Previewing the Stompers’ 2025 campaign

By Jordan Kimball

As Stompers manager Zack Pace strolled off the diamond for the final time in 2024, pride settled in. Despite falling 5-2 to the top-seeded Walnut Creek Crawdads in the California Collegiate League North Divisional Round, Sonoma had completed its first 30-win season in Pace’s six-year tenure and reached the league’s biggest stage for the first time since joining three years prior.

However, while Pace and his team felt immense joy, they ultimately fell short of their quest to win the CCL. But with Pace now back for his seventh year and a bolstered roster in place, expectations are soaring ahead of Sonoma’s 2025 season-opener against the Bercovich Honors on Wednesday.

“When competing on the field, you have to do everything you can to win,” Pace said. “It’s all about winning. Trying to put a good product on the field to win the ballgame that night. That’s the goal. That’s why we play the game.”

Here’s everything to know about the Stompers’ 2025 campaign before first pitch:

Playing for the Stomps is a launching pad. Every player who steps onto Arnold Field carries either untapped potential or a compelling career. Despite fielding one of the CCL’s youngest rosters last season, with 19 of Sonoma’s 34 players underclassmen at their respective schools, it defied expectations, finishing in third place just behind the Crawdads and the Conejo Oaks.

With many of the Stomps’ previous stars departing, they’ve focused on bolstering their lineup, starting with infielders Landon Akers from Bellarmine and Anthony Scheppler from Ohio State. 

In his redshirt freshman season with the Knights, Akers earned All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team honors at shortstop and was named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. He led Bellarmine in hits, total bases, stolen bases, batting average, doubles and runs scored, ranking in the top 10 in the ASUN in each of those statistics.

His .356 batting average and six home runs would’ve paced the Stompers last season for hitters with 20-plus at-bats, while his .511 slugging percentage would’ve ranked second, just behind Nic Sebastiani, who will return for another season with Sonoma.

In Scheppler’s first season with the Buckeyes, the Novato native didn’t see a starting role but filled in as a pinch hitter and infielder.

Though Scheppler’s time was limited at Ohio State, he’s no stranger to offensive success. In his senior year at San Marin High School (California), Scheppler slashed a .337 batting average with 31 hits, 10 doubles, seven home runs and 37 RBIs. His power alongside Akers’ consistency brings confident bats to a lineup where just two starters hit above .250 in 2024.

“(Scheppler’s) a good ball player, and he’s just young. I can’t wait to see those guys, and I think they’ll have those key tools we need,” Pace said. “I’m just excited to see them play.”

Also expected to make a significant impact at the plate is McCann Libby, who announced his transfer from Navarro College to Louisiana Tech University on Nov. 16, 2024. In his final season with the Bulldogs, Libby hit .320 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs. He’ll provide Sonoma with a pivotal plate presence while displaying a flexible glove as a utility player across the diamond.

On the mound, the Stomps will rely on right-handed pitcher Cole Pacheco, a senior at Indiana State. Despite appearing in just two games for the Sycamores, Pacheco’s 28 outings, 38.0 innings pitched and 4.74 ERA out of the bullpen over two seasons at Modesto Junior College anchor the Stomps’ young group.

Joining him on the bump will be Jayden Harper, a senior at Cal State Fullerton. Unlike Pacheco, in Harper’s debut season at the Division I level, he shoved, earning a 3.68 ERA in 15 appearances with the Titans.

As CSUF’s season progressed, Harper secured a solidified role as a starter, pitching five innings on May 10 against Hawaii and six at UC Irvine on May 16. After two seasons at Ohlone College, the southpaw holds the Renegades’ record for most strikeouts per nine innings.

While the five aforementioned players will look to lead the Stompers back to postseason baseball, they’ll also rely heavily on Sebastiani, who hit .347 in 2024 with Sonoma, Jack Lazark, a versatile option at both the dish and on the mound, and Chris Albee and Raul Valdivia, who both appeared out of the bullpen 10-plus times in 2024 — among others, with a league title in mind.

“There’s nothing better than winning a championship. That’s (goal) number one,” Pace said. “Playing good quality baseball in the moment, staying locked in on every pitch and trying to win the little battles to win the big battle at the end.”

