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.

Martinez debuts, Scheppler shines, Keys walks it off in Stompers’ 7-6 win over Tigers

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

With Augie Martinez making his first start for Sonoma, Anthony Scheppler recording three RBIs, Heeryun Han bidding farewell for the final time and Trent Keys walking it off in the 10th inning, the Stompers defeated the Tigers 7-6 on Thursday.

Before each home game, most Stompers players can be found in the bullpen. Almost none of them are pitchers; instead, they’re position players stretching and preparing for the contest ahead. At one end is a fence filled with Jaeger J-Bands. The other end often has players forming a circle with a hacky sack juggled in the middle.

Playing hacky sack has become more than a game. It’s a ritual players do to calm their nerves before the bright lights flicker. Ben and Nic Sebastiani are often seen kicking it around. Harun Pelja joins hours before first pitch. Trent Keys and Anthony Scheppler are no different.

The two have struggled at times across the summer. After starting hot with a .286 batting average and a nearly-.800 OPS, Scheppler’s numbers now sit at .182 and .590. For Keys, the statistics compare. His 18 hit-by-pitches pace the CCL, with Scheppler placing second (12). It’s boosted his OPS to above .700, but his average still reads .190.

Yet through it all, manager Zack Pace has stuck with the two. Keys has played in the second-most games and will soon pass Colton Boardman and McCann Libby to take the lead. Scheppler’s just two spots behind.

After arriving at Arnold Field at 1 p.m. every day, taking swings even when their names aren’t called and playing hacky sack in the bullpen in just shorts and a Dri-FIT T-shirt, the work finally paid off for the two on Thursday.

After Scheppler delivered two hits, three RBIs and a web gem that sent Sonoma into the bottom of the 10th still tied at six, Keys knocked him in shortly after to walk it off and give the Stompers (28-17, 22-15 CCL) a 7-6 win.

“Everything’s better when you win,” Pace said postgame. “Winning’s the best deodorant.”

For Sonoma, more than one storyline surfaced ahead of Thursday’s matchup. Being a non-league matchup, the stakes were low, but besides Max Handron’s day of rest, Pace submitted a mostly regular lineup — except for one name. Behind the plate was Augie Martinez.

He’d been with the squad all season but was only found warming up the Stompers’ arms before and during each matchup. The incoming senior at Campolindo High School had seen one plate appearance all season, a walk in a game against the Alameda Anchors on May 31.

Before Thursday, he hadn’t touched the dirt when it really mattered. But playing the Tigers was Martinez’s chance to prove himself. When his name was announced, the Arnold Field crowd erupted. A slight grin filled his face, but he hid it, acting like he was used to the moment. The truth was, he wasn’t. To an average Stompers fan, it would’ve been impossible to know.

Martinez emerged with poise and leadership. Being the youngest player on the team is no easy task, but with support from starting catchers Connor Pawlowski and Esteban Sepulveda, Martinez cruised through each inning on defense. His at-bats showed flashes of maturity beyond his years.

“He’s a stud. He works his tail off every single day to get better,” Pace said pregame. “He really can swing it. We want him in the future, and he’s a great ballplayer.”

Despite going 0-for-3, Martinez reached via a walk and a hit-by-pitch. His composure brought energy to Sonoma’s dugout and pitching.

Patrick Atkinson was the Stompers’ Opening Day starter. Thursday’s outing marked his fourth appearance of the season, and he entered with a 1.29 ERA. Even with a new glove behind the dish, Atkinson’s command excelled.

The right-handed pitcher threw a season-long 5.2 innings. He struck out nine batters while allowing just three runs on three hits. A single by Connor Smith scored Noah Canter in the first inning. The Tigers added two more in the next frame when Chase Christenson drove home Alec Nava and Tino Vassell with a base hit.

But that was all the damage Atkinson surrendered. In what may have been his final appearance for Sonoma, the moment became even more special when longtime coach Dave Hoch came out to relieve him.

“It meant a lot to me. I’ve been coaching him since he was 12,” Hoch said. “Youth ball, high school, Sonoma State and then here, it meant a lot to go out and do that.”

With Atkinson’s limited runs allowed, the Stompers’ offense battled back. Facing former Stomper Charlie Malton, Scheppler punched a single in between first and second base in the first inning to plate Gabriel Tapia and Sepulveda. In the fifth, Sepulveda doubled to score Quinn Medin. The following inning, Scheppler emerged again.

