Facing a 3-2 count in the bottom of the second inning, Long Beach Coast slugger Thomas McCaffrey got the party started on opening night at Blair Field with one massive crack of the bat.
McCaffrey’s homer kicked off an offensive onslaught which ended with the Coast routing the Red Pocket Mobiles (1-12) on their first-ever home game 13-4. Anchored by an impressive night from offensive powerhouse Jacob Jablonski, who ended the night with 3 hits, 3 runners brought in and a home run of his own, Long Beach’s newest team certainly made an entrance in their homecoming.
“I put this team together knowing that this was the type of team it would be, and they are living up to expectations,” said manager Troy Percival after the game, adding that Jablonski has been the “centerpoint” of the clubhouse.
As if they needed more reason for celebration, the Coast (10-3) are tied for first in the Pioneer League and on a seven-game win streak. Growing pains be damned.
The sold-out crowd on Tuesday, wearing both teal LBC and black and white Regulators merch, welcomed the Coast with boisterous cheers and chants interrupted only by the sounds of classic Warren G, Tupac and Snoop Dogg songs. Families, college students and local celebrities like Marilyn Bohl and Mayor Rex Richardson all seemed to revel in one fact: pro baseball has returned to Long Beach.
“You could feel it in your bones,” Jablonksi said of his first home game. “It was juiced, and any little thing you did, it was just the roar of the crowd, so we’re living the dream and it’s just a blast … You can’t ask for anything better.”
Right-hander Brett Wozniak took the mound to start for the Coast, striking out one batter and catching a runner trying to steal in the first inning. He ended the night with 4 strikeouts and 4 runs given up across five innings. Relief pitchers Julien Hernandez and Cole Cressend also saw playing time, earning 5 and 1 strikeouts, respectively.
The Mobiles were the first to score, but McCaffrey’s homer in the bottom of the second galvanized the Coast’s offense. After getting on the board, they loaded the bases with walks from Jablonksi and Matthew Bardowell, followed by a Patrick Roche single.
Eddy Pelc and Anthony Mata both took advantage of a defensive lapse from the Mobiles, sending balls soaring into a gap in the outfield for back-to-back doubles and bringing runners home. The Coast ended the second inning up 5-1, and were just beginning their impressive performance.
When the Mobiles scored a run to start the third inning, Jablonski was quick to respond with a home run of his own, bringing McCaffrey home from first base and putting the Coast up 7-2 to start the fourth.
“We’ve just been going crazy as a team,” Jablonski said. “If it’s not me, if it’s another guy … just going down the line. I think that’s what makes a really good team, you know?”
The Coast’s defense was quick to stifle any attempts at a comeback throughout the night. A diving catch by Jablonski behind the foul line in the fourth inning was one of the loudest moments of the night, and players responded to pop flies and line drives with the ease of a team who had much more experience together than the 13 games they’ve played.
Perhaps this poise is the reason why Percival said after the game that it’s his favorite team he’s ever coached.
“First of all, they’re very talented, but they play together as a team,” he said. “Nobody gets on anybody. They make mistakes, they know it’s going to happen and they grind. I mean, if we’re down six, up eight, whatever, they just grind out every play, every at bat. I haven’t had to do a whole lot, to be honest.”
The home crowd was confident in the team’s abilities as well, with many fans trusting the ballooning lead and leaving the game early, despite its historical significance. The half that remained stayed well after the game, reveling in the win and a new reason to rep their city.
The Long Beach Coast will continue its homestand against the Red Pocket Mobiles through June 7, followed by another home series against the Modesto Roadsters from June 9-14.
Samantha Diaz
Managing Editor
Samantha is an award-winning journalist, sports fanatic and mother. She’s worked for the Signal Tribune for over three years and is passionate about covering environmental news, small businesses, mutual aid efforts and resources.
