(James W. Toy III / Sonoma Stompers)
SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers began their 2018 season with a bang, scoring 25 runs and crushing six homers in their first two games against the Martinez Clippers. Sonoma swept Martinez in the latter’s first-ever Pacific Association games before being swept by the Pittsburg Diamonds over the weekend.
Thursday May 31 | Stompers 13, Clippers 2
The Stompers offense exploded in Thursday night’s league opener, starting with a four-run first inning in which the Stompers sent nine batters to the plate. Daniel Comstock’s six runs batted in, including two home runs, highlighted the team’s 13-run effort.
“We communicate in the dugout. As a unit, we are able to gain information from others. I couldn’t have done what I did without my teammates,” Comstock said. “We came in with good energy and good approaches, not trying to do too much with the baseball. We let the game come to us.”
On the other side of the ball, Stompers pitchers limited Martinez to just two runs on three hits. Together, the Sonoma staff held the Clippers hitless in all but one inning.
Friday June 1 | Stompers 12, Clippers 9
The Stompers’ dominance continued into Friday. Sixth-inning home runs from Mitchell Ho and Eddie Mora-Loera fueled Sonoma’s comeback from an early six-run deficit.
Comstock also connected for his third homer of the season while Miles Williams added insurance in the seventh with a dinger of his own en route to a 12-9 Stompers win.
“One through nine, anyone can do it at any time and that’s a big plus,” Williams said.
Saturday June 2 | Stompers 3, Pittsburg 18
The power parade continued Saturday, with Kenny Meimerstorf hitting his first professional home run and Ho and Williams each adding their second of the season. Despite the over-the-fence heroics, The Stompers lost 18-3.
In an effort to conserve the Sonoma bullpen, Head Coach Zack Pace sent catcher Comstock and outfielder Williams to the mound in relief. The pair each pitched a scoreless inning, and Williams’ frame was punctuated by two strikeouts.
Sunday June 3 | Stompers 6, Pittsburg 8
While Sonoma lost both games against their rivals in the East Bay, the team combined to score 13 runs over two days. On the year, the Stompers have scored 38 runs in four games, coming out to an average of nearly 10 runs per game.
The bottom half of the lineup continued to deliver, with Williams and Ho each blasting their third homer in as many games. The pair also contributed to a string of doubles that started a two-run, fourth-inning rally.
Starter and two-time Pacific Association Pitcher of the Year Patrick Conroy struck out four batters in his first seven outs. Vijay Patel, who relieved Conroy, added five strikeouts in two and a half innings of relief.
The Stompers will return home on Tuesday to face the newly-minted Napa Silverados having hit 10 home runs in their first four games. First pitch at Palooza Park at Arnold Field is set for 6:05 p.m., with Dominic Topoozian slated to take the mound.