2025 Stompers Season Kickoff

SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma Stompers are thrilled to announce the launch of their 2025 campaign! The 11-week schedule will feature fierce competition among five Northern California teams — the Walnut Creek Crawdads, Menlo Park Legends, Alameda Merchants, San Francisco Seagulls, and San Luis Obispo Blues — and five Southern California teams — the Santa Barbara Foresters, Orange County Riptide, MLB Academy (Compton), Arroyo Seco Saints, and Conejo Oaks.

The 2024 season concluded with the Conejo Oaks capturing the California Collegiate League (CCL) Championship Trophy, while the Walnut Creek Crawdads finished as runners-up. The Sonoma Stompers placed third in the CCL Northern Division with a league record of 21-15 and an overall record of 30-17. Since joining the CCL, the Stompers have steadily improved their performance, with records of 11-23 in 2022 and 16-19 in 2023.

The 2024 Stompers season also saw an 7% increase in total attendance, averaging 465 fans per game for a season total of over 14,880 loyal supporters. Fans witnessed outstanding performances, including six Stompers selected to the 2024 CCL All-North Division Team: Trent Abel (CSU Northridge), Alijah Ramos (CSU Fullerton), Darvin Scott (Menlo College), Nick Sebastiani (Santa Rosa JC), Destin Allen-Fox (CSU Northridge), and Dylan Goff (CSU Fullerton). Abel and Allen-Fox also earned spots on the 2024 All-CCL Team, recognized by head coaches as two of the league's top performers.

The Stompers also demonstrated their developmental prowess, with 10 players transferring or advancing to higher levels of baseball: Sean Flowers (Akron University), Hawk Hill (Sonoma State), Jake Tirk (CSU San Marcos), AJ Carter (Northern Colorado), Brett Mallett (University of the Pacific), Joseph Cardinale (Pepperdine University), Chris Albee (Jessup University), Ben Giovannetti (Ball State), Nick Sebastiani (Santa Rosa JC), and Carson Glavich (Oregon Tech).

The 2025 campaign promises even more excitement, with a packed 30-32 game home schedule at the beloved Arnold Field. The season will kick off around Memorial Day Weekend and conclude in early August, with the full schedule to be released in the coming weeks.

The Stompers are also excited to introduce changes to their front office. John Keady joins as the new President and General Manager, while former President and GM Eddie Mora-Loera transitions into a Senior Advisor role. Returning front office members include Chase Anderson (Operations Manager) and Kiran Costa (Director of Broadcasting & Journalism).

On the field, the Stompers will welcome back their trusted coaching staff: Zack Pace (Field Manager), Mike Nunes (Pitching Coach), Casey Gilroy (Bench Coach), and Paul Maytorena (Assistant Coach). Additional rising coaching talents will be announced soon.

Join us for an unforgettable 2025 season as we continue to grow our legacy and bring thrilling baseball action to the Sonoma community!

Sonoma Stompers 2024: The Recap

The Sonoma Stompers season came to a close last night, so let’s take a look back over the highly successful summer. The Stomps made it all the way to the CCL North Divisional Round, and were one win away from making the championship series. This is history for the organization, as manager Zack Pace led Sonoma’s to their first playoff appearance and first playoff win in three years of being in the CCL.

College players came from across California and even from across the country to play for the Stompers. We also had various Sonoma county natives competing for their hometown team. This unique combination of talent crafted a successful season and entertaining baseball for Sonoma fans.

With the bats, two players cemented themselves as the leaders, ending up as the one and two hitters by the playoffs. This would be Cal State Fullerton second baseman Alijah Ramos and Cal State Northridge shortstop Trent Abel. The middle infielders led the team in batting average and on base percentage. Ramos hit .323, while Abel hit .302 also leading Sonoma with 21 RBIs. Paul Contreras also made his mark on the Sonoma season. Contreras, who will also be attending Cal State Fullerton next year, launched six home runs in league play, which led the team and was second in the entire CCL. 

Destin Allen-Fox and Jake Tirk were two of the Stompers “true” starters, who started every game they pitched. Both were impressive on the season, with ERAs below 4.00. Allen-Fox was a strikeout machine, with 38 punch outs in 25.2 innings. He also had pitched a gem in the CCL North Wild Card game against the SLO Blues, with five innings of work, where he struck out ten. 

