Stompers start season sweeping Pittsburg

You couldn’t have scripted a better homecoming for Sonoma Valley High School graduate and former all-league standout and collegiate All-American Fehlandt Lentini, or the season opener for the Sonoma Stompers Professional Baseball Club and its new and enthusiastic owners, Valley residents Eric and Lani Gullotta.

The Stompers started their second Pacific Association of Professional Baseball League campaign hosting a three-game series with the Pittsburg Diamonds at Arnold Field, and in Monday night’s opener, Lentini made a big impact as player-manager with his bat, speed, arm and leadership in guiding Sonoma to a 6-3 win.

Comprising the Sonoma Stompers season-opening roster – directed by Lentini and his assistant and third-base coach Takashi Miyoshi – are right-handed pitchers Sean Conroy, Erik Gonsalves, Mike Jackson Jr., Gregory Paulino and Matt Walker; left-handed pitchers Jeff Conley, Jerome Godsey, Paul Hvozdovic, Joe Rand Jr., Eric Schwieger; catchers Andrew Parker and Isaac Wenrich; infielders Daniel Baptista, Joel Carranza, T.J. Gavlik, Kristian Gayday, Daniel Martinez, Sergio Miranda, Gered Mochizuki and Yuki Yasuda; and outfielders Matt Hibbert, Mark Hurley, and Sonoma’s Lentini and Tommy Lyons, who is currently on injured reserve and serving as first-base coach.

Before Monday night’s first pitch, the Stompers awarded the family of another Valley raised and baseball-honed star Jayce Ray with the 2014 PAPBL Most Valuable Player trophy for his outstanding, and consistent, all-around performances as a center-fielder and for his highly productive offense.

Ray continues to play well after his promotion to the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association.

In defeating the Diamonds in the opener, Sonoma used a 13-hit attack including home runs from Carranza and Gayday; made key defensive plays – Lentini threw a seed to second base to erase an attempted double – and stellar pitching by three newcomers.

Walker started on the mound and went five solid innings, with Hvozdovic picking up the win with three shutout innings and four strikeouts, and Conroy closing the ninth for the save.

Leading the Stompers were Lentini’s three singles, three steals and two runs scored; Hurley’s two singles and a double; Gayday’s homer, single, RBI and run; Mochizuki’s two singles and run; Carranza’s homer, two RBIs and run; Baptista’s single; and Hibbert’s run.

In Tuesday evening’s second of the three-game set, the Stompers continued to demonstrate their offensive muscle and production, while a different trio of pitchers strung together nine efficient innings en route to a one-sided 9-2 victory over Pittsburg.

Sonoma didn’t waste time in putting its offense into gear by rapping out 10 of its 14 total hits in the first three innings, including long home runs by Wenrich and Mochizuki, who also added a two-run double, and the visiting Diamonds saw their early 2-1 lead quickly vanish and they could never muster a comeback.

Picking up the mound win for the Stompers was Schwieger, who pitched five innings of four-hit ball, yielding two runs, while striking out six, with Gonsalves and Jackson, Jr. each posting two scoreless innings in relief.

Sonoma’s offense was also led by Gayday and Baptista’s three hits apiece; Hibbert’s two hits, two runs and an RBI; and Lentini’s two hits, an RBI and a run.

Going for the series sweep Wednesday night, the Stompers found themselves shoved into an early 9-2 hole by Pittsburg’s strong start, but their offense continued its high production rate and they battled all the way back to tie the score after nine innings, then win the clash 10-9 when Hurley scored on a wild pitch in the 10th frame.

Sonoma’s impressive comeback took hold in the bottom of the fifth inning when 10 batters put five runs on the board, with Lentini providing the biggest jolt with a three-run homer, while also adding a single to his final tally, as Gavlik went three-for-six; Baptista reached base four times going two-for-three; Gayday was two-for-five and scored three runs; and Yasuda finished two-for-two as a late-inning replacement.

The Stompers hit the road for back-to-back three-game PAPBL series at the Vallejo Admirals tonight and Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7; and at the defending champion San Rafael Pacifics on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 9, 10 and 11; before returning home to host the Pacifics the weekend of June 12 to 14.

To purchase Sonoma Stompers’ home game and season tickets, to check out the complete 2015 schedule, for sponsorships, or for more details, go online to StompersBaseball.com or call 938-7277.