STOMPERS WIN FRANCHISE RECORD-SETTING GAME 17-12

SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers played the second-longest 9-inning game in franchise history on Friday night in their four hours and nine minute win over the Salina Stockade 17-12.

Ethan Gibbons (0-1) got the start on the mound for Manager Zack Pace but he did not look right out of the gate. Gibbons allowed a leadoff home run to Justin Byrd, quickly putting the Stockade up 1-0. He surrendered 2 more runs in the top of the first on a Kyle Ulanday 2-run single and just like that Salina led 3-0.

They got to Gibbons again in the top of the second inning on another leadoff home run, this one by Zane Gelphman, and a pair of RBI singles, doubling the lead 6-0.

Now in a hole, the Stompers would try to do what they had done twice already in this home stand, score a dozen runs.

The Stompers answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the second inning on a Brock Hartley RBI groundout and with some help on a wild pitch by Andrew Merken, cutting into the deficit 6-2.

Things started to get out of hand for Salina in the bottom of the third inning. Dondrei Hubbard was hit by a pitch to open the inning and then Chris Kwitzer followed with a single. Miles Williams walked to load the bases.

On a 1-2 count to Brock Hartley, the big outfielder fouled a ball down the left field line but his right knee buckled underneath him. Hartley had to be carried off the field and taken for further evaluation. Rob DeAngelis took his spot in the lineup.

A wild pitch brought Hubbard home, making it 6-3. DeAngelis worked a walk to load the bases once again. After a Jacob Barfield strikeout for the first out, Bronson Butcher hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Kwitzer, bringing the score to 6-4. Rayson Romero drew a walk to load the bases once more and Nick Gotta drove in a run on a walk, putting the Stompers within one, 6-5. With the bases loaded still, Pedro Barrios delivered a 2-run single up the middle, giving the Stompers a 7-6 lead in just the bottom of the third inning, but they were not done. with runners at the corners Hubbard walked and was on base for the second time in the inning. Kwitzer then grounded to short for an infield single, driving in a run, but the wild throw to first allowed 2 more runs to score in the error, capping off an 8-run bottom of the third with the Stompers now leading 10-6.

The Stompers added 2 more in the bottom the fourth inning on a Butcher 2-run single up the middle, extending the lead to 12-6.

In the top of the fifth inning, Salina scored 3 times on an RBI single by Omar Artsen, and RBI double from Chuck Rocker, and an RBI groundout by Byrd to cut into the Stompers lead, 12-9.

Williams led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk and he later came around to score on a wild pitch, increasing the lead to 13-9. Barrios’ 3-run triple to center and Hubbard’s RBI single both extended the lead to 17-9 after five innings of play.

Salina scored twice more in the top of the seventh and once in the top of the eighth but that was all as the Stompers win 17-12 in a rollercoaster battle after being down 6-0 after the first inning and a half.

The Stompers have an off day on Saturday before returning to the field in Vallejo on Sunday for a 1:05 start against the Admirals.

PATEL SHOVES, EARNS FIRST WIN AFTER RETIRING 11 ADMIRALS IN A ROW

SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers extend their winning streak to 4 games after Vijay Patel’s magnificent start in 6-2 win over the Vallejo Admirals. 

The Stompers got on the board first in the bottom of the 1stinning against Vallejo right-hander Carl Brice. Nick Gotta, the Pacific Association’s leader in walks, drew a walk to open the ballgame and was followed by a Pedro Barrios double. Rob DeAngelis brought home the first run with a flare single to left, making it 1-0. Chris Kwitzer then drove in his 7thrun of the year with a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Barrios, extending the lead to 2-0. 

Vallejo scored in the top of the second inning on a Nick Crouse RBI single, cashing in Chevy Clarke’s leadoff double, cutting the lead in half 2-1. 

Pedro Barrios extended the Stompers lead in the bottom of the 4thinning with a 3-run bomb to right center field, his first of the year, increasing the lead to 5-1. 

