The Sonoma Stompers season came to a close last night, so let’s take a look back over the highly successful summer. The Stomps made it all the way to the CCL North Divisional Round, and were one win away from making the championship series. This is history for the organization, as manager Zack Pace led Sonoma’s to their first playoff appearance and first playoff win in three years of being in the CCL.
College players came from across California and even from across the country to play for the Stompers. We also had various Sonoma county natives competing for their hometown team. This unique combination of talent crafted a successful season and entertaining baseball for Sonoma fans.
With the bats, two players cemented themselves as the leaders, ending up as the one and two hitters by the playoffs. This would be Cal State Fullerton second baseman Alijah Ramos and Cal State Northridge shortstop Trent Abel. The middle infielders led the team in batting average and on base percentage. Ramos hit .323, while Abel hit .302 also leading Sonoma with 21 RBIs. Paul Contreras also made his mark on the Sonoma season. Contreras, who will also be attending Cal State Fullerton next year, launched six home runs in league play, which led the team and was second in the entire CCL.
Destin Allen-Fox and Jake Tirk were two of the Stompers “true” starters, who started every game they pitched. Both were impressive on the season, with ERAs below 4.00. Allen-Fox was a strikeout machine, with 38 punch outs in 25.2 innings. He also had pitched a gem in the CCL North Wild Card game against the SLO Blues, with five innings of work, where he struck out ten.
Out of the pen, Sonoma was spectacular. Led by guys like Dylan Goff, Hawk Hill, Brent Mallet, and Dylan Burke, the Stomps had a team ERA of 4.00, one of the top in the CCL. Goff, yet another Cal State Fullerton product, appeared ten times in CCL play, where he sported a 1.90 ERA, striking out 29 in 23.2 innings. He also tossed two scoreless innings in the Wild Card game. Hawk Hill was used both as a starter and reliever, with eight appearances, where he held a 2.61 ERA. Hill has been with the Stompers for a couple years now, attending Cumberland University. The other names noted all had elite stats, with ERAs well below 3.00.
Sonoma started CCL play on the backs of this pitching effort, as they led the CCL North in ERA as they went into the break. The Stomps were second in the standings, and Goff, Allen-Fox, Thornton, and Hill were all selected as All Stars for leading this club’s pitching dominance. Contrary to the position players, the pitching did not have much turnover from players leaving, meaning the pitching continued to be a huge factor in the back half of the season.
But, the surge on offense from Sonoma in the second half of the season helped secure their playoff spot and put the team on a five game winning streak heading into the postseason. Sonoma lost many offensive pieces in the middle of the season, as players left to prepare for college seasons. This tasked Zack Pace with fielding new players and gelling together a lineup to foster success. Players like Max Handron and DJ Scott were crucial in this, as their offensive additions helped thrust Sonoma into the playoffs. Amazingly, Ramos and Abel got even better in the second half, resulting in a very strong top of the order.
This offensive recipe of Ramos, Abel and Handron at the top helped put Sonoma on their five game winning streak which they pushed to six after their arguably best game when they toppled the SLO Blues 7-2 in the Wiild Card game. The Scott insertion was massive in that game, as he launched an electric grand slam to silence the packed Blues stadium.
The offensive effort stalled against the Walnut Creek Crawdads though, as the Stompers had two hits against the North Champions. But, that one game doesn’t define Sonoma’s season as they finished the regular season with 30 wins, and beat every team they played at least once. This is a major success for the Stomps, as there has been a significant turnaround in their time in the CCL.
In 2022, the Stompers were last in the CCL North and lost 30 games in total. After nearly missing the playoffs last season in the last week, Zack Pace has led his club to a complete 180, as they now have experienced playoff achievements.
The Stompers season may have ended short of the ultimate goal, but it sets up a bright future for the club. The success will hopefully attract more elite talent to Sonoma, and this season could very well be a stepping stone for more playoff success in the coming years. Everyone apart of the Stompers organization, including the loyal fans, have been able to craft a club like no other. Strong collegiate talent, proven coaching, and an electric atmosphere at historic Arnold Field has made it a perfect destination for baseball.
As the players depart for the college seasons, we wish them good luck in all their endeavors and we hope to see you, the fans, next season for more Stompers baseball!