Stompers announce the addition of three more players to the 2022 roster

As the Stompers continue to sign collegiate players for the 2022 season, we will continue to introduce them to you, the fans! Here’s more about three of our new players coming to Sonoma this summer.

Jackson Castillo - College of Southern Nevada

Jackson Castillo comes to Sonoma from the College of Southern Nevada. Originally from San Diego, CA, Castillo played his high school ball at Rancho Bernardo High School. While at RBHS, Castillo was named all-conference. In 56 high school games, he hit .264 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 23 stolen bases and an OPS of .848. In 74 total chances defensively, Castillo made just one error in high school.

In his true freshman season at CSN, Castillo is having a fantastic start to his collegiate career. In 35 games so far this season he is hitting .331 with six home runs and 33 RBI. He’s also stolen 23 bases on 28 attempts. In the field, he’s made just one error in 56 chances.

Castilo running the bases for the Coyotes. Photo courtesy of Coyote Athletics.

The Coyotes are 21-14 so far this season. Be sure to follow Jackson and the Coyotes before he comes to Wine Country this summer!

Kyle Dickey - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Left-handed pitcher Kyle Dickey is one of four Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders joining the Stompers this summer. Dickey is from Cypress, Texas and played his prep ball at Bridgeland High School. In his senior year, he led Bridgeland to a 29-9-1 record and a quarterfinal finish in the Texas 2021 Baseball 6A Region 2 & 4 tournament. He also received All-League Honors all four years of high school and earned All- District and All-State honors senior year. He also helped the Bears win a District title.

Dickey delievers a pitch for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Photo courtesy of Islander athletics.

In his freshman year at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Dickey has made three appearances, striking out three batters in three innings of work. 

Follow Kyle and the Islanders as they sit at 15-15 on the season thus far before he heads west to the North Bay!

Dakota Duffalo - University of Utah

Outfielder Dakota Duffalo comes to us from Mesa, Arizona and Red Mountain High School in Mesa. He played under head coach Rob Gorrell. While at RMHS, he was named 2020 Sports360AZ All-Academic First Team and 2019 6A East Valley All-Region Second Team. Over the course of his high school career, he hit .304 with five RBI as a senior, and hit .283 with 25 RBI as a junior.

Duffalo on University of Utah: “I chose the University of Utah because it provided me with a challenging athletic and academic environment. It also allowed me to stay close to home while competing in one of the top conferences in the country.”

In 38 at-bats this season, Duffalo is hitting .310 with two home runs, four RBI and nine runs scored. In a series this weekend at Washington State, Duffalo had a breakout weekend going 6-13 with a HR and three RBI while raising his batting average 69 points.

Utah is 17-10-1 on the season and 4-5 in the Pac-12 conference. Follow Dakota and the Utes the rest of the season before he comes to Sonoma this summer!

Stompers begin introducing their roster

The Sonoma Stompers front office has been hard at work filling out their roster for their inaugural season in the California Collegiate League. A mix of local stars and players from around the country have filled out half of the roster to this point. Let’s introduce three of them right now.

Max Handron, Santa Rosa Junior College

Max Handron is a Sonoma Valley High School alum. Max graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 2019, lettering in baseball three of his four years for the Dragons. Over his high school career, Max had a career .384 batting average accompanied by 78 hits in 67 games. He was a key contributor to the Sonoma Valley team that played in the CIF North Coast Section Division 3 Playoffs three straight years from 2017-2019. 

“We are excited to bring Max on board this summer! He is an all-around solid ball player that will be an asset to our middle infield. This will be a great opportunity for him to improve his skills against California’s top talent on the very field he has grown up on.” says field manager Zack Pace. 

Through 21 games this season with the Bear Cubs, Handron is hitting .276 while scoring 23 runs and driving in 13 runs with an OPS of .795.

Aidan Lombardi, University of Utah

Aidan Lombardi is another local product from Petaluma, CA and graduated from Cardinal Newman High School. In 49 games with the Cardinals over the course of three seasons, Lombardi hit .285 with three home runs, 10 doubles, 39 RBI and 27 runs scored. In his senior season, he hit an even .300 with three homers and 22 RBI, leading Newman to a 17-3 record. Throughout his high school career, he collected Rookie of the Year and All-League awards while winning a North Bay League championship in 2019.

Aidan Lombardi makes a play at shortstop for Cardinal Newman High School.

Photo via Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat

Lombardi now plays for the Utah Utes and is redshirting this season.

