Story written by Stompers Intern Sam Basich
SONOMA, CA
Last night, the Lincoln Potters (10-5) traveled for a second time in a one week span to Arnold Field to face the Sonoma Stompers (4-5).
The Stompers got off to what looked to be a very lackluster start, as pitcher Orlando Leon surrendered a lead off homer to Potter left fielder JT Waldon. Leon was able to get out of the inning, keeping the Potters to one.
Luckily, the Stompers were able to score a run of their own to even the score, as after Alex Gouveia reached on an error, it would eventually place him at third base for the Stomper designated hitter, Noah Rabin. Rabin wouldn’t have to do any work to get the run across though, as Goveia took matters into his own hands, stealing home plate on a passed ball.
The next couple of innings were spotlighted by a strikeout display by both Stomper starter, Orlando Leon, and Potter starter, Bryan Green. Both pitchers would eventually leave the game with six strikeouts a piece respectively, Leon doing this in just three innings of play, despite giving up the lead off bomb.
After leaving two stranded in the third, the Stompers would take the lead and never look back. A series of walks would leave the bases loaded for Alex Goveia, when this time, he wouldn’t have to do any dirty work. Green walked a run home that would leave the Stompers with a 2-1 lead following the Max Handron strikeout which left the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Potters, looking to nod the game up at two, pinch-hitted Chase Weissenborn, who would go on to double to left-center only to get left hanging on base after a three strikeout inning by Stomper pitcher, Mason Hilton.
The theme of the game, similar to last week, would become clear in the sixth inning, as two runners would be left stranded yet again for the Stompers.
However, this narrative failed to hold true for long, with the Stompers getting nice and loose during the seventh inning stretch to break the game wide open. The rally would begin with a Max Handron walk, followed up by back-to-back singles by Noah Rabin and Tucker Mcenroe to load the bases for Jack Gallagher with nobody out. Gallagher would bring the first run in with a sacrifice fly, sending runners to second and third for the third baseman Mikey Bell. Yet another passed ball would score Rabin, and Bell would finish the job with a base hit to bring across McEnroe, making it a 5-1 Stomper lead. The damage would be done despite a single by Conner Blough due to base running complications, leaving three Stompers stranded for a second time in the ballgame.
Another promising Potter lead off double, this time off the bat of Brandon Motherall, would go awry, as back-to-back strikeouts by Dan Pruitt and Reece Ragitz would leave another run on the base paths for the Potters.
The Stompers would capitalize on their base runners however, bringing across another insurance run in the form of Mikey Bell’s second rbi single after two singles to start the inning by Max Handron and Noah Rabin. This would make it a 6-1 ballgame heading into the final half-inning of play.
The Potters would do everything in their power to muster a comeback, with two on and nobody out after two singles to start the inning. Chase Weissenbourn, who came in to pinch hit earlier in the game, tripled to right-center, making the score 6-3. The Potters would strike once more to scare Stomper fans out of their seats on Pride night at Arnold Field, as Brandon Motherall would add another hit to his night as well as an RBI. The game ended in a 6-4 final, with pitcher Christian Mcinerney pitching the final 3 innings and racking up a few strikeouts himself.
Six runs on six hits for the Stompers would deliver them their second CCL win, and bring their overall record to an even 5-5.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow, when these two teams do the same thing on a different day, this time at McBean stadium in Lincoln. The Stompers will look to take a 3-1 series lead over the Potters for the season. Broadcast will be on the Stomper radio network.