The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
Long Beach Poly softball star Ki’ele Ho-Ching capped off an impressive 2025 campaign winning a gold medal with the USA Women’s U-18 Softball Team at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in Oklahoma City. In the gold medal game, Ho-Ching drove in a run with a single during Team USA’s 7-2 championship win over world-ranked No.1 Japan.
Team USA’s medal marks its fifth-consecutive world championship after winning in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and now, 2025. This victory also extended a 48-game winning streak at the World Championship for the stars and stripes squad, remaining undefeated at the World Cup with victories over China, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Mexico and two wins against Japan. Ho-Ching scored three runs during the five-day stretch in the fall tournament, collecting three hits and an RBI.
Ho-Ching is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the nation, according to Prep Softball, and was one of 16 players from 10 states selected to the USA U-18 team. Her appearance makes her the first Moore League softball player to play on a USA Softball Youth National Team, according to USA Softball archives.
Ho-Ching joins the ranks of local sports icons to put on the “USA” jersey, including Lisa Fernandez, a Long Beach native who attended St. Joseph, and Tiare Jennings, a San Pedro native who attended St. Anthony. Both Fernandez and Jennings have represented the Senior National Team.
The Oklahoma commit is poised for another standout season as a senior with Long Beach Poly, leading a talented Jackrabbit squad looking to dethrone perennial Moore League champions Millikan. The Jackrabbits are coming off a CIF-SS Division 4 championship—the first in program history.
According to MaxPreps, Ho-Ching batted an astounding .500 with a .568 on base percentage last year through 11 games with Long Beach Poly. As a junior, she tallied 19 hits, 18 RBIs and 13 runs scored for the Jackrabbits.