Out of the pen, Sonoma was spectacular. Led by guys like Dylan Goff, Hawk Hill, Brent Mallet,  and Dylan Burke, the Stomps had a team ERA of 4.00, one of the top in the CCL. Goff, yet another Cal State Fullerton product, appeared ten times in CCL play, where he sported a 1.90 ERA, striking out 29 in 23.2 innings. He also tossed two scoreless innings in the Wild Card game. Hawk Hill was used both as a starter and reliever, with eight appearances, where he held a 2.61 ERA. Hill has been with the Stompers for a couple years now, attending Cumberland University. The other names noted all had elite stats, with ERAs well below 3.00.

Sonoma started CCL play on the backs of this pitching effort, as they led the CCL North in ERA as they went into the break. The Stomps were second in the standings, and Goff, Allen-Fox, Thornton, and Hill were all selected as All Stars for leading this club’s pitching dominance. Contrary to the position players, the pitching did not have much turnover from players leaving, meaning the pitching continued to be a huge factor in the back half of the season.

But, the surge on offense from Sonoma in the second half of the season helped secure their playoff spot and put the team on a five game winning streak heading into the postseason. Sonoma lost many offensive pieces in the middle of the season, as players left to prepare for college seasons. This tasked Zack Pace with fielding new players and gelling together a lineup to foster success. Players like Max Handron and DJ Scott were crucial in this, as their offensive additions helped thrust Sonoma into the playoffs. Amazingly, Ramos and Abel got even better in the second half, resulting in a very strong top of the order.

This offensive recipe of Ramos, Abel and Handron at the top helped put Sonoma on their five game winning streak which they pushed to six after their arguably best game when they toppled the SLO Blues 7-2 in the Wiild Card game. The Scott insertion was massive in that game, as he launched an electric grand slam to silence the packed Blues stadium.

The offensive effort stalled against the Walnut Creek Crawdads though, as the Stompers had two hits against the North Champions. But, that one game doesn’t define Sonoma’s season as they finished the regular season with 30 wins, and beat every team they played at least once. This is a major success for the Stomps, as there has been a significant turnaround in their time in the CCL.

In 2022, the Stompers were last in the CCL North and lost 30 games in total. After nearly missing the playoffs last season in the last week, Zack Pace has led his club to a complete 180, as they now have experienced playoff achievements. 

The Stompers season may have ended short of the ultimate goal, but it sets up a bright future for the club. The success will hopefully attract more elite talent to Sonoma, and this season could very well be a stepping stone for more playoff success in the coming years. Everyone apart of the Stompers organization, including the loyal fans, have been able to craft a club like no other. Strong collegiate talent, proven coaching, and an electric atmosphere at historic Arnold Field has made it a perfect destination for baseball.

As the players depart for the college seasons, we wish them good luck in all their endeavors and we hope to see you, the fans, next season for more Stompers baseball!

Stompers Season Comes to End After Quiet Offensive Night

The historic season for the Sonoma Stompers came to an end after a 5-2 loss to the one seeded Walnut Creek Crawdads. This CCL North Divisional matchup was characterized by resounding pitching, as Sonoma only mustered two hits on the night. A couple of key runs from the Crawdads off of hits and errors proved to be enough, despite the good effort from the Stompers pitching staff.

Paul Contreras got the only Sonoma hit before the ninth, with a single in the fifth inning. DJ Scott launched a two run shot in the ninth to score the only Stompers runs. Max Handron and Chase Taylor were the only other Stompers to get on with a walk and error.

The game started off quietly for Sonoma, but Walnut Creek was able to threaten in the second. A bloop single that was stretched into a double and then a single up the middle started it for the home Crawdads. But Atkinson earned a popout, strikeout and a chaotic play that resulted in a tag-out on the third base line that got Sonoma out of the inning.

Atkinson finished his day after the third, where he delivered another scoreless inning. The Sonoma starter threw three innings of scoreless work with three strikeouts. Crawdad's starter, Jaxson Byrd, was dominant as he held the Stomps hitless through four innings. Garrett James relieved Atkinson in the bottom half of the fourth, continuing the shutout. Rudy Gonazalez’s defense behind the plate was huge early to aid this effort. In all, quiet starts for both ball clubs. 

