Stompers Win 2015 Debut, 6-3

Stompers outfielder/manager Fehlandt Lentini celebrates Sonoma's 6-3 victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds Monday night. Lentini was 3-for-5 with 2 runs, 2 stolen bases and an RBI.

Danielle Putonen/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

Whether it's June 1st or July 1st, the Stompers know how to win their first home game of the season.

In front of over 1,000 people at Arnold Field, the Sonoma Stompers began their 2015 season with a solid victory over the Pittsburg Diamonds, 6-3, behind a 13-hit attack and a well-pitched game from three newcomers.

Before moving on to begin the 2015 season, the Stompers awarded the family of the star of their 2014 team with the Pacific Association Most Valuable Player trophy, as Jayce Ray's family accepted the award on his behalf. Ray has continued to play well after his promotion to the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association, batting .394, with a .459 on-base percentage while slugging .576  through his first nine games with his new team.

Once the calendar turned to the 2015 season, Ray's replacement in center turned in a performance that fans have gotten used to see from their Stomper center fielders. After Fehlandt Lentini singled to lead off the bottom of the first, he beat a pickoff to second base and came around to score on a Sergio Miranda single to give Sonoma (1-0) the early 1-0 lead.

In the Pittsburg (0-1) second, Joe Lewis reached second after a fielding error by Joel Carranza at first to lead things off. After going to third on a Nash Hutter groundout, Diamonds second baseman Jalen Harris got into a high fastball from Stompers starter Matt Walker and hit it up and out to left field, with the two-run homer giving Pittsburg the lead, 2-1.

But Sonoma tied it up in impressive fashion in the bottom of the inning. In his first professional at-bat with the Stompers, Gayday broke his bat on a fastball from starter Dennis Neal, yet still had enough power on his swing to knock it out of the ballpark and tie the game at 2-2. By HitF/X data, the ball left the broken bat at a speed of 92 MPH.

Sonoma got the lead once more in the fourth on Lentini's second hit of the game, as he beat out a grounder to third that scored Matt Hibbert and made it 3-2, Stompers. Pittsburg answered in the top of the fifth with a Chris DeBiasi RBI groundout to tie the game once more at 3-3.

After a scoreless sixth, Sonoma finally broke it open in the seventh. Lentini again led off with a single and stole second base. When the throw went into center, he took third and forced the infield to come in with Miranda at the plate. To a drawn in infield, Miranda bounced a routine grounder to short that froze Lentini at third. But after the throw was made, Lentini broke for home and dove head first to beat the tag and give Sonoma the go-ahead run.

After a Gered Mochizuki single, Pittsburg reliever Clint Manzo (0-1) tried to beat Joel Carranza inside with a fastball and paid dearly, with the Pacific Association home run king smashing the first pitch he saw deep and out to left field for a two-run shot to finish the scoring.

After Walker's five solid innings, two more new faces for Sonoma provided some stellar relief. Southpaw Paul Hvozdovic (1-0) struck out four of the first six batters he saw and got some great defensive help during his third inning of relief when Matt Hibbert threw out DeBiasi at third after trying to tag up on a fly ball to medium-deep right-center field. That ended the inning and three beautiful shutout innings for Hvozdovic.

In the ninth, it was the side-winding righty Sean Conroy's turn, and after getting Tim Battle to fly out, he too was the beneficiary of some stellar outfield defense. Lewis ripped a line drive to deep left center field and tried to stretch it into a double, but Lentini threw a frozen rope from over 200 feet away on the money to nail Lewis at the bag, receiving a standing ovation from the Stompers faithful in the bleachers behind him.

One Conroy strikeout later and the Stompers were on the right side of the first decision of the 2015 season.

Both Lentini and fellow newcomer Mark Hurley tallied three hits, with Mochizuki and Gayday providing two hits apiece. Miranda drove in two runs, as well.

After an extremely successful Opening Night, the Stompers return to Arnold Field on Tuesday night for game two of their three game series with the Diamonds for a 6:05 first pitch. The first 400 fans will receive a 2015 Stompers magnet schedule courtesy of Mara Kahn Real Estate.

