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The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser.
Long Beach Poly baseball faced off against Jordan at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field Friday evening. The Jackrabbits emerged victorious with a 12-5 win.
“I’m happy that we were able to get all but one player in the game, 24 of 25 guys,” Poly coach Martin Rodriguez said.
Poly found true success in the second inning, beginning with Sebastian Morales. His hit into left field would slip through the hands of Jordan’s outfielders and secure his spot on first base. Then, Daylen Carey’s long RBI base hit would allow Morales to round the bases, making the score 1-0 Poly. Later, an RBI knock from Izaiyah Guiterrez would send Carey home to make it 2-0 Poly. The Jackrabbits scored two more runs, closing the inning leading 4-0.
In the third and fourth innings, both teams were scoreless, and the game turned primarily defensive. Jordan ended the third with a double play, and Poly also found defensive success through starting pitcher Ryan King on the mound.
“All year our success has been pitching and defense,” said Rodriguez. “King was able to get us 12 outs, and that was huge for us.”
Jordan also found chances throughout the game through aggressive baserunning, recording a stolen base in the bottom of the third inning.
In the fifth inning, the Jackrabbits continued to grow their lead. A double from Poly’s Tate Hammond put him on second base and moved Miles Hiskey to third. Hiskey would go on to score, and later it would be Hammond and Grason Luke scoring to extend Poly’s lead to 8-0.
Jordan got in their groove and came back during the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Jordan got a hit-by-pitch when Cris Aleman was struck with the ball, allowing Sam Dixon to score for the Panthers.
The Jackrabbits changed pitchers twice in the five-run fifth inning rally for the Panthers. It culminated with Jordan’s Angel Roman delivering a two-run base hit, trimming Poly’s lead to 8-5 in the fifth frame.
Poly’s Deven Munoz would score an insurance run in the sixth and the Jackrabbits would then hold off Jordan’s attack to secure the win.
Poly will take on Wilson in an important Moore League matchup on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Blair Field. Jordan will play at Lakewood on Friday at 4 p.m.
Allison Nguyen contributed to this story