Vijay Patel (1-0) tossed a spectacular 6 innings of work. He allowed one more run on a Zach Files homer in the top of the 6thbut that was all. He scattered 3 hits across those 6 inning while allowing just 2 runs and striking out 8. At one point, Patel had retired 11 Admirals in a row before that streak was snapped by the Files home run. 

The Stompers added one more in the bottom of the 6thinning on a Dondrei Hubbard RBI single up the middle, making the score 6-2.

The bullpen was phenomenal for Manager Zack Pace. In 3 innings they allowed just 1 hit as Jacob Cox slammed the door in the 9th.

The Stompers improve to 7-3 on the season and sit just ½ game behind San Rafael for first place and are back at Arnold Field on Friday night at 6:05 for the final game of the home stand. 

STOMPERS SCORE A DOZEN IN SECOND STRAIGHT GAME, HOLD ON TO BEAT PACIFICS 12-11

SONOMA, Calif- On a perfect Wednesday night at Arnold Field, the Sonoma Stompers took the field against the arch-rival San Rafael Pacifics who came in with the league’s best record of 7-2. The Stompers homered five times and hung on late to secure the 12-11 win over their rivals from the south. 

San Rafael got on the board first against right-handed starter Konner Arnold (2-0). After two quick outs opened the ballgame, Arnold walked Axel Johnson and then back-to-back hits by Jimmy Lunardelli and Corey Dempster brought Johnson across for the first run. 

The Stompers had to wait until the bottom of the second inning to answer offensively against Pacifics starter Tyler Skinner. A leadoff walk to Chris Kwitzer brought Brock Hartley to the plate who delivered an RBI triple to right center, tying the game 1-1. Jacob Barfield then grounded out to second base, driving in Hartley, giving the Stompers their first lead of the game. 

San Rafael tied the game in the top half of the third inning when Dante Biagini was driven in by a Jimmy Lunardelli single to knot the game 2-2. 

In the bottom half Pedro Barrios led off with a walk and Rob DeAngelis followed with a two-run home run to right field, his first of the year, putting the Stompers back out in front 4-2. Dondrei Hubbard immediately followed with his fourth home run of the season, going back-to-back with DeAngelis, extending the lead 5-2. 

Arnold allowed one more run in the top of the sixth inning and finished the night allowing three runs, only two earned, on six hits while striking out five in six innings of work, lining himself up for his second win in as many starts.

 The Stompers answered once again in the bottom half of the sixth inning on a Daniel Molinari solo home run to left field, his first of the season. 

San Rafael added one in the top of the seventh on a Johnson RBI double to bring them within two, 6-4. 

The Stompers offense exploded in the last of the seventh inning, adding two more home runs. Hubbard hit his second home run of the game to left center field, a three-run homer this time. Barfield followed with a three-run blast of his own to cap off the six-run seventh for the Stompers who jumped out to a 12-4 lead. 

Miles Williams made his 2019 debut on the mound in the top of the eighth inning but allowed six Pacifics runs, putting them right back in the game. Williams lasted only 2/3 of an inning and was relieved by Ryan Richardson who got Lunardelli to ground out and end the threat but the Pacifics were back in it 12-10. 

Jacob Cox entered in the top of the ninth inning to try and collect his second save of the season in as many tries. He gave up a solo home run to Dempster to lead off the inning but stranded the tying run at second base to secure the win and his second save.

The Stompers are back at Arnold Field Thursday and Friday night, first pitch at 6:05. 

HARTLEY TIES PACIFICS ASSOCIATION RBI RECORD IN 12-2 ROUT OVER SALINA

June 11, 2019

SONOMA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers put up a dozen runs in an offensive explosion over the Salina Stockade in the first of a four-game home stand on Tuesday night at Arnold Field. 

Salina opened the scoring in the top of the second inning off of Stompers right-hander Nick Barnese (0-0). Barnese struggled with walks early in the ballgame and issued a bases-loaded walk to leadoff hitter Justin Byrd to drive in the first run of the game.  