Paul Contrares got the Stomps in the hit column with a line drive to right center in the fifth, but nothing came of it. The Crawdads scored the first run in their side of the fifth, as Aidan Camberg hit a leadoff double and scored off an RBI single to left. James finished his day after this inning, only allowing this run in his two innings. Sonoma’s Chase Taylor earned his way to third in the sixth inning after a walk and errant throw with two outs. This brought up Max Handron who struck out after an eight pitch battle.

Brent Mallet relieved for Sonoma in the sixth, and runners were able to get on and move to second and third for Walnut Creek. After a crazy play that involved a fly out and two errors, the Crawdads were able to score another before the Stompers got the third out. After going down one, two, three in the top of seventh, Walnut Creek then added another in the bottom half from a pair of hits and fielder’s choice.

This put Sonoma in a tough spot down 3-0 late, a deficit that grew in the eighth after a sacrifice fly and error that added two more. It proved to be enough, as Sonoma scored their only two runs in the ninth off of Scott’s home run. It was too little too late however, as the Stomps fell. Jaxon Byrd and Drew Augiar were too much for Sonoma. Walnut Creek will now host the CCL Championship starting Friday, with the Conejo Oaks traveling from SoCal.

Despite the loss, it was quite the year for Sonoma. Their first ever trip to the CCL playoffs resulted in a wildcard win and the regular season was very successful with 30 wins, 21 in conference. It was not the way this club wanted to go out, but there is a lot to hold their heads high for. 

We thank the players, everyone a part of the Stompers organization, and most importantly the fans for an incredible season. We hope to see you all next season as Sonoma will look to build on this season and restart the quest for a CCL Championship.

Playoff Preview: Stompers vs. Crawdads

After defeating the San Luis Obispo Blues, the Sonoma Stompers now turn their attention to the Walnut Creek Crawdads. The number one seed and familiar foe will host the Stomps, tomorrow Wednesday the 31st at 4:00 at Monte Vista High School. The Crawdads put together a CCL record of 23-14, led by one of the most elite offenses in the conference. 

Walnut Creek sports a team batting average of .281, which is the best in the entire CCL. Their team on base percentage and slugging percentage are both above .400, which are both the highest in the league. They’ve smacked a total of 34 homeruns as a team, the next closest are the Stompers with 21.

Five names lead the way on offense for the Crawdads, starting with their third hitter, Presley Kosciusko. The UCSB product has a 1.089 OPS, leading the CCL in RBIs (40) and homeruns (9). Utility player Isaiah Walker leads the Crawdads with an impressive .360 batting average. He is tied with infielder Cam Calvillo for total hits with 45. Calvillo sports a .345 average as well. Mark Wolbert and Ethan Liao also have been major contributors for the Crawdads.

On defense, Walnut Creek is solid as well, having similar statistics to Sonoma. They’ve put together a regular season with a 3.94 ERA, and opponents bat .244 against them, the same as the Stompers. The Crawdads have tossed 321 strikeouts on the season, in 328.2 innings, slightly lower than the Stomps rate.

Jaxon Byrd leads the starting rotation for Walnut Creek, as he’s pitched the most innings and has a 4-0 record with an ERA of 1.99. Drew Augiar has been elite out of the bullpen, appearing fifteen times in relief, striking out 42 opponents in 39.2 innings. On top of that, he holds a 1.59 ERA.

The Stompers have faced the Crawdads eight times before and they’ve split the series even at 4-4. It’s been pretty even with these teams, but the Stompers have won the last two, looking to keep that momentum and the momentum of their six game winning streak as they face the Crawdads. Stomper’s to look out for are newcomers Max Handron and DJ Scott who had huge wildcard performances. Trent Abel also had a good night and will look to keep up his momentum. Also watch out for Alijah Ramos to rebound after a hitless Wild Card game.

After not having to play a Wild Card game, Walnut Creek will be well rested to face Sonoma, so we will have a compelling matchup. Make sure to tune into our live radio broadcast to catch all the action! Just follow this link: https://sonoma-stompers.mixlr.com/.

Playoff Preview: Stompers vs. Blues

The Sonoma Stompers are set to square off with the San Luis Obispo Blues on Tuesday, July 30th in the Wild Card round of the CCL Playoffs. This will be the fifth matchup between the two clubs, the first since June 19th, meaning both teams are quite different since the last time they faced. 

