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

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

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

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

Destin Allen-Fox delivers a pitch in a recent outing

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

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

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

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

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

The Transfer Process: A Stompers Perspective

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Game Times Due to Heat Warnings

Temperatures are expected to rise into the 100s this week, so there will be some changes to Sonoma Stompers’ game times this week to avoid such high heat. Today, Tuesday July 2nd, will now have first pitch at 7pm, with gates opening at 6:30pm. It will be the same for Wednesday July 3rd, first pitch is now set for 7pm. However, on July 4th game time will remain at 5:10pm because of the Sonoma firework show and other 4th of July festivities. Friday and Saturday games (July 5th and 6th) will also be moved back to the 7pm start time, with gates opening at 6:30pm. We plan to be back to normal on Sunday July 7th however, with first pitch scheduled at 6:05pm.

With these new, and cooler, start times make sure to come and support, as this is a big week of games for the Stompers! The organization and the players greatly appreciate the fan support, and love the energy that has been brought to Arnold Field, so let’s keep it going through the heat!

New Game Times (All Home):

Tuesday, July 2nd vs Walnut Creek Crawdads @7:00 pm

Wednesday, July 3rd vs Menlo Park Legends @7:00 pm

Thursday, July 4th vs San Francisco Seagulls @5:10 pm

Friday, July 5th vs Walnut Creek Crawdads @7:00 pm

Saturday, July 6th vs Menlo Park Legends @7:00 pm

Sunday, July 7th vs Petaluma Express @6:05 pm

Up and Down Week for Stompers Sets Up Crucial Stretch of CCL Play

Despite the struggling bats, the Sonoma Stompers were able to put together a three win, two loss week (2-2 in CCL Play). Games began Tuesday in San Luis Obispo with the second half of the four game series, where the Stomps split with a win and a loss against the Blues. After a Thursday break, Sonoma returned to Arnold Field, winning two close ones. First they beat non-conference opponent, Petaluma Athletic Edge, and then defeated division opponent, the Alameda Merchants. The Stompers finished the weekend with a loss against the Merchants on Sunday.

In the four CCL matchups, the Sonoma offense managed only 9 runs across those games. Alijah Ramos was a bright spot however, having an on base percentage of .533, hitting .400 and scoring twice. Also, Paul Contreras played well in both games against the Merchants, where he had three hits in six at bats, walking twice as well. 

Overall, the Stompers hit .176 in these four CCL games, striking out an average of 9 times per game, but drew an average of 6 walks per game, an impressive number. This ability to draw walks, combined with aggressive base running has helped Sonoma get runs across despite the offensive mishaps at the plate.

On the other hand, Stompers’ pitching has been solid in these four games, allowing 14 earned runs, averaging 7.5 strikeouts per game as a team. Hawk Hill pitched twice in this span, both as a starter and reliever. He threw five innings, allowing no runs to cross, while striking out three. He held both the Blues and Merchants to one hit respectively in his two appearances. Destin Allen-Fox also continued his series of strong starts, throwing two innings in his Saturday outing against the Merchants, striking out two, and holding Alameda to no runs. 

This pitching will need to continue to be a bright spot in the upcoming week, as Sonoma plays six straight CCL games starting on Tuesday, June 25th. The Stomps will face the Merchants for a final time in the three game series, and then travel to San Francisco to face the familiar foe, the Seagulls. The Stompers are 2-1 against both the Seagulls and Merchants, defeating San Francisco 19-1 and 10-3 in blowout affairs earlier in June. Sonoma sits right above both clubs in CCL North standings, so two wins could distance them in these rankings.

On Thursday and Sunday (June 27th and 30th), the Stomps will then face the Menlo Park Legends, who sit second in the CCL North. These matchups will be meaningful for Sonoma’s goal of making CCL playoffs, as wins would surely move them up in the standings. Sonoma has split their previous two games against the Legends, losing 15-4 and then winning 8-0. In between these Thursday/Sunday games, Sonoma will face non-conference opponent, the Petaluma Leghorns, in a two-game series at Arnold Field.

