Rowland gem, Akers home run lift Stompers over Philippines 8-1

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Behind Jaxen Rowland’s six-inning gem and Landon Akers’ two-run home run, the Stompers cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Philippines Baseball Group on Thursday.

One-sided affairs have been rare for Sonoma this summer. The Stompers won 11-3 over the Legends, demolished the Seagulls 14-0 and 14-3 to claim their first CCL series win and opened league play with a 7-1 victory over the Blues. Aside from those games, though, Sonoma entered Thursday with five wins of just two runs or less.

That wasn’t the case against the Philippines Baseball Group; the Stompers (12-8, 9-6 CCL) dictated the pace from start to finish, defeating PBG 8-1. Its performance left the Philippines reeling, and, though not as notable as its other matchups, dominance like that displayed Thursday is exactly what Sonoma needed.

“I liked our approach to the game. We started a little sluggish, but the guys came out and did a good job,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame.

Whether it was Sonoma’s 9-to-1 edge in walks, its 8-to-5 advantage in hits or its 40-pitch gap in workload, the Stompers paced the Philippines with efficiency in every category. And it started on the mound.

One day after Devon Laguinto’s masterful performance — the first time a Stompers pitcher went six-plus innings this season — Jaxen Rowland matched him. The Modesto JC freshman lowered his ERA to 0.90 with a six-inning scoreless outing.

He put away PBG in order in four of his six innings pitched and displayed confidence in his defense, recording just three strikeouts while relying heavily on those behind him. His one walk also marked Sonoma’s second straight game giving up only one free pass, an impactful adjustment from its constant control issues in previous series.

“(Rowland) did an outstanding job. He filled up the zone. His breaking ball was working good, and he kept (the Philippines) in defensive mode the whole time,” Pace said.

“No free passes. When we do that, we have a really good chance to win every night,” he added.

Micah Marquez replaced Rowland in the seventh, but the dealing from the bump continued. He struck out one of the four batters he faced, nearly pitching a 1-2-3 inning before Stefan Leo reached on an error by third baseman Anthony Scheppler.

After Marquez, Chris Albee toed the rubber for a scoreless eighth. Albee had allowed at least one hit in each of his three appearances prior to Thursday. But against the Philippines, he was nails. The Jessup University senior forced two quick flyouts and a popout to escape the eighth unscathed.

In the ninth, Nicholas Poulus surrendered his first earned run of the season. He gave up two hits, yet the damage was nothing compared to Sonoma’s thrashing on the offensive end.

Like Pace mentioned, the Stompers’ hitters were stagnant early. Whether it was their late return home from San Luis Obispo, the limited practice before first pitch or little-to-no batting practice, it was a distant thought by the third inning.

Momentum swung in the Stompers’ favor after a Max Handron single drove in Trent Keys. Sonoma recorded four base runners in the frame and punished PBG starter Andres Perez, who’s now allowed six-plus hits and two-plus runs in each of his three starts.

In the fifth, Landon Akers added to the party. He’s been a key contributor in the Stompers’ lineup but has yet to showcase the power and plate presence that earned him All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors. After his first home run of the summer came on June 7, he added a second on Thursday.

Following Heeryun Han’s leadoff single, Akers took two balls before launching a 373-foot, no doubt homer over the left field fence. He finished the game with three hits, three RBIs and reached base four times.

“(The homer) was cool. I knew it was out right off the bat,” Akers said postgame. “(I’m) just trying to stay in my zone. I just saw two inside fastballs and decided to turn on them.”

Sonoma nearly hit around in the seventh — a three-run effort — courtesy of two runs walked in and a sacrifice fly. In the eighth, it produced five base runners to add two more, again on walks.

Thursday’s win became a blueprint for the future. In a season so far defined by tight margins, the Stompers proved they can produce with discipline, depth and power.

Sonoma will look for its third straight win on Friday in an interleague contest with the Arroyo Seco Saints, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. at Arnold Field.

Laguinto shoves 6 innings in Stompers’ 3-2 win over Blues

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Few pitchers have solidified their spot in the Stompers’ rotation three weeks into the season. Jayden Harper’s started twice. Same with Nick Santivanez. And rounding out the trio is Devon Laguinto. On June 12, Laguinto willed Sonoma to a 7-5 win over the Merchants.

But before that matchup, his previous start was against San Luis Obispo, where he struggled tremendously. In three innings, Laguinto allowed three runs on five hits. He walked a batter and exited the game with zero strikeouts. The Blues hit .417 off him, raising his ERA to 9.00.

Since then, Laguinto’s ERA has dropped to 3.21, largely because of his revenge performance against SLO Wednesday. Laguinto went six innings, gave up zero earned runs and struck out four batters, fueling the Stompers’ (11-8, 8-6 CCL) 3-2 victory over the Blues.

“I was feeling it. I knew (my teammates) were gonna ride me. I had faith in my teammates. So we were all good from there,” Laguinto said postgame.

Laguinto was locked in from first pitch. After a back-and-forth battle the night before ended in a Sonoma loss, he became the X factor in securing the series split. He kept hitters off balance and runners quiet, stranding threats and walking off the mound inning after inning with a zero still on the board.

After the Stompers went down in order to open the game, Laguinto matched Blues starter Erik Kvidahl. He got Ethan Royal — Tuesday’s walk-off hero — to ground out. Cade O’Hara and Mason Ashlock were also set down to complete the first. The right-handed pitcher’s dominance was showcased again in the second, with another 1-2-3 inning.

