Previewing the week ahead

Story written by Stompers Intern Brett Ghisletta

The Sonoma Stompers are coming off of a five game week in which they won two of the contests and lost three. Their most recent game was an 11-10 loss against the Solano Mudcats. In yet another offensively dominated game, the Stompers failed to capitalize, as they led 10-8 in the bottom of the ninth and lost control of the lead late.

Max Handron and Noah Rabin have been showing up offensively for the Stompers in the first three weeks of play, as they hold .436 and .357 batting averages and a combined 27 hits. 

The Stompers have five more games this upcoming week, with the final four being at home. Their only road game will take place on Tuesday, in which the Stompers will head to Healdsburg to take on the reigning CCL champion Prune Packers. The Stompers and Packers have faced off once so far this season, in an electric game which saw 26 total runs and a 14-12 Healdsburg victory. They currently hold a 7-2 league record which leads the CCL.

Wednesday night, the Stompers will begin their four game home stand against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. The Crawdads are 3-4 in league play but 6-5 overall, with four players batting over .300 and 100 total hits as a team. The Crawdads defeated the Stompers in their only contest so far this season.

The Orange County Riptide from the CCL South Division head north to take on the Stompers on both Thursday and Saturday, these two teams being at the bottom of their respective divisions. The Riptide hope to earn their first win in over a week, as they have currently lost four in a row. Saturday is Autism Awareness Night at the ballpark. It is presented by Sweetwater Spectrum! Support a great cause and support the Stompers as they take on the Orange County Riptide! 

The Stompers will host another CCL South team, as the Arroyo Seco Saints will make the trip to wine country for a Friday night game. The Stompers pitching staff will have their hands full, as the Saints currently have six players batting over .300 and their plate discipline has led to 47 walks. The Saints sit in second to last place (5th) in the CCL South Division. 

Purchase your tickets today for the home stand! See your Stompers in action at the ballpark or tune into Sonoma TV Comcast Channel 27 or the Stompers YouTube page.

Stompers grab good win over Lincoln Potters

Story written by Stompers Intern Sam Basich 

SONOMA, CA 

Last night, the Lincoln Potters (10-5) traveled for a second time in a one week span to Arnold Field to face the Sonoma Stompers (4-5).

The Stompers got off to what looked to be a very lackluster start, as pitcher Orlando Leon surrendered a lead off homer to Potter left fielder JT Waldon. Leon was able to get out of the inning, keeping the Potters to one.

Luckily, the Stompers were able to score a run of their own to even the score, as after Alex Gouveia reached on an error, it would eventually place him at third base for the Stomper designated hitter, Noah Rabin. Rabin wouldn’t have to do any work to get the run across though, as Goveia took matters into his own hands, stealing home plate on a passed ball. 

The next couple of innings were spotlighted by a strikeout display by both Stomper starter, Orlando Leon, and Potter starter, Bryan Green. Both pitchers would eventually leave the game with six strikeouts a piece respectively, Leon doing this in just three innings of play, despite giving up the lead off bomb. 

After leaving two stranded in the third, the Stompers would take the lead and never look back. A series of walks would leave the bases loaded for Alex Goveia, when this time, he wouldn’t have to do any dirty work. Green walked a run home that would leave the Stompers with a 2-1 lead following the Max Handron strikeout which left the bases loaded to end the inning. 

The Potters, looking to nod the game up at two, pinch-hitted Chase Weissenborn, who would go on to double to left-center only to get left hanging on base after a three strikeout inning by Stomper pitcher, Mason Hilton. 

The theme of the game, similar to last week, would become clear in the sixth inning, as two runners would be left stranded yet again for the Stompers.

However, this narrative failed to hold true for long, with the Stompers getting nice and loose during the seventh inning stretch to break the game wide open. The rally would begin with a Max Handron walk, followed up by back-to-back singles by Noah Rabin and Tucker Mcenroe to load the bases for Jack Gallagher with nobody out. Gallagher would bring the first run in with a sacrifice fly, sending runners to second and third for the third baseman Mikey Bell. Yet another passed ball would score Rabin, and Bell would finish the job with a base hit to bring across McEnroe, making it a 5-1 Stomper lead. The damage would be done despite a single by Conner Blough due to base running complications, leaving three Stompers stranded for a second time in the ballgame.

Another promising Potter lead off double, this time off the bat of  Brandon Motherall, would go awry, as back-to-back strikeouts by Dan Pruitt and Reece Ragitz would leave another run on the base paths for the Potters. 

The Stompers would capitalize on their base runners however, bringing across another insurance run in the form of Mikey Bell’s second rbi single after two singles to start the inning by Max Handron and Noah Rabin. This would make it a 6-1 ballgame heading into the final half-inning of play.

