Forever a Stomper: Max Handron’s baseball legacy thrives through Sonoma

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

After three seasons with the Stompers and countless more across Northern California, Max Handron’s final summer in Sonoma before moving to Australia was a true homecoming. Photos Courtesy of Max Handron. Collage by Jordan Kimball.

Max Handron knew an operating room in San Francisco, a team of surgeons and months of recovery awaited him the next morning. His quad was completely torn. The plan was to rest, but instead, Handron grabbed his glove.

It was June 30, 2022, and Handron was swinging a hot bat entering his final game before hitting the sidelines. The Stompers were set to face the Lincoln Potters, who sat in third place in the CCL North; Sonoma ranked last. Handron was determined to give his team a fighting chance at making the playoffs.

So instead of resting for surgery, he made the nearly three-hour drive to McBean Stadium for the Stompers’ 6:37 p.m. matchup with the Potters. Without a second thought, manager Zack Pace penciled Handron into the three-hole, where he recorded one hit in five at-bats.

When the final out was recorded at 9:06 p.m., Handron drove home, catching only a few hours of sleep before leaving for San Francisco at dawn for his 8 a.m. surgery.

“It felt like yet another blow. It was one more obstacle. But he was ready for it,” Handron’s father, Mark, said. “There was such mental discipline and strength for him.”

That game in Lincoln was one of many defining moments in Handron’s three-year career with the Stompers. While the 2025 season marked his final summer with the team and at Arnold Field, it’s a place that became a second home. 

“It’s been incredible to have the (Stompers) as a hometown resource and team to come back to every year,” Handron said. “It’s a really comfortable spot for me.”

“It’s been incredible to have the (Stompers) as a hometown resource and team to come back to every year.””

— Max Handron, Stompers Infielder

In his Glen Ellen cul-de-sac, bursting with kids a few years older, Handron just tried to keep up. But once the wiffle ball gear came out, all eyes turned his way. Running around in his flip-flops, 4-year-old Handron’s love for baseball was born. Standing in the left-handed batter’s box, he swung like he’d been practicing for years, Mark said.

While he started on the pitch, Handron’s play on the diamond took center stage. He played T-ball at age 6, spending hours at the formerly known Paul’s Field.

After transitioning from Sonoma Valley Little League to Sonoma’s Babe Ruth League, Handron’s passion for baseball reached its peak. He was 13, playing up with his 15-year-old brother, Liam. With Handron’s short frame and minimal power, the opposing outfield shifted inward; He struck a ball far over their heads, he said. That moment not only solidified Handron’s passion for the game but also became the day Liam chose to walk away.

“It became pretty clear that, No. 1, he knew he had to keep up, but No. 2, he was a damn good baseball player, and he was better than everyone else,” Mark said of Handron.

On Arnold Field for Babe Ruth baseball and eventually Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity squad during his sophomore year, Handron became a mainstay in the infield.

As one of the Dragons’ youngest players, he often learned from his teammates’ and coaches’ examples, allowing his performances to do the talking. At one point during his first year with the squad, he rode a 13-game hit streak.

On April 14, 2017, in a contest with Rancho Cotate, there were two outs in the bottom of the ninth. A runner straddled third base with Handron at the dish. There was no time for doubt. Handron rifled a ground ball up the middle and into the outfield. The Arnold Field crowd erupted as two runners crossed home. 

“He was always the kid that was clutch for his team. His best moments are when there’s a full count, tons of pressure, bottom of the ninth. He found the gap and just got it done,” Mark said.

After reaching the North Coast Section playoffs in his junior and senior seasons, Handron wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats. His only offers were from Santa Rosa Junior College and Menlo College, though, and the then-5-foot-10, 170-pound infielder dreamed of playing Division I baseball.

At the College of the Holy Cross, Handron’s great-grandfather, Clement J. Handron, pitched to Lou Gehrig when he dug in for Columbia. As Clement forged a semi-professional career with the Albany Senators in 1927, Handron aspired to follow in his footsteps.

With Handron’s sister, Emma, at St. Bonaventure, he decided to join her and walk on to its baseball team. In his lone year with the Bonnies, though, Handron received just two at-bats off the bench in three games.

While he enjoyed his time in New York, he was looking for more competitive baseball. Handron knew what he was capable of, deciding to return home and play for Santa Rosa Junior College to develop and work his way back to a D-I program. His first step in the move was speaking with Bear Cubs manager Damon Neidlinger.

“You’re gonna get a sh*t ton of reps. You’re going to develop. But nothing will be given to you. Once you get here, you prove you can play in my lineup,” Neidlinger said in his first conversation with Handron.

