Stompers to play championship game in Sonoma on Friday, Sept. 1

Chances are high that the Sonoma Stompers will host a playoff game at Arnold Field Friday night to decide the championship of the Pacific Association.

With one game to go in the season (Thursday night), Sonoma and Vallejo are tied for the league lead in the second half.

Wednesday’s games saw Sonoma beat the Pittsburg Diamonds, 7-1, and the Vallejo Admirals beat the San Rafael Pacifics, 7-3. But Stompers officials are preparing for the one-game playoff between the two teams. Sonoma won the first half, and in the event of a tie, the Admirals would win the second half because of a better head-to-head record.

Wednesday, bolstered by three Stompers runs in the top of the first, Sonoma starter Taylor Thurber pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits in that span.

“We’re trying to come out with a lot of momentum and when your team explodes with three runs in the first inning, you’ve got to come out with that same intensity,” Thurber said.

Thurber’s only blemish was a solo home run by Wes Wallace in the sixth, the Diamonds’ only run on the night and the third hit on Thurber’s watch. Through six, the Stompers out-hit the Diamonds 13-3.

“(Thurber) brought a great effort tonight, he kept us in the game. We had complete comfort when he went out there that he was going to get us a win today,” said shortstop Derrick Fox.

Fox recorded a hit in each of his first three at bats, one of those being a fourth-inning home run. He and Joel Carranza went back-to-back in that frame, knocking two balls over the fence to start the inning. Scott David also delivered on offense, recording three hits and driving in a run.

“There’s always the possibility we could lock it down tomorrow so we want to come in with a lot of intensity, lots of energy, and finish strong,” Thurber said.

Tuesday, the Stompers became the only team in Pacific Association history to reach 50 wins in a season with an 8-0 victory over the Diamonds.

Sonoma starter Erik Gonsalves pitched a complete-game shutout, the first of his career, to ensure a Stompers victory at a critical moment in the season.

“I try to just go one pitch at a time,” said Gonsalves.

“He pitched a hell of a game, saved our bullpen,” said left fielder Brennan Metzger. “We may need them these next couple games to grind out a couple of wins, so for him to come in there and just shut the whole thing down was awesome.”

Metzger also contributed a solo shot to left field, his fourth home run in three games. Coming into Saturday, he had hit just three HRs in 62 games on the season.

“I started watching some video of myself from a couple years ago and realized what my hand position was then, and noticed that I’ve been a little bit lower,” Metzger said. “So I tried to go back to the higher hand slot, and it’s working out really well.”

A methodical approach at the plate and solid defense also helped the Stompers stay afloat in a game in which they recorded five hits but drew 13 walks.

“That just goes to show our approach. We’re going to be patient at the plate, we’re not going to swing at bad pitches and we’

Three inning-ending double plays made for three quick innings for Gonsalves, who scattered four hits and issued three walks.

“The defense helped me out big time,” Gonsalves said. “Without those outs, I’m probably not even going in for the seventh inning.”

Tickets for a potential Championship Game at Peoples Home Equity Ballpark on Friday at 7:05 p.m. are available either at stompersbaseball.com or at the fan shop, 234 W. Napa St. in downtown Sonoma.