SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers are excited to announce that former pitcher Ryan Richardson will become field manager of the Alpine Cowboys of the PECOS league for the 2019 season. Richardson played for the Cowboys from 2014-2016. “I’m really excited to see baseball from the other side of the ball, I’ve always been intrigued on how managers go about their grind everyday. It should be fun,” said Ryan Richardson.
The former Campbellsville University alumnus spent three seasons with the Sonoma Stompers from 2016-2018, including the 2016 championship season. “Being around two managers like Takashi Miyoshi and Zack Pace in Sonoma helped me see how a ball club should be run,” said Richardson. In 2018, Richardson was a key contributor in the Stompers bullpen contributing a 3-1 record with a 2.94 ERA in 30 appearances. More impressively was Richardson’s 43 to 6 strikeout to walk ratio.
Ryan Richardson celebrating for the Alpine Cowboys. Photo provided by Alpine Cowboys.
“Ryan is very deserving of his new position with Alpine. I’m excited for him, and know he’ll be a valuable asset to their organization,” said General Manager Brett Creamer.
Over Richardson’s six year professional career, he’s compiled a 12-9 record that includes a 3.17 ERA and 21 saves. The right-handed pitcher has thrown 221.1 innings while striking out 213 batters to just 48 walks.
The 2019 season will be Richardson’s first as a field manager. “I’ve always wanted to do something with baseball after I done throwing,” said Richardson. The 29-year-old has spent time in the Pecos and Frontier league before playing in the Pacific Association with the Sonoma Stompers. Richardson also spent a year in Japan for the Kagawa Olive Guyners of the Shikoku Island League in 2017-18.
The Alpine Cowboys are one of the three remaining charter organizations of the Pecos league and have a career record of 348-209 with a winning percentage of (.624%). The Cowboys are scheduled to play 64 regular season games that will run from May 30th to August 3rd. In 2018, Alpine held a 47-15 record which earned them first place in the Mountain division before being defeated in the championship to the Bakersfield Train Robbers.