In return, Sonoma’s bats woke up. After loading the bases with one out in the second but coming up empty, Colton Boardman started the third with a single. He advanced to third on an error by third baseman Brendan Comerford. Max Handron walked before McCann Libby, on Kvidahl’s second offering, launched a sacrifice fly to right field to score Boardman.

It was a low-scoring affair, but the Stompers’ early lead gave Laguinto just enough breathing room. After Eli Henderson singled, he was gunned down at second by backstop Connor Pawlowski. Sebastian Lopez went down swinging, and Charles Caruso grounded out to Boardman, wrapping up yet another scoreless frame.

Sonoma’s lead then began to grow. Two straight walks put Anthony Scheppler and Ben Sebastiani on first and second. Handron and Libby then followed with an RBI single each, scoring Scheppler and Sebastiani.

“Libby’s the RBI guy. Those guys come through clutch. Max is one of our best hitters, if not the best,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame. “They’re up there in the order for a reason, because they do produce. They do a good job.”

In the bottom half, Laguinto pitched his fourth straight 1-2-3 inning. Each out came with authority, the kind that made the Blues search for undetectable answers. He punched out two batters in the frame, picking up strikeouts No. 3 and 4.

While that was all the batters Laguinto would retire on strikes, he found other ways to get outs. He allowed a single in the fifth, but behind him, Sonoma’s defense produced a 6-3 double play. In the sixth, he finally reached trouble but escaped the jam with the Stompers still in front.

Lopez reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third after a Boardman error. Caruso moved into scoring position on the same play, and Royal brought them both home with a single. But Laguinto’s final outs — on five combined pitches to retire O’Hara and Ashlock — ended the inning on a high note.

“Really proud of the way (Laguinto) pitched today. He did an outstanding job,” Pace said. “Had those hitters on defense mode. He was just pound, pound, pound.”

Laguinto came out for a seventh frame, but he struggled by allowing two singles. Though Harun Pelja — who started on June 13 and pitched four innings against the Legends — cleaned up Laguinto’s mess, striking out Comerford before showing off a masterclass with runners on base. He picked off Donovan Jordan at second and caught Andrew Rayment stealing soon after.

Pelja pitched a scoreless eighth, and while the Stompers’ bats stayed quiet, Braden Guentz earned his first save of the season with two strikeouts in the ninth.

“It’s a long year and it’s a grind,” Pace said. “But that’s baseball… you do the best you can, try to get some rest and be ready to go.”

Sonoma returns home to face the Filipino National Team on Thursday, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m.

Blues walk off Stompers 7-6 in 12 innings to take series opener

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

A doubleheader sweep in which the Stompers outscored the Menlo Park Legends 15-4 gave Sonoma a boost of confidence heading into its furthest road trip of the season. Spirits were high on the bus down to San Luis Obispo Tuesday morning, not just because of recent success, but because the Stompers were set to face the Blues, a team they outscored 10-5 in an early June series.

When the ride ended, the team was locked in and ready. The contest at Sinsheimer Stadium even began slightly early. But 12 innings later, the palpable energy from four hours before had vanished.

Lifted by a three-run ninth inning and an extra-inning walk-off, the Blues took Game 1 of a two-game set against the Stompers (10-8, 7-6 CCL) 7-6 Tuesday. Sonoma jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but SLO battled back with timely hits and pressure on the basepaths.

“Unfortunately, we couldn't get enough runs and pull it out,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame. “You win some, you lose some. We lost today, and hopefully we go get them tomorrow.”

When Pace talked about the inability to pull it out, he was referring to runners left on base, an issue that’s killed opportunities in Sonoma’s previous games. It deflated the Stompers once again on Tuesday. They left 14 runners on, including three in extra innings. 

In the 10th, Nic Sebastiani started on base with the CCL’s ghost runner rule. He made it to third but was thrown out at the plate a few plays later, ending a chance to take the lead. 

An inning later, the Stompers scored a run, but Max Handron, whose clutch double plated Colton Boardman, was stranded in scoring position when Kieran Baker struck out.

Finally, in the 12th, Brady Shannon reached third on a sacrifice by Anthony Scheppler. However, Sebastiani and Paul Lizzul were retired on strikes to silence the threat.

“We're just gonna keep on grinding, try to do our thing, get our swings off with runners in scoring position,” Pace said. “We keep on giving ourselves chances to succeed, and we're gonna come through.”

The question for the Stompers is no longer how. Handron, Connor Pawlowski, Esteban Sepulveda and Heeryun Han are just a few of the players who’ve displayed a clutch factor. The question’s shifted to when. Each loss for Sonoma follows the same script. Score early. Falter late.

That’s precisely what happened against the Blues. To open Tuesday’s contest, the Stompers punished Riley Marcotte, taking a quick 2-0 lead. Lifted by a hard hit ball by Landon Akers that scored Boardman and a hit-by-pitch on Scheppler with the bases loaded, Sonoma had firm control.

Charlie Malton — making his first start in CCL play — held it down on the mound, as the Stompers extended their lead in the third. Shannon — just days after crushing a ball 385 feet at Arnold Field — scored McCann Libby on his second triple of the season.

