WILLIAMS HEADED FOR ATLANTIC LEAGUE

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers are excited to announce that outfielder Miles Williams is the third player on the team to be promoted this season, as he will be joining the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks.

Williams, a first-year Stomper, played 60 games for Sonoma, hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 54 runs batted in. He ended his time in Sonoma on a strong note, setting the franchise’s single-season home run record.

“This season both Zack [Pace] and myself noticed a significant change in Miles' approach at the plate. While he'll always be a free swinger and instant threat at the plate, it was good to see his maturation process of his approach grow throughout the course of the season,” general manager Brett Creamer said. “While we'll all miss Miles, we're excited for his opportunity to join such a prestigious franchise in the Long Island Ducks. I wish him the best in their playoff run while he continuous his advancement in professional baseball.”

The Flower Mound, Texas native improved his game in nearly every facet from 2017 to 2018. Despite taking nearly 50 less at-bats this season, he his six more home runs, drove in four more runs and had the same number of hits, while also drawing four more walks.

“It’s been great, I’ve got to give it up to Brett [Creamer] and [Zack] Pace for giving me the opportunity to keep playing baseball,” Williams said. “It’s a blessing to have this opportunity, I’m just going to try and capitalize on it and keep everything simple. It’s been a pleasure. I love these dudes.”

The right fielder isn’t new to the Atlantic League, the 2018 season will be his second stint. In 2016, Williams took eight at-bats with the league’s Lancaster Barnstormers after leaving the Miami Marlins organization.

“He’s a great player, I love the kid and I’m going to miss him dearly. I’m really happy for him and really proud of him because he deserves this,” manager Zack Pace said. “He did a great job this year and improved all year. He really got better, he really zoned in and got a lot more walks, worked counts. His approach got a lot better as the year went along.”

STOMPERS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT WITH VICTORY IN SAN RAFAEL

Kevin Farley trots home after hitting back-to-back home runs with Daniel Baptista in the seventh inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 9, 2018 in San Rafael, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Despite winning only one of their first five games at Albert Park this season, the Sonoma Stompers offense burst out early Thursday night and an outstanding start from Vijay Patel paved the way to a 8-6 victory for the Stompers over the San Rafael Pacifics.

For the first time this season, Patel pitched through the end of the seventh inning, allowing just two runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out five.

“Me and Mitch [Ho] got on the same page early and just kind of cruised from there,” Patel said. “Defense, offense. These guys show out every single time I’ve pitched, so it’s a lot of fun to be out there.”

The offense gave him early support in big ways over the first four innings. A double from Ho in the second scored Marcus Bradley, then hits from Miles Williams, Kenny Meimerstorf and Kevin Farley drove home two runs in the third.

With Sonoma already up three runs, Williams doubled his team’s lead in the fourth with a three-run home run, his 20th of the season. That home run set the Sonoma Stompers single-season home run record, breaking the previous mark of 19, which had been set by Joel Carranza in 2014.

“In the past few weeks, I might have seen six or seven fastballs,” Williams said. “I was looking for a hanger and he threw a fastball low and away, just kind of put a good swing on it, put a good finish on it. I’m keeping everything as simple as possible.”

Daniel Baptista and Farley connected for back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh, which proved to be the difference in the game. San Rafael tagged Sonoma’s bullpen for four runs over the final two innings to bring the score within two, but ultimately fell to the Stompers 8-6.

Now with four consecutive wins, the Stompers look for their second sweep of the Pacifics in 2018 Friday night, first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

STOMPERS FIND WAY TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS IN EXTRAS AGAIN

Kam Stewart was the walk-off hero, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th in the Sonoma Stompers game against the Napa Silverados, August 8, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers played extra innings for the 10th time in 2018 Wednesday night and for the eighth time this season, emerged victorious, walking off again to top the Napa Silverados 3-2.

The game began as a pitching duel between Napa’s Scott Harkin and Sonoma’s Kenny Mathews. Harkin threw six strong innings with just one earned run allowed, but Mathews was better, throwing seven shutout innings with just four hits, no walks and five strikeouts.

“We established the fastball command early and Mitch [Ho] has got a real good idea about these guys and what I like to throw as well,” Mathews said. “It’s a good recipe for success for us, wee had good command and we’ve got the guys on and off the field, so it’s good stuff, a good day.”