Tickets are available online at StompersBaseball.com or at the gate beginning an hour before first pitch. For more information, visit the Stompers Fan Shop at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma or call 707-938-7277.

Stompers Net First Exhibition Win, Perspective, At San Quentin State Prison

The inmates at San Quentin Federal Penitentiary play baseball games regularly, including a recent matchup with the Sonoma Stompers.

San Quentin Stock Photo

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

Rookie left-hander Jeff Conley barely moved from his seat on the bench. Manager Feh Lentini ricocheted around the exercise yard like a boy in a sandlot. The home plate umpire called strikes with the panache of a Broadway performer, wailing “that's a Rembrandt,” on every third strike. And what felt like 1,000 spectators — all clad in penitentiary blue — nonchalantly took in a ballgame on scrubby skin diamond at San Quentin Sate Prison on Thursday afternoon. The Stompers beat San Quentin Prison All-Stars 12-0 in a six-inning scrimmage, but the team took home far more than their first win of the exhibition season. The once in a lifetime, 3-hour experience will linger more for the context than the boxscore.

From the parking lot, veteran short stop Gered Mochizuki seemed the least excited about the game, but was on the field every pitch, and accumulated as large a cheering section as any player on either team. Reliever Mike Jackson Jr. got the attention of self-proclaimed prison “scouts,” as they identified his 90-MPH heater as “big league.” Rookie Infielder Danny Martinez couldn't stop using the word “awesome,” and catcher Andrew Parker was happy the only thing he received was pitches.

The prison’s basketball team scrimmaged down the left field line, playing Frogger with frozen ropes pulled foul. Two elderly Latino men played the guitar and harmonized in the native tongues, paying no head to the ball game taking place several feet away. One inmate managed the hand-operated scoreboard, and another named “Sparky” was the official score keeper.

A reporter, an inmate and a scribe from the San Quentin News, took in the game from the dugout, and showed off his byline and previous articles about other prison sports program, in-between getting quotes and color for his next story. During the informal interviews, he moved from the seated position on the bench to the ground each time the prison’s siren sounds. It happens about three times in the six innings Thursday.

The “home team” wore retired Spring Training uniforms donated by the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants. The Giants black mesh jerseys were a muted grey from years of dirt, sweat and sun. The chalk lines were drawn with pancake mix. “We use whatever we can get,” offers the coach.

“Is that cheaper than chalk?” Stompers General Manager Theo Fightmaster asked.

Coach: “We take donations.”

Fightmaster: “So do we.”

The San Quentin baseball season is about 35 games long. Only dozens are selected from more than 5,000 men who call the prison home. The 597 inmates on death row and those in isolation are not permitted to play.

“Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to the guys to face a team of your caliber,” said Elliott Smith, a real estate lawyer and civilian volunteer who helps run the program. “I hope you have a great season, beat the Pacifics, and come back next year.”

“To be able to provide even a few hours of variety to these guys is important,” Fightmaster said. “Baseball is our job, but seeing what the game, and this program means to these men, it's a great reminder of the spirit that lives within all of us who love the game of baseball.

“For a few hours they're ballplayers, not inmates. And I hope that helps them, regardless of what they may have done to get here.”

After the game, the teams shook hands, talked baseball and said their goodbyes. No one wanted to leave. Only 15 men even had the option.

Right-handed pitcher Gregory Paulino said goodbye to Pedro, a fellow native of the Dominican Republic, who struck up a lengthy conversation with Gregory on the home plate end of the Stompers first-base dugout, then followed his countrymen through the prison, continuing the conversation for as he was permitted.

“I’m one of the only guys from the Dominican in here,” Pedro said. “This is very special to me to speak with someone who is from where I am from.”

As the Stompers packed their bags, awaited their escort and schlepped out of the yard, past the “adjustment center,” and through the shadows of death row, one of the remaining inmates asked for a final score.

“Who won?” the inmate asked.

“You know we did, boss man,” beamed a grinning Lentini.

The team trickled out of the prison gates, realizing they were among a privileged few allowed to go home after the final out. The cool, foggy air and the spectacle of the Richmond Bridge, sparking in the sunset served as an instant reminder that though they were a mere couple hundred yards from the diamond, they were a lifetime away from the yard.

