as well. Pace tried new combinations, as if flipping through a deck of cards. Now he’s stopped, finally landing on his ace of spades: Quinn Medin.

A Santa Rosa native, Medin stayed local and began his collegiate career at San Francisco State in 2022. After not seeing action for the Gators, though, he transferred even closer to home to Santa Rosa Junior College. Over 39 games, the outfielder hit .261 with 14 RBIs.

Then he leveled up, committing to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where Medin posted a .298 batting average through 20 games. Though a late addition to Sonoma, Medin’s made an undeniable impact. That continued Saturday against the Philippines National Team.

Setting the tone all evening, Medin reached base in all seven of his plate appearances. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound starting right fielder ended the night 5-for-6 with four RBIs. He also scored five times, fueling the Stompers (30-17, 24-15 CCL) to an 18-2 thrashing of the PNT.

“He’s a pest. He’s a spark plug,” Pace said of Medin postgame. “I really love his game. He has a great approach, taking quality at-bats, puts good swings on balls, and good things happen when you do that. We love him at the top.”

Entering Saturday, just two games remained on Sonoma’s schedule, and at first glance, they looked like freebies. On paper, a four-win team facing a 29-win squad isn’t fair. But baseball isn’t played on a piece of paper.

After each game, Pace meets with his team. Whether a win or a loss, he consistently reminds them never to get complacent. When they do that, they’ll start losing games. Saturday served as a test. If the Stompers win, they clinch a home playoff game. If they lose, they no longer control their own destiny.

With Medin steering the ship, Sonoma charted the right course from the start. After taking a strike from Filipino starter Stefano Gonzales, Medin ripped the second offering right inside the third base bag. He raced into second with a standup double. 

Another thing a leadoff man possesses is speed, and Medin checks that box also. He had five stolen bases at UCCS and 12 at SRJC. On a passed ball with Max Handron at the plate, he eased into third base. Then, Handron chopped Gonzalez’s pitch to first baseman Ben Lee, where an out was recorded, but Medin came home. The Stompers were in front.

As Brandon Leon held it down on the mound, pitching a season-high 3.2 innings while giving up just one run, Sonoma’s offensive bubble began to burst. After Keys popped out to open the third, Medin pinned a single into center field. Nic Sebastiani’s base hit moved him to second, and he scored the Stompers’ — and his — second run of the day on a ground ball single into right field by Xander Sielken.

Pace’s focus has always been on keeping the line moving. Sonoma’s grasped three, four and five-run leads but has also failed to continue applying pressure from the batter’s box. Back to complacency, Pace didn’t just want the Stompers to keep their foot on the gas; he needed to see it happen.

A five-run fourth inning did the trick. With the score 2-1, the game’s result was far from decided. But hitting through the order, plus some, certainly extends the lead. After taking two walks and a hit-by-pitch, Medin came to the dish. Facing a 1-1 count, he did what you’re told not to do in that situation: hit the ball to the middle infielders.

But as mentioned, Medin has speed, and he showed it off. PNT second baseman Brady Feramisco fielded the ball cleanly, flipped it to shortstop JJ Fagfoomsintu, who — with Medin racing down the first-base line — rocketed the ball into the dirt and off of Sonoma’s bullpen. One run came in. A second run came in. Medin entered second base. He called a timeout before he caught his breath. 

“They’re just taking what the pitchers are giving them,” Pace said of the offensive outburst. “When they got a good pitch to hit, they’d put a good swing on it. They took whatever the game dictated.”

Medin then scored on a Handron single. Handron and Sebastiani crossed the plate three batters later on a Hegamin bloop base hit into no-man's land. Just like that, a 2-1 lead ballooned to a 7-1 cushion. It’s precisely what Pace had hoped for.

It was more of the same from there. Andrew Balentine — while wild at times — lasted two innings and earned the win. Jaxen Rowland, Luke Duncan and Micah Marquez each pitched a frame, too.

But the win wasn’t highlighted by the Stompers’ staff. They did their job, but it was the offense that carried them this time around.