The Stompers answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning on Brock Hartley’s second home run of the season over the right field wall, a two-run shot to give the Stompers a 2-1 lead. 

Hartley struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning when he drove in his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly to score Chris Kwitzer to extend the lead 3-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Stompers scored once again. This time on a two-out bleeding single up the middle off the bat of Bronson Butcher, his first RBI of the year, extending the lead to 4-1. 

Chip White (0-2) lasted six innings for Salina and was replaced by Erick Gaylord in the bottom half of the seventh inning who fared poorly. 

Gaylord lasted only two thirds of an inning, all while allowing an RBI single to Kwitzer and a three-run home run to Jacob Barfield, his third of the season, inflating the lead to 8-1. 

Adding to his already splendid night at the plate, Hartley ended his offensive night with an emphatic grand slam, his second homer of the game, on the first pitch he saw off of Ryan Doerr in the bottom of the eighth inning to blow the game wide open 12-1.  

Hartley ended his night with an exclamation as he took the hill in the top of the ninth. The Stompers emergency reliever allowed one run in his pitching debut as he led the club to a 12-2 win over Salina.

The Stompers are at Arnold Field Wednesday through Friday this week and it’s little league night every night. So bring your little leaguer out and watch Stompers baseball.  

STOMPERS PROMOTE D.J SHARABI TO CLEBURNE RAILROADERS

SONOMA, Calif. - The Sonoma Stompers have promoted right-handed relief pitcher D.J. Sharabi to the American Association’s Cleburne Railroaders. He will be joining former teammate and Pacific Association 2018 Rookie of the Year, Kenny Meimerstorf.

“We are thrilled for D.J. He’s been a vital member of our bullpen for three seasons and is worthy of this honor. We can’t wait to follow him with his former teammate Kenny,” GM Brett Creamer said.

Sharabi, a Millbrae, Calif. native, is in his fourth season of professional baseball. In 2018, he went 8-1 with a 2.45 ERA, collecting 149 strikeouts in 134 innings. The season before, Sharabi appeared in 25 games and 39.1 innings striking out 49 batters.

The San Jose State Spartan started his professional baseball career with the Great Bend Boom in the Pecos League in 2016.

In five games for the Stompers this season, Sharabi collected nine strikeouts in six innings pitched.

To purchase Stompers tickets and to find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com, call us at (707) 938-7277 or send an email to info@stompersbaseball.com.

STOMPERS FINISH FIRST WEEK OF THE SEASON WITH WIN AT NAPA, END FIRST WEEK 4-3

June 8, 2019

NAPA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers brought their bats to the yard on a Saturday 1:05 start in Napa to conclude their first full week of the season slaughtering the Silverados 10-3.

The Stompers offense woke up right away against Napa right-hander Edward Perez (1-1) in the top of the first inning. Nick Gotta and newcomer Pedro Barrios led off the game with back-to-back singles and slugger Dondrei Hubbard drove in his 10th RBI of the season on a single to give the Stompers the early advantage.

The offense replicated their production in the top of the second inning with a solo homer by Miles Williams, his first of the year, to straight away right field, doubling the lead to 2-0.

The offense continued to produce in the top of the third inning when Hubbard hit a fly ball to center field which should have been caught for the first out but outfielders Jordan Garr and Nick Ultch ran into each other, allowing the ball to drop and Barrios to score, making it 3-0. Chris Kwitzer then made Napa pay for their mistake as he unloaded on a 2-2 fastball to right field for his second home run in as many days, extending the lead to 5-0.

The Stompers failed to score for the first time in the game in the top of the fourth innings but picked back up in the fifth. A walk to Rob DeAngelis opened the inning and was followed by a Hubbard RBI double to right field. Then, with two out, Brock Hartley drove in his fourth RBI of the year as the Stompers poured it on and led 7-0 after five innings.

Henry Omana (1-0) dazzled once again in his second start of the year and his second against Napa. The right-hander tossed five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and struck out five. Well on his way to securing his first win of 2019.

