The Sonoma Stompers began their 2018 season with a bang, scoring 25 runs and crushing six homers in their first two games against the Martinez Clippers. Sonoma swept Martinez in the latter’s first-ever Pacific Association games before being swept in a two-game series by the Pittsburg Diamonds over the weekend.
Sunday, the Stompers lost their second straight game to the Diamonds, 8-6
The bottom half of the lineup continued to deliver, with Miles Williams and Mitchell Ho each blasting their third homer in as many games. The pair also contributed to a string of doubles that started a two-run, fourth-inning rally.
Starter and two-time Pacific Association Pitcher of the Year Patrick Conroy struck out four of the first seven batters he faced. Vijay Patel, who relieved Conroy, added five strikeouts in two-plus innings of relief.
Saturday Kenny Meimerstorf hit his first professional home run and Ho and Williams each added their second of the season, but the Stompers lost 18-3.
In an effort to conserve the Sonoma bullpen, head Coach Zack Pace sent catcher Daniel Comstock and Williams, an outfielder, to the mound in relief. The pair each pitched a scoreless inning, and Williams’ frame was punctuated by two strikeouts.
Friday, the Stompers’ overcame a six-run deficit to beat the new Martinez Clippers in a 12-9 win. Sixth-inning home runs from Ho and Eddie Mora-Loera fueled Sonoma’s comeback win.
Comstock also connected for his third homer of the season while Williams added insurance in the seventh with a dinger of his own.
“One through nine, anyone can do it at any time and that’s a big plus,” Williams said.
The Stompers offense exploded in Thursday night’s league opener, starting with a four-run first inning in which the Stompers sent nine batters to the plate en route to a 13-2 win over the Clippers. Comstock’s two home runs and six runs batted in highlighted the team’s 13-run effort.
“We communicate in the dugout. As a unit, we’re able to gain information from others. I couldn’t have done what I did without my teammates,” Comstock said. “We came in with good energy and good approaches, not trying to do too much with the baseball. We let the game come to us.”
On the other side of the ball, Stompers pitchers limited Martinez to just two runs on three hits. Together, the Sonoma staff held the Clippers hitless in all but one inning.
The Stompers will host their home opener Tuesday against the newly-minted Napa Silverados. First pitch at Palooza Park at Arnold Field is set for 6:05 p.m., with Dominic Topoozian slated to take the mound for the Stompers.
Sonoma will host the Silverados in a two-game series, Tuesday and Wednesday before hosting Pittsburg in a two-game series on Thursday and Friday.
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