Stompers Fall Again To Pacifics, 8-0

Stompers right-hander Sean Conroy was great in this three innings of work on Wednesday.

Theo Fightmaster/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations 

The Sonoma Stompers dropped their second game of the exhibition season on Wednesday morning at Peterson Field, once again falling to the defending Pacific Association champion San Rafael Pacifics, 8-0.

While Sonoma was not able to put any runs on the board, there were plenty of solid contributions all over the field. Defensively, third baseman Danny Martinez made a fine play on a soft grounder to cut down a runner heading home for a rare inning-ending 5-2 putout.

On the hill, right-hander Sean Conroy threw three shutout innings and was very deceptive from his low-three quarters arm slot. Conroy is one of many hurlers looking to make the starting rotation and his appearance Wednesday served as one of the better pitching performances in the Stompers young exhibition season.

At the plate, Sonoma had only five hits but also drew three walks and a hit-by-pitch. Infielder Yuki Yasuda had a great day with an infield single and a triple to deep left-center field. Outfielders Matt Hibbert and Collin Forgey each had hits for Sonoma, as did Martinez.

San Rafael had 10 hits in all and had seven pitchers combine to shutout the Stompers, who will now travel to San Quentin State Prison for an exhibition game tomorrow afternoon.

Opening Night is this Monday, June 1 as the Stompers host the Pittsburg Diamonds at Arnold Field. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.StompersBaseball.com, at the Stompers Fan Shop located at 234 W. Napa St. in downtown Sonoma, or beginning one hour before the gates open.

Stompers Lose First Exhibition To San Rafael, 3-2

Stompers third baseman Kristian Gayday waits for a pitch in the first inning of Monday morning's exhibition against San Rafael.

Eric Gullotta/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

On a beautiful Memorial Day morning, the Sonoma Stompers hosted the San Rafael Pacifics in their 2015 Spring Training opener and fell to the defending Pacific Association champions at Peterson Field, 3-2.

At the plate, the Stompers rapped nine hits all over the field, including a couple of hard hit balls by outfielder Will Price and shortstop Kyle Breault. Breault reached base twice, once on an error and once on a ground rule double that rolled past the fence down the right field line.

Player-manager Fehlandt Lentini lined a single to left field in his second at-bat and former Vallejo Admirals catcher Isaac Wenrich also singled in his first action with the Stompers. Breault and returning utilityman TJ Gavlik scored the runs for Sonoma.

The pitching was a bright spot for the Stompers, as eight hurlers held the Pacifics to only five hits. Impressive innings were thrown by returners Mike Jackson, Jr., Erik Gonsalves and Eric Schwieger, with Schwieger only needing seven pitches to get out of his inning of work and Gonsalves inducing a 1-6-3 double play to end his inning.

The team will have a workout on Tuesday before hosting San Rafael again in an exhibition game on Wednesday morning at Peterson Field at 10 a.m.

Opening Night is now only a week away, with the Stompers hosting the Pittsburg Diamonds at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1. Tickets are available online at www.StompersBaseball.com and at the Stompers Fan Shop at 234 W. Napa St. in downtown Sonoma.

Stompers Name Trey Dunia Public Address Announcer

Longtime local public address announcer Trey Dunia will be the new announcer for the Stompers in 2015.

Trey Dunia/Personal Photos

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

The Sonoma Stompers have announced the signing of Sebastopol native Trey Dunia as the team’s public address announcer for the 2015 season. Dunia is well known in the Sonoma County sports scene, having been an announcer for many different sports teams for many years. He’s a member of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers and currently announces for Santa Rosa Junior College, the North Bay Rattlers football team and Analy High School.

He also announces for numerous District 35 Little Leagues, including the Petaluma American Little League. Dunia also announces for the West County Tigers. An avid sports fan, Dunia loves Stanford football along with the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s and the Golden State Warriors.

In his spare time, Dunia represents Sonoma County's 5th District on the Drug and Alcohol Problems Advisory Board, and coaches Special Olympics Softball. He is currently employed by Canteen of Northern California as their Sales Manager and has two boys, aged 13 and 15.