After going from a 3-0 to a 3-2 count, he looked defeated. His two-run base hit had already done enough. What could the San Jose State transfer do with no one on and no outs? The next offering from California reliever Adam Smaglik was pulled far right. It seemed to be heading foul.

Scheppler watched the ball as he slowly approached first base. Just a few steps ahead of the bag, the ball traveled over the fence to regain Sonoma’s lead. The next inning, Texas Tech transfer Heeryun Han launched his first long ball of the summer over the right-centerfield wall in his final game. The consecutive innings felt straight out of a movie.

“From (Scheppler), I just see a great improvement all year,” Pace said. “It’s been really fun to watch and see where he’s at now.”

“(Han’s) a very talented pitcher and position player,” Pace added. “Just a quality character, a quality person and a quality ballplayer.”

The win looked all but sealed for the Stompers. Yet, in the eighth, Christenson scored on a double play. Christian Klosterman relieved Jaden Mason in the ninth and gave up a hit-by-pitch and two walks, which eventually fueled the Tigers to take the lead.

But on a night when Martinez cracked the lineup, Scheppler was playing to his potential and Han was making fans cry with his storybook final game, there was no way Sonoma would lose.

With two outs in the ninth, Sepulveda was at the plate. There was one strike on the board. The designated hitter dug into the batter’s box. Pitcher Zach Vassell pulled down — maybe too much. He bounced the ball several feet in front of home plate, allowing Medin to race home, where he dove headfirst to tie things up.

In the top of the tenth, Christenson was on third. A slow chopper came Scheppler’s way. With a barehand snag, the third baseman threw across the diamond right into Keys’ glove to get the out in time.

The pair had one last chance to prevail. Ben grounded out to advance Scheppler to third base after he began the inning on second. Then, Keys stepped in. After taking a ball, the first baseman roped a grounder to second base. Nathan Leffel attempted to catch Scheppler at the plate, but it was far too late.

As Keys rounded first and the dugout spilled onto the field, it was more than a win, but instead was a reward. For Martinez’s breakthrough, Scheppler’s resurgence, Han’s farewell and Keys’ clutch.

“It’s good to get back on the winning track and hopefully keep that rolling into tomorrow against the Seagulls,” Pace said.

Stompers stumble, fall 7-4 to Seagulls as playoffs loom

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After scoring four runs in the first three innings, the Stompers stranded a runner in each of the next six innings to eventually fall 7-4 to the Seagulls.

A break. Finally, a time for the Stompers to prepare for an opponent not knotted up at the top of the CCL North. It’s been a battle, but standing-wise, the Seagulls pose no challenge. They’re a win, as their 8-24 record entering Wednesday shows.

Yet with five games to play until the postseason, each one matters, especially with Sonoma, the Blues, the Merchants and the Crawdads all in playoff contention. And for some reason, the Stompers had struggled to figure out San Francisco. On June 6, they’d fallen 9-0 at Arnold Field. Sonoma was nearly no-hit until Anthony Scheppler singled in the seventh inning.

The following two days couldn’t have been more different, with the Stompers cruising to 14-3 and 14-0 wins.

“That’s the great thing about this game. Every day’s brand new,” manager Zack Pace said after claiming the series on June 8.

But since then, Sonoma’s core has depleted, and every game seems more and more unpredictable. Wednesday was more of the same.

In what should’ve been a must-win contest, the Stompers (27-17, 22-15 CCL) crumbled under the pressure and fell 7-4 to the Seagulls. They jumped out to a four-run lead, committed zero errors and tallied 11 hits, but a three-run seventh inning put San Francisco ahead, and it never looked back.

“Every game’s a big game, and we gotta be ready to show up,” Pace said postgame. “We just couldn’t put a (run) across. We need to go win all three phases of the game.”

Traffic can mean two things. There’s the good and the bad. On offense, Sonoma prefers traffic on the base paths. When on the mound, it’d like to avoid traffic as much as possible. Early on in Wednesday’s contest, the former was most present.

Maxwell McGrady’s last outing was nearly exceptional. The Santa Barbara City College righty pitched a season-high 6.2 innings while allowing just one run against a potent San Luis Obispo lineup. Yet thinking about the Stompers leaves a bad taste in McGrady’s mouth.