While the floodgates should’ve opened, they instead shut.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Blues put together a two-spot. Malton was replaced by newcomer Lucas Alaniz — making his first appearance of the summer — and he allowed two runs in one inning of work. A double and a single plated Ethan Royal and Mason Ashlock, to cut the Blues’ deficit to one.

In the seventh, the Stompers pulled their special, advancing on a passed ball. Akers returned their lead with a two-run base hit to score Boardman and Handron — who notched three hits, two runs and one RBI, showcasing his aggressive plate presence in one of his first games of the summer.

“He's a great ball player, and he’s come up clutch when we needed him,” Pace said. “He can swing the bat really well, so I look forward to seeing more out of him.”

Holding a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning, the victory looked all but sealed for Sonoma. The Blues, however, had another idea. Despite tallying just one hit, they punished Kyle Seo and Nikolas Haas with two walks and two hit-by-pitches. On top of that, SLO advanced seven bags in the frame, split between stolen bases and wild pitches.

“We gotta start calling picks if that's needed,” Pace said. “We need to get those guys dirty and get them thinking about the picks, and we're just not doing it enough.”

The shocking rally swapped the momentum to SLO’s side. And despite being retired in the 10th inning, the Blues responded to the Stompers’ run with one of their own in the 11th. Then, in the 12th, Royal delivered a walk-off winner to end the night.

The Stompers will aim to overcome their heartbreaking defeat Tuesday with a 6:05 p.m. rematch against the Blues back at Sinsheimer Stadium on Wednesday.

The Seo brothers’ competitive bond shaped their college baseball journey

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

In the driveway outside their grandparents’ Sacramento home, Ryan and Kyle Seo didn’t just learn to play baseball — they figured out how to beat each other.

Armed with a 27-inch wooden Red Sox bat, the brothers belted tennis balls into neighbors’ backyards or hit their grandparents’ cars stashed in the garage.

They became so forceful over one another that their grandparents covered their automobiles with blankets for protection. Their mother, Audrey, grew accustomed to asking neighbors if she could search their backyards to find missing balls that had been launched.

The days filled with playful fights and back-and-forth smack talk continued, but when Ryan turned 11 and Kyle turned 9, they ramped up. One time, Kyle, facing his brother, went “absolutely mondo” on him, Ryan said, striking a pitch a few houses down the block.

Kyle’s first instinct was to run inside and grab a Sharpie. He sprinted back outside, signed the Red Sox bat — where the signature still sits — and proceeded to let Ryan hear it for the rest of the day. 

“They are not shy about digging into each other, talking smack to the other one,” Audrey said. “I think they always (were like that) and they will always continue to (be like that).”

Now, over a decade later, that competitive fire has forged Ryan and Kyle’s relationship with baseball. Ryan is entering his second year at Cal State Fullerton. Kyle is set to begin his first season at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Though they’ve taken different paths, their growth has always been rooted in each other.

“If (Ryan) wins, I win. And vice versa. Every good outing, I felt like I was right out there with him,” Kyle said.

When Ryan was 8 and Kyle was 7, there was potential for more than their front-yard baseball battles. One day, the brothers were walking with their mom through Sports Authority when they approached a table.

At the front sat a poster advertising their local baseball program. The brothers were unsure if they wanted to sign up, but when the two people at the table mentioned they looked like baseball players, they were hooked. Ryan signed up first, while Kyle came around a year later.

Ryan and Kyle Seo smile with their father, Derek, on picture day in 2015. The brothers played for the UNLV Rebels Majors team, while Derek was the head coach. Courtesy of Audrey Seo.

In his first season, Ryan fell in love with the sport, he said. He would practice with his father, Derek, while Kyle watched from the side. That’s all it took for Kyle to decide to give sanctioned baseball a try.

His passion was just as intense as Ryan’s. While he didn’t qualify for T-ball in their Pony League because of his age, Kyle’s skills matched other kids as soon as he stepped on the diamond. 

Years of practices in opposite directions and games at different times briefly ended when Ryan and Kyle were both on the UNLV Rebels Majors team at ages 12 and 10, Audrey said.

Derek was the team’s head coach, and Audrey was a team parent and served on the North Natomas Little League board. But the grind remained the same, and the odd schedule for the Seo family still existed.

“When you've got kids that play sports, your lifestyle revolves around that,” Audrey said. “Dinner time is either at 4 p.m. before practice or 9 p.m. after games.”

Even after years of Little League, Audrey wasn’t convinced baseball would last. She never forced the boys to play; it had to be their decision. They had a “natural athletic ability,” Audrey said, so staying committed to the sport came easily.

At age 15, Ryan began playing travel ball for the Sacramento Sports Center. It was an all-in-one facility that had in-house physical therapy, batting cages, a pitching lab and more. Kyle joined him soon after.

They began attending showcases while at Inderkum High School, and baseball became a serious endeavor. Ryan entered high school, knowing he wanted to play college baseball. If he couldn’t play Division I, he’d stay close to home at Sacramento City College, he said.

Kyle’s junior season and Ryan’s senior year marked the only time they shared the field at Inderkum, though. After months away from baseball during COVID-19 — when both had shifted their focus to golf — the two were unsure of where their baseball future lay.

However, one talk between Ryan and his dad rekindled his love for the sport.

“It was my dad saying, ‘Hey, don’t give up on this yet,’ and I think that really sparked the fire again,” Ryan said. “That might’ve been the conversation that honestly changed my life.”

