Stompers lose a lead late to drop fourth straight game

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers dropped their fourth straight game, losing a late lead to the Walnut Creek Crawdads, falling 4-3.

The Stompers held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the 7th inning, With one out, Kavares Tears homered to cut the lead to 3-2. A double and an error, the third of which by the Stompers on the day, brought home the tying run. Two singles later, the Crawdads had the lead thanks to an RBI poke by Brian Duroff. 

The Crawdads jumped out in front in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Brome singled with two out and then advanced to second on an error after an error by center fielder Jackson Castillo. Sammy Diaz singled him home on the next pitch to put Walnut Creek up 1-0. 

Following the bottom of the first, Stompers starting pitcher Tyler Hellums retired the next seven in a row. After allowing a leadoff single in the fourth, he induced a 3-6 double play ball to get him through four innings of one run, three hit ball.

Stomper bats had been struggling again up until the fifth inning. A leadoff single by Mikey Bell and a walk by Castillo put runners on first and second with nobody out. After Alex Gouiveia struck out, Max Handron homered over the centerfield wall for a three-run shot to give the Stompers a 3-1 lead.

Christian McInerney threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to hold the Stompers lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Noah Larkin made his first appearance of the season, tossing a 1-2-3 frame.

The Stompers got the leadoff runner on in the top of the ninth, but a bunt by Connor Blough was popped up and caught by the Crawdad catcher Diaz and then doubled off McEnroe on first, who had singled to begin the frame. Adrese Azzani earned the save for the Crawdads.
The Stompers will look to end their four game slide in Lincoln tomorrow night at 6:35pm. The game will be broadcast on the Sonoma Stomper radio network.

Stompers offense continues to struggle in loss to Mudcats

The Stompers offense continued to struggle Sunday afternoon in a loss to the Solano Mudcats, 2-1.

Orlando Leon pitched six fantastic innings on the mound for the Stompers. He ran into trouble in the sixth but got a strikeout of Trey Topping. However, a throwing error by Colton Lomanto on the dropped third strike kept the inning alive. Ryan O’Neil was hit by a pitch and Caleb Lammle singled home two runs to give the Mudcats a 2-0 advantage.

Caleb Davis was brilliant for Solano on Sunday afternoon. He threw seven shutout innings, holding the Stompers to just five hits and walking just two batters in the win. The Stompers had runners on base in the second, third and fourth innings against Davis and had nothing to show for it.

The Stompers got on the board in the top of the eighth. After a one-out double by pinch-hitter Jack Gallagher, Alex Gouviea tripled him home to make it 2-1. However, the Stompers could not bring hom the tying run as Jacob Weiss struck out and Mikey Bell grounded out to end the frame.

Noah Rabin led off the top of the ninth with a double off Jacob Anderson, but again, the Stompers could not bring him him as three straight Stompers went down to end the game.

The Stompers hope to end the three-game slide on Tuesday when they head to Danville to take on the Walnut Creek Crawdads.

Stompers struggle offensively in loss to Potters

Story written by Stompers Intern Sam Basich

SONOMA, CA

Today, the Lincoln Potters (8-1) traveled to Sonoma to take on the Sonoma Stompers (3-1).

The game began with a hint of optimism for the Stompers, with pitcher Zach Garcia striking out two and sending the potters back to the dugout with nothing to write home about. On the offensive side, things were off to a hot start, as center fielder Jackson Castillo singled followed by a one out walk by second baseman Max Handron which ultimately led to runners on second and third with two outs. However, a fly out by Mikey Bell would leave two Stompers stranded. 

The second inning was where the Potters really took control, when first baseman JT Waldon walloped a two run homer after a single by third baseman Trey Furrey. Looking to really open the game wide open, Potter catcher Matt Lee hit a deep double to right center, but was left stranded on base along with another Potter base runner to end the inning.

The next two innings rolled along quietly for the Stompers, but not for the Potters, as a double by Jeffrey David doubled the Potters lead making it a 4-0 ballgame. Through four, the Stompers would trail 5-0, as another run was tacked on via a double by Trevor Tishenkel gracing the outstretched glove of Stomper right fielder Dakota Duffalo.

The game was highlighted by six innings of fantastic pitching by Anthony Perez, striking out six batters and allowing only three hits with two walks. 