The Potters would do everything in their power to muster a comeback, with two on and nobody out after two singles to start the inning. Chase Weissenbourn, who came in to pinch hit earlier in the game, tripled to right-center, making the score 6-3. The Potters would strike once more to scare Stomper fans out of their seats on Pride night at Arnold Field, as Brandon Motherall would add another hit to his night as well as an RBI. The game ended in a 6-4 final, with pitcher Christian Mcinerney pitching the final 3 innings and racking up a few strikeouts himself.

Six runs on six hits for the Stompers would deliver them their second CCL win, and bring their overall record to an even 5-5. 

Be sure to tune in tomorrow, when these two teams do the same thing on a different day, this time at McBean stadium in Lincoln. The Stompers will look to take a 3-1 series lead over the Potters for the season. Broadcast will be on the Stomper radio network.

Stompers drop a non-league game to the West Coast Kings

Story written by Stompers intern Isaac Sullivan

An inconsistent offense partnered with a pair of errors and several wild pitches resulted in an 11-5 loss to the West Coast Kings. 

The Stompers were able to build an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after Rees Kent singled in the pair of runs. In the second inning, Connor Blough hit a moonshot to extend the Stompers lead to 3-0.

Stompers pitchers Garrett James and Hayden Crews each pitched two innings, and through the first four frames, they allowed a total of one hit. Daniel Morehead allowed the Kings to score their first runs of the game in the sixth inning, as the Stompers lead was now 3-2.

The lead remained intact until a disastrous eighth inning for the Stompers occurred. A solo shot from the Kings tied the game at three. A combination of errors, a hit batter, and several walks allowed the Kings to run around the bases. After the top of the eighth was finally over, the Stompers found themselves down 8-3. 

The Stompers, however, refused to sit back without a fight as Davis Cop led the bottom of the eighth with a single. After two wild pitches, Cop found himself at third base, and Colton Lomanto’s ground out cut the deficit to 8-4. 

The Kings continued to be aggressive as they racked up single after single, and after the top of the final frame, the Kings pushed their lead to 11-4.

The Stompers would respond with one more run, but the Kings walked away with a commanding 11-5 victory. 

The Stompers will be back for tonight's game against the Lincoln Potters at 6:05pm.

Stompers earn first CCL win to snap four game slide

LINCOLN, CA

The Sonoma Stompers snapped their four game losing streak Wednesday night with an 8-4 win over the Lincoln Potters at McBean Stadium. 

Three runs in the top of the fourth inning proved to be the difference in the game. Max Handron walked to lead off the inning, then Noah Rabin singled. Tucker McEnroe singled home Handron to tie the game at one apiece.

Davis Cop then singled home Rabin to give the Stompers a 2-1 lead. Jack Gallagher then drove in his first run of the season with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 3-1. 

Stompers got a gutsy outing out of starting pitcher Daniel Smith. He went 3.2 innings allowing four hits, walked one and struck out seven. He gave way to Noah Larkin who got out of the inning on one pitch as the Potters ran into an out at home. 

The game would stay at 3-1 until the top of the 7th inning. Jackson Castillo began the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Potters’ catcher Troy Shields. After Alex Gouveia walked, Handron grounded into a double play, but it scored Castillo to extend the lead to 4-1. 

The Stompers had the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the eighth, but that changed when Mikey Bell grounded into a 5-2-3 double play. Back-to-back walks from Connor Blough and Castillo extended the lead to 5-1. A two-run single from Gouveia gave the Stompers much needed breathing room at 7-1. Handron added on with an RBI single of his own to make it a seven run lead at 8-1.

Larkin would get the win, tossing a scoreless inning out of the pen, recording a strikeout along the way. Brady Routon went two innings, striking out three and walking one batter.

New signee Ian Sullivan would record the final three outs in the ninth while giving up a run and striking out a batter.

The Stompers return home Thursday night, hosting the West Coast Kings at 6:05pm.

Stompers lose a lead late to drop fourth straight game

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers dropped their fourth straight game, losing a late lead to the Walnut Creek Crawdads, falling 4-3.

The Stompers held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the 7th inning, With one out, Kavares Tears homered to cut the lead to 3-2. A double and an error, the third of which by the Stompers on the day, brought home the tying run. Two singles later, the Crawdads had the lead thanks to an RBI poke by Brian Duroff. 

The Crawdads jumped out in front in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Brome singled with two out and then advanced to second on an error after an error by center fielder Jackson Castillo. Sammy Diaz singled him home on the next pitch to put Walnut Creek up 1-0. 

Following the bottom of the first, Stompers starting pitcher Tyler Hellums retired the next seven in a row. After allowing a leadoff single in the fourth, he induced a 3-6 double play ball to get him through four innings of one run, three hit ball.

Stomper bats had been struggling again up until the fifth inning. A leadoff single by Mikey Bell and a walk by Castillo put runners on first and second with nobody out. After Alex Gouiveia struck out, Max Handron homered over the centerfield wall for a three-run shot to give the Stompers a 3-1 lead.