So, as the Stompers sit 6-6 in conference, the upcoming four CCL games are important to gain momentum as the second half of the season begins. All of them are also away games, as mentioned, so Sonoma has a tough week ahead. But, if pitching can continue their consistency and the Sonoma offense can get things going, the Stompers can come out of the week strong. 

Make sure to tune into all the action, as all the away matchups are going to have a live broadcast, which can be found at this link: https://sonoma-stompers.mixlr.com/. The home series against the Leghorns will also be broadcasted on our YouTube! Go Stompers!

Gear up for Summer with your Sonoma Stompers!

Sonoma, Calif - Excitement is brewing as we gear up for another thrilling season of baseball with the Sonoma Stompers! We're thrilled to announce the release of our 2024 Regular Season Schedule, packed with 32 Home Games, including 9 exciting weekend home stands set to heat up your summer.

Mark your calendars because the action kicks off right here at home as we take on the Novato Knicks from Thursday, May 30th through Sunday, June 2nd. "I am already counting down the days until the first pitch Thursday," exclaimed Stompers Field Manager Zack Pace, reflecting the team's eagerness to hit the ground running.

But that's not all - get ready for a lineup of promotional classics that'll have you cheering all season long! From Little League Week to Pride Night, Bocce Night, Latino Heritage Night, and more, there's something for every fan to enjoy.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to secure your spot in the stands! Season Tickets and group outings are now available for purchase through the Stompers front office. Plus, there are a few remaining tables up for grabs in the exclusive Tree Fort Wine Lounge Seating area, and the Beer Garden is open for group reservations. To reserve your favorite date, simply give us a call at (707) 522-7284 or shoot us an email at info@stompersbaseball.com.

Located right here in picturesque Sonoma, California, the Sonoma Stompers proudly compete in the prestigious California Collegiate League, ranked among the top five wood bat summer collegiate leagues.

Join us as we continue to make history on the diamond! For more information about the Sonoma Stompers or the California Collegiate League, don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Let's play ball!

The Admirals Score Four in the Late Innings to Secure the Win

The Sonoma Stompers hosted the Bay Area Admirals for the first game of a four game series.

The Stompers would hold the 4-2 lead all the way into the eighth inning where the Admirals would score four runs and take the lead back. They would score on an error and a base hit from Kirk Woolf.

Chase Minor would start for the Stompers and would not allow a run through his first three innings of work.

The Admirals would score first however on a pair of RBI doubles from Casey Tortoruci and Riley Acosta in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead over the Stompers.

Sonoma would grab the lead in the bottom half of the inning 3-2 on a three-run home run from Alfredo Capacete. The Stompers would tack on another one in the fifth inning on a wild pitch.

The Stompers went quietly in the eighth and ninth innings and would ultimately lose the game 6-4.

The Stompers next home game is on Wednesday against the Bay Area Admirals with the first pitch at 6:05 p.m. You can purchase tickets to the game at stompersbaseball.com.

Capacete Gets it Done in the Ninth to Sweep the Admirals

The Sonoma Stompers hosted the Bay Area Admirals for the last game of a three game series.

The Stompers needed a hero again and this time it would be Alfredo Capacete in the bottom of the ninth inning as he would hit a walk off single to finish off the series sweep.

Sonoma would get the scoring going first by getting one in the first due to some good base running by Jag Burden who would score on a wild pitch. They would score twice in the second on some more good base running from Mikey Bell.

Bay Area would respond in the top of the second as Brock Rudy would hit a two-run home run, which would cut the Stomper lead to just one run.

Omar Gastelum would pick up his tenth RBI of the series and tie the game up at two a piece in the third inning.

The Admirals would grab another run in the fourth on a single by Rees Kent.

The pitchers on both sides would battle all the way into the eighth when both teams would score. For the Admirals it would come on a single by Riley Acosta and for the Stompers Jose Ruiz would smash a three-run home run to add some insurance runs.

The Bay Area Admirals would tie it up with a three run top of the ninth inning.