"I am looking forward to a great season of professional baseball in the beautiful and historic town of Sonoma,” said Dunia, “The Stompers truly are a fine organization and I hope to be here for many years to come."

Stompers Spring Training Opens For 2015

Players gather around manager Fehlandt Lentini on the first day of Spring Training.

Tim Livingston/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

The Sonoma Stompers officially began Spring Training on Saturday morning at Peterson Field, opening camp up for 33 players looking to become members of the team for the 2015 season. The day began with a team meeting called by manager Fehlandt Lentini and general manager Theo Fightmaster, who talked about the importance of playing for the organization and what it means to the city of Sonoma that the Stompers are back for another season of professional baseball this summer.

The players then ran through numerous defensive drills before breaking up into batting practice groups, where many players put on quite the impressive display. A few balls even ended up leaving the yard, including one hit by the returning Joel Carranza, who set a league record in the Pacific Association for the most home runs hit in a season in 2014.

Nine players who were a part of the organization last year are back in camp this season. That includes Eric Schwieger, who signed just before the start of Spring Training and joins Erik Gonsalves, Jesse Garcia and Mike Jackson, Jr. in the group of returning pitchers. The 6'8" lefty was terrific last year for the Stompers, going 5-5 with a 3.74 ERA in 18 appearances, including 10 starts.

Carranza leads a stellar group of returning infielders in 2015. Utility man TJ Gavlik is expected to get the lion's share of time at the keystone this season, but can also play at both third base and shortstop. Also looking to return to form this year is Sonoma native Tommy Lyons. The 2008 Sonoma Valley High School graduate underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entirety of the 2014 season, but is working hard to make it back at some point in 2015, aiming for a return sometime before the end of the first half.

Also back for 2015 is Matt Hibbert, who is expected to be one of the starting outfielders alongside Lentini. Returning Gold Glove-winning catcher Andrew Parker is expected to join the team for Sunday's workout, joining newcomer Billy Gonzalez and former Vallejo Admirals catcher Isaac Wenrich behind the dish. Wenrich signed with the team on Friday.

The team is expected to have a couple of exhibition games next week beginning on Monday, including an exhibition game against a team of inmates from San Quentin State Prison on Thursday. Opening Night is set for Monday, June 1 at 6 p.m. when the Stompers host the Pittsburg Diamonds.

Tickets are available at www.StompersBaseball.com or at our Fan Shop, located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma.

Stompers Announce Signings of Paul Hvozdovic, Collin Forgey

Paul Hvozdovic and Collin Forgey are both Sonoma bound after they signed contracts with the Stompers.

Supicket.com/BigBendCourier.com

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club has agreed to terms with both pitcher Paul Hvozdovic and outfielder Collin Forgey.

Hvozdovic, 22, spent the summer of 2014 with the Windy City Rascals of the Frontier League and was quite dominant, pitching to a 1.23 ERA in 18 appearances. It was his first taste of professional baseball after an outstanding career at Shepherd University in West Virginia.

During his final season with the Rams in 2014, he was 11-1 with a 1.80 ERA and struck out 100 batters in only 90 innings. Even more impressive than the strikeouts was his lack of free passes; he only allowed eight walks that year, good for an unbelievable 12.5 K/BB ratio.

In fact, Hvozdovic might be the best pitcher to ever suit up for Shepherd. He holds the single-season records for wins, strikeouts and complete games (9), all set during the 2014 season. He also holds career records for the Rams in wins (34), innings pitched (340), strikeouts (307), games started (56) and complete games (19).

The 6’1”, 175 lb. left-hander from Herndon, Virginia has experience both as a starter in college and as a reliever as a professional, making him a flexible option on the hill for manager Fehlandt Lentini.

Forgey, 23, is a San Diego native that thrived as a Division III player at Menlo College down on the Peninsula, where he was named to the All-California Pacific Conference team and helped lead the to a school-record 32 wins in 2011.

He moved on to Division I baseball at St. Joseph’s (PA) in 2013, where he continued to hit the cover off the ball. After a season where he hit .292 with 15 extra base hits and 10 stolen bases, he blew up in his senior year, hitting .355 with 6 homers and 47 RBIs. He also had a .449 on-base percentage and a .542 slugging percentage.