The run support he received was minimal, but enough to keep the Stompers ahead for much of the game.

After Daniel Baptista’s first of two hits in the game, Kevin Farley singled home Kenny Meimerstorf with two outs in the fourth and Meimerstorf blasted his 19th home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the sixth.

While Napa tied the game at two in the ninth, the Stompers rebounded well in the 10th on both sides of the ball. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Ryan Richardson faced two batters and recorded three outs, including a pickoff of a Silverado at second and an inning-ending strikeout for a scoreless frame.

Sonoma loaded the bases with two outs and Kam Stewart drew a walk to end the game, extending his streak of games reaching base to 27.

“I know it’s a big situation, I’m just trying to put something in play, something hard in play,” Stewart said. “But he was a little wild, he’s got some velocity too, so I was just trying to stay in there.”

With the Stompers riding a three-game win streak, they turn their attention to the second-place San Rafael Pacifics, who sit two games back of Sonoma in the Pacific Association standings. First pitch from Albert Park in San Rafael is set for 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

STOMPERS POUND SILVERADOS IN 11-3 ROUTE

Daniel Baptista (44) is greeted by Kenny Meimerstorf (12) after hitting his second home run of the day in the third inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Napa Silverados, August 7, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – Following a close win Sunday afternoon, the Sonoma Stompers’ bats came alive early Tuesday and added insurance late as they topped the Napa Silverados 11-3.

Right-hander Tyler Sharp delivered another spectacular outing in his fifth start of the season. After a leadoff single in the first, Sharp retired the next 19 batters he faced, with five perfect innings between the second and sixth.

“He just looked confident,” catcher Ryan Cooper said. “He trusted all of his stuff and when pitchers are like that, it’s a lot more fun to catch because you have options. They feel a little more confident too and it works out in everyone’s favor.”

While Sharp encountered trouble in the seventh, the bullpen shut the Silverados down quickly, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings to protect his fourth win of the year.

Cooper had his best game so far as a Stomper, collecting his second multi-hit night, but also driving in two runs, both times with two outs to help the offensive cause.

Seven Stompers hitters scored a run, seven recorded hits and five different players drove runs home with Cooper, Marcus Bradley, Kam Stewart and Daniel Baptista each collecting more than one RBI Tuesday night.

Baptista entered the game with four home runs on the season and left the night with six, crushing homers in his first two at-bats to drive in four runs.

“I’m just trying to keep it as simple as possible and put good wood on the ball,” Baptista said. “The only adjustment I’ve made is trying to get my foot down early and then see the pitch as long as possible. In my career, I’ve always been taught it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, you’ve got to finish hard.”

Bradley also had three hits, while Kevin Farley and Rayson Romero each drew three walks and scored two runs. Baptista, who also drew a walk in the game scored three.

Sonoma scored five runs in the first three innings, added two in the sixth and then responded to Napa’s three-run seventh with four unanswered runs in their final two innings at the plate for a comfortable eight-run margin.

The Stompers look for their third sweep of the Silverados in 2018 Wednesday night, with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch.

SONOMA ENDS WEEK WITH WIN OVER MARTINEZ

Kenny Meimerstorf (12) is greeted by manager Zack Pace (24) after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Martinez Clippers, August 5, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif.(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – Back at home for the first game of a three-game homestand, the Sonoma Stompers offense came to life in a 10-9 win over the Martinez Clippers.

Rob DeAngelis and Miles Williams each had two hits, while Kenny Meimerstorf and Daniel Baptista drove in two runs.

Baptista’s two RBI was the first of his three hits on the day and came on a single in a three-run first inning.

Kevin Farley drove Meimerstorf home in the third inning and Meimerstorf saw two come home in the fourth when he reached on a Clipper error.

Even though that error gave Sonoma the lead, Martinez stormed back in the sixth to jump out on top once more, smashing their third homer of the day for a 8-6 lead.

Meimerstorf continued his day with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh, paving the way for a four-run inning. Marcus Bradley singled home Farley, Ryan Cooper drove Baptista home on a groundout for the lead and DeAngelis doubled Bradley home for insurance.

That insurance proved to be critical, as the Clippers scored a run in the eighth, but could not manage any more.

Ethan Gibbons gave the Stompers six innings in his second start of the week, allowing just five earned runs on one walk with six strikeouts.