Ryan and Kyle Seo pose with their parents following a game during their time at Inderkum High School. Though both went on to play college baseball, the brothers only shared the field for a handful of games during their high school careers. Courtesy of Ryan Seo

Kyle, who his teammates considered a better golfer than a baseball player, was also on the fence. But he followed his heart, which was an easy choice.

“There’s something you just can’t get anywhere else than on a baseball field. That feeling when you’re in a banger game and you’re on the mound and you get the job done,” Kyle said. “There’s no better feeling. That’s what keeps me coming back, and that’s why I love it.”

In one of the few games they played together, Ryan caught the first five innings with Kyle on the mound. They then switched roles. It was the only time they formed a battery in high school, and while the result against TCU’s Braeden Sloan-led Woodcreek wasn’t worth noting, they joked, they still say nothing can top that moment.

When Ryan graduated from Inderkum, the offers he hoped for hadn’t materialized. So he enrolled at Sac City, aiming to develop for two years and earn another shot. The first step was to boost his velocity. While pitching over the top, Ryan was sitting at 86-88 miles per hour. His pitching coach referred to him as “vanilla ice cream,” pushing him to find something different.

Ryan’s coach wasn’t asking for a “gourmet pistachio ice cream.” He just wanted some “sprinkles.” So with a background as an infielder, Ryan began experimenting with a lower arm slot. The shift to a sidearm delivery helped him stand out in a way traditional mechanics hadn’t.

But just a week after the adjustment, Ryan tore his UCL. It could’ve been a sign to abandon the experiment, but instead, Ryan continued, considering it one of the best gambles he ever made.

Meanwhile, at Inderkum for Kyle’s senior season, he started feeling elbow pain. After getting checked out, he discovered he also sustained a UCL tear. The brothers were in the same spot at different stages, but they rehabbed together.

They’d attend Optimum Athletes, a training program based out of SSC, where they rebuilt their strength. Despite being out for a season, they’d participate in practices and events for their respective teams to the best of their ability. But the whole time, they were itching for their return.

“Going from the top of your game to instantaneously, on the bench, sitting there with your arm in a brace was not easy for either one of them,” Audrey said. “Being unable to physically participate was challenging.”

Ryan Seo chats with Cal State Fullerton teammate Jayden Harper before a Stompers game in early June. In his lone season with the Titans, Seo posted a 2.12 ERA over 17 innings pitched.

The script for Kyle continued to follow Ryan’s. Following his graduation from Inderkum in 2023, Kyle played for Sac City. It was the first real time since 2015 with the Rebels, coached by their father, that they were on the same team.

And the duo showed out. In 20 appearances, Ryan struck out 40 batters and sported a 3-1 record. Kyle held the team’s second-best ERA at 2.91 and allowed a team-low 12 runs for qualified pitchers over 20 innings.

The result was a deep playoff run where the Panthers won the Super Regional Championship. Kyle pitched two innings in the first round against Modesto and four in the second round against Feather River. Ryan watched from the bullpen with pride.

With Ryan’s new delivery opening D-I opportunities, he committed to Cal State Fullerton. After one of their worst records in recent memory — 16-38 — Ryan wanted to return the Titans to glory.

He completed his first season there with a 2.12 ERA through 15 appearances, even pitching at Angel Stadium on April 29 with his whole family in the crowd. CSUF finished its season with renewed success, finishing third in The Big West.

As Ryan begins another year with the Titans, Kyle will take his talents across the Pacific to Chaminade University of Honolulu, which plays its home games at Les Murakami Stadium — home of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

But first, the two will enjoy one last time playing in the same bullpen with the Stompers this summer. And even when they leave, their love for baseball and their competitive bond — shaped by front-yard battles in Sacramento — remains stronger than ever.

“We’re always gonna be brothers,” Kyle said. “It’s always gonna be competitive… It’s always good to see him succeed and have a good day, and I’ll always be a huge supporter of his, but it’s nice to one-up him once in a while, too.”

Stompers sweep doubleheader with 11-3, 4-1 victories against Legends

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Heartbreak hung over Arnold Field following the Stompers’ 9-8 nail-biting loss to the Legends Saturday. Despite Sonoma falling just short of overcoming a four-run deficit, it didn’t have time to dwell.

Just 15 hours later, the Stompers would drive south to the College of San Mateo for 16 innings of baseball. Stakes were high; Sonoma and Menlo Park split the series’ first two contests, and a doubleheader sweep would likely put the Stomps one game back of first place in the CCL North.

Sonoma rose to the occasion. Behind timely hitting and pitching from nine arms, the Stompers (10-7, 7-5 CCL) won both matchups against the Legends Sunday. In an 11-3 Game 1 win, Sonoma’s offense tallied 19 base runners while immense depth on the mound was showcased in a 4-1 Game 2 victory.

“Our guys grinded it out… but our pitching staff really stepped up,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said following the two wins. “We got a lot of outs, and hopefully we can keep that momentum going.”

Following eight days of rest, Nick Santivanez was chosen to start Game 1 for Sonoma. He displayed length and confidence in his outing on June 7 against the Seagulls, pitching four shutout innings. But with extensive time since that performance, Pace was prepared for rust, having nine pitchers active and healthy to split Sunday’s two games.

Instead, Santivanez pitched five innings of one-run baseball while allowing just four hits and striking out six. Pace never had to worry about relief options, and Santivanez’s outing translated to momentum on the offensive side.