His performance got Collin noticed enough to play for the Alpine Cowboys of the Pecos League last summer. He continued his stellar play at the plate, hitting .340 with a .902 OPS. He had 17 hits in only 14 games, with five going for extra bases.

Forgey will join what should be a stellar outfield for the Stompers in 2015, as the San Diego native will play alongside Lentini and returning Stomper Matt Hibbert.

Both players will arrive this week in advance of the team’s Spring Training schedule, which begins on Saturday, May 23. The Stompers will begin their regular season on Monday, June 1, when they host Pittsburg at Arnold Field with the first pitch set for 6 p.m.

Tickets are available at www.StompersBaseball.com or at our Fan Shop, located at 234 West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma.

Q&A With Grantland's Ben Lindbergh And Baseball Prospectus' Sam Miller

The co-hosts of Baseball Prospectus podcast "Effectively Wild" have joined the Sonoma Stompers to test their best sabermetric principles for a book to be released in May of 2016.

Danielle Putonen/Sonoma Stompers

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

After Baseball Prospectus editor Sam Miller wrote an article chronicling the Sonoma Stompers during their inaugural season in 2014, both he and Grantland’s Ben Lindbergh, co-hosts of BP’s Effectively Wild daily podcast, had an intriguing idea that led to the duo working for the Stompers as the Co-Directors of Baseball Operations for the 2015 season. During the course of the season, Ben and Sam (or Sam and Ben, depending on your preference) will be writing about their experiences with the Stompers for a book that will be released in 2016. What follows is an interview conducted by Stompers Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Tim Livingston about how Sam and Ben see the upcoming season shaping up for them and the Stompers.

Tim Livingston: So the first question I have is after Sam's article on the Stompers in September 2014, what led to you guys working with the team this season?

Ben Lindbergh: Well, we'd had this idea for a couple years and weren't sure how to make it happen, how or where to find interested teams. When you reached out to Sam and he went out there it was in the back of his mind (I think? I don't know why I'm answering for a person who's here). Then that relationship existed and no other independent league teams swooped in to offer to have a book written about them by us out of the blue. And Sonoma is nice and you guys are nice.

Sam Miller: The significant thing is that we'd each written hundreds of thousands of words about baseball, and considered ourselves experts. We had access to tons of data, we had read brilliant people studying the game, and we had spent hours talking to scouts. (In Ben's case, even going to scouting school.) But everything we'd done was academic; there was a nagging feeling that nothing we'd done had been held up to the scrutiny of action...

Ben Lindbergh: This reminds me of our book proposal!

Sam Miller: That's what makes baseball so great: Pure meritocracy. Good athletes rise, bad ones get tossed aside; same, we hope, with good ideas and bad ideas. And we wanted our ideas to be judged by that meritocracy. When I was at that game with Theo, we talked about whether there was room for Moneyball-type things in indie leagues. It seemed very rich with potential. And he said yes, definitely, but the data and the labor to analyze the data weren't really there. When we talked more about it with (Stompers general manager Theo Fightmaster), it became clearer that Sonoma was a place that Ben and I could provide both. 

Tim Livingston: Do you feel that the ideas you guys plan to implement are more radical than those you would try in a Major League or affiliated Minor League environment simply because the Stompers are an independent league team?

Sam Miller: Yes and no. The yes is that we don't have the same external pressures that come with media attention at the big-league level. We don't have to worry about our city's beat writers turning on us and putting our jobs at stake. Also, because the league has different characteristics than more familiar big-league baseball, there is room (we hope) to exploit those things. Like, it's conceivable that the cut of the infield at this level will be a detail we can exploit. (Conceivable. We're not there yet.)

The No is that we have a relatively short time with these players. If we ran a major-league team, we could start trying things as soon as players began their four or five year journey from draft pick to major leaguer, and both learn from what works and get the players accustomed to playing differently. I think the yes overwhelms the no, though. There's a lot of conservatism in MLB because of the money and prestige involved; people don't want to risk those things.

