The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Wednesday afternoon couldn’t have been more of the opposite of Wilson’s first matchup with Lakewood, when the Lancers delivered a game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to throw a wrench in the Moore League standings.
This time it was Wilson trailing in the seventh inning at Lakewood, when Nico Thiem hit a leadoff single to spark a rally for the Bruins, who trailed by a run. Two outs and two strikes later, Penn Peters delivered an RBI single to tie the game, finding contact on what could’ve been the final pitch of the game.
That’s when sophomore Cesar Castro stepped to the plate one at-bat later, sending a ball to shallow left field for an RBI double to score the game-winning run. The Bruins’ newfound lead was their first of the game, and they held on through the bottom of the seventh to secure a 5-4 victory.
“That last game we lost against them was emotional, and we wanted to win today,” Castro said after the game. “My approach in that final at-bat was to stick it up the middle and try not to do too much. Not a lot of kids get to play this game, and not a lot of kids get to feel that pressure. I just felt like I had to take advantage of it.”
Wilson ace Cooper George got the start on the bump and didn’t have his sharpest outing, but found solid relief from a pair of fellow left-handers. Agi Chandler pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts before Shane Guy closed out the final two innings, allowing just one hit while racking up six strikeouts.
“I think the right team won, and I’m glad that we finally showed up at the end of the game to get it done,” said Wilson coach Andy Hall. “I’m glad that [Chandler] was able to come in and do a good job and the same thing with [Guy]. They both came in, they wanted the ball and they went and competed.”
It was also the final longtime battle for Hall with Lakewood coach Spud O’Neil, who plans to retire at the end of the season. The pair combine for over 1,500 career wins and made the Moore League the first in California history to have two coaches with 600 or more career wins after Hall achieved the mark in 2024.
“It always feels good to beat Lakewood whether it’s his first game or his last game, but I’m sad because I think Spud is a tremendous human being and I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to coach against him,” Hall said. “It is a little bittersweet to lose a guy like Spud who’s been around for 100 years, but I don’t doubt that he’ll still be around.”
Lakewood opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Nate Gallegos reached on an error and Adrian Orozco drew a walk. Sophomore Joel Melena followed by ripping a two-RBI double to center field, driving in both Gallegos and Orozco to give the Lancers an early two-run lead.
The Bruins didn’t respond until the top of the third inning, when James Mirabile doubled and advanced to third on an error. George then drove him in with an RBI sacrifice fly to cut the lead in half.
Lakewood immediately replied with another two-run inning in the bottom of the frame, as Gallegos singled before being driven in by Anthony Rueda on a deep shot to center field. Two at-bats later, Victor Rodriguez smacked a single down the right field line to score Rueda and bring Lakewood’s lead to three.
Wilson brought the game within a run in the top of the fourth inning as Eddie Becker drew a walk and Castro singled before Becker scored on an error. With help from Chandler and Guy on the mound, the Bruins were able to stay within striking distance until their final opportunity in the seventh inning.
That’s when Castro capped off the afternoon with his game-winning double, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Thiem went 2-for-4 with a run, while Peters and Miller each had one hit and one RBI.
Lakewood’s Rueda finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI, while Rodriguez also had a pair of hits and drove in a run.
Wilson will continue its Moore League schedule against Long Beach Poly on Tuesday while Lakewood will host Jordan on Friday.