“I chose Utah for its great academic and athletic opportunities. I saw myself here as soon as I visited campus and saw everything it had to offer.”

Jack Gallagher, Santa Rosa Junior College

Another Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cub will don the Navy Blue and Orange this summer in Sonoma and that is Jack Gallagher. He went to Petaluma High School, playing for head coach Jim Selvitella. While playing for the Trojans in 52 games, Gallagher hit .392, had an on-base percentage of .466, an OPS of .951, drove in 33 runs and scored 27 runs. Playing catcher, Gallagher threw out 41% of all base stealers.

Jack Gallagher records a base hit for Santa Rosa Junior College

Photo via Jack Gallagher/Instagram

Through 24 games at SRJC this season, Gallagher is hitting .388 with four home runs, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored and an OPS of 1.156. He’s also thrown out 33% of potential base stealers so far this season. 

To find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com or send an email to info@stompersbaseball.com. Be sure to keep up with the latest news by following us Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

CCL North Golf Tournament

Join the Sonoma Stompers and the rest of the CCL North in their annual Golf Tournament at Lincoln Hills Golf Club on May 15! The shotgun start begins at 8am with a raffle and catered lunch included! The top three finishers win a foursome at a local golf course!

Play as a foursome, twosome or individually! There’s also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event! This wil help cover the costs of putting on a California Collegiate League season covering the cost of travel, lodging, umpires and so much more. After all, it’s for the student-athletes! When registering, please note that you are there to support the Stompers and where Stompers gear when attending!

Founded in 1993, the California Collegiate League is a premier college summer baseball destination. Ten teams canvas the golden state of California. Each year, top college baseball players compete for the: MLB Academy Barons, Arroyo Seco Saints, Conejo Oaks, Healdsburg Prune Packers, Lincoln Potters, Orange County Riptide, San Luis Obispo Blues, Santa Barbara Foresters, Solano Mudcats, Sonoma Stompers and Walnut Creek Crawdads.

Head to the CCL website to register!

Stompers Sign Former Sonoma Valley HS Standout

SONOMA, Calif.- The Sonoma Stompers have officially signed Sonoma Valley HS Alum, Max Handron. Max graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 2019, lettering in baseball three of his four years for the Dragons. Over his high school career, Max had a career .384 batting average accompanied by 78 hits in 67 games. He was a key contributor to the Sonoma Valley HS team that played in the CIF NCS D3 Playoffs from 2017 to 2019. 

After graduating from Sonoma, Max had a brief stint with the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, a division 1 program that competes in the Atlantic 10 baseball conference. Max, like every other college athlete in 2020, had his season cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the cancellation of the 2020 college baseball season Max has transferred to Santa Rosa Junior College, a top rated baseball program in CA. 

“We are excited to bring Max on board this summer! He is an all-around solid ball player that will be an asset to our middle infield. This will be a great opportunity for him to improve his skills against California’s top talent on the very field he has grown up on.” says field manager Zack Pace. 

Before the 2020 Pandemic college athletes were allowed four years of competition in a five year period. March 31st, 2020 the NCAA D1 council granted all spring student-athletes a one year extension of eligibility. Many players this year will come by way of being a third or fourth year student, but only in their first or second year of athletic eligibility on the field. 

To find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com or send an email to info@stompersbaseball.com. Be sure to keep up with the latest news by following Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Baseball is Back!

SONOMA, Calif. -

The Sonoma Stompers are proud to announce the return of summer baseball for 2022! The Stompers have joined the California Collegiate League (CCL), a top ranked collegiate summer wood bat league, consisting of eleven teams total, six teams in Southern California and five teams in Northern California. 

The Southern Division consists of the MLB Academy Barons, Arroyo Seco Saints, Conejo Oaks, Orange County Riptide, San Luis Obispo Blues, Santa Barbara Foresters.

The Northern Division consists of the Healdsburg Prune Packers, Lincoln Potters, Solano Mudcats, Sonoma Stompers, Walnut Creek Crawdads

The CCL is in association with the National Alliance of Summer College Baseball, and in part funded by Major League Baseball. With notable executives such as Rick Turner, former MLB executive of the Angels serving as the league commissioner and Mike Scioscia, three time World Series champion, current head of the Conejo Oaks (Southern Division). 

“Baseball is back and I am thrilled to announce our partnership with the California Collegiate League and Major League Baseball. With this fresh start, the Stompers look forward to continuing player development at a high level and representing Sonoma on and off the field. Let’s play ball!” says owner Jon Sebastiani.