The final run of the game would come in the form of the first of two errors by Stomper shortstop Mikey Bell. The Stompers showed defensive resilience despite the rough inning, getting out of a two-runner situation and allowing only one more hit for the remainder of the game.

Reliever Aidan Lombardi supplied another great outing for the Stompers, striking out three batters with one hit allowed over two innings following his fantastic two inning outing Friday night against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. 

Despite no runs on the board, Max Handron continued hitting well for the Stompers, adding a hit to his tremendous .450 average to start the season. Other hits for the Stompers came from Dakota Duffalo, Jackson Castillo, and Jacob Weiss. 

A tough offensive game for the Stompers with multiple runners left in scoring position, accompanied by a flurry of walks, including six by pitcher Eric Woodrow, made it a tough climb back into the ballgame, one which the stompers were unable to muster. The final score was 6-0 in favor of the Potters.

The Stompers will take the trip to Fairfield tomorrow to face the Solano Mudcats for the first time of the season, while the Potters head back home to rest up until Tuesday when they face the Gold Sox for a fourth time this season. 

Stompers fall to Prune Packers in offensive showcase

Story written by Stompers intern Ryan Giacomini

Sonoma, CA

Today, the Healdsburg Prune Packers (1-1) traveled to Sonoma to take on the Sonoma Stompers (3-1). 

Both teams started early as the Stompers scored 7 runs in the bottom of the first including a 3-run home run from left fielder Tucker McEnroe. The Packers would respond instantly in the top of the second and score 7 of their own. Left fielder Jared Sundstrom would hit a three-run home run of his own in the rally to tie it up 7-7 after just two innings.

The Packers would tally on two more runs, one in the third and one in the fourth. The run in the fourth would come from another Sundstrom homerun, but this time a solo shot. After 4, the score was 9-7 in the Packers favor and it would remain that way until the sixth inning. 

From there, both teams would add three to their score in the sixth inning making it a 12-10 ball game. Third baseman Mikey Bell would drive in a run on a single for the Stompers while right fielder Braydon Runion would hit a three-run home run for the Packers. 

In the top of the ninth, the Packers would tack on two more making it a 4 run game and the Stompers have only three outs to respond. In the bottom of the ninth, the Stompers would score two runs, both while second baseman Max Handron was at the plate but in the end would fall short.

The Stompers will host the Lincoln Potters tomorrow at Arnold Field while the Prune Packers will host the San Francisco Seals at Recreation Park.

Stompers open up CCL play tonight

Story written by Stompers Intern Isaac Sullivan

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers are coming off a 3-0 opening homestand this past week, striving to maintain their winning ways. Their most recent win was a commanding 7-0 win against the Petaluma Leghorns. The Stompers hammered their way to 13 hits. Their early offensive onslaught provided them with a 6-0 cushion, which they would never relinquish after just three innings. The win perfectly capped off a successful opening week.

Led by Max Handron with his .636 batting average, the Stompers were able to hit their way to a grand total of 20 runs through three games. The pitching side has also come out strong, as they have produced 40 strikeouts resulting in only two runs allowed so far. A balanced offense and defense has allowed the Stompers to achieve an impressive +18 run differential.

Starting tonight, the Stompers will begin CCL competition, when they host three more games at Arnold Field though Saturday. Sunday, they will play their first road game of the season.

Tonight, the Stompers face the Walnut Creek Crawdads, who finished their summer season last year with a record of 22-23. The pitching staff of the Stompers will be put to the test against the Crawdads as seven of their players finished last season with a .300 batting average or better.

Friday night, the Stompers will face the defending CCL Champion Healdsburg Prune Packers. The Packers open their season tonight against the Solano Mudcats after concluding last summer’s dominating season represented by a 45-7 record. The Stompers’ batters will have their hands full facing a pitching staff that frustrated and struck out 345 batters last year.

Saturday night, the Stompers will face the scorching Lincoln Potters, who are 7-1 on the season. With two home runs and two doubles on the season, the Stompers will have to be cautious when pitching to Dan Pruitt, who has also drawn nine walks.        

In their first road game of this season, the Stompers will travel to face the Solano Mudcats on Sunday. The Mudcats lost their opener 10-5, and are trying to move on from a disappointing 8-30 record last season that ended on a nine-game losing streak. They are 1-3 on the campaign to this point, falling 19-3 to the Walnut Creek Crawdads last night in their CCL opener.