The Blues are the hottest team in the CCL as we head into the postseason, boasting a 21-13 and riding a 10 game winning streak which secured them the second spot in the CCL North. The Stompers finished strong in their own right, riding a five game winning streak into postseason play. 

Manager Zack Pace said that “the approach is going to be the same we have every day, show up to the ballpark and bring that good energy and effort.” He comments that the Blues are a different team then the one they face in June, so there are not a lot of expectations. Pace made it clear that it comes down to how the Stompers execute what they’ve done all year.

On paper, the two foes are quite similar. The Blues sport a team batting average of .244, higher than the Stompers .228. But, Sonoma’s hitting philosophy of quality at bats and working deep counts has paid dividends, as they have a .366 team on base percentage compared to SLO’s .345. 

Ethan Royal leads the charge for the Blues on offense, leading the team in hits with a .324 batting average. Braedon Jefferies sports a .405 average for SLO and has been a consistent force when he’s in the lineup. For the Stomps, Alijah Ramos has moved into the leadoff position and is currently on a 33 game on base streak, sporting a .323 batting average and an elite .434 on base percentage. His partner in the infield, Trent Abel has emerged as another effective hitter, batting .302 and leading the team with 21 RBIs.

On the other side of the ball, the similarities continue. Sonoma has a 4.00 ERA while SLO sports one of 3.98. Teams bat .243 against the Stomps while only hit .239 against the Blues. Both teams are solid on defense, and while the Stompers pitchers are more effective at getting outs via strikeouts, the Blues rely on strong defense to manufacture outs. 

Logan Groff and CJ Albright have been strong starters for SLO, leading the team in innings pitched with a 3.15 and 3.26 ERA respectively. Destin Allen-Fox and Jake Tirk have pitched the most for Sonoma, both with ERAs below 4.00. The Stompers bullpen has been their bright spot, led by guys like Dylan Goff with a 1.90 ERA and Brent Mallet with a 1.29 ERA. Zack Pace only uses a couple players as true “starters” filtering bullpen pitchers into starting roles all throughout the season, helping Sonoma get to the position they are now.

These two teams have faced each other four times before, with the Blues commanding a 3-1 record. They played a four game series back in June where the Blues won the first three 8-4, 3-1, and 9-2. Sonoma won the fourth game 5-4. While SLO had the edge back then, the Stompers have a very new look with four newcomers that have been producing well and various players that have made strong improvements in the month of July. 

The Stomps now begin their journey down to SLO, looking for a win to continue their pursuit of a CCL Championship. The game will take place in San Luis Obispo at Sinsheimer Park, starting at 6:05 on Tuesday. The games will be radio broadcast live on our Mixlr, so make sure to tune in so you don’t miss the excitement of postseason baseball.

STOMPERS HEAD INTO ALL-STAR BREAK SECOND IN THE STANDINGS

By Kiran Costa

It’s been an up-and-down first half in Sonoma, but the Stompers head into the All-Star break in sole possession of second place in the CCL North with a 14-13 record. The Stomps came out of the gate hot starting the season 4-1 including a win in the CCL opener against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. The Stompers picked on one CCL foe in particular, dominating the Menlo Park Legends, winning 5 of the 6 meetings. That includes 13-1 and 16-1 wins over Menlo Park, the two highest-scoring totals from the Sonoma offense, topped off with a 4-game-winning streak in early July to catapultted Zack Pace’s crew into second place.   

Alijah Ramos was a first-half standout for Sonoma, the Cal State Fullerton second baseman led the Stompers in multiple offensive categories. Ramos hit .303 with a .429 on-base percentage and got on base in all 25 games he played. Eighteen-year-old Center Fielder Paul Contreras also had a great first half. After a breakout season at Modesto JC, Contreras leads the CCL in walks with 23 as well as leading the team in home runs. Ramos along with fellow middle infielder Trent Abel were picked to represent the Stompers at the CCL Showcase Game, with 3rd baseman Tyler Holley set to participate in the Home Run Derby. 