Christian McInerney threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to hold the Stompers lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Noah Larkin made his first appearance of the season, tossing a 1-2-3 frame.

The Stompers got the leadoff runner on in the top of the ninth, but a bunt by Connor Blough was popped up and caught by the Crawdad catcher Diaz and then doubled off McEnroe on first, who had singled to begin the frame. Adrese Azzani earned the save for the Crawdads.
The Stompers will look to end their four game slide in Lincoln tomorrow night at 6:35pm. The game will be broadcast on the Sonoma Stomper radio network.

Stompers offense continues to struggle in loss to Mudcats

The Stompers offense continued to struggle Sunday afternoon in a loss to the Solano Mudcats, 2-1.

Orlando Leon pitched six fantastic innings on the mound for the Stompers. He ran into trouble in the sixth but got a strikeout of Trey Topping. However, a throwing error by Colton Lomanto on the dropped third strike kept the inning alive. Ryan O’Neil was hit by a pitch and Caleb Lammle singled home two runs to give the Mudcats a 2-0 advantage.

Caleb Davis was brilliant for Solano on Sunday afternoon. He threw seven shutout innings, holding the Stompers to just five hits and walking just two batters in the win. The Stompers had runners on base in the second, third and fourth innings against Davis and had nothing to show for it.

The Stompers got on the board in the top of the eighth. After a one-out double by pinch-hitter Jack Gallagher, Alex Gouviea tripled him home to make it 2-1. However, the Stompers could not bring hom the tying run as Jacob Weiss struck out and Mikey Bell grounded out to end the frame.

Noah Rabin led off the top of the ninth with a double off Jacob Anderson, but again, the Stompers could not bring him him as three straight Stompers went down to end the game.

The Stompers hope to end the three-game slide on Tuesday when they head to Danville to take on the Walnut Creek Crawdads.

Stompers struggle offensively in loss to Potters

Story written by Stompers Intern Sam Basich

SONOMA, CA

Today, the Lincoln Potters (8-1) traveled to Sonoma to take on the Sonoma Stompers (3-1).

The game began with a hint of optimism for the Stompers, with pitcher Zach Garcia striking out two and sending the potters back to the dugout with nothing to write home about. On the offensive side, things were off to a hot start, as center fielder Jackson Castillo singled followed by a one out walk by second baseman Max Handron which ultimately led to runners on second and third with two outs. However, a fly out by Mikey Bell would leave two Stompers stranded. 

The second inning was where the Potters really took control, when first baseman JT Waldon walloped a two run homer after a single by third baseman Trey Furrey. Looking to really open the game wide open, Potter catcher Matt Lee hit a deep double to right center, but was left stranded on base along with another Potter base runner to end the inning.

The next two innings rolled along quietly for the Stompers, but not for the Potters, as a double by Jeffrey David doubled the Potters lead making it a 4-0 ballgame. Through four, the Stompers would trail 5-0, as another run was tacked on via a double by Trevor Tishenkel gracing the outstretched glove of Stomper right fielder Dakota Duffalo.

The game was highlighted by six innings of fantastic pitching by Anthony Perez, striking out six batters and allowing only three hits with two walks. 

The final run of the game would come in the form of the first of two errors by Stomper shortstop Mikey Bell. The Stompers showed defensive resilience despite the rough inning, getting out of a two-runner situation and allowing only one more hit for the remainder of the game.

Reliever Aidan Lombardi supplied another great outing for the Stompers, striking out three batters with one hit allowed over two innings following his fantastic two inning outing Friday night against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. 

Despite no runs on the board, Max Handron continued hitting well for the Stompers, adding a hit to his tremendous .450 average to start the season. Other hits for the Stompers came from Dakota Duffalo, Jackson Castillo, and Jacob Weiss. 

A tough offensive game for the Stompers with multiple runners left in scoring position, accompanied by a flurry of walks, including six by pitcher Eric Woodrow, made it a tough climb back into the ballgame, one which the stompers were unable to muster. The final score was 6-0 in favor of the Potters.

The Stompers will take the trip to Fairfield tomorrow to face the Solano Mudcats for the first time of the season, while the Potters head back home to rest up until Tuesday when they face the Gold Sox for a fourth time this season. 

Stompers fall to Prune Packers in offensive showcase

Story written by Stompers intern Ryan Giacomini

Sonoma, CA

Today, the Healdsburg Prune Packers (1-1) traveled to Sonoma to take on the Sonoma Stompers (3-1). 

Both teams started early as the Stompers scored 7 runs in the bottom of the first including a 3-run home run from left fielder Tucker McEnroe. The Packers would respond instantly in the top of the second and score 7 of their own. Left fielder Jared Sundstrom would hit a three-run home run of his own in the rally to tie it up 7-7 after just two innings.