In the top of the seventh inning the Stompers scored three more times. This time on RBI singles from Hartley and DeAngelis, and with some help by an error on the shortstop Malvin Nunez.

Luke Laurita (1-0) kept the shutout alive for his two innings of work before giving way to the Stompers closer Jacob Cox (0-0).

Cox allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but none were earned, solidifying the 10-3 victory.

The Stompers will have Sunday and Monday off before they return home for a four-game home stand next Tuesday through Friday at Arnold Field.

STOMPERS FALL TO .500 AFTER 6-4 LOSS IN VALLEJO

June 7, 2019

VALLEJO, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers bullpen could not hold on to an early 2-0 lead as the Vallejo Admirals capitalize on mistakes to rally back and win 6-4.

The Stompers got out to an early lead in the top of the second inning on a solo homerun by first baseman Chris Kwitzer, his first of the season, off of left-handed starter Mike Melendez to put the Stompers out in front 1-0 early.

The longball proved to get the better of Melendez in the top of the fifth inning as well when Jacob Barfield hit his second homer in as many days to double the Stompers lead to 2-0.

Ethan Gibbons got the start on the mound today as he tossed four scoreless innings while allowing only three hits and striking out six when his pitch count of 75 forced him out of the game.

Left-hander Brian Browning was first out of the bullpen for Manager Zack Pace in the bottom of the fifth inning. Browning, with one on and two out, hung a curveball to Nick Akins Sr. who hit his second home run of the season to right center field as the Admirals tied the game 2-2 after five innings of play.

The Stompers answered back in the top of the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly from Champi Lucca and an RBI single by Nick Gotta to go back on top 4-2.

Marshall Shill came in to throw the bottom of the seventh inning for the Stompers to try and keep the lead. He could not. Vallejo scored three times on three hits, a sacrifice fly, and a wild pitch to take their first lead 5-4.

The Admirals scored again in the bottom of the eighth on a Chris Fornaci sacrifice fly after Aaron Brill reached on an error, solidifying the 6-4 victory.

The Stompers conclude their first week of the season on Saturday afternoon in Napa with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm before returning home June 11-14 for their next home stand.

STOMPERS COME BACK FROM DOWN 4 IN 10-7 ROLLERCOASTER VICTORY

June 6, 2019

NAPA, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers opened their first road trip of the 2019 season in Napa on Thursday night against the Silverados. After allowing Napa to plate four runs in the first inning, the Stompers relentless offense put them ahead late in the game for good. 

Right-hander Vijay Patel started on the mound for the Stompers and struggled in the bottom of the first inning. after allowing a leadoff walk to Willie Salas, Patel recorded the first out by way of the flyout but he immediately followed it with another walk to Jordan Garr. With runners at second and third, Josh Montelongo hit a bouncer to third which Jacob Barfield fielded cleanly but threw away, allowing two runs to score on the error. With two outs, JJ Bissell drove in a run with a single to make it 3-0, and he later scored on a wild pitch to cap off the Silverados 4-run first inning. 

The Stompers bounced back offensively in the top of the third inning when Barfield opened the frame with a double down the left field line. Newcomer Champi Lucca then singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Nick Gotta, coming into the game hitting .500, then drove in the first Stompers run with a single to right. After back-to-back strikeouts to Miles Williams and Rob DeAngelis, lefty Tre Hobbs surrendered a 2-out, 2-run single to Dondrei Hubbard, as the Stompers closed the gap to 4-3. 

 Napa put up one more run in the bottom half of the third inning on a Montelongo sacrifice fly to make it 5-3. 

In the top of the fourth inning Daniel Molinari drew a 2-out walk to extend the inning after Hobbs got two quick outs. Then Barfield tied the game on a monster home run to left field, his first of the year and his first runs batted in of the year.

Patel ended his night after four innings in which he allowed five runs, two of them, earned, on five hits while walking two and striking out three. 