The Stompers pitching staff was fantastic in the first half of the season, posting a CCL North bet 4.38 ERA. Pitching Coach Milke Nunes’ staff also led the North in strikeouts with 249. Four pitchers were selected to represent the Stompers at the Showcase game; Dylan Goff, Bryant Thornton, Destin Allen-Fox, and Hawk Hill. Allen-Fox the southpaw out of CSUN, led the squad with 35 strikeouts including an impressive  4.2 shutout innings in a 4th of July victory. Fellow All-Star Dylan Goff, a reliever turned starter out of Cal State Fullerton posted a 1.92 ERA with an astounding 26/2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  

The Stompers have just nine games left in the regular season, and sit 4.5 games back of the Walnut Creek Crawdads for first place, with a 1.5 game cushion over the SLO Blues. The top three teams in the CCL North enter the playoffs, the two-seed and three-seed facing off in a one-game playoff, the winner taking the one-seed. Post all-star break, Sonoma will welcome a few new faces to the team as they open up the latter half of the campaign on Friday, July 19th vs Alameda at Arnold Field. 

Stompers Earn Six All Star Nods

After a successful first half of the season, the CCL’s version of the midsummer classic is upcoming, and six Stompers will represent the wine country down in Compton, California. Chosen by the conference, the middle infield pair of second baseman Alijah Ramos and shortstop Trent Abel earned All Star bids. Pitchers Dylan Goff, Destin Allen-Fox, Bryant Thornton also captured the honor. Hawk Hill was named a reserve All Star for his first half performance.

These six Stompers will represent Sonoma in the CCL Showcase Game. Stompers Manager Zack Pace brought his team together and announced the All Stars this past week, saying the showcase “[is] just about going to have fun and show off their skills.” This game will take place on Wednesday, July 17th in Compton. For those interested, the showcase will be broadcasted on the Bally Sport Networks. Follow Stompers social media as well for our coverage of the events.

Ramos, the Cal State Fullerton sophomore, has a team leading .320 batting average, a big part of his summer campaign. The middle infielder has been a consistent force at the plate for the Stompers all season, leading the team in hits (24), on base percentage (.459), and runs batted in (11). Ramos has also been contributing defensively and on the base paths, playing a solid second base and swiping six bags.

Ramos’ partner in the infield, Trent Abel, gets the All Star honor as well. Abel has been excellent in the field, playing 203 innings at shortstop, having a fielding percentage of .974. His .251 batting average and ten RBIs also demonstrate his strong ability at the plate. The Cal State Northridge product has been swinging a hot bat of late, with five hits and three RBIs in his last four games.

Sonoma has had strong pitching throughout the season, leading the CCL North in ERA. So, it’s only right that the Stomps have four pitchers named to the Showcase. Reliever Dylan Goff is one of those pitchers. In seven appearances, Goff has thrown 14 innings, with 20 strikeouts and only two walks, and the righty sports a 1.29 ERA. The dominant reliever is also a part of the Cal State Fullerton Titan squad and joins his teammate Ramos as a CCL all star.

Destin Allen-Fox also earned the honor, starting six league games for the Stompers. His 35 strikeouts leads the team, tied for first in the CCL North. He has filled up the zone, as he has only walked 11 in 21.2 innings pitched. The lefty, another Cal State Northridge player, hopes to carry this into the second half of the season as Sonoma makes their CCL playoff push. 

Bryant Thornton joins the pitching crew to be sent to Compton. His 2.76 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched has made him a reliable option to start and relieve games. He has 18 strikeouts and has settled into a consistent role in the Sonoma rotation. Thornton attends Oklahoma Baptist University, and the righty is heading into his senior season there.

Lastly, another Stomper pitcher, Hawk Hill got the nod. The Cumberland University hurler has been with the Stomps for three straight summers now, and has both started and relieved this season for Sonoma. He has only given up just one run in 15 innings pitched. The righty has 14 strikeouts on the season, and forces a lot of weak contact.

The Stompers players will look to carry on what outfielder Noah Rabin did last year by winning the Showcase MVP. The festivities will also have a homerun derby event that Sonoma infielder Tyler Holley will participate in. Holley is known for his strength and ability to hit long bombs, so hopefully the Cal State Fullerton product can create some fireworks down in Compton. These events will also act as a break from games, as the Stompers will have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off, returning to action on Thursday the 18th.

Fireworks from Pitching Staff Produce Successful Week in the Heart of CCL Play

The Sonoma Stompers just wrapped up an important six game homestand last week. Sonoma needed to have a strong week, and they did, winning five of the six games, going 4-1 in CCL play. The reason for such success was the elite pitching, giving up only seven runs in the six games.

