Sean Conroy turned in a performance for the ages in a 10 inning complete game for the Stompers. Conroy allowed only 6 base runners, and struck out 8 on his was to a victory for Sonoma.
James Toy III/Sonoma Stompers
Geoff Safford, Media Relations Assistant
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Pittsburg Diamonds had a runner on third with only one out in a 2-2 ballgame. Brandon Williams hit a ball up the middle that hit starting pitcher Sean Conroy right in the leg on a line. Time seemed to go in slow motion as Conroy fell to the ground, picked up the ball, and underhanded it toward home with Nick Oddo charging toward the plate. Somehow, some way, Conroy recorded an out that could have saved the game for the Stompers.
Many pitchers would be forced to come out of the game after something like that, and there would be no shame in it. But this was not an ordinary pitcher on an ordinary evening. Conroy was able to get out of that jam in the seventh, and went back out there for the eighth, showing toughness that has made him a leader of the Stompers pitching staff.
He was far from done at that point, and he continued to get stronger on the mound even as his pitch count soared over 100 late into the contest. “Wow, that is going to be an easy act to follow,” said Taylor Thurber with a huge grin on his face. Thurber is scheduled to start on Wednesday for Sonoma, and what he was witnessing wowed more than just his teammates.
Sean Conroy did not just throw a complete game on Tuesday. He threw a 10-inning complete game to carry the Stompers to a 6-2 win over the Diamonds. The second year pro threw 135 pitches with 90 strikes, allowing only six base runners while striking out eight in his masterpiece of a game. It's the first 10-inning complete game
The most surprising part was that after the game, Conroy was just like he always is. He was not over excited, or bouncing off the walls with adrenaline. He celebrated after striking out Jordan Hinshaw to win the game, but was quick to get back to his normal, even keeled self. In the words of Conroy, it was as easy as just playing catch like he always does.
“I told Mason [Morioka] before the game that my arm felt better today than it has all season. After that it was just about staying focused and hitting my spots. When the ball hit my leg, that gave me some extra adrenaline to finish off the game,” Said Conroy.
Sonoma and Pittsburg remained tied going into the tenth, the second night in a row the two teams went to extra innings. Sonoma finally was able to break through with the hit they needed when Derrick Fox singled up the middle with runners at second an third to give Sonoma their first lead of the game at 4-2. Sonoma would add two more in the inning on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Nordgren to make it 6-2.
Caleb Bryson added his eighth home run of the season in the game, tying him with Brent Gillespie of San Rafael for the league lead. Morioka reached three times, including two walks.
Sonoma (17-14) is knotted up with the Pacifics atop the Pacific Association standings as San Rafael lost to the Vallejo Admirals 11-6 on Tuesday. Pittsburg (15-16) remained two games back in the standings overall. The aforementioned Thurber is scheduled to get the start against the Diamonds at City Park Field in the finale of the series on Wednesday. Thurber enjoyed great success in his last appearance against the Diamonds on June 23 in relief. Thurber threw four scoreless innings in a 6-3 Stomper win.
Tickets for upcoming Stompers home games are available on StompersBaseball.com. Tickets, and fan merchandise is also available inside The Fan Shop located at 234 West Napa Street in Sonoma. For more information, contact the Stompers at info@stompersbaseball.com.