Max Handron takes a swing during an at-bat at Santa Rosa Junior College. Just 30 minutes away from Arnold Field, Handron felt at home during his two seasons with the Bear Cubs, finishing with a .306 batting average. Courtesy of Max Handron

He wasn’t looking for a spot, but instead, an opportunity. Neidlinger’s mentality and instilled mindset in Handron unleashed his potential. Transitioning from D-I to junior college allowed him to refine his mechanics. He built power working with Neidlinger and Joey Gomes — a former Minor League Baseball player. The proof was in the performance.

In a shortened 2021 season, Handron posted a .315 batting average across 13 games. In the Big 8 Bash that year — an annual showcase among the teams of the Big 8 Conference — Handron drew California, Berkeley manager Mike Neu’s attention.

Facing 93-mile-per-hour fastballs from a potential MLB Draft pick, Handron delivered bullet after bullet up the middle, Neidlinger said. When Neu approached Neidlinger after the event concluded, the praise came naturally.

“Max did the work himself. He wants the truth. Our program has always been based on the fact there are no givens to anybody,” Neidlinger said. “Max never had a problem with that and actually excelled in that environment.”

Handron’s second season with SRJC saw him perform at an even higher level. He hit .303 in 34 games, while driving in 21 runs, propelling the Bear Cubs to the first round of the CCCAA Northern Regional.

That’s when Handron tore his quad. The pain was intense, but he took just 10 days off after being told it was a pulled muscle. Through the remainder of that season, Handron hobbled from shortstop to second base. Yet he refused to quit. 

“If he knew how bad that (injury was), that is some hero sh*t,” Neidlinger said. “For him to just keep playing shows a lot about who Max is.”

Handron’s entire first fall at Cal consisted of physical therapy and recovery. Alongside Tyler Stasiowski, his roommate and a teammate from SRJC, Handron still breathed baseball. 

Stasiowski, a Sebastopol native, also worked from SRJC to Cal. He’d pitch to Handron, helping him build strength that resulted in 42 starts at second and third base in his first season with the Golden Bears.

Max Handron prepares to make a play for the Stompers in 2024. The third baseman finished the season hitting .421 with a .950 OPS through five games.

During the campaign, they traveled south to play UCLA for a three-game set. In the series, the infielder hit .375 (6-for-16) with four home runs and eight RBIs.

“He just walks in there, and you instantly know he’s hitting a home run,” Stasiowski said of that weekend. “He just shows up in the big moments.”

In Handron’s next two years in Berkeley, he continued to produce. On May 15, in his second-to-last collegiate series, Boston College traveled west for an Atlantic Coast Conference contest with the Golden Bears. BC jumped out to an early 3-2 lead, which eventually grew to 6-4 in the ninth inning. But in the bottom half, Jacob French drove in two runs with a home run.

Then, after PJ Moutzouridis singled up the middle, Handron stepped to the plate. Down 0-1 in the count, he lifted a ball deep to right field. Eagles outfielder Jack Toomey raced it to the warning track but could only watch as it sailed well over the fence.

As Handron’s Cal career was capped by that moment, his time on the diamond also looked to be over. Yet he had one last chance to play for the Stompers and wouldn’t let it pass up.

Handron’s return to Sonoma was nothing short of storybook. He grew up there, played two seasons just 30 minutes away at SRJC and was about an hour south at Cal. This was his homecoming.

And he didn’t disappoint. Over 19 games, Handron batted .439 with a team-high six home runs.

“That’s the guy I want up. He’s our best hitter and a veteran guy for a reason,” Pace said. “I have all the confidence in the world he’ll get the job done.”

As the Stompers fell to the Conejo Oaks in the CCL Championship, Handron’s time in orange and blue came to an end. But his journey is far from over. He’s set to head to Melbourne, Australia, to chase his professional dreams. Though he’s moving on, the mark Handron left on the Stompers — and the mark they left on him — will endure.

“Sonoma is my home, and the Sonoma Stompers are my home,” Handron said. “At the end of the day, there’s no place like home.”

Analyzing the numbers behind the Stompers’ 2025 campaign

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

The Stompers led the California Collegiate League with 282 runs, powering their way to a CCL North title, 32 wins and their first-ever CCL Championship appearance.

Gabriel Tapia took two strikes from Oaks reliever Matthew Queen. He then whiffed at Queen’s final offering. Conejo stormed the mound. Sonoma watched in defeat. The Stompers quickly raced out to right field, where manager Zack Pace often holds his postgame meetings. As soon as it was over, the team posed for pictures. Smiles all around.

It’s no secret second-place often stings the most, but for Sonoma, it signaled a step in the right direction. The Stompers were an underdog all season. The Merchants put up a fight, and with Sonoma’s immense roster turnover, the Blues and Crawdads had a chance to capitalize on the lack of continuity and make a push for the top spot. But the Stompers stood tall.

For nearly two months, Sonoma sat atop the CCL North. Nic Sebastiani’s two-run walk-off home run in the CCL North title game powered the Stompers to their first-ever CCL Championship. The Oaks were a challenge, but for eight innings in Game 1, Sonoma competed. It led 9-4, and while its collapse in the ninth may have foreshadowed Saturday’s elimination game, the Stompers’ lows were only footnotes in an otherwise standout season.