After a few days off, with time to practice, the Stompers still hope to be undefeated at the end of this weekend. Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s games will be on Sonoma TV Comcast Channel 27 and the Sonoma Sompers YouTube page. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on the Sonoma Stompers radio network, with first pitch at 1:00pm.

Stompers win third straight with hitting outburst

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers had an offensive outburst in the first three innings leading to their third straight win to open the 2022 season over the Petaluma Leghorns, 7-0. 

The first three Stompers reached to bring in a run thanks to Max Handron. He would go 4-5 to raise his season batting average to .636. Handon would come around to score on Connor Charpiot’s RBI single to give the Stompers a 2-0 lead.

Colton Lomanto was hit by a pitch in the second and would score on Castillo’s RBI double. Four pitches later, Handron singled him home to double the Stomper lead to 4-0.

In the third, there were more Stomper runs. Mikey Bell singled to start the rally, then stole second. Charpiot then singled him home to make it 5-0.

Two batters later, Christian Reynolds singled to score Charpiot and the Stompers were rolling early on, leading 6-0. 

After the three inning outburst, Stomper hitting was quelled thanks to the fantastic performance of Jake McCoy out of the bullpen for the Leghorns. He went four innings allowing just two hits, one run, walked one and struck out seven.

The one run McCoy did surrender was in the sixth when Bell doubled home Handron, who almost hit the ball out of the ballpark, to extend the lead to 7-0. 

The pitching was once again dominant for the navy and orange. Orlando Leon started and was fantastic. He went four innings allowing just one hit, one walk and struck out four. Eric Woodrow relieved him, going two innings and striking out four.

Charpiot ran into trouble but danced out of it through his two innings of work. In the eighth, he struck out the first batter he faced but he reached on a dropped third strike. Back to back walks loaded the bases. Charpiot would then strike out the side for a four strikeout inning.

Bell recorded the final two outs after walking a pair of batters.

The Stompers close out the weekend hosting the Menlo Park Legends Sunday night at 7:05pm at Arnold Field.

Stompers move to 2-0 with dominant victory over West Coast Kings

SONOMA, CA

The Sonoma Stompers moved to 2-0 to begin the 2022 season with a 9-1 victory over the West Coast Kings Friday night at Arnold Field.

Four run frames in the bottom of the fourth and bottom of the fifth proved to be the difference in the lopsided win.

The Stompers got a run in the first thanks to a wild pitch that scored Jackson Castillo who started the frame with a walk. 

The fourth and fifth innings were when the game broke open. Colton Lomanto and Eric Woodrow began the fourth by drawing walks. Connor Charpiot reached on an error by pitcher Jeff Werder. Aidan Lombardi drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 2-0. After a strikeout, Max Handron hit a sacrifice fly that scored Lomanto to make it 3-0 Stompers. Woodrow then scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-0.

Davis Cop recorded the Stompers first hit of the night that scored Lombardi to make it 5-0.

After the Kings got on the board in the top of the fifth, in the bottom half, Lomanto started things with a double. Woodrow and Charpiot walked to load the bases. Castillo drove in a pair with a two-run single to give the Stompers more breathing room at 7-1. A sacrifice fly and a wild pitch would score two more runs to make it 9-1 Stompers.

Stomper pitching was dominant once again. The staff consisting of Daniel Morehead, Maxx Castellucci, Brady Routon, Garrett James and Aidan Lombardi struck out 13 King hitters throughout the night. Castellucci earned the win with 1.1 innings pitched without allowing a hit and striking out one.

The Stompers will host the Petaluma Leghorns Saturday Night at Arnold Field at 6:05pm.

Stompers open up with 4-1 victory vs Seals

The Sonoma Stompers opened up the 2022 season with a dominant pitching performance defeating the San Francisco Seals 4-1 Thursday night at Arnold Field.

Stomper pitching struck out 15 batters in the process, with great pitching from starting pitcher Dan Smith and relievers Jack Cazin, Christian McInerney and Eric Woodrow. 

Smith got the start and ran into trouble early on. A pair of singles gave the Seals a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI hit from Sam Brewer. That would be all the offense for the Seals.

Seals’ starting pitcher Will Seslar also got into trouble early on. He hit Dakota Duffalo in the head in the bottom of the first, and Max Handron began a 3-4 night with a single to right field. 

However, popouts of Davis Cop, Jackson Castillo and Jack Gallagher got him out of the jam.