Three. Four. Three. One. That was how many runs Sonoma scored each inning for the remainder of the game. At one point, it was a tight 2-1 ballgame. By the time the clock hit three hours and 52 minutes, it was an 18-2 blowout.

One final game, once again against the Philippines. But Sunday’s test is simple: return to the fundamentals, keep control and play baseball the right way. The Stompers’ postseason run depends on it.

“Anything can happen any day, and you have to re-establish yourself every single day,” Pace said. “It’s day-to-day in baseball. It’s pitch-to-pitch. It’s about staying locked in that moment. It’s a brand new day, and I’m expecting a dogfight.”

Stompers learn from loss, clinch playoff berth with 5-0 win over Seagulls

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After pitching no more than 4.2 innings in an outing this season, Shawn McBroom went six strong on Friday against the Seagulls, leading the Stompers to a 5-0 victory while recording a season-high eight strikeouts.

Justin Jones eyed Max Handron at third and took a deep breath. He then turned toward Kyle Olimpia at shortstop. Another pause. The Stompers were ahead 5-0, but the way Jones paced, it seemed like the bases were loaded in the ninth inning.

A swift step swung Jones’ body toward the plate. With all his momentum, the Los Medanos senior fired a fastball down the pipe to Jaxon Byrd. Byrd, on time, rifled it right back up the middle, but standing in center field was Cam Hegamin, who raced left, reached his glove up and made the catch.

Olimpia and Xander Sielken chestbumped near second base. Handron and Trent Keys did the same after sprinting in from the corners. Hegamin’s catch sealed the 5-0 victory over the Seagulls, but it was a whole team effort that clinched the Stompers (29-17, 23-15 CCL) a postseason berth for the second straight year.

“I love our team. We got a bunch of great dudes,” manager Zack Pace said postgame. “This is the hardest-working group that I’ve seen. I have all the confidence in the world in them.”

On Wednesday, when Sonoma played San Francisco, its bats fell flat. After scoring four runs in the first three innings, the Stompers’ pitching allowed the Seagulls to tie it up with a four-spot in the third and take the lead with three more runs in the seventh.

It was just a down day in what should’ve been a victory. Pace admitted it but said his team had to move on. Luckily for Sonoma, the Blues fell to the Barons that day, keeping it in first place in the CCL North. The loss was a blessing in disguise. While the Stompers could’ve inched one game closer to clinching a playoff spot, the defeat to San Francisco served as a teaching moment for what had to go right next time around.

No. 1 was the importance of command. Sonoma surrendered just two walks Wednesday but allowed base hits early in counts that put the Seagulls ahead. It ran through six arms, but no pitcher lasted longer than 2.1 innings.

No. 2 was driving runners in. Reaching base hasn’t been an issue for the Stompers. Their 230 walks rank first in the CCL while their 293 hits place sixth. Sonoma’s 200 RBIs and 256 total runs also sit higher than any other squad. So out of the blue, when the Stompers put runners on base in every inning, their offense was expected to explode. Instead, 16 players were stranded on base while only four runs crossed home.

Friday’s rematch was the final contest between the two teams this season. Sonoma wanted to go out on top, and after displaying the two lessons they’d learned from Wednesday, a victory was in sight.

Shawn McBroom toed the rubber to open the game for the Stompers. The Antioch native had been solid following his first start against the Merchants on July 2, but two outings later on July 18, one of his weapons was lacking.

McBroom pitched 4.2 innings against the Crawdads, where he willed Sonoma to a 10-6 win after giving up just two runs. Yet in the performance, McBroom didn’t record a strikeout. It was a first for him, someone who had relied on swings and misses before, with four-plus Ks in his previous two outings.

Friday, he swept through San Francisco’s lineup. When a batter stepped out, McBroom would stay put on the bump, prepared to catch them off guard. That’s the way he worked. His day was done after six frames, striking out eight batters, but the Stompers led just 2-0 at the time.

“I thought his stuff, all three pitches, were really good today,” Pace said of McBroom. “He was keeping hitters off balance, and he was locating his fastball. He had a lot of quick outs, too.”