On June 7, he was the Seagulls’ starting pitcher but couldn’t escape the first inning. Sonoma’s offense annihilated him, scoring six runs — all earned — in what turned into a slugfest.

The next day, McGrady relieved Ben Eisenhauer in the third inning and surrendered three earned runs without recording an out. The outing raised McGrady’s ERA to 53.99. Now, he’s worked it down to 7.34. Still far from perfect, but a change from what the Stompers had previously seen.

At first, complacency was not in Sonoma’s vocabulary. Xander Sielken walked to open the second and was brought home three batters later on a groundout by Quinn Medin. In the next inning, newly-appointed leadoff hitter Cam Hegamin singled to jumpstart an eventual three-run rally.

A wild pitch moved Hegamin to second, and he scored when Kyle Olimpia doubled. Paul Lizzul and Sielken walked to load the bases, and Gabriel Tapia drove Olimpia and Lizzul home on a base hit.

“They’re outstanding ballplayers. I’m really excited to see them going forward,” Pace said of newcomers Sielken, Medin, Olimpia and Tapia. “They’re gonna do anything to help the ball club. They’re all in on helping us win.

Then came the latter. Devon Laguinto’s been one of the Stompers’ primary starting pitchers. His year’s been highlighted by a complete game shutout on July 1 against the Legends. But other than that, Laguinto’s been streaky.

Originally a CCL Showcase Game selection, Laguinto’s shown he has what it takes to compete with the best. His 32 strikeouts rank ninth in the league. Meanwhile, his 31.1 innings stack up at sixth. Laguinto’s been a workhorse, though it’d be a stretch to call Wednesday superior.

After two scoreless innings, the Seagulls jumped on the Delta College transfer in the third. Kadyn Victorian opened with a double before Alan Ramirez and Ethan Johnson matched him with two-baggers of their own. After Ethan Bergan grounded out, Jaxon Byrd roped the fourth double Laguinto allowed that inning.

That was nearly it for him. Derek Waldvogel singled to score Byrd, and while Ryan Seo came in and escaped the inning unscathed, the ballgame was back to square one, knotted at four.

Now tied, a new theme emerged. Offensive traffic persisted for the Stompers, but it eventually came to a standstill. Sonoma stranded at least one runner in every inning, finishing the game with 16 left on base.

In the fourth, the bases were loaded, yet Sielken grounded out to end the frame. A new pitcher replaced McGrady in the fifth, but Medin was held on second base. After Lizzul singled in the sixth and Esteban Sepulveda reached third in the seventh, San Francisco finally broke the deadlock.

After replacing his brother, Kyle Seo cruised through the fifth inning, and Micah Marquez pitched a scoreless sixth. In the seventh, though, he was missing his spots, and the Seagulls capitalized. Johnson doubled once again, followed by a Byrd single that scored a run. Waldvogel and Justin Sechler added insurance with more extra-base hits, bringing San Francisco’s run total to seven while Sonoma remained with four.

Max Handron was in scoring position in the eighth. Medin found himself there in the ninth, but neither could capitalize.

Now with a non-league game against the California Tigers before rematching the Seagulls on Friday, the Stompers have a chance to get back on track and keep their first-place spot entering the final weekend of CCL baseball.

“Maybe we’ll take a little bit different of an approach,” Pace said. “I don’t think we played horrible.”

Jones, 1st-inning offense delivers under pressure as Stompers reclaim control of CCL North

Powered by a six-run first inning, the Stompers reclaimed control of the CCL North with a 7-3 win over the Crawdads.

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Stompers manager Zack Pace enjoys shuffling his lineup each day. He’s constantly aiming to find the right combination to what seems like a broken lock. Inside the box that lock protects are a few things: a reliable run producer, an error-free game, an unrelenting lead and maybe, just maybe, a spark that puts Sonoma’s destiny in its own hands.

Pace may have unlocked the box Sunday against the Crawdads. Last season, the manager had mixed emotions following the Stompers’ CCL playoff defeat to Walnut Creek. He was filled with joy from their deep run. A bitter taste also lingered as he knew they could go further. The squad had one hit before the ninth inning; They’d relied on their offense before.

So when Sonoma battled the Crawdads for the first time this season on June 22, Pace was eager to erase the past and build something new. He wanted to break the norm and put the Stompers on the map. A 10-4 Sonoma win surfaced, but Walnut Creek continued to present problems.

