Story written by Stompers intern Isaac Sullivan
Sonoma, CA
Stompers pick up the win as they improve to 6-8 overall on the season and 3-7 in CCL play. A great start for this week's four game homestand as the Stompers hope to win their way out of last place in their division.
Continuing an early pattern this summer, the Stompers built an early lead. Jackson Castillo ignited the offense with a lead-off single in the first inning, and after Alex Gouveia walked, Dakota Duffalo was able to bring in both runners for an early 2-0 lead.
The Crawdads, however, responded in the following inning. After Stompers pitcher, Daniel Smith, gave up a pair of walks, Crawdads' shortstop Matt King was able to single in both runs to tie the game.
In the fourth inning, the Stompers would retake the lead. Davis Cop led off the inning with a thunderous solo blast, his first homerun of the summer. Connor Charpiot walked, Rees Kent singled, and Justin Durflinger's ground ball allowed Charpiot to add an insurance run that gave the Stompers a 4-2 lead.
The following inning, Gouveia started the frame with a single, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Noah Rabin singled and Gouveia crossed the plate as Rabin advanced to second due to an errant entry throw from the Crawdads' right fielder. Cop would strike again at the plate with a single that allowed Rabin to grow the lead to 6-2.
The sixth inning would be a struggle with the Crawdads looking to tie the game. After three consecutive singles, the Crawdads had the bases loaded with no outs. A walk given to the following batter forced in a run, and pitcher Daniel Morehead was called to clean up the mess. Morehead would not allow a hit, but the Crawdads still found a way to cut the deficit to 6-5.
For the remaining innings, the game would become dominated by excellent pitching. No more runs crossed the plate, and the Stompers held on to the 6-5 lead.
The Stomper will face the Orange County Riptide tomorrow night, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.