The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
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.
With a shorthanded lineup, the Wilson bats came alive Tuesday afternoon as the Bruins defeated Long Beach Poly, 6-2 on Tuesday.
Shane Guy got the start and pitched five innings while giving up three runs and striking out eight batters. Cesar Castro finished the game with two scoreless innings while giving up two hits.
It was just the performance the Bruins needed as they deal with some lingering injuries as they prepare for the playoffs.
“As I told the guys at the end there, it’s a mark of a good team when you can win without some of your regular starters in the lineup,” Wilson coach Andy Hall said. “Russell Centanni took a stinger to his neck yesterday and unfortunately had to sit this one out today.”
The visiting Jackrabbits didn’t make it easy for the Bruins as Tate Hammond started the first with a leadoff single. Az Zuger followed that two batters later with an RBI double to give Poly a 1-0 lead. Fausto Gaxiola III followed Zuger with his own RBI single as the Jackrabbits took a 2-0 lead.
Guy got out of the jam striking out the next two batters looking to bring up the Bruins’ bats.
Wilson wasted no time responding as Jame Mirabile singled to get the Bruins on base and Nico Thiem followed with an RBI triple to cut Poly’s lead to 2-1. Penn Peters tied the game when he flied out to right field to push Thiem across. Wilson then took a 3-2 lead on a wild pitch after a wild pitch let Castro score.
“I think it’s just the approach,” WIlson’s Nico Thiem said of what the difference was at the plate for the Bruins. “When we have a good approach like we did today, it works. That’s the biggest thing for us.”
The Bruins after a Cade Miller hit a 2-run single to center field that pushed two more runs across to give Wilson a 5-2 lead after the first inning.
Each team scored a run in the second inning before Guy and Poly’s Malakai Pruitt three scoreless innings. Wilson’s Cesar Castro and Poly’s Damian Marquez each pitched shutouts in relief to finish the game.
“Cooper George has kind of been our go-to guy on the mound, but he’s been a little banged up with his wrist the last week or so. We knew we were probably going to be second place one way or the other, and we have a lot of confidence in Shane,” Hall said. “Shane fills up the strike zone. He can throw a couple of pitches to different locations, which makes it tough on hitters. Obviously, they hit the ball hard a couple of times. We overran a ball in the outfield in the first inning, and that led to a run, and then another run.”
Wilson wraps up the regular season when they take on Bishop Montgomery on Wednesday, while Poly will await their playoff journey when the CIF-SS brackets are released on Saturday.
“We’re excited for the playoffs,” Long Beach Poly coach Soloman Williams said. “We know we have a team that can go on a run. The biggest issue is we haven’t been consistent. We’ve been really good at times, then we’ve kind of fallen asleep in certain games. That’s the concern going into the playoffs, but we’re excited about the opportunity. The main things are putting the ball in play at the plate and limiting errors on defense. That’s what we’re stressing right now. We’ve just got to be consistent.”