Fast forward to game No. 9 between the two teams — the season series finale — the Crawdads had the Stompers’ number. On Saturday, they’d clinched the season series with a 9-1 win in front of Arnold Field’s second-largest crowd of the season. Postgame, Pace emphasized Sonoma’s need to get back on track Sunday. It couldn’t let one loss spiral into a premature exit.

The Stompers didn’t just hear Pace’s words; they responded. Guided by a six-run first inning — boosting its record to 18-4 when it scores first — Sonoma (27-16, 22-14 CCL) beat Walnut Creek 7-3. The team looked in sync. It used just two pitchers and didn’t commit an error, handing it sole possession of first place in the CCL North with four league matchups to go.

“It’s great to have it in your hands. It’s awesome,” Pace said postgame. “Hopefully, we can win the week, that’s the idea.”

Justin Jones had rarely started for the Stompers this season. He opened a June 8 matchup with the Seagulls, which Sonoma won 14-0. Since then, he’s been a middle-inning to set-up pitcher who Pace slots in regularly when Jayden Harper starts. But with Harper absent this week, Jones was thrust into the high-pressure stakes of Sunday’s matchup.

The Los Medanos senior didn’t just shut down Walnut Creek’s lineup; he did it with ease, surrendering just three hits in four innings. Yet, while the stakes were high, Jones was handed a cushion from the beginning.

Monte Vista High School has been a friendly place to play for Sonoma. It took three of five matchups at the Danville school this season, scoring 37 total runs. Trent Keys kept the trend going in the first with a leadoff single. He was Pace’s decision at the start of the lineup, which has shuffled from Landon Akers to Colton Boardman. Heeryun Han and Cam Hegamin have seen action there, too. Now it was Keys’ turn.

A walk to Max Handron followed the right fielder’s base hit. Kyle Olimpia was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Paul Lizzul punched a fielder’s choice back at Walnut Creek starter Dylan McShane, which scored two runs.

Connor Pawlowski then walked to reload the bases. Xander Sielken drove Olimpia in by forcing an error on first baseman Brady Wilson — one of his three on the day. Anthony Scheppler scored Lizzul on a sacrifice fly. Gabriel Tapia plated Pawlowski, and Hegamin doubled to score Tapia.

“Having scored those runs already, you can be more aggressive in the way you play. On the pitching side, you can fill up the zone,” Pace said of the team’s approach moving forward. “When you put balls in play, it puts the pressure on (the opposing team).”

The six-spot was more than enough for Jones, who breezed through the Crawdads’ order. He gave up his only run in the bottom half of the first — his first earned run of the season — on a Zach Justice double, but it was smooth sailing from there.

While Sonoma’s offense fell stagnant, Jones went 1-2-3 in the second. He walked one in the third but silenced Walnut Creek besides that. The fourth, another three-up, three-down inning, punctuated his impressive start.

“He just mixed up his fastball and slider and was really effective with both,” Pace said of Jones’ performance. “He did an outstanding job attacking those hitters and putting them on the defensive mode.”

Pace flipped things around, then inserting David Howard, who’s started five games for the club this season. The way he pitched looked like an entire start within itself. The Sonoma State southpaw picked up where Jones left off by recording a strikeout in a scoreless fifth inning. He gave up a run in the sixth but retired the Crawdads in order in the seventh and eighth before allowing one more run in the ninth.

Still, it was too little, too late. Handron put the finishing touch on the victory by sprinting home on a Stompers’ special — a passed ball — in the ninth.

The win, combined with the Blues’ loss, takes the pressure off Sonoma as it prepares for a Wednesday matchup with the Seagulls. But one victory won’t keep Pace away from that lock, searching for the right combination to bring a CCL title to Wine Country.

“We’re just gonna take it one game at a time and try to go get San Francisco,” Pace said.

Stompers struggle amid roster shakeup, suffer 9-1 defeat against Crawdads to drop season series

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

With four players making their Stompers debut, Sonoma’s offense looked out of sync in its 9-1 loss to the Crawdads.

Akers. Han. Sebastiani. Libby. Boardman. Malton. Scheppler. Keys. Duncan. Harper on the mound. The Seo brothers in relief.