D.J. Sharabi contributed two innings of one-run relief and Jacob Cox shut the door in the ninth with a scoreless frame for his 18th save of the season, tying the Pacific Association’s single-season record.

After an off-day Monday, the Stompers host the Napa Silverados for games Tuesday and Wednesday, both at 6:05 p.m.

STOMPERS CANNOT KEEP UP WITH PACIFIC OFFENSE, FALL TO SAN RAFAEL

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers dropped their second straight game Saturday for only the fifth time this season, falling to the San Rafael Pacifics in a 13-7 slugfest.

Sonoma stuck in the top half of the first inning when Kam Stewart doubled in Rob DeAngelis, but the Pacifics scored two in the bottom half and held their lead for the remainder of the game.

The Stompers made things interesting in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on a walk and four hits, including home runs from Miles Williams and Kevin Farley.

San Rafael was able to counter Sonoma’s rally with two more runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth and three more runs in the eighth added even more insurance, despite Stewart’s RBI single in the seventh.

DeAngelis, Williams and Stewart combined for eight of the Stompers’ ninee hits, driving in three runs and scoring five runs.

The Stompers are back in action Sunday against the Martinez Clippers at 1:05 p.m. for Italian Heritage Day.

CLIPPERS TOP STOMPERS 7-5 TO SNAP WIN STREAK

(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers fell to the Martinez Clippers Friday night by a score of 7-5, ending their longest win streak of the season at eight games.

Martinez, the last team to beat the Stompers before their win streak began, struck Vijay Patel for 11 hits over the first six innings, however the right-hander limited them to five runs in that time, four of which came in the first two innings.

Patel settled into a groove after the second inning but after experiencing trouble in the seventh inning, Jason Seever entered the game and pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

The Stompers offense tied the score at four in the fifth with Kenny Meimerstorf’s 17th home run of the year, but struggled to connect with the big hit, leaving nine runners on base.

Kevin Farley walked Meimerstorf home in the fourth, Marcus Bradley scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and Kam Stewart scored on an error in the eighth, but Matti Doxter retired all four Stompers he faced at the end of the game to earn a save.

The Stompers conclude their three-game road trip with a game in against the San Rafael Pacifics. Sonoma still leads San Rafael by one game in the standings as both teams lost Friday.

STOMPERS WIN EIGHTH STRAIGHT WITH 10-INNING VICTORY OVER CLIPPERS

Kam Stewart connects to drive in a run in the 10th inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the Martinez Clippers, August 2, 2018 in Martinez, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers played extra innings for a league-leading ninth time this season and for the seventh time in 2018, pulled out the victory in extra frames, a 4-3 score for the team’s eighth straight win.

Kenny Mathews delivered another solid start for the Stompers, pitching six innings with just two runs, one walk and six strikeouts allowed.

While he was in line for the win, the Clipper offense tied the game in the seventh, but scoreless pitching in relief from, Jason Seever, Ryan Richardson and Jacob Cox quieted the Martinez offense in a hurry. The Clippers did not record a hit after the sixth inning and drew only three walks all night long.

Cox picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching scoreless ninth and 10th innings with a strikeout, lowering his ERA to 2.36.

“When I come in for the ninth inning, it’s just like a normal close, fresh inning, do your job,” Cox said. “You go back out, it’s a little tougher, you’ve got runners on base. You just have to trust your guys, don’t try to do too much, defense is there for a reason. Just try to get the ball in play, on the ground, let them make plays. Just trust your guys. That’s a big thing I like about our team, we trust each other a lot.”

Home runs from the team leaders, Miles Williams and Kenny Meimerstorf were two of Sonoma’s first runs of the night. Catcher Ryan Cooper also drove in a run on a groundout, his first RBI as a Stomper.

In the 10th, Kam Stewart sent a fly ball to right field that fell and scored Rob DeAngelis to be the difference in the game.

Looking ahead to Friday against the Clippers, the Stompers look to tie their franchise record win streak of nine games, which was set in 2017 between July 15 and July 25 in 2017. Their current eight-game streak is the second-longest ever for the organization.

SHARP DELIVERS AGAIN AS STOMPERS WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT, ENTER TIE FOR FIRST PLACE

Tyler Sharp delivers in a pitch in the first inning of the Sonoma Stompers game against the San Rafael Pacifics, August 1, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

BOX SCORE

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers did not stop their roll Wednesday night, blanking the San Rafael Pacifics 6-0 for the team’s seventh straight win behind eight shutout innings from Tyler Sharp.