The Stompers would break through in the fourth. A walk, wild pitch and a groundout moved Gallagher to third. An error by third baseman Derek Sims allowed him to score to tie the game at one.

The offensive approach in the fifth was patience and the Stompers certainly were. Mikey Bell doubled to lead off the frame and two batters later, Handron singled him home. Following a flyout, three straight two-out walks brought home two more Stomper runs to push the lead up to 4-1.

The Stompers would get runners on in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but were unsuccessful in pushing across a run.

Cazin got the win while Woodrow picked up the save.

The Stompers will host the West Coast Kings tomorrow night at 6:05pm at Arnold Field.

Stompers open up 2022 season tonight

SONOMA, CA

Tonight, the Sonoma Stompers open up the 2022 season and will make history while doing it. This will be the first collegiate game in franchise history after the team joined the California Collegiate League in October. 

The Stompers will host the San Francisco Seals out of the Bay Area Collegiate League tonight at 6:05pm at Arnold Field. 

When the first pitch is thrown tonight, it will mark the beginning of the team’s first game in 1,005 days. The last time the navy and orange took the field was game three of the 2019 Pacific Association Championship Series on September 1, 2019. The Stompers lost that game, 5-3, to the San Rafael Pacifics.

In six opening day contests, the Stompers are 3-3 all time since the organization’s genesis in 2014. In 2019, the Stompers fell to the Salina Stockade 9-5 on opening day.

​​Zack Pace is entering his third season as the Stompers manager. In his first season, he set a

single-season league record in wins, leading the Stompers to an overall record of 57-23 in 2019. Pace has a career record of 102-42 as the manager of the Stompers. Pace will be assisted by pitching coach Mike Nunes and bench coach Casey Gilroy.

Lots of fun events and activities are scheduled for opening day. Sonoma Mayor Jack Ding will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Fans are encouraged to see the HenHouse Beer Garden and the Tree Fort Wine Lounge, as well as visiting our multiple food and beverage concession stands throughout the ballpark.

Tonight’s game will be televised on Sonoma TV Comcast, Channel 27, in Sonoma, as well as streamed live on the Sonoma Stompers YouTube page. Michael Baribault will have the call all season long on Sonoma TV and the Stompers YouTube page for home games. On the road, Baribault will be on the Sonoma Stompers radio network.

There are still plenty of tickets available for opening day. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to catch pregame festivities. Ballpark gates will open approximately 30 minutes prior to each home game. 
The Sonoma Stompers have a 46 game schedule. The CCL will host a North vs. South All Star game in July with league playoffs starting the first week of August. Purchase your Stompers tickets today!

Learn more about the California Collegiate League

SONOMA, CA

In October, the Stompers joined the California Collegiate League (CCL), a top ranked collegiate summer wood bat league. The league consists of eleven teams, six teams in Southern California and five teams in Northern California. 

Founded in 1993, the California Collegiate League is a premier college summer baseball destination. The league is associated with both the National Baseball Congress and National Alliance of College Summer Baseball.

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 Blues and Foresters are the only two original teams that still call the CCL home. 

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

The Stompers will take on three former CCL teams in the Novato Knicks, Menlo Park Legends and San Francisco Seals.

The Healdsburg Prune Packers are the defending CCL Champions. They are led by manager/GM Joey Gomes, who is a Petaluma native. The Stompers look forward to competing against the Prune Packers eight times this season and bringing fun baseball atmospheres to both Sonoma and Healdsburg!

The Lincoln Potters joined the CCL in 2019 and finished second in the North Division at 14-9 and 24-15-1. They play their home games at McBean Stadium and hosted last year’s CCL playoffs.

Last year, the Walnut Creek Crawdads rejoined the CCL following a three-year hiatus from the league. They play their home games at Monte Vista High School in Danville. 

The Solano Mudcats round out the CCL North. Once an established top semi-pro club, the Mudcats transitioned to a Collegiate Baseball organization in 2012. They joined the CCL in 2019. They will play their home games at Vanden High School.

Some notable CCL alumni are Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn, former Oakland Athletics outfielder Khris Davis, former starting pitcher James Shields and Colorado Rockies first baseman CJ Cron.

The Sonoma Stompers have a 46 game schedule. The CCL will host a North vs. South All Star game in July with league playoffs starting the first week of August. Purchase your Stompers tickets today!