In each of the six games, the Stompers starter went at least four innings. The starting pitching rotation tossed a total of 27.2 innings, allowing only four runs in that span. The bullpen aided the effort, giving up only three runs in their work this week. The team ERA in CCL play moved to a division best 3.29. This is an impressive number, and the lack of unearned runs shows the defensive support from Stompers position players as well. As we approach playoffs, this will be a crucial element if Sonoma is to see postseason success.

Jake Tirk started it against the Walnut Creek Crawdads on Tuesday with four solid innings, where he allowed two runs, dealing out a strong five strikeouts. The following day, Bryant Thorton shoved in six innings of work, where he only gave up one run, and struck out eight in a winning effort. Then on the 4th of July, Destin Allen-Fox got the start and shut down the San Francisco Seagulls, where he punched out eight and allowed no runs in 4.2 innings. Tyler Looney started the second game against the Crawdads, and shut them out in four innings of work. Hawk Hill worked his ERA to 0.60 in his four inning start on Saturday, contributing to the win against the Legends. Nik Kamages started the final game, dominating in five innings where he struck out six, where he allowed no runs to cross.

Destin Allen-Fox delivers a pitch in a recent outing

This prominence on the mound for these Stompers was crucial for the successful week. Timely hits and good situational baseball were able to pull out the narrow victories this week. There were several bright spots on offense for Sonoma, with three Stompers in particular putting together impressive weeks.

Jack Lazark led the charge offensively. The first baseman went 8 for 20, with three doubles, a homerun, and three RBIs. The Santa Clara University Bronco was consistent all week, and raised his batting average to .323, leading the team with an OPS of .920. Alijah Ramos had five hits, and got on base in more than half his plate appearances. The Stomper middle infielder scored four times and knocked in three in the process. Ramos leads the team with a batting average of .359 and on base percentage of .488. Jack Scheri also had a good week as the leadoff hitter for his starts, where he went 6 for 17 and scored three times.

The strong showing for Sonoma puts them in second place in the CCL North, with a record of 12 wins and 9 losses. They sit two and a half games back of the first place Walnut Creek Crawdads, with whom they split the two matchups this week. The San Luis Obispo Blues are in third, a game back of the Stompers. Another six straight games are coming up for Sonoma, all of them being CCL matchups. They play the Alameda Merchants twice, the Crawdads twice, the Legends once, and the San Francisco Seagulls. This is a crucial stretch of baseball as the playoff hunt heats up.

Stompers players hand out candy during the 4th of July Parade

The Stompers weren’t just having fun on the field as they were able to celebrate Independence Day by participating in the Sonoma Parade and enjoyed the fireworks with fans after a 4-1 victory. The community of Stompers fans has made this season special so far, and the fan support that was evident on the fourth has helped the Stomps go on the run they’re on. This day was a huge success on and off the field, and the organization hopes to continue engaging with the fans as the team continues to fight for playoffs. So make sure to be a part of this baseball community and come support any home Stompers games! Come out to Arnold Field on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to support the Stompers in their search for a playoff berth!

The Transfer Process: A Stompers Perspective

In the United States there are over 1,600 college baseball programs and 34,500 total college baseball players. This massive number demonstrates the widespread nature of America’s pastime. With so many programs and so many choices for high school players the process of finding one place to play baseball can be overwhelming and difficult. Additionally, there is no way to know how those first years within a college program will play out. So, there exists a process used by countless players across the country, the process of transferring.

For baseball, and most college sports, there are many routes that fall under the umbrella of transferring. A common route is attending a junior college for one or two years and then transitioning to a NCAA program, whether that be division one, two or three. Many athletes transfer within NCAA college baseball as well, across divisions or within a division.  We hear about it in football and basketball especially, but this transfer portal has grown exponentially in recent years, with so many college athletes having the freedom and ability to choose the school they want in the offseason. Because of these various options, the process is daunting and takes incredible effort for a player to find the right fit.

The Sonoma Stompers have several players currently looking to transfer or ones that have already gone through the process. This gives a unique perspective into the experiences of the players themselves going through it, a topic usually passed by in mass media. Namely, outfielders AJ Carter and Jack Scheri give us two distinctive looks into the process of transferring.