Sonoma opened the scoring in the second inning, courtesy of three hit-by-pitches. Menlo Park starter Thomas Egbert struggled with command, and the Stompers — all with two outs — made him pay.

After Connor Pawlowski and Brady Shannon were retired on strikes, three beanballs and a walk plated Anthony Scheppler to put the Stompers ahead. But hitless in the first two innings, the floodgates really opened in the third.

Landon Akers singled, yet McCann Libby and Pawlowski were quickly sat down. Shannon, however, was hungry to extend Sonoma’s lead. The two-sport athlete from Youngstown State hit 10 home runs in his redshirt sophomore season. He hadn’t shown that same power in his time in Wine Country, notching just two RBIs and one extra-base hit through eight games.

That was until Sunday. Facing a 1-1 count, Shannon roped an offering over CSM’s fences for a two-run shot. The longball gave the Stompers a commanding three-run lead.

“(Shannon’s finding) barrels. He’s been hitting the ball really hard,” Pace said. “He’s been swinging it really good, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of that.”

The lead only grew from there. As Santivanez dealt with Menlo Park’s high-powered offense, which scored 15 runs in the series’ first two contests, Pawlowski and Shannon drove in the Stompers’ fourth and fifth runs. Still, they were far from done.

Already ahead by four runs, Sonoma plated its final six in the seventh inning. Libby, Shannon, Scheppler, Cameron Taylor, Colton Boardman and Kieran Baker all reached and scored, capping the one-sided victory.

But similar to Saturday’s deflating loss, the Stompers didn’t have time to reflect. About an hour later, the Stomps and Legends started fresh. For Sonoma, the game plan changed completely, but the execution remained.

Unlike Santivanez’s start, the Stompers relied on their bullpen through Game 2, with seven pitchers making appearances. Each Stomper was prepared to set down Menlo Park’s offense.

Per usual, Sonoma got going early with two runs through three innings. On the mound, though, Nikolas Haas, Christian Klostermann, Micah Marquez and Sean DeBoard held the Legends in check through six, surrendering just two hits. 

In the first, second, fourth and fifth innings, a base runner reached for Menlo Park; It was still held scoreless. Not much changed in the seventh, eighth and ninth, as Jaden Mason, Jason Olvera and Chris Albee entered the game. The two set-up guys and closer allowed three hits and struck out five. 

The Stompers applied the finishing touch in the ninth when Shannon scored on an Esteban Sepulveda single, who later came home on Paul Lizzul’s base hit.

The Legends’ lone run of the game came in the ninth, when Quincy Via hit a sacrifice fly. However, it was far too late to overcome Sonoma’s pitching masterclass, as the Stompers took Game 2.

“Just everybody (did great). It started with Haas leading it off. I could name off every guy,” Pace said. “They filled up the zone and put up zeroes. It was an outstanding job by our staff.”

Sonoma will have a much-needed day off Monday before heading down the Pacific Coast to face the San Luis Obispo Blues on Tuesday.

Stompers nearly overcome 4-run deficit, fall 9-8 to Legends

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Back-and-forth is an understatement to describe the Stompers’ Saturday evening clash with the Menlo Park Legends. Coming off a thrilling 6-5 walk-off win Friday, courtesy of a Connor Pawlowski game-winning single, the momentum lay in Sonoma’s favor. But the Legends didn’t quit Friday. They scored a game-tying run in the eighth and again in the ninth to take the lead.

The result fell in the Stompers’ favor, but Menlo Park showed it would push them to their limits. The Legends displayed that again Saturday, capturing a 9-8 victory in an instant classic at Arnold Field. Sonoma (8-7, 5-5 CCL) once trailed by four runs but fought back, becoming just 90 feet away from evening the score in the ninth inning.

“We were inches away from winning that thing. If that ball gets over (Will Robbins’) head, we’re gonna score from first and win it,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame. “Our guys are fired up. They want to beat them.”

Leadoff hitter Heeryun Han approached the batter’s box with one out in the final frame. Brady Shannon stood on first, and Kieran Baker straddled third. Han recently walked things off for Sonoma against the Alameda Anchors on June 1. He was looking for a similar storybook ending.

But after taking two balls and fouling a pitch from Legends’ reliever Will Marlin, Han scorched a laser toward first base, where Robbins snared it. The first baseman quickly turned around, catching Shannon frozen nearly five feet off the bag.

A tag was applied as Shannon grabbed his helmet and walked into Sonoma’s dugout in shock. The Stompers’ bench, which had possessed extreme excitement just seconds prior, stood silent.

“We battled out butts off tonight,” Pace said. “I was proud of our guys for doing that. We didn't have any zeroes until the sixth inning, we chipped away and got the game tight and we were inches away from winning.”

Despite the defeat, there were noticeable positives from Sonoma’s performance Saturday. It was down big early, dealing with command issues from starter Braden Guentz, whose control had been prevalent through his previous outings. Patrick Richardson replaced him, but he too struggled to fill the zone.

The Stompers continued their inconsistencies on defense, making at least three errors for the third consecutive game. They stranded 11 runners on base and couldn’t quite find the big hit, a trend that’s continued through Sonoma’s first third of its season.

But despite the negatives sticking out, the Stompers showed grit. They scored in all five innings from the second to the sixth. Their bullpen following Richardson held its own, combining to allow just one hit in four innings with six strikeouts.