Stompers manager Zack Pace finalized his lineup minutes before first pitch on June 3 in the team’s CCL opener versus the Blues. He had dozens of names at his disposal: a Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun selection, an up-and-coming middle infielder headed to Louisiana Tech, a second baseman who appeared in 35 games as a freshman at Cal State Northridge. On the bench sat a 6-foot-2 Greek God-esque outfielder with the raw power of a Major League product.

Pace now prays for continuity. For consistency. In a time when Sonoma’s fighting for first place in the CCL North, the names of the past are what the Stompers wish were their future. Landon Akers, McCann Libby, Colton Boardman and Brady Shannon, among others, are a memory. Pace now writes “Sielken,” “Olimpia,” “Medin,” “Tapia,” players making their Sonoma debut with six games to go.

But the mentality doesn’t change. And while Pace and his staff continue to form the right group to build a championship-level team, the focus remains on maximizing what they have, game by game, lineup by lineup.

“I got a lot of (players) right now that I’m trying to evaluate and see what the best plan is for us as a team. Trying to get used to who they are as a hitter and as a person and just go from there,” Pace said of what needs to be done with the newcomers.

Late additions can sometimes bring a spark to a struggling squad, but Sonoma isn’t in that position. With four players making their summer debut, the Stompers (26-16, 21-14 CCL) looked out of sync as they fell 9-1 to the Crawdads Saturday. Lifted by just five hits while surrendering 11 walks and 10 hits, Sonoma didn’t stand a chance against Nebraska’s Aiden White on the mound and Walnut Creek’s bolstered lineup.

“We want to get some swings off if we can,” Pace said postgame. “We gotta get on base when nobody’s on base and get them in when they are on base. Unfortunately, we just didn’t do a good job with that today.”

On June 25 and July 9, White shoved against the Stompers. He allowed just one earned run across nine innings and, entering Saturday, held a 0.79 ERA. With the Cornhuskers, the southpaw pitched once. In the CCL, he’s been a workhorse. White’s ERA ranks third in the league. He’s struck out 28 hitters while walking 14 and gives up just over one base runner per inning (1.15).

Sonoma’s bats looked completely overmatched. Throwing mid to high 80s, White’s stuff threw off hitter after hitter. The Stompers threatened in the first with runners in scoring position, but Paul Lizzul and Kyle Olimpia grounded out to end the frame.

That was one of Sonoma’s lone opportunities. The following inning, Anthony Scheppler was hit by a pitch. Esteban Sepulveda singled to move him to third, and Trent Keys softly grounded out to second base to plate Scheppler. The offense was moving in the right direction. It was just the second inning, and the Stompers had scored 10-plus runs in three straight games.

But White wasn’t messing around. After Max Handron singled to open the third, Xander Sielken flew out and Lizzul grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. While Sonoma’s offense searched for answers, the Crawdads kept offering reminders.

They immediately punished Harun Pelja, with Zach Justice blasting a two-run home run into the left field trees to open the scoring in the first. Each inning, Pelja ran into a jam. He gave up a leadoff double to Joe Coupland in the second. Coupland became one of two runners in the frame left on base.

The third was Pace’s last straw with Pelja. He hit Cam Calvillo and Joey Donnelly singled. Pelja looked back at first, firing over a pickoff which skipped off of Lizzul’s glove; Calvillo scored on the play.

“I thought he had some really stress innings,” Pace said of Pelja’s performance. “All three of them. It was time for him to come out.”

That was just the way things were going. Olimpia recorded his first knock as a Stomper in the fourth but was stranded after Scheppler, Sepulveda and Keys each struck out in order. Meanwhile, Nico DeFazio doubled to score Kam Taylor.

Though Pelja was relieved, Sonoma’s bullpen wasn’t any better. Micah Marquez allowed his first earned run of the season. Nick Poulus’ ERA ballooned to 6.23 after he gave up two runs in 1.1 innings. Luke Duncan recorded three Ks to halt the Stompers’ errant crew, but Jaxen Rowland surrendered three more in an inning of work to cap an already dominant showing by Walnut Creek as Sonoma remained deflated.

When White was pulled in the seventh, the Stompers were trailing 6-1. A five-run comeback isn’t unheard of. It would’ve been a storybook close with a nearly new squad. But the ending felt all too familiar.