After just 66 pitches, 42 of which were strikes, McBroom sat down. Relief settled in, as a smile filled his face. But lesson No. 2 from Wednesday still hadn’t been achieved. Handron’s 350-foot two-run home run over the right field fence in the first inning was Sonoma’s only sign of offensive life.

Runners were reaching. Two of them were even gunned down at the plate on deep fly balls to right and left field. Six innings after adding to the scoreboard for the first and only time, the Stompers’ bats came alive again.

As Jones flew through the Seagulls’ order with no issues, the offense played the way Pace had always hoped, what he calls the Stompers way. Handron continued his career year with a sacrifice fly before Nic Sebastiani — who hadn’t been in the lineup since July 3 due to injury —  followed Handron up with one of his own.

“I thought our guys did a great job of grinding out at-bats and getting a good pitch to hit,” Pace said. “It was really good to see us play that small ball. I truly believe that small ball will lead to big ball at some point.”

Jones was cruising, but as a form of insurance, one more run came across in the eighth. 

In the ninth, Hegamin sealed the victory for Sonoma. Just one pitch earlier, though, Jones had paced around the mound like the game was on the line. Now, he turned calmly toward home plate and finally exhaled.

From teammates to opponents, Han and Malton’s bond remains unbreakable

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Heeryun Han arrived in the United States with limited knowledge of American culture. While playing at Los Medanos, he met Charlie Malton, who became his best friend and helped show him the ropes. Courtesy of Heeryun Han

Los Medanos had already lost one game on May 8. It was on the verge of losing again.

Down 8-0 in the fourth inning, Heeryun Han stepped to the plate with one out. Charlie Malton was on deck. Han wasn’t known for his power. Across the Mustangs’ first 42 games, he hadn’t hit a home run. His speed slotted him in the lineup’s five-hole, but no one was counting on Han to hit long balls. He just needed to get on base.

Facing current Atlanta Braves pitcher Nico Wagner, Han defied the odds.

With one swing of the bat, he launched a home run — his only one of the season — with his best friend Malton watching from the on-deck circle. Malton was in awe. The moment didn’t save their season, but it gave them one final memory to share in the dugout.

Hours later, when the final out was recorded, Malton sat wiping away tears, and Han, minutes later, joined him in sobbing. 

“We thought we were never going to be able to play (together) again,” Malton said.

On Thursday, less than three months since that loss to West Valley College, after sharing experiences that only come from months as teammates and close friends, Han and Malton were on the same diamond once again. Yet with Malton on the mound for the California Tigers and Han in the batter’s box for the Stompers, something felt different — but it was still them, just on opposite sides.

“We nodded to each other and gave each other respect, but it was a fun challenge,” Malton said after pitching against Han. “Playing on the same team with Han for so long, I got to see his play style from a different point of view. I always knew he was good.”

When Malton ran out to shortstop for Los Medanos’ first practice, he wasn’t sure what to think. The Diablo Valley College transfer couldn’t quite believe his eyes. Han, standing 6 feet and weighing 170 pounds, lined up. The two didn’t know anything about each other, but Malton was sure Han was at the wrong position.

Wearing an oversized outfield glove, Han clanked balls around the infield that entire day. Malton stood quietly in the back of the line as it unfolded. Yet, with each repetition, Han progressed in the right direction. Before long, Malton knew what he was working with.

“He started doing what he could do and knocked the rust off, and I was like, ‘This guy’s a wizard.’ He had the best hands I’d ever seen,” Malton said.

“I was like, ‘This guy’s a wizard.’ He had the best hands I’d ever seen.””

— Charlie Malton, California Tigers Pitcher

Through countless conversations at shortstop, second base and third, Han and Malton came to know each other as more than just teammates. They spoke about their past, Han’s move from South Korea and Malton’s childhood in Concord.

They were completely different people, but baseball united them. Both were two-way players. They’d dreamed of doing it all, Han said.