Also, many of Sonoma’s everyday starters received the day off to prepare for Sunday’s doubleheader, showcasing the Stompers’ depth at third with Max Handron, shortstop with Han and centerfield with Baker.

The effort resulted in a loss, but the script showed the Stompers can battle anyone and should never be counted out.

After allowing one run in the first — with Guentz faltering with runners on base — and three runs in the second, Sonoma quickly found itself at a deficit it had yet to overcome. This season, the Stompers haven’t come back from a two-run deficit, but Saturday looked promising.

Menlo Park’s lead was soon cut in half thanks to a 102-mph single from Shannon, a Nic Sebastiani single, two walks and a Stompers’ classic, a wild pitch. But when Sonoma brought a fight, the Legends never backed down.

Richardson replaced Guentz on the mound, yet Menlo Park shelled him, tallying two hits in the third, but more significantly, two runs.

“I think it was kind of an off day. Patrick got into a little groove at the end. We also didn’t help him defensively,” Pace said. “They were up in the zone, getting behind hitters, and it’s not a good recipe for success.”

The trend continued. One for the Stomps in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth — courtesy of Sebastiani’s first home run of the season. Meanwhile, the Legends notched two runs, two more and capped it with a final score in the fifth.

Pawlowski — Friday’s hero — proved crucial again Saturday, doubling to score McCann Libby in the sixth. But Sonoma went down in order in the seventh, threatened but fell short in the eighth and succumbed to Menlo Park’s game-ending double play in the ninth, which evened the series at one game apiece with a Sunday doubleheader on deck.

Sonoma will travel to the College of San Mateo for a 1 p.m. rematch against the Legends, with Game 2 expected to start around 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 1.

Pawlowski walks it off as Stompers outlast Legends 6-5 in back-and-forth battle

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

It's a rare sight to see a catcher shine on the offensive front. They’re usually in the spotlight for their work behind the dish. Sonoma Starter Esteban Sepulveda fit that mold in his first five CCL games, hitting 1-for-10. Then, on Thursday, he tallied three extra-base hits, including a game-winning three-run home run, leading the Stompers to their first win over the Merchants.

With Sepulveda at DH after his marvelous performance, Connor Pawlowski received the start at catcher Friday, batting eighth. Expectations for much of an offensive contribution from the Bellarmine redshirt junior were slim. But the position stayed hot for the Stompers.

Pawlowski went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk, raising his CCL batting average to .385. But more impressively, when the moment called for it, he delivered, ripping a single through the 5-6 hole to send Sonoma (8-6, 5-4 CCL) home happy with a 6-5 walk-off win over the Menlo Park Legends.

“It feels great. Nothing like a walk-off,” Pawlowski said postgame. “It’s been a crazy journey… but it feels like home here.”

The Stompers entered the ninth inning knotted at four with Menlo Park. Yet there was no reason to be content. They held a lead in the eighth inning before a Will Robbins double tied the game.

The ninth then quickly unraveled. After Jaxen Rowland took over for Nicholas Poulus and escaped an eighth-inning jam, he surrendered a leadoff home run to James Bose, a 319-foot shot that marked Bose’s second of the game and gave the Legends a quick edge.

Now, after holding a late lead, the Stompers were on the verge of defeat. That’s when their offense came alive. McCann Libby opened things with a first-pitch single before Kieran Baker reached and Libby progressed on an error. A bunt from Nic Sebastiani pushed them both into scoring position, and Landon Akers worked eight pitches out of newly-entered Sam Young, including a wild pitch that scored Libby to even the score. 

That’s when Pawlowski approached the plate. He swung through Young’s first offering ahead of a foul that brought him down 0-2. But with all eyes on him, Pawlowski worked two more pitches before his walk-off single.

“He can hit. We did it yesterday with Sepulveda… (now Connor’s) been really clutch in those situations and comes through,” Stompers manager Zack Pace said postgame. “That’s just a sign of a really good hitter.”

While Pawlowski’s heroics saved the day, early leads have been what’s provided Sonoma with momentum. They had another one Friday.

After Max Handron’s first hit of summer ball — a double — put Sonoma in the driver’s seat in the first inning, the real damage came in the second. Sebastiani and Trent Keys were hit by pitches, which later resulted in the game’s first run — Sebastiani scoring on a passed ball.

Menlo Park took the lead in the following frame, though. Bose opened the inning with his first home run. Gavin Shaddix made a trip around the bases following his walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch from Sonoma starter Harun Pelja.

After falling behind early, Pelja settled in, allowing just those two runs while striking out six over four innings. Typically used out of the bullpen, his surprise start brought energy to Pace’s dugout.

“(I think we see him there more) as long as I don’t have to fight him to get him out of the game,” Pace jokingly said. “He wants to battle. He wants to compete. You always want guys who want the ball.”

Brandon Leon replaced Pelja on the bump, calmly pitching two innings, but allowed Menlo Park to extend its lead when TJ Schmalzle opened the sixth inning with a solo shot.

The Stompers regained the lead in the bottom half of the sixth, courtesy of three hits — one, a Pawlowski RBI single, two hit-by-pitches and an error. The trend of back-and-forth baseball continued.

Robbins tied it in the eighth, Bose gave the Legends life in the ninth, but it was Pawlowski who delivered the final blow.

The Stompers have a chance to clinch a series win Saturday at 6:05 p.m. in a rematch with the Legends at Arnold Field.