Gabriel Tapia, replacing Kieran Baker, struck out. Cam Hegamin, now in the leadoff spot, was retired on strikes, too. Sielken was put away in the eighth. Same with Olimpia. The new guys couldn’t find a rhythm.

As Sonoma walked twice and singled in the ninth, maybe a late comeback was to come after all. Instead, Tapia grounded into a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded. Hegamin struck out to shut the door.

With the Blues’ 6-4 win over the Merchants, Alameda is slipping out of the playoff picture while SLO rises to the top. Now tied with Sonoma for first place, the Blues will watch as the Stompers face the third-place Crawdads one last time on Sunday.

“It’s just about approaching each day just like we do all year long and not changing anything. No panic button,” Pace said. “Trying not to get too high or too low. We’ll be in a decent spot.”

5-run 9th inning powers Stompers to 10-6 victory over Crawdads

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After the Crawdads scored two runs in the eighth to tie the game at 5-5, the Stompers exploded for five runs in the ninth to regain the lead and seal the victory.

It was the ninth inning, and Sonoma’s momentum had vanished entirely. It held a 5-3 lead entering the eighth, but Heeryun Han surrendered his first two earned runs of the season, evening the score at five. The game’s fate was in the Crawdads’ hands.

However, before Walnut Creek could even attempt to take its first lead, the Stompers’ offense awoke. Facing Jackson State’s Micah Billings, Sonoma exploded for five ninth-inning runs. In the frame’s bottom half, Brandon Leon held it down, boosting the Stompers (26-15, 21-13 CCL) to a 10-5 win, which kept them in first place in the CCL North.

“Getting those contagious hits, backing up each other,” manager Zack Pace said postgame of what worked in that inning. “We did a really good job of taking quality at-bats, really getting us a good lead to win the game.”

Friday wasn’t Han’s night. He gave up two runs in the eighth inning and, despite batting leadoff for Sonoma, was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts heading into the ninth.

The Stompers needed momentum, and Max Handron provided it. With years of experience at UC Berkeley, Handron knows pressure, so though he didn’t record a hit against Walnut Creek, when he reached on an error after Han struck out, the floodgates opened.

A wild pitch advanced the third baseman to second, and he moved to third when Cam Hegamin also reached on an error. Paul Lizzul momentarily halted the rally when he was put away on four pitches, but there are few people Sonoma would then want up besides Connor Pawlowski.

Pawlowski leads the squad in two-out RBIs, and his at-bat in the ninth was an opportunity to add to that number. He fouled off two pitches before ripping a single to score Handron and move Hegamin to third.

“(Connor’s) been clutch for us all year,” Pace said. “He’s been our two-out RBI horse, and he did it again when we needed it.”

Anthony Scheppler walked, and another error plated Hegamin and Pawlowski. Ben Sebastiani then reached on an error to score Scheppler and Kieran Baker — making his first appearance since July 6 — singled to bring Trent Keys in. Han struck out again to end the inning, but the Stompers’ lead had ballooned.

Leon gave up two base hits in the bottom half, which brought in a run for Walnut Creek, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Sonoma’s high-scoring frame.

“Guys were excited. They were happy, pulling for each other,” Pace said of the energy in the dugout. “Everyone was really excited we were getting results.”

Leon’s lone inning reflected the overall pattern of the Stompers’ win. Shawn McBroom started on the mound with four scoreless innings before giving up two runs in the fifth. He was relieved by Andrew Valentine — a recent addition to the roster — who allowed one run over 1.1 innings. Lucas Alaniz, Han and Leon followed, combining to give up three runs across the final three frames.

But when the Crawdads jogged, Sonoma sprinted. It opened the scoring with a three-spot in the fourth. Handron scored on a sacrifice fly from Scheppler. Keys singled to score Lizzul, and Baker walked, which brought home Pawlowski. In the fifth, Lizzul homered to extend the Stompers’ lead.

He stayed hot two innings later with a double that drove in Hegamin, giving Sonoma its fifth run. The ninth inning sealed the victory.

With the Blues defeating the Merchants and the Stompers’ win over Walnut Creek, Sonoma remains in first place in the CCL North with just seven games to play.

“It was really a team effort. These guys did outstanding,” Pace said. “It was fun to watch and get everyone involved.”

Breaking down the 1st half of the Stompers’ 2025 campaign

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

Colton Boardman and Max Handron have anchored the left side of the infield, combining for just nine errors over 265 innings. Their defense will be crucial as Sonoma pushes for a playoff run.