Back in Seoul, Han was used to 10-hour practices. From 9 to 10 a.m., his team would run, followed by defense from 10 a.m. to noon. Batting practice ran from 1 to 5 p.m., with team drills and weight training wrapping up the day from 5 to 7 p.m. Malton grew up with four-hour practices filled with infield and outfield drills, plus batting practice. Occasional sprints were reserved for the end, typically when something went wrong.

Their journeys were entirely unique from one another, but Han welcomed support. After falling short of a childhood dream to play in the KBO League, he bet on himself and made the move to the U.S. At first, Han was disappointed.

Upon receiving a full scholarship to the New Mexico Military Institute, the education he’d expected to receive was different from what he experienced. Waking up at 6 a.m. each day, Han participated in military drills before the occasional four-hour baseball practice. He moved for a better education, but he needed more baseball, Han said.

So after a year with the Broncos, he moved to California to join the Mustangs. Immediately, Han’s soft-spoken energy and quiet determination caught the attention of his teammates and coaches. As he worked on his English, Han embraced every bit of help along the way.

Before each practice, head coach Harmen Sidhu wrote the plan for how Malton and Han would split the time between infield and pitching drills; the two were attached by the hip. They’d talk about their mechanics, with Malton always attempting to learn how the RPM on Han’s sliders sat at 2,600.

After hours of work, the two would immerse themselves in each other's culture — Han taking Malton to Korean Barbecue while Malton introduced Han to hamburgers at Habit Burger & Grill. 

When their meals wrapped up, their grind picked back up. The two would head to Concord to hit in a batting cage as the natural light dimmed. They’d laugh throughout the hours of work.

Heeryun Han squats behind Charlie Malton as a pop-up comes their way. The two became close friends during their time as two-way players together at Los Medanos. Courtesy of Heeryun Han

“He definitely can have times where he’s serious with himself, but most of the time, he’s keeping things light. He’s just trying to play baseball and have fun,” Malton said of Han. “He’s always got a smile on his face, which I think is a reason he’s a great teammate and everyone loves him.”

When Los Medanos’ season concluded, all that was left was uncertainty for the two. They both hoped to transfer to a larger program, with Han’s dream of playing in the KBO revived. To get one step closer, they needed to find a summer home. That’s when Sidhu introduced the Stompers.

After meeting with manager Zack Pace and other coaches, Han and Malton were in — but only if they were together. For the first few weeks, they shared the same dugout. The self-guided warmups before games made Malton feel like he was in the pros, but then he’d turn to the side and see Han. They continued to throw together before every game. Nearly nothing changed.

However, at some point, one needs to separate themself and it was Malton’s time. He didn’t receive as many opportunities as he’d hoped in Sonoma, so he joined the Tigers. Han stayed put. For the first time in over a year, the two were on opposing squads. And while California isn’t a member of the CCL, both players had Thursday’s matchup circled on their calendar since Malton made the switch.

After retiring Quinn Medin in the first inning, Malton smirked on the mound when Han dug into the box. Han had joked about letting Malton strike him out, but it was clear that thought was in the past. After working a 3-2 count, Malton won round one when Han grounded out to shortstop.

The following inning, down 0-2, Han scorched a short hop toward Tigers’ second baseman Nathan Leffel, who snared it and threw it to first in time. Malton may have won the short run, but the game was far from over.

While Malton was replaced on the rubber, he remained in the game. After making a switch to left field, his view was even better for Han’s seventh-inning at-bat. Just like his time at Los Medanos, where Han didn’t have a home run until his final game, it was the same for the Stompers. After recently announcing he’d transfer to Texas Tech, where Han would report shortly, Thursday’s contest marked his final appearance in orange and blue.

With one final statement, Han worked a 2-2 count from Adam Smaglik before crushing a home run over the right-centerfield fence. As he was rounding second base, his eyes drifted to left field where Malton stood.

Malton may have won the battle between the two, but the victory shows up for the Stompers and Han. After the Tigers took the lead in the ninth, Trent Keys walked it off in the 10th.

In May, Malton stood on deck as Han homered for the first time. In July, he stood in left field as Han did it again. Two moments that stitched their baseball journey together, not just as players, but as lifelong friends.

“We just want each other to succeed and want what’s best for each other,” Malton said.