Sepulveda’s 3 hits, 4 RBIs power Stompers to 7-5 win over Merchants

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Esteban Sepulveda. A name that’s been commonly used on defense but barely heard on offense. Sepulveda’s gotten the majority of the Stompers’ starts behind the dish, but in his five CCL games prior to Thursday, he was 1-for-10. He was due at the plate, so he made some adjustments. His number was different. His walk-up song was different. He said it was time for a change.

When Sonoma lost to the Merchants on June 5, acting manager Paul Maytorena said the Stompers lacked the “big hit.” On Thursday, though, Sepulveda brought it. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Colton Boardman stood on first, and Trent Keys was on second. Sepulveda was in the box.

Will Bonini had just entered the game on the mound for Alameda, but Sepulveda had already seen enough. He roped a 1-0 offering far over the left-field fence. The home run gave Sonoma (7-6, 4-4 CCL) a 7-5 lead, which it never relinquished.

“I made everything a lot more simple. I was just trying to be aggressive,” Sepulveda said postgame. “If it was over the white, I was swinging.”

The Merchants have caused the Stompers their most trouble in the opening two weeks of the season. Alameda defeated Sonoma 4-3 on June 5 and stole another win on Wednesday in a 5-3 victory. But in each battle, the Stompers have fought to the point where a win seemed more than possible.

It just hasn’t gone their way. In their first matchup, manager Zack Pace was ejected in the first inning. Wednesday’s contest saw Sonoma hold a fourth-inning lead, but the Merchants took it back.

On Thursday, the puzzle pieces finally fell into place. However, it initially looked unlikely.

Devon Laguinto struggled in his last outing, allowing three runs and five hits in a 4-3 loss to the San Luis Obispo Blues on June 4. On Thursday, the Stompers faithful saw an entirely different version of him.

Laguinto ran through the first inning, retiring the Merchants in order while capping it with a filthy slider that rung up former Stomper Ben Giovannetti. Yet in the second frame, Laguinto entered a jam. He allowed a towering 332-foot home run golfed past left field from Jace Jeremiah. Matteo Mendoza then doubled and scored on an RBI single from Kaleb Latimer.

But that was it. Laguinto’s outing ended after five innings while striking out eight. He only allowed two runs in the second inning, showcasing his command, especially on his off-speed pitches.

“He just fills up the zone. Mixing in his off-speed, keeping hitters off balance,” Pace said postgame. “Mainly just that tempo… he’s pounding, pounding, pounding the zone over and over again.”

Sonoma was down early, but it wouldn’t last long. In the fourth inning, Sepulveda led off with a double before McCann Libby immediately singled to score him. The Stomps added another run when Libby scored on a wild pitch two batters later, tying the game at two runs apiece.

From there, it was back-and-forth baseball at Arnold Field. Sonoma added one run in the fifth, courtesy of Sepulveda’s second double. 

After allowing three runs in the top of the sixth, the Stompers added four runs in the bottom half. Sepulveda’s long ball was the game-winning knock, but a Boardman single that scored Anthony Scheppler proved crucial in the win.

Heeryun Han silenced Alameda’s lively offense in the seventh and eighth. He repeated in the ninth. The result was the Stompers’ first win over Alameda this season, improving their record to 4-4 in CCL play. It wouldn’t have been possible without Sepulveda’s three hits and four RBIs.

“It’s awesome to see (Esteban) get it done in big moments when it counted. Especially when we put him in the three-hole today,” Pace said. “We obviously think highly of him, even though he didn’t have the results already, it’s good to see him come through in that situation.”

Sepulveda and Sonoma will look to stay hot with a 6:05 p.m. matchup against the Menlo Park Legends on Friday back at Arnold Field.

Stompers lose early lead in 5-3 loss to Merchants

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

On June 5, the Stompers fell victim to the Alameda Merchants’ early attack. In the first inning of that matchup, Sonoma manager Zack Pace was ejected, and the Merchants tallied three runs. Despite a late Stompers comeback, Alameda held onto its early momentum, taking a 4-3 win in the lone meeting.

“Thirteen runners was plenty, but we just didn’t get the big hit,” Stompers acting manager Paul Maytorena said postgame that day. “We need a productive at-bat, and we didn’t get it at the time.”

A familiar script unfolded Wednesday when Sonoma battled against Alameda for a second time. After allowing an early run, the Stompers took a lead in the fourth inning. But the result stayed the same. The Merchants prevailed 5-3 to improve to 2-0 against Sonoma (6-6, 3-4 CCL) this season.

With Jayden Harper on the mound for the Stompers, expectations were high. Coming off a season at Cal State Fullerton and, more recently, a three-inning scoreless outing against the San Luis Obispo Blues on June 3, Harper looked poised to lead Sonoma to its third straight win.

However, he struggled early on. After the Stompers went down in order, besides Anthony Scheppler reaching on an error, a double by Ben Reiland was followed by an RBI single from Ben Giovannetti, giving Alameda the early lead.

It didn’t last long, though. Adam Alharbi got things started for Sonoma with a walk before Brady Shannon stayed hot with a single. Shannon tried to take an extra bag and was caught up, but Alharbi scored to even the game at one apiece.

From there, back-and-forth baseball occurred until the fourth inning. The Stompers stole the lead with more magic. Nick Sebastiani knocked in Paul Lizzul with a single, and Shannon scored on a Colton Boardman base hit.