Ben Lindbergh: Well, we hope the players at this level will be more open to new ideas and willing to try unorthodox strategies, because they haven't had as much ingrained instruction, and because they're more concerned with getting a shot at a higher level than they are with squandering one they've already received. These are guys who've fallen through the cracks in affiliated ball for one reason or another, and if what they've been doing thus far hasn't gotten them to the big leagues, they may be more receptive to doing something different than players who are too close to the goal to change their approach.

Tim Livingston: Do you guys feel that your strategies will be focused more in preparation or in-game? Like Sam said, you guys really only have three months with the team to implement the strategies you've come up with.

Sam Miller: Hm. I think there are three prongs: We want to have better technology to help players prepare. We want to collect better data (or, since there is virtually none at this level, any data) so that we can use just the right strategy for each situation. And we want to get away from thinking anything needs to be done because it's what we're used to. So as far as that last one goes, we'd like to rethink batting practice, and the pre-game vibe of the clubhouse, and how we track arm fatigue, and so forth. And we want to get away from these players as being limited to their roles--starter/reliever, infielder/outfielder, etc.--so that they can be used wherever, whenever and however they can most help on each play.

Ben Lindbergh: And the fourth prong, which started well before the season, is learning about the ways teams are put together and figuring out what we can contribute to that process. We hope we'll be able to help our players learn about themselves in ways that will make them better players, and we hope we'll be able to deploy them in ways that maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. But we also hope to recruit better players to begin with, so we hope the guys we found via methods that Stompers haven't explored before will demonstrate the value that can be added through those avenues.

Sam Miller: We really do look at every player we've signed and pinch ourselves, because there's no reason they should be available to us. But there are a lot of ballplayers and a ton of cracks. I'm probably most excited by the possibility that at least one of these guys is going to be in the majors someday.

Ben Lindbergh: That would be the best. If the book sells one copy, but we help get a guy to the big leagues, I'd still brag about it.

Tim Livingston: Besides the possibility of helping a player realize a big league dream, what else are you most excited to see this season?

Sam Miller: It's all aspirational at this point, but I really want to see if we can figure out a way to make the crowd a weapon, in some previously undiscovered psychologically devastating way. I don't just mean "they're loud." I want to figure out if there's a way to turn a crowd into a sort of controlled chaos that throws off the opposing team's rhythm. I have absolutely no idea if it's possible.

Ben Lindbergh: Curtain of Distraction in the bottom half of the inning?

Sam Miller: Exactly.

Ben Lindbergh: I'm looking forward to hearing players tell us interesting stories about how they got where they are. Watching players we helped sign play in actual games. Potentially sharing the airwaves with Tim Livingston.

Tim Livingston: My prediction system has calculated there's a 100% certainty that you guys will join me on the airwaves at some point this summer.

Ben Lindbergh: Then this project is a success.

Colombian Trio Of Former Stompers Taste Winter Success In Home Country

Tim Livingston, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations

Baseball season comes to a close at the dawn of fall, but from the Tropic of Cancer to the equator, preparations for some of the biggest baseball competitions in the world are just getting started. In Latin America, baseball in the winter is as big a tradition as it is in the United States during the spring and summer. And with it comes an opportunity to get more experience for players who aspire to play in the United States the following season.

The foundation of the Sonoma Stompers in 2014 was built with a guy who played several seasons of winter ball in his native Puerto Rico. Former manager Ray Serrano, who now serves as the roving catching instructor for the Atlanta Braves, honed his craft during his offseasons in one of the most competitive atmospheres he’s ever been a part of.

“It’s not just about getting experience,” said Serrano, “It’s more of a competition, more to win. If you can’t do it, you’re out the door quick.”

Serrano played in Puerto Rico until 2009, which was a norm for players who had experience in affiliated minor league baseball. Knowing it could benefit the players he managed in Sonoma’s inaugural season, he hoped that some of his players would get the opportunity to hone their craft in Latin America over the winter months in preparation for the 2015 season.

The biggest success story came out of Colombia, where three former Stompers combined to have a tremendous winter.

Playing for Leones de Monteria, catcher Jaime del Valle was a key cog in the team’s success. After his late season call-up to the Evansville Otters of the American Association in 2014 ended with a playoff run, del Valle was the starting catcher for a team that ended up winning the Colombian Winter League title with a .313 OBP and his normally great defense behind the plate.