For the third time in his four Stomper starts, Sharp pitched eight innings and through those eight was outstanding, carving through the Pacifics’ order all night long. The right-hander retired the first eight hitters he faced and later nine straight, including 20 of the first 24 San Rafael batters that came to the plate.

Once again, he limited the opposing offense in every aspect, not allowing any runs on just five hits and one walk while striking out 11.

“That’s the goal, to do that everyday,” Sharp said. “Staying in my routine and feeling good every day that helps a lot.”

His ERA with the Stompers is just 0.30 over 29.1 inningss, with 27 strikeouts and six walks. Combining Sharp’s stats from outings with the Napa Silverados and Stompers, the South Lake Tahoe native leads the Pacific Association in ERA at 2.19.

Sharp’s batterymate Wednesday was the newest Sonoma Stomper, Ryan Cooper. Cooper was teammates with him in Napa and reciever for Sharp’s best start with the Silverados.

“We started clicking right in the pregame,” Cooper said. “Talked about how we’re going to go after the guys, stuck with it today and it looked like it worked out pretty well. It was a lot of fun.”

Cooper did reach base twice and scored a run but did not get a hit in his first start in Sonoma. Five Stompers, however, did record hits in the shutout victory. Rob DeAngelis went 3-5 and Kenny Meimerstorf went 2-4 with two runs batted in.

For the first six innings, Sonoma held on to a 2-0 lead thanks to a first inning single from Meimerstorf that scored Miles Williams and a passed ball in the fourth that scored Cooper.

Four walks and two hits in the seventh added insurance and three more hits in the eighth scored Marcus Bradley, more than enough cushion in the 6-0 win.

The shutout victory was the Stompers’ second in 2018, both having come in the previous eight days. It was also the first time the Pacifics had been shutout this season.

Now, the Stompers sit atop the Pacific Association standings, nine games ahead of the Vallejo Admirals and tied with San Rafael at 37-17. They’ve won seven straight, 9 of their last 10 and 20 of their last 24 games.

With momentum on their side, the navy and orange travel to Martinez for the final time this season for games Thursday and Friday against a Clippers team in the midst of their best stretch of 2018. First pitch for both games is at 6:30 p.m. from Joe DiMaggio Field at Waterfront Park.

THIRD STRAIGHT WALK-OFF BRINGS STOMPERS ONE GAME WITHIN FIRST

Eddie Mora-Loera celebrates with his teammates after the Sonoma Stompers’ walk-off win in their game against the San Rafael Pacifics, July 31, 2018 in Sonoma, Calif. (James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)

SONOMA, Calif. – For the third straight game, the Sonoma Stompers walked off on their opponents, the victim Tuesday being the San Rafael Pacifics in a 7-6 battle in 10 innings.

The Stompers roared out to an early lead with three home runs helping plate five runs over the first four innings.

Rob DeAngelis had the first round-tripper, a two-run shot in the first inning that scored Marcus Bradley, his second homer of the year.

Celebrating his 28th birthday, Daniel Baptista connected for a solo shot, his fourth home run of the year in the fourth inning and Mitchell Ho added his eighth of 2018, scoring Kevin Farley and giving the Stompers a 5-1 lead.

Both teams scored in the fifth and Baptista drove in his second run of the game to keep the Stompers ahead but San Rafael tied the score in the seventh inning, eventually forcing extra innings.

While the Pacifics could not score in the ninth or 10th, thanks to two shutout innings from Jacob Cox, the Stompers won in the bottom of the 10th when Eddie Mora-Loera pinch hit with the bases loaded, reaching on a fielder’s choice that scored Kenny Meimerstorf and won the game.

“Everyone was grinding hard today,” Mora-Loera said. “They asked me to come in and try and get the job. With baseball being the way it is, sometimes it is hit hard and caught, sometimes you don’t hit it hard and win the game.”

Tuesday’s contest was the Stompers’ eighth extra-inning affair of the season and eighth walk-off win of the year, representing almost half of the team’s home wins in 2018.

San Rafael and Sonoma play each other again Wednesday with the Stompers just one game back of the first-place Pacifics. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.