Newly appointed General Manager, Eddie Mora-Loera, is thrilled with this move for the Sonoma Stompers. “Joining the CCL has been something that we have been looking forward to since the pandemic first shut down the Pacific Association in March of 2019. The CCL provides the Sonoma Stompers the opportunity to deliver family-friendly and affordable entertainment as well as an opportunity for young baseball players to showcase and develop their talents in Sonoma.”

The Sonoma Stompers plan to play a 50 game schedule, hosting 32 home games in Sonoma at Arnold Field between the last week of May and the first week of August. The CCL will host a North vs. South All Star game in July with league playoffs starting the first week of August. 

The 2022 schedule and tickets will be made available in November! To find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com or send an email to info@stompersbaseball.com.

2020 REGULAR SEASON UPDATE

SONOMA, Calif –

To our Stompers Family,

It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of Stompers Baseball season. We had hope that we would be able to play a shortened 2020 season, but given current COVID-19 conditions and Sonoma Country health regulations, we have made the decision to cancel the season in entirety.

The health and safety of our fans, players, and staff have always been and will always be our number one priority. 

We look forward to welcoming you back for the 2021 season and have already started planning for a wonderful season of family-friendly, affordable, Stompers baseball.

Until then, we wish you each health and happiness. If one thing is certain, we will come out of this stronger and better together.  

Sincerely, 

The Sonoma Stompers

A LOOK INTO THE ORGANIZATION

SONOMA, Calif. – Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stompers are highlighting last year's hottest home runs, strikeouts, and plays via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Every week on the Sonoma Stompers YouTube channel you can find instructional youth videos called “Train Like a Sonoma Stomper”. Also on Youtube be sure to watch “Locals On Deck”, which is a behind the scene look into local businesses here in Sonoma.

Train Like a Sonoma Stomper

Train Like a Sonoma Stomper is designed to provide youth and aspiring baseball players training videos that consist of throwing, hitting, fielding, and base running. At the end of each video there is a “Competition Round” that the Stompers encourage players of all ages to participate in. Take a video of you completing the challenge and send in your video to Info@stompersbaseball.com to be featured on the Stompers website! Check out episodes one, two, three, and four on our YouTube channel! 

#TaterTuesday and #WhiffWednesday

Every Tuesday and Wednesday the Stompers are publishing highlights of home run blasts and wipeout strikeouts. If you have a home run or strike out clip you think deserves to make our website be sure to send it in to info@stompersbaseball.com. 

“On This Date”

OTD are weekly milestones from historical moments in Stompers History. This week’s “OTD: 6/29/2017”, Kelsie Whitmore and Stacy Piagno signed with the Stompers making the club the first professional baseball team since 2010 to include a woman on a team and the first co-ed pro baseball team to feature multiple women since the 1950s. Make sure to leave comments on our platforms of your favorite historical memory.

“Locals On Deck”

Supporting the community and local businesses is always the Stompers main priority. “Locals On Deck” is a behind the scenes take at some of the hottest places in town. Recently interviewed was August Sebastiani from 3 Badge Beverage Corp., which is a locally family owned Beverage Corporation based out of Sonoma, Ca. August, 4th generation Sebastiani, continues the legacy his great-grandfather built. Check out the Interview on our Sonoma Stompers YouTube channel!

To find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com or email to info@stompersbaseball.com. Keep up with our latest news on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

NICK GOTTA PROMOTED TO THE TEXAS AIRHOGS

SONOMA, Calif. – This off-season, the Sonoma Stompers infielder Nick Gotta was promoted to the Texas AirHogs of the American Association where he hopes to stand out as he did in the Pacific Association. Similarly, former Sonoma Stompers manager Takashi Miyoshi was the assistant coach for the formally known as Grand Prairie AirHogs back in 2013 and 2014. The San Diego native played baseball for Northwest Missouri State in 2015 and 2016 where he slashed .313/.439/.437.

In 2017, Gotta began his professional baseball career in the PECOS league where he played for the Santa Fe Fuego while hitting .374, smashing 10 home runs and driving in 51 runs. That was enough to be promoted to the Napa Silverados in 2018, where he hit .366, lead the team in doubles with 5, driving in 13, and stealing 14 bases, the second most on the team. Gotta finished the season with the Quebec Capitales of the former Canadian-American Association where he averaged .242 with 32 hits combined with 4 RBI’s, and 20 walks. Nick Gotta happens to be the first player of the Napa Silverados to be promoted to a higher league. 

