Daniel Baptista has been swinging a hot bat as of late, and his success continued Monday. Baptista was 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI.
Rick Bolen/Sonoma Stompers
Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant
July 4th is always a festive occasion at ballparks all across the country. One of the many traditions that go along with the Fourth of July is of course a fireworks display to close out the evening. People gather from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the magic in the sky. However, the fireworks scheduled for Monday evening caused confusion at People’s Home Equity Ballpark as the game approached extra innings.
As the game progressed, the sky got darker, and the time of the impending fireworks show grew nearer. After the end of the ninth inning, it was decided by the umpires that the game could not continue due to the start of the show. Furthermore, a curfew issue also came into affect, and the game was ultimately postponed to be made up at a later date. The game against the Pittsburg Diamonds was postponed in a 3-3 tie and will resume in the top of the 10th on a date that has yet to be determined.
The entire situation was very bizarre, and left many fans confused. However, Sonoma had a chance to end things in the bottom of the ninth but could not come through. Sonoma had runners at the corners with one out, but could not get the winning run to the plate. Even though the outcome of this game has yet to be determined, it must still leave a bad taste in the Stomper’s mouth due to missed opportunities.
Sonoma led 3-1 going into the seventh inning but a two run rally tied the game for Pittsburg, and Sonoma gave up another late inning lead after blowing a 6-0 lead Sunday. John Contreras hit a ground ball to the shortstop Derrick Fox that went right under his glove that resulted in the tying run to come home in the inning.
Sonoma got out to a good start thanks to some offensive fireworks in the third. Daniel Baptista and Joel Carranza hit back-to-back home runs in the inning to put Sonoma on top, 2-1. It was the first time that Sonoma had gone back-to-back this season. It was Baptista’s second of the season, and Carranza’s sixth. Sonoma added another run in the fourth to make it 3-1. But that lead did not stand up.
One positive that can be drawn from this weekend as a whole were the fabulous crowds at People’s Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field. Every game was a capacity crowd, and the Stompers acknowledged the support of the community by making a $2,000 donation to the Sonoma Valley Babe Ruth League. Teams like the Stompers would not exist if it were not for the development of young players in youth leagues like the Babe Ruth league.
Sonoma will now head to Pittsburg for games two and three of the series starting Tuesday night. Sean Conroy is the scheduled starter on Tuesday night, and will look to get the Stompers back on track at City Park Field. Conroy has faced the Diamonds twice this season, and has not earned a decision so far. Sonoma is 1-1 when Conroy starts against the Diamonds.
Tickets for upcoming Stompers home contests are available on StompersBaseball.com. Fan gear, and tickets are available inside The Fan Shop at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. For more information contact the Stompers at info@stompersbaseball.com.