The Packers would tally on two more runs, one in the third and one in the fourth. The run in the fourth would come from another Sundstrom homerun, but this time a solo shot. After 4, the score was 9-7 in the Packers favor and it would remain that way until the sixth inning. 

From there, both teams would add three to their score in the sixth inning making it a 12-10 ball game. Third baseman Mikey Bell would drive in a run on a single for the Stompers while right fielder Braydon Runion would hit a three-run home run for the Packers. 

In the top of the ninth, the Packers would tack on two more making it a 4 run game and the Stompers have only three outs to respond. In the bottom of the ninth, the Stompers would score two runs, both while second baseman Max Handron was at the plate but in the end would fall short.

The Stompers will host the Lincoln Potters tomorrow at Arnold Field while the Prune Packers will host the San Francisco Seals at Recreation Park.

Stompers open up CCL play tonight

Story written by Stompers Intern Isaac Sullivan

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers are coming off a 3-0 opening homestand this past week, striving to maintain their winning ways. Their most recent win was a commanding 7-0 win against the Petaluma Leghorns. The Stompers hammered their way to 13 hits. Their early offensive onslaught provided them with a 6-0 cushion, which they would never relinquish after just three innings. The win perfectly capped off a successful opening week.

Led by Max Handron with his .636 batting average, the Stompers were able to hit their way to a grand total of 20 runs through three games. The pitching side has also come out strong, as they have produced 40 strikeouts resulting in only two runs allowed so far. A balanced offense and defense has allowed the Stompers to achieve an impressive +18 run differential.

Starting tonight, the Stompers will begin CCL competition, when they host three more games at Arnold Field though Saturday. Sunday, they will play their first road game of the season.

Tonight, the Stompers face the Walnut Creek Crawdads, who finished their summer season last year with a record of 22-23. The pitching staff of the Stompers will be put to the test against the Crawdads as seven of their players finished last season with a .300 batting average or better.

Friday night, the Stompers will face the defending CCL Champion Healdsburg Prune Packers. The Packers open their season tonight against the Solano Mudcats after concluding last summer’s dominating season represented by a 45-7 record. The Stompers’ batters will have their hands full facing a pitching staff that frustrated and struck out 345 batters last year.

Saturday night, the Stompers will face the scorching Lincoln Potters, who are 7-1 on the season. With two home runs and two doubles on the season, the Stompers will have to be cautious when pitching to Dan Pruitt, who has also drawn nine walks.        

In their first road game of this season, the Stompers will travel to face the Solano Mudcats on Sunday. The Mudcats lost their opener 10-5, and are trying to move on from a disappointing 8-30 record last season that ended on a nine-game losing streak. They are 1-3 on the campaign to this point, falling 19-3 to the Walnut Creek Crawdads last night in their CCL opener.

After a few days off, with time to practice, the Stompers still hope to be undefeated at the end of this weekend. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s games will be on Sonoma TV Comcast Channel 27 and the Sonoma Sompers YouTube page. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on the Sonoma Stompers radio network, with first pitch at 1:00pm.

Stompers win third straight with hitting outburst

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers had an offensive outburst in the first three innings leading to their third straight win to open the 2022 season over the Petaluma Leghorns, 7-0. 

The first three Stompers reached to bring in a run thanks to Max Handron. He would go 4-5 to raise his season batting average to .636. Handon would come around to score on Connor Charpiot’s RBI single to give the Stompers a 2-0 lead.

Colton Lomanto was hit by a pitch in the second and would score on Castillo’s RBI double. Four pitches later, Handron singled him home to double the Stomper lead to 4-0.

In the third, there were more Stomper runs. Mikey Bell singled to start the rally, then stole second. Charpiot then singled him home to make it 5-0.

Two batters later, Christian Reynolds singled to score Charpiot and the Stompers were rolling early on, leading 6-0. 

After the three inning outburst, Stomper hitting was quelled thanks to the fantastic performance of Jake McCoy out of the bullpen for the Leghorns. He went four innings allowing just two hits, one run, walked one and struck out seven.

The one run McCoy did surrender was in the sixth when Bell doubled home Handron, who almost hit the ball out of the ballpark, to extend the lead to 7-0. 

The pitching was once again dominant for the navy and orange. Orlando Leon started and was fantastic. He went four innings allowing just one hit, one walk and struck out four. Eric Woodrow relieved him, going two innings and striking out four.

Charpiot ran into trouble but danced out of it through his two innings of work. In the eighth, he struck out the first batter he faced but he reached on a dropped third strike. Back to back walks loaded the bases. Charpiot would then strike out the side for a four strikeout inning.

Bell recorded the final two outs after walking a pair of batters.

The Stompers close out the weekend hosting the Menlo Park Legends Sunday night at 7:05pm at Arnold Field.