Tomorrow the Stompers take on the West Coast Kings in a non-league contest. For the Stompers, Austin Steeves will get the start. Steeves is a high school phenom who was second in the county last season in strikeouts as a junior. Tickets for tomorrow's game can be purchased at stompersbaseball.com and if you can’t make it to the ballpark, you can listen to the game at sonoma-stompers.mixlr.com.

By Ryan Giacomini

Gastelum the Hero for the Stompers in a 4-2 Victory

The Sonoma Stompers hosted the Bay Area Admirals on Tuesday.

Both teams would get off to a slow start as Joey Van Dusen for the Stompers and Matt Campo for the Admirals would combine for two scoreless innings.

Offensively, the Admirals would get going first with an RBI single from Jack Grant in the third and they would score another in the fourth on an RBI double.

The Stompers would cut the Admirals lead in half by scoring on four straight walks in the bottom of the fourth.

Pitching for both sides would continue to deal as it would stay 2-1 all the way until the ninth inning but the Stompers would not go down without a fight.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, one out, Tyler Martinez on second, Jose Ruiz on first, Omar Gastelum at the plate, 1-0 the count and Gastelum drives a ball 352 feet for a walk off three run home run and they Stompers take the 4-2 victory over the Admirals!

The Stompers play in Solano Wednesday for game two of the series. First pitch is at 4 p.m. and you can catch all the action at sonoma-stompers.mixlr.com.

Stompers Win in Extra Innings

The Sonoma Stompers hosted the Solano Mudcats on Saturday.

Sonoma would beat the Mudcats by a score of 9-8 in 10 innings.

The Stompers would get off to a hot start jumping out to a 7-0 lead after the second inning. Part of the four run second inning would be credited to a two-run double from Omar Gastelum. Gastelum would finish 2 for 3 with the pair of RBIs.

Noah Rabin would hit an RBI single in the third to extend the lead even further to 8-0.

The Mudcats would slowly chip away at the lead with one in the fourth on a groundout, two in the fifth on a sacrifice fly and a single, two in the seventh on a two-run home run and three in the eight to tie the game at 8 a piece.

The game would go into extra innings where Hayden Hall, who had played second base until the ninth inning, would get two outs in the ninth and three outs in the top of the tenth to keep it knotted up.

Nathan Brasher would be the automatic runner at second in the bottom of the tenth and he would steal third. After a Jose Ruiz walk and an intentional walk, Alfredo Capacete would come up big with a ground ball up the middle for a game winning, RBI, fielder's choice.

The Stomps will travel to Solano to take on the Mudcats at Vanden High School for the last game of this three game set. The game starts at 11am and you can catch all the action at sonoma-stompers.mixlr.com. The next home game will be Tues. July 18. against the Bay Area Admirals.

Stompers to Send Four to the All-Star Game

SONOMA - The Sonoma Stompers are just four games out of the playoff race with 13 games left in league play.

The Stompers have had many standout players this Summer and four of those standouts are heading to Compton for the California Collegiate League All-Star game. Those four players are RHP Nico Rodriguez, OF Noah Rabin, IF Mikey Bell and C Omar Gastelum.

Rodriguez is rocking a 1.38 ERA with 20 strikeouts to just 8 walks. He has been an excellent reliever for the Stompers this summer.

Rabin is tied with the most home runs on the team with three and also has four more extra base hits. Rabin, who usually leads off and plays right field for the Sonoma Stompers, also has a .262 batting average and a great arm out in right field.

Bell, a late addition to the Stompers, has returned to Sonoma for his second season as a Stomper. This year, in just 33 at bats, is batting .242 with four runs batted in.

Gastelum has been phenomenal this season at getting on base. He has a .595 on base percentage with a .319 batting average. Gastelum, the right handed catcher, leads the team in average and is top 25 in the league in both average and on base percentage.

You can see all team stats here.

The Stompers next series is against the Solano Mudcats with the first two games of the series being in Sonoma. Both games start at 6:05 and you can purchase tickets online at stomperbaseball.com or at the gate.