With most players departing the Stompers following last year’s 30-win campaign, manager Zack Pace and his staff were faced with starting fresh, a challenge considering 2024 was Pace’s best season in his six years at the helm.

Nic Sebastiani was a name that signaled consistency. The left fielder spent most of last summer batting eighth or ninth in the lineup. Yet he was one of the youngest players on the squad, showcasing a youthful energy and mature bat; Sebastiani hit .345 with two home runs in 16 games.

A slow start for Sebastiani nearly plagued Sonoma. The Wine Country native hit sub-.200 through seven games. However, Bellarmine’s Landon Akers stepped up and hit almost .300 in that span. Now, nearly two months after the Stompers’ first game, both players are hurt, and Pace was searching for help.

Luckily, he’s found the answers. Cam Hegamin has held it down in center field. Brady Shannon is displaying Division I power by leading the CCL in home runs and RBIs. Max Handron and Colton Boardman are playing lockdown defense on the left side of the infield. The result? Sonoma leads the CCL North with just eight games to play.

Here’s everything to know from the first half of the Stompers’ (25-15, 20-13 CCL) 2025 summer:

Winning the week

Since Sonoma began CCL play on June 3, Pace has keyed in on “winning the week.” He reminds his team to stay focused on the present, taking each game one at a time. The Stompers have embodied Pace’s message. With just two weeks to go, Sonoma’s won every week of league play. It’s boosted them to a 20-13 record.

“In the end, you’ll be right where you wanna be,” Pace said of the importance of winning each week. “I feel like we’ve had a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but we’re winning weeks and that’s the goal.”

The season didn’t begin as smoothly as the record suggests. The Stompers defeated the Blues 7-1 on June 3 to open CCL play. They then lost three straight contests, two of which were one-run games, in which Sonoma displayed persistence.

Since the early stretch, the Stompers have breezed through their schedule. A significant reason why is the Legends. Menlo Park’s been a difficult place for Sonoma to play in the past, Pace said, but this season was different. Following the conclusion of their season series on Saturday, the Stompers officially took eight of the nine games between the two squads.

The other CCL teams haven’t given Sonoma many problems either. With two games remaining, the Stompers own the season series versus the last-place Seagulls. They split the four-game stretch with San Luis Obispo, defeated the Merchants and are currently two games behind in a series with the Crawdads, yet three games remain.

1-2 punch

Since Handron joined Sonoma on June 13, there’s been a piece of offense no other player can replicate. Handron is different, Pace says. He remains calm and serves as a leader to the younger players. The UC Berkeley infielder has also filled a void at third base, which Anthony Scheppler previously held. Scheppler struggled at the plate, but Handron provided relief.

He’s currently hitting .426 with a 1.145 OPS. One of Handron’s most dominant showings was Saturday against the Legends, where his five hits paced the game and willed Sonoma to a 17-13 win.

Batting right before Handron is Boardman. A freshman from Cal State Northridge, Boardman’s experience isn’t nearly as advanced as Handron’s, but the shortstop is hitting .282 and was selected to represent Sonoma in the 2025 CCL Showcase Game.

“Getting out to that early start is huge. Those two jumpstart it,” Pace said. “They do an outstanding job with their quality at-bats each time. They’re two great ballplayers.”

While Handron and Boardman’s contributions on offense are apparent, their work anchoring the left side of the infield often goes unnoticed. Handron’s made one error in 47 innings at the hot corner. Boardman has committed just eight while playing 218 of Sonoma’s 236 innings at shortstop.

Key departures

When Alijah Ramos and Trent Abel left the Stompers after last season, Pace was left with finding replacements for the two all-star middle infielders. He thrived with Boardman. And his selection at second base ended nicely, also. Hailing from Frisco, Texas, McCann Libby played 198 innings at the keystone and held down the three or four-hole in Sonoma’s lineup.

Hitting .229, Libby sometimes struggled to find consistency at the plate but showed flashes of potential in key moments. Coaches often say availability is the best ability, and the incoming Louisiana Tech infielder led Stompers hitters in at-bats (118). He will leave the squad to begin his first D-I season, but he ended his time in Sonoma with a bang, recording a season-high three hits versus the Merchants on Sunday.