Meanwhile, Randy Consuegra’s 2014 season with the Stompers ended on a down note when he hurt his elbow in the final weeks. However, when he returned to Colombia, he ended up playing for Caimanes de Barranquilla in his hometown.

Whatever issue there was with his elbow didn’t show over the winter, as he went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He struck out 26 in his 25 innings pitched and was the unquestionable ace of his team.

Shortstop Charlie Mirabal began the season for the Toros de Sincelejo and absolutely raked. He hit .409 (27-for-66) with a .985 OPS while playing his usual stellar defense. When Leones went to the playoffs, Mirabal was chosen as the team’s “reinforcement player”, which allows a playoff team to be better prepared for the competition they’ll face.

Joining his former Stompers teammate, Mirabal and del Valle ended up facing Consuegra’s Caimanes in the Colombian Series. Consuegra started both Games 1 and 5 of the series, but it was the Leones who came out on top to win the title in five games.

After winning the Colombian Series championship, Leones moved on to represent Colombia in the Latin American Series, which was being held in Panama this year. Just like Mirabal had done for the Colombian playoff run, Consuegra joined his former Stompers teammates in their run for even greater baseball glory.

Matching up with his hometown battery mate, Consuegra came up huge in the tournament semifinal against Nicaragua, going six innings by allowing only one hit and walking two while striking out three as Leones cruised to a 10-0 victory to put the team in the final.

Leones then took down the host nation’s representative in the final in a 1-0 nailbiter, giving Colombia its second consecutive Latin American Series title.

"Admittedly, I'm not the most neutral party when it comes to my team, or to these three men," said Stompers COO and general manager Theo Fightmaster, "Jaime came in to our organization and was a great player and a better person. I feel the same about Charlie. And Randy, though he wasn't here as long, and ended up with a cranky elbow, when he was on top of his game, he was incredible.

For del Valle, the chance to return to his home country over the winter is something too good to pass up.

“To get to play baseball and see my family this winter made me very happy since I don’t get to see them during the regular season,” said del Valle. “I was happy I was able to play down there again. I played really good, especially on defense and helped my team win."

Del Valle’s success aside, both Consuegra and Mirabal went on to further success as part of the team representing Colombia in the upcoming Pan-American Games. They won a tournament in Brazil in February and are set to join the team at the upcoming tournament in Canada beginning in June.

To see these former Stompers players have success in winter ball bodes well for the Stompers place in the professional baseball world, and Fightmaster is more than happy to see the players he brought in to the organization find success and carry the Stompers banner.

"As proud as I am of them as young men and young ballplayers, I'm just as proud of our organization. People may not realize it, but the level of competition they're facing in Latin America is elite. And three real factors in the [Latin American] Series were players that our fans could walk into Arnold Field, pluck down a few bucks and watch play right here in our back yard. You never know who you're gonna see when you come to a Stompers game, and you never know where you'll see them next."

Stompers Add Former A's Farmhand Gregory Paulino To Pitching Staff

Staff Photo/Vermont Lake Monsters

Theo Fightmaster, General Manager

The Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club has agreed to terms with former Oakland Athletics pitching prospect, Gregory Paulino. The 22-year-old right-handed hurler logged nearly 160 innings spanning three seasons in the Oakland organization.

Paulino earned eight wins at three levels between 2011 and 2013. A minor arm injury sidelined him in 2014. The native of Palenque of the Dominican Republic boasted a 3.73 earned run average, and struck out 121 batters in 159 1/3 innings pitched.

The starter made appearances between Oakland’s Dominican Summer League team, its Rookie team in Arizona; where he furnished a 2.79 ERA in 29 innings, holding opponents to a .257 batting average against in 2013.

“We’re excited to give Gregory an opportunity to rejuvenate his career,” said Stompers VP and general manager Theo Fightmaster. “He showed great promise while with the Oakland, and is still young enough to have a robust career in this game. I’m excited to see what he can do here.”

Stompers players report to Spring Training on May 22, and open the Season at home at Arnold Field on Monday, June 1. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available at StompersBaseball.com.