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.
It was the end of the road for a special group at Long Beach Poly, as the Jackrabbits had their hands full against Moorpark at Long Beach City College on Thursday in the CIF-SS Division 2 first round. The visiting Musketeers strung together a handful of rallies to build a lead, while the Jackrabbits couldn’t get anything going at the plate in a 5-1 loss.
“Today, we could’ve battled a bit better. Some of our girls were a little anxious and swung at the first pitch instead of seeing more pitches, but I can’t say I’m disappointed because we’ve always played with an aggressive mindset offensively,” said Poly coach Elizabeth Sanches. “I think we could’ve beat that team, but like I said, I have faith in God’s plan. Our girls have His favor, and in times like this I just lean back on my faith.”
Thursday marked the final high school game for a handful of seniors who made a huge impact on the program over the last four years. The group played a major role in helping the Jackrabbits capture the first CIF softball championship in program history a year ago, and Sanches became emotional while reflecting on her seniors after the game.
“I just love them. I told them before this game that it’s already been written,” she said. “We’re just walking along our destiny and buying into the program and the fact that we have no control. There’s a plan, and that plan is bigger than us. I saw tears and emotions, and I hope it’s really not about the loss today because it’s so much more than that. I’ve spent four years with these girls, and I know they’re going to do nothing but thrive and change this world for the better.”
It was a closer game than the score indicated, as the Jackrabbits allowed just three earned runs while surrendering the other two off a pair of errors. Moorpark got a rock-solid start from Kiley Finnerty on the other side though, as the senior pitched five scoreless innings while recording 14 of her 15 outs via defensive putouts.
The Musketeers recorded all nine of their hits during that five-inning stretch, as junior Payton Holliday broke open the scoring with an RBI single in the top of the third. Rylee Jenkins followed with an RBI single in the fourth to double the lead before Christianna Ababseh drove in another run with a double in the fifth.
Moorpark got some help from defensive mistakes after Ababseh’s extra-base hit, as the Musketeers pushed across two more runs in the inning off errors on throws to first base. Poly walked out of the fifth inning already facing a five-run deficit.
Other than the three earned runs, the Jackrabbits got a strong outing from junior pitcher Tegan Breaux, who helped minimize what could’ve been longer rallies from Moorpark. One example came in the fourth inning after she allowed her third run before recording an out. With the bases loaded, Breaux then induced a pop up before striking out the next two batters to escape the jam.
Breaux finished with seven strikeouts on the afternoon while walking just a pair, and helped give the Jackrabbits a chance to chip away at Moorpark’s lead as she retired the final seven batters she faced.
Poly finished with six hits but failed to string any together as a result of making lots of weak contact. The Jackrabbits’ lone run came in the sixth inning, when senior Alayna Veavealagi smacked a triple before scoring on a wild throw to third base. That was the only trouble Moorpark relief pitcher Viviana Ramirez faced, as she retired the final five Poly batters en route to the win.
Moorpark will advance to the second round where it will face the winner between Aliso Niguel and St. Joseph on Saturday.