Carter just finished his second season with the College of San Mateo Bulldogs, a junior college located in the Bay Area. He now looks to transfer, wanting to continue playing in college. When talking to him, I got a sense of the many considerations that have to be made when making such a decision. The former Bulldog listed out various things, like the number of players already on the roster at his position, location of the school, coaches, and connections made with such programs. 

He and his father, Antonio Carter, both comment that education is the number one priority however, wanting to find a college that has the major he’s looking to pursue. His father said that “as an athlete you can get so focused on just athletics, like tunnel vision. Well, there’s other components outside of athletics that you need to take into consideration.” Education is one of the most important of those other components. While the corner outfielder notes “no school is perfect,” finding one with many of these considerations checked off is a goal of the process.

Carter also brought up the importance of connections and networking in the process. He commented that the difference between now and when he was coming in as a freshman is “the exposure you get, because college coaches know a lot of other colleges.” He also noted the role of many junior college coaches as well, where he said, “their job is to get you to that next level.” Thus, he is attempting to connect with as many people as he can because the more opportunities, the more chance of finding the best fit.

When asked about his experiences in the process, Carter mentioned the patience he’s developed saying, “it’s a process.” In the chaos of it all, with many players committing at many different times, he looks to be “patient with it…sticking with it, sticking through it by staying true to what you do, and not letting that affect your game.” As the Stompers embark on the thick of league play, his teammates, and everyone, can learn from this level-headed mindset.

While Carter exemplifies the junior college route, Jack Scheri gives us a different look into transferring. Scheri played for the Creighton Bluejays last season (redshirting in the 2022 season), but is currently in the portal, looking for another D1 school to keep pursuing his dream. Scheri notes that he loved Creighton as a school but “the baseball situation just didn’t work out for me.” After deciding to transfer he discussed the school side of things, where counselors at Creighton helped with forms and considerations like transferring school credits and staying on track in terms of class requirements.

The outfielder has been in the portal for about a month and a half at this point, noting that things have “settled down” since he first entered his name. “Right now I am narrowing down what schools I am interested in visiting”, he says. When making this decision, he comments “One, I want to go to a place where I know I can play” because this is needed “to keep chasing my dreams and live the life I want to.” He also discussed the role of his future manager, as he wants a leader that not only believes in him but has a strong connection with his team, where he can enjoy going out and playing for him everyday. 

For the former Bluejay, baseball was his focus. His love for the game is evident and the desire to continue playing at a high level was forefront for him. He talked about how this time around in his recruitment, he is looking at more of the “mid-majors” of NCAA baseball, which are considered the smaller division one programs. But, it is still high level baseball, and these programs still compete (and can beat) the more well-known schools.

Since joining the team, Scheri commented that the Stompers have been helpful in the transfer process, saying that “[Manager Zack Pace] knows my situation, and has reached out to schools.” Both Carter and Scheri have brought up this fact, that coach Pace has many connections and does reach out to schools, as well as vice versa. Additionally, the former Bluejay said “I have met teammates that play at universities, who have also helped me get in contact with their coaches.” He also commented on the work of interns in the Stompers organization that have collected “trackman data to send out to universities…as well as cameras and the use of synergy” which help schools get a better understanding of Scheri, and his strengths that may attract them. This demonstrates the massive networking web that is college baseball, showing the importance of having many connections to produce the most opportunities.

The Sonoma outfielder added that throughout the process it comes down to just baseball, and to keep playing “because you never know when the next opportunity will come, so you have to make the best of it.” He has continued to develop his mindset of “day in and day out just competing, while also staying relaxed and confident.” Scheri carries this with him every game. He demonstrates a strong belief in the process, trusting that his work will pay off and that he will end up in the spot where he’s meant to be.

AJ Carter and Jack Scheri not only give us a glimpse into the life of a transfer player but demonstrate their positive mindsets that baseball has helped develop. The ideas of staying level-headed and patient are used by both athletes. From the massive numbers of schools, to the educational considerations, to team culture, transferring is chaotic. The qualities that these men have developed has led them through it all, while allowing them to continue playing baseball with success. Lucky for our Sonoma community, they continue their excellence with the Stompers and look to be big contributors as they work towards the goal of a CCL championship.