The Long Beach Coast came out victorious 5-1 in Game 1 of the Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) playoffs against a familiar foe in the Modesto Roadsters at Blair Field Thursday night.
After losing their last matchup against the Roadsters on Monday, the Coast bounced back by starting their first-round playoff series with a 1-0 lead.
Nick Bautista took the mound to start the Coast’s first playoff game and delivered 6 ⅓ innings, seven strikeouts and only one earned run allowed. Bautista treated the start by preparing for it like any other game, but the experience of starting a playoff game was amazing, he said.
“I just wanted to carry the energy, start us off strong,” Bautista said. “Just hopefully put us in the best spot for the championship games.”
Catcher Johnny Pappas, usually slotted to bat in the lower third of the lineup, hit in the No. 2 spot, but even that wasn’t early enough as he zipped the first pitch he saw up the middle for a base hit. Eager to score, Pappas stole second base on a full count to third baseman Benjamin Rosengard. Rosengard struck out swinging, but cleanup hitter Cuba Bess rewarded Pappas’ aggression by skying a fly ball that landed safely in front of the centerfielder’s feet, scoring Pappas.
After surrendering a run in the third inning, the Coast jumped to a 3-1 lead in the fourth after right fielder Cooper Vest turned a 1-0 pitch into a two-run home run. Bess strolled comfortably to home plate after the ball sailed past the right-field fence and congratulated the BYU product at home, while the fans at Blair Field stood and waved their rally towels.
“Just trying to see something up and put a good enough swing on it to hopefully score [Bess] from third with one out,” Vest said about his approach to the homer. “Honestly was trying to simplify it, maybe look ugly, even if that’s what it took, but just shorten it up and get that RBI home.”
Bautista got into a jam in the fifth inning after allowing a double and a walk with one out, with the meat of the Roadsters’ order coming up. Adept defense saved the Coast when shortstop Anthony Mata fielded center fielder Tyler Williams’ ground ball, stepped on second and fired a low throw to first baseman Jacob Jablonski, who trapped the bouncing bullet in time for the inning-ending double play.
“Anytime I felt myself not executing and getting out of my game plan, just reminding myself to come back to that and just settle down,” Bautista said.
Not to be outdone, the Coast offense put on their own show in the fifth. Rosengard struck the 1-1 pitch past a leaping right fielder which scored Mata from second base. Batting next, Bess matched Rosengard’s double to right field with one of his own, winning an eight-pitch battle of an at-bat. Right fielder Cole Fellows was tasked again with tracking the ball and came up short, laying out for a diving catch that popped out of his glove.
After Bautista forced an infield pop-up on his 96th pitch of the game, he was relieved by Jake Dixon and had his walk to the dugout accompanied by a standing ovation. The former MLB draft pick savored the moment.
“Oh, man, it felt amazing,” Bautista said. “I haven’t got nothing like that for years, so it felt really good.”
The next four innings saw zero scoring from either offense, ensuring a 1-0 series lead for the Coast. While not a save situation, closer Zach Voelker capped off the night with a shutout inning in the ninth. The last pitch of the game saw Fellows strike out with two men on base. Not only did his bat fail to make contact, but it slipped out of his hands and flew into the Coast dugout.
The Modesto offense was stifled all game, combining for a .233 batting average and striking out nine times on their way to one run.
The Roadsters offense was impacted by the loss of injured shortstop Osiris Johnson, a key component in their lineup. After being selected by the Miami Marlins in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of high school, Johnson made his independent league debut this year. He hit 22 home runs and stole 34 bases as a Roadster.
The Long Beach fans provided the playoff pep with a reported attendance of 1,636 by cheering relentlessly, adding to the game’s atmosphere.
“I think they brought great energy,” Vest said. “We feed off of it so it’s awesome. Hoping to see a lot more tomorrow.”
Game 2 will take place Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Blair Field. A second win in the best-of-three series would advance the Coast to the PBL Championship Series. The probable pitchers are Kelvan Pilot for Modesto and Nathan Hemmerling for Long Beach.