Here are the numbers that defined Sonoma’s (32-19, 25-15 CCL) 2025 campaign:

282 runs

In 2024, the Stompers were in a nearly identical spot as this year. They were one of the three teams that qualified for the CCL playoffs and, after defeating SLO in the divisional semifinals, faced Walnut Creek in the title game. Sound familiar? Yet what limited Sonoma from making its mark was its inability to score runs.

This time around, the Stompers rewrote the narrative; Offensive production was the least of their worries. Across its 40 games, Sonoma scored 282 runs, the highest mark in the CCL. It’s a 101-run increase from 2024, and ultimately, it propelled the Stompers toward stronger results. They averaged 7.05 runs per game and plated seven-plus runs 18 times.

Whether by small or large margins, Sonoma scored runs when needed. In early June, its offense jump-started by scoring 14 runs in two straight games against the Seagulls. It had an 18-run showing a month later, again against San Francisco, and defeated the Legends in a 17-13 four-hour battle. The Stompers’ bats caught fire on multiple occasions, and without those bursts, their success wouldn’t have been possible.

23 home runs

Pace has emphasized keeping the line moving, regularly saying Sonoma is a small-ball organization. The statistics say otherwise. When the regular season wrapped up, the Stompers had hit a CCL-best 23 home runs. Their most significant one came against the Crawdads in the playoffs, though, their 24th and final homer of the season.

Sebastiani entered the batter’s box with composure. Pace and his staff had already relayed the message to him to swing away, and that was all he needed. In the 10th inning, with Max Handron on second base down one run, Sebastiani lifted a hanging curveball over the left-field fence. Arnold Field erupted, and Sonoma’s dugout streamed onto the field.

Sebastiani’s long ball may have been the most memorable, but there were lots of contributors to the power surge. Leading the way was two-spot athlete Brady Shannon. His 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame spurred his five home runs ahead of his departure following the CCL Showcase Game. Taking his place on the leaderboard was Handron, who ended the season with a team-high six home runs and a team-best .439 batting average. Sebastiani had five, Paul Lizzul hit three and four other players tallied at least one.

109 hit-by-pitches

The phrase “free passes” was often repeated between Pace and his staff. Sonoma’s margins in most categories were slim, but hit-by-pitches stood out clearly. The Stompers finished with 109 hit-by-pitches, well ahead of the Merchants, who ranked second with 78.

Trent Keys, who was hit a league-high 18 times, also scored a team-high 30 runs. Anthony Scheppler followed with 13 hit-by-pitches, while Sebastiani and Colton Boardman were each plunked 11 times. In total, 21 of Sonoma’s 27 players were hit at least once over the season. Those free passes played a key role in boosting the Stompers’ offense.

3.30 earned run average

On the mound, the Stompers’ arms were occasionally shaky, but their 3.30 ERA still ranked second in the CCL. Their bullpen found common ground with the starters, as down the stretch, Pace was able to rely on two or three arms per game instead of burning through four or five.

Devon Laguinto paced Sonoma’s rotation. The Delta College transfer led the team with 32.2 innings pitched, showcasing his dominance with a complete game shutout against the Legends on July 1 — the CCL’s only complete game this season.

In terms of ERA, Jayden Harper led starters at 0.50 through four outings. Shawn McBroom — who opened Wednesday’s semifinal matchup with the Crawdads — displayed a 2.12 ERA while Harun Pelja’s, Nick Santivanez’s and David Howard’s all sat below four.

Out of the bullpen, flamethrower Luke Duncan completed all eight of his outings without allowing an earned run. Justin Jones posted a 0.60 ERA, and Heeryun Han finished at 1.80. Three additional Stompers relievers ended the season with ERAs under 3.00, giving Sonoma steady support in high-pressure innings.

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

Persistence. Gritty. Resilient. Relentless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Persistence. Gritty. Resilient. Relentless.

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

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then, all at once, everything came crashing down.

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

How’d the Oaks get here?

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

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

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

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

Number to know: 65

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

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

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

Sonoma’s player to watch: Nic Sebastiani

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

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

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

Conejo’s player to watch: Tyler Holley

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

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

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

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

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

Handron crossed home. Then came the hometown kid.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

Season series

Crawdads won 5-4.

Last time they played…

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

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

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

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

Number to know: 241

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

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

Sonoma’s player to watch: Quinn Medin

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

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

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

Walnut Creek’s player to watch: Joey Donnelly

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

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

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

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

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The room was split.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Amber Brown, Jeff Garrison's Stepdaughter

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

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

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

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

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

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Medin sparks Stompers’ 18-2 thrashing of Philippines

By Jordan Kimball, Beat Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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