But after the two runs, it was all Alameda. In the bottom of the fifth, it struck sidearm reliever Ryan Seo. Ryan allowed two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, allowing the Merchants to tie the game at 3-3.

In the sixth and seventh, they added on. Now facing Ryan’s brother, Kyle, Alameda scored two runs in as many innings. It forced a walk and four hits out of Kyle, resulting in the commanding lead late in the contest.

In the sixth, Noah Smallwood scored on a passed ball on the first pitch to Merchants’ leadoff man Dominick Najar. The seventh saw Cy Turner score on a Jace Jeremiah sacrifice fly, in which Jeremiah wasted no time by hitting Kyle’s first offering. 

The Stompers surrendered to Alameda’s momentum, going 1-2-3 in the eighth and not causing much of a threat in the ninth.

After pure dominance from Sonoma in its final two games against the San Francisco Seagulls, it showed Wednesday that its offense isn’t always going to be that dominant.

The Stompers have a chance to return to the win column with a 6:05 p.m. rematch Thursday against the Merchants at Arnold Field.

Stompers demolish Seagulls 14-0 to claim 1st CCL series win

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After Sonoma’s 9-0 loss to the San Francisco Seagulls on Friday, most of its players sulked as they walked off the field.

Rightfully so.

The Stompers didn’t notch their first hit until the seventh inning and were shut out in the series opener after allowing a six-run fourth.

The next day, hitting coach Paul Maytorena gathered the team after batting practice before the Stomps’ rematch. The meeting served as a chance to regroup, refocus and most importantly, hold each other accountable. The result was a dominant 14-3 win, where comments from the pregame meeting had been addressed and executed.

After the game, Stompers manager Zack Pace said he felt Sunday’s rubber match would be a “dog fight.” He expected a close game given the pure dominance from both sides thus far.

However, he couldn’t have been more wrong. But for Pace, in the best way possible. Sonoma (6-5, 3-3 CCL) absolutely demolished the Seagulls 14-0 Sunday, claiming its first CCL series win after it looked out of reach Friday.

The Stompers’ bats were hitting. Their arms were causing whiffs. And for anyone unaware of what sport was being played, they would’ve thought the Sonoma Stompers was a football team.

“That's the great thing about this game. Every day's brand new. I was expecting a dog fight today after the two blowouts,” Pace said postgame. “But we filled up the zone and they didn't as much as us, and we hit and they didn’t.”

With Justin Jones on the mound for Sonoma, uncertainty surrounded the first inning. Last Sunday against the Alameda Anchors, Jones pitched one inning and allowed four runs. But in heroic fashion, Heeryun Han sent the Stompers home happy with a walk-off single.

Entering Sunday, Sonoma had shown in its last few games it can’t get down early. For the Stompers to win Game 3, Jones had to silence any doubters that remained from his previous performance — and San Francisco’s bats. He did just that.

Jones’ day ended after three innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed just one hit, struck out four batters and walked two, propelling the Stompers into the driver’s seat before they even got their first at-bats.

And when they did, they capitalized. After newly-appointed leadoff man Colton Boardman opened the first inning with a double, Anthony Scheppler laid down a bunt to move him 90 feet further. From there, Landon Akers walked, and McCann Libby started the scoring after his sacrifice fly brought Boardman home.

The sequence wasn’t as emphatic as Sonoma’s six-run first inning Saturday. But with Jones’ command, one run proved to be more than enough. 

After a 1-2-3 first inning, Jones issued two walks in the second. Still, when it mattered most — with the Seagulls in scoring position — he did his job to keep the Stompers in front.

“He’s a great arm. He has a really good fastball,” Pace said. “He competes. He does a lot of good things on the mound to control the running game. I was really pleased with him and look forward to seeing him out there next time.”

In the third inning, Sonoma extended its lead. It had run San Francisco starter Ben Eisenhauer out of the game, who was replaced by Maxwell McGrady. McGrady knew the Stompers all too well. Similar to Eisenhauer, McGrady was also taken out of his start after pitching just 0.2 innings Saturday.

The Stompers had attacked him then, and they planned to attack him again. Scheppler immediately reached base on an error, moving to second on the same play. Akers then singled to score Scheppler before Libby kept the rally going with an RBI base hit. An Esteban Sepulveda fielder’s choice scored Libby — Sonoma’s final run of the inning, but that wouldn’t be its last time crossing home.

In the fourth, the Stompers added two. In the fifth, they scored four more. The sixth saw one run. And the seventh featured the final three.

The Stompers’ offense couldn’t cool down. It tallied 11 hits and forced two errors. Brady Shannon secured his first two hits of the summer, one, a 385-foot triple into deep centerfield. Everything went right for Sonoma. It couldn’t have gone worse for San Francisco.

After McGrady’s three-run 0.0-inning outing, the Seagulls relied on position players to fill their bullpen. Jackson Landry allowed two runs. Ben Resnick surrendered four. And Jackson Schefsky gave up the final four.

The Stompers did it in momentous fashion. They obliterated San Francisco’s pitching. Their arms held their own. And it’s a nice way to enter a two-day break ahead of a game in Alameda on Wednesday.

“I thought our guys did a really good job. Proud of the way we split the weekend, and hopefully we can go out and win next week,” Pace said.

As mentioned, Sonoma will take the field Wednesday in Alameda against the Merchants as it looks to build off its football-like performance. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.