On the mound, the Stompers will deal with the departure of Nick Santivanez. The CSUN starter placed third in innings pitched (24.0) and sported a 2.63 ERA. Each time he pitched, Sonoma won. Santivanez surrendered just seven runs, recording a team-high 34 strikeouts while allowing 14 hits. He wraps up his stint with the squad at 4-0, leading the team in starts.

Playoff picture

With just eight games to play, the Stompers are in an ideal position to make the CCL playoffs as one of the North’s three teams. They’re atop the group for now, but only 1.5 games separate them from missing the postseason.

Currently, Alameda sits one game below Sonoma. The Merchants have battled the Stompers well all season, with five of their seven games decided by two or fewer runs. Sonoma ultimately ended the series on a high note, though, steamrolling Alameda 17-1 on Sunday.

Tied with the Merchants are the Crawdads, who’ve given the Stompers their most troubles this season. Walnut Creek eliminated Sonoma in the playoffs last year and has taken four of six games between the squads this time around. On July 9 and 11, the Stompers fell to it twice after giving up crooked numbers in the first inning of both games. The teams will play three more times, but if Sonoma wants to see the playoffs, it needs to silence the Crawdads early.

Hovering right outside the picture is the Blues. Due to their far distance from Arnold Field, the Stompers and SLO only battled four times. The series was split, and Sonoma won’t play San Luis Obispo again this season. The Blues will face the Merchants for a three-game set before playing numerous teams in the South, a stretch that will largely impact the Stompers’ playoff spot.

“Us four are battling it out at the top,” Pace said. “I feel they’re all really good teams. It’s good to have that competition, and hopefully we’re at the top. I feel pretty confident about our guys and where we’re at.”

Stompers send 5 players to 2025 CCL Showcase Game

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers will be well-represented at the 2025 CCL Showcase Game, with Luke Duncan, Harun Pelja, Braden Guentz and Colton Boardman playing for the North Division, while Brady Shannon will participate in the Home Run Derby.

Four Sonoma players have been named to the 2025 CCL Showcase Game roster, and Brady Shannon will participate in the Home Run Derby, the league announced Monday. Braden Guentz, Luke Duncan and Harun Pelja will represent the Stompers on the mound, while Colton Boardman will play shortstop for the North Division.

Hailing from Los Medanos College, Duncan has received time pitching and behind the dish this summer. In eight relief innings, the San Ramon, California, native has racked up 14 strikeouts without allowing a run; He’s given up just five hits. When Esteban Sepulveda or Connor Pawlowski are unavailable to catch, Duncan steps in. He boasts a .313 OBP and has committed only one error in 30 defensive innings at the plate.

Pelja, a senior from Youngstown State (Ohio), made 15 relief appearances and two starts for the Penguins in 2025. Despite posting an 8.28 ERA in the Horizon League, the Melbourne, Australia, native has been dominant for Sonoma, leading all pitchers with at least 20 innings in ERA at 1.46. He’s made seven appearances this summer, three as a starter, and holds a 21-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Opponents are hitting just .172 against Pelja, and three of his seven outings have been scoreless.

Rounding out the Stompers’ pitching selections, Guentz will help the North Division out of the bullpen. He’s been Sonoma’s go-to guy in the late innings and in nine appearances, has a 2.84 ERA. The Pepperdine sophomore has earned two saves, he’s struck out 11 hitters and has surrendered just seven hits.

Boardman has been the Stompers’ defensive anchor in the infield. The freshman from Cal State Northridge hit .277 with 13 hits in Big West play and is slashing .282 over 32 games with Sonoma. His 117 at-bats rank second on the squad, while his 33 hits pace the team. Boardman leads the Stompers with 24 walks, ranks second with 22 RBIs and has been hit by 11 pitches. At shortstop, he’s played 218 of Sonoma’s 236 innings and has made just eight errors.

Shannon, a teammate of Pelja’s at YSU, will represent the Stompers at the 2025 CCL Home Run Derby. Also a Division I football player for the Penguins, the right fielder leads the entire CCL with 33 RBIs and five home runs. After a slow start, he’s improved his batting average to .255, displaying power with Sonoma’s most extra-base hits (10). He’s also been flawless defensively, logging 163 error-free innings in the outfield.

With five players heading to Compton, the Stompers will be well represented when the league’s best take the field on July 16 at the Major League Baseball Youth Academy.