After a scoreless fifth, the Stompers scratched one run across in the top of the sixth on another Gotta RBI single, giving the Stompers their first lead of the game 6-5. 

Two more runs came through for the Stompers in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Chris Kwitzer and an RBI groundout from Brock Hartley to extend the lead 8-5.

Lefty Luke Laurita was first out of the bullpen for Manager Zack Pace and he retired the first seven batter he faced. He started to struggle in the bottom of the seventh, allowing back-to-back 1-out walks, and then a 2-out RBI single to Montelongo before being taken out of the game with an 8-6 lead.

Pace then brought in DJ Sharabi who quickly allowed a 2-out double to Nicco Toni, allowing Napa to come within one run, but he then struck out Bissell looking to end the threat in the seventh. 

The Stompers scored twice more in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single by Williams and a wild pitch that allowed Gotta to score, once again extending the lead to 10-7.

Ryan Richardson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) then entered to slam the door in the bottom of the ninth. After allowing back-to-back singles to open the inning, Richardson got two punch-outs and a pop up to grab his first save of the year.

The Stompers are now 3-2 on the season and will head to Vallejo for a 6:35 start on Friday night at Wilson Park. 

STOMPERS PROMOTE COLE WATTS TO KANSAS CITY ROYALS!

SONOMA, Calif. – The Sonoma Stompers have promoted Left Handed pitcher Cole Watts to the Kansas City Royals. Watts will report to Arizona where he will then be assigned to one of the Royals affiliated organizations. “We’re thrilled for Cole, and now he’s one step closer to his dream,” General Manager Brett Creamer said.

Watts, a Half Moon Bay native joined the Sonoma Stompers in the middle of the 2018 season where he had 33 strikeouts in just 21 innings of work. Previously to joining the Stompers, Watts was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 31st round of the 2017 draft. In 39 affiliated innings of work, the Skyline JC product struck out 46.

The lefty came into the 2019 season lighting up the radar-gun hitting 92-94 consistently, topping out at 96 miles per hour. "This is what Independent League baseball is all about, and we can’t wait to follow along with Cole’s journey,” Creamer said.

Through four games this season, Watts had a 1-1 record with four strikeouts in three innings pitched.

To purchase Stompers tickets and to find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com, call us at (707) 938-7277 or send an email to info@stompersbaseball.com.

ARNOLD DAZZLES IN HIS STOMPERS DEBUT, LEADS CLUB TO 3-1 WIN

June 5, 2019

SONONA, Calif- On a warm Wednesday night at Arnold Field, right-hander Konner Arnold made his 2019 debut as he collected nine punch-outs in his first win of the season as the Sonoma Stompers improve to .500 on the season.

The game was scoreless through the first four innings before Vallejo finally tallied their first hit off of Arnold in the top of the fifth inning. Jacob Wark and Aaron Brill notched back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Arnold struck out Nick Crouse but Brill took off for second base on the pitch. Butcher’s throw down to second, which was late, allowed Wark to score to bring across the first run of the game. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Brock Harltey hit a sky-scraping home run to lead off the inning, tying the game 1-1. 

The story of the game was new Stompers infielder Champi Lucca. He signed his contract on the spot, right before the game started after Cole Watts’ call-up to the Kansas City Royals. Lucca entered the game in the fourth inning at second base.

After Jacob Barfield walked, Lucca smashed a double into the left field corner, putting both runners in scoring position. Then, with the infield pulled in, Nick Gotta hit a rocket passed Vallejo shortstop Zach Files to score both runners, giving the Stompers a 3-1 lead. 

Arnold lasted five innings and allowed only one run on two hits while piling up nine strikeouts and only two walks.

Marshall Shill, who was activated Wednesday, threw three scoreless innings of relief and allowed only 2 hits. 

Jacob Cox then slammed the door in the ninth to collect his first save of the year and bring the Stompers to 2-2 on the year. 

The Stompers will be on the road to conclude the week before they are home again next Tuesday June 11th against the Saline Stockade.