With the Stompers, Gotta has proven to be one of the best players in the league and the stats back that up. He has a batting average of .362, while leading the team with 76 hits and leading the Pacific Association with 71 runs. On top of that he set a Pacific Association record for on-base percentage with an average of .544 and tied a Pacific Association record with 84 walks with none other than Stompers manager Zack Pace.

Not only offensively was he a threat, but on defense he was great as well. In fact, he was one of four Stompers who won the 2019 Gilded Glove award winners. He won the award for the best defensive second baseman in the league. He had a fielding percentage of .932 while playing 60 games in the season.

To find more information about the team, visit stompersbaseball.com or email to info@stompersbaseball.com. Be sure to keep up with our latest news on the following Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

PACE, CREAMER EARN AWARDS

SONOMA, Calif-  The Sonoma Stompers are excited to announce that Manager Zack Pace and General Manager Brett Creamer have won Manager and Executive of the Year honors.

The Stompers held a Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs league best 45-19 record during the 2019 regular season. Pace and the Stompers also had two players signed to affiliated contracts this past season. LHP Cole Watts signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals affiliate in June, while 2019 Gilded Glove winner Dondrei Hubbard signed a contract with the San Diego Padres this spring.

In 2019, Creamer served as a consultant for the Pacific Association as well as General Manager for the Sonoma Stompers. The Petaluma native initiated conversation and inclusion of the Salina Stockade, who served as a traveling team during the 2019 season. “I’m extremely grateful to receive this award. I want to thank all of our sponsors, coaches, players, fans, host families, employees, interns and ownership group for such a amazing season. We couldn’t do it without them. I’d also like recognize and say thank you to Assistant General Manager Eddie Mora-Loera. Eddie helped out our organization every step of the way. He’s a great partner to have by my side. Lastly, I’d like to thank Lizette Dalquie, our host family coordinator who helped all of our players find a temporary homes for the time that they played for our organization,” said Creamer.

Pace, who is currently a assistant coach at Sonoma State has helped promote over 20 Stompers to higher levels of Professional Baseball since 2018. “Zack has helped many of our players get promoted over the two seasons he’s been here. He’s done a fantastic job helping our players feel comfortable during their time here. His impact on the community and dedication to his craft is impressive to watch,” said Creamer.

Pace, a former 11-year professional player also won the Pacific Association Gilded Glove award at the center fielder position on three separate occasions.

“I’m thankful to be a part of a organization of great people that creates the Sonoma Stompers culture. It starts with Brett and Eddie, the rest of the front office, fans and host families. I’d like to thank my pitching coach Mike Nunes and bench coach Casey Gilroy for helping me out everyday. I love our Stompers family and thank you to all the fans for the great atmosphere you create,” said Manager Zack Pace.

During Manager Zack Pace’s tenure, the Newark native now holds a 102-42 record as the organizations skipper. “I’m proud of Zack for all his hard work in the community and on the field. There’s a reason he has won 100 games as a manager in only two seasons,” said Assistant General Manager Eddie Mora-Loera.

RYAN RICHARDSON, JAILEN PEGUERO WIN DUAL RELIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

SONOMA, Calif-  Sonoma Stompers reliever Ryan Richardson led the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs with a career best .51 earned run average during the 2019 season, while San Rafael Pacifics Jailen Peguero led the league with 16 saves.

“Ryan has been nothing but reliable the two years I’ve been here, and we could always count on him to get us out of a tough situation,” said General Manager Brett Creamer. Richardson, the Campbellsville University alumnus has a career 14-9 record with a 2.81 ERA over his seven year career. Over 256.2 innings pitched, the RHP has 259 strikeouts to just 50 walks allowed while collecting 30 saves.

This off season, Richardson signed a contract with the Fargo-Moorehead RedHawks of the American Association. Former Stompers catcher Daniel Comstock and outfielder Brennan Metzger played for the club during the 2019 season. “Uncle Rich’s quirkiness around the clubhouse helped create a loose environment for our players. Being a former teammate, every time he stepped on the mound I expected zeros on the scoreboard,” said former player and Assistant General Manager Eddie Mora-Loera.

Peguero, a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks held a 6-4 record with a 1.88 ERA while striking out 77 batters in 38.1 innings pitched. This is the first time in Pacific Association history that two relievers have split the award.

Richardson is the third Stomper to win the award. In 2015 and 2018 Sean Conroy and Jacob Cox won the award respectively. In 2018, Cox set a Pacific Association and franchise record with 26 saves.