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.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
Long Beach Poly junior Neil Morris wasn’t in the lineup to start the Jackrabbits’ big Moore League showdown with Lakewood on Friday at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. But the power-hitting Morris spent the game getting ready for a big moment, and he delivered. Morris hit a leadoff triple in the bottom of the seventh and ended up scoring the walkoff run in a 2-1 victory.
Asked how he stayed focused all game so he’d be prepared for a winning moment, Morris just smiled.
“Honestly it’s really just cheering on my teammates,” he said. “If I stay cheering all my teammates, then I know I’m in the game and I’m with them. If I’m with them and they’ve got my back, then I know I’ll be ready.”
Morris said was hunting fastball and when he saw it, he knew what to do with it, smacking a two-hopper to the wall in left center. As he was rounding the bases he said he didn’t take any time to enjoy the moment.
“I’m just thinking you got a bit hit, don’t mess anything up, get there safe,” he said.
The hit ended up being the game-changing moment for the Jackrabbits. AZ Zuger drew a walk, then UCLA commit Tate Hammond was intentionally walked to bring up catcher Caleb Safotu with the Lakewood infield in. Safotu hit a chopper that was fielded cleanly by the shortstop, but the throw home was high bringing the catcher up off the plate and allowing Morris to slide in for the winning run.
The win keeps Poly unbeaten in the young Moore League season and gives them a big win at Blair in many of their key players’ first time playing a significant game at the historic facility.
“I was proud of the way we played,” said Poly coach Soloman Williams. “I would chalk up the lack of hitting to the first game at Blair, whether it’s the size of the field or just the overall feeling and pressure of this field, it’s hard to hit–and we found a way to win. I thought we played a good baseball game all around.”
Both starting pitchers were efficient, as Poly’s Malakai Pruitt went six innings on the bump, with four hits, two strikeouts and two walks. Lakewood’s Xavier Nunez went 4.1 innings with two hits, one strikeout and three walks.
The Lancers struck first in the top of the fifth. Nate Gallegos led things off with a single deep in the hole. Tanner Miramontes rolled into a fielder’s choice that saw Gallegos out at second, but the throw to first was high allowing Miramontes to reach. A fly out was the second out of the inning, but a single by Nate Gallegos moved Miramontes to second, and then Anthony Rueda’s line drive single to center scored him from second to put Lakewood up 1-0.
The Jackrabbits answered in the bottom of the fifth. Manny Gonzales drew a leadoff walk from Nunez, then Will Trunnelle reached on error, and Zuger hit an infield single, loading the bases with just one out for UCLA commit Tate Hammond.
It wasn’t the grand slam highlight kids dream about, but Hammond put together a Division 1 at-bat as he saw nine pitches, eventually fighting to an RBI walk that tied the game. Lathan Rivas then got up on the mound and got two strikeouts to end the inning.
The two teams just had seven hits between them in the game, and it felt like it could have gone into extras and possibly lasted a long time, especially after some nice defensive plays by Hammond, Gallegos and third basemen Rueda and and Zuger, and Poly center fielder Evan Bagley.
But Poly relief pitcher Trunnelle plunked Nunez to start the top of the seventh, and he reached second on a grounder by Rueda. A fly-out ended the chance and gave Poly their walkoff shot in the bottom of the frame.
The leadoff triple from Morris changed the game, and potentially the season for Poly in the always tightly-contested Moore League.
“Even days before this game I was just thinking about, ‘Man I want to do something at Blair for my first game,’” said Morris. “Luckily it happened, and I’m just thankful for everything.”
Pruitt drew high praise from his coach for the job he did managing the game on the mound.
“It was a typical Malakai Pruitt start, he filled it up for us,” said Williams. “Their lineup impressed me–they put together tough at bats. Malakai gave our defense a chance and they made some good plays behind him.”
Pruitt admitted he had some nerves about making the big start for the Jackrabbits.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous,” he said with a laugh. “I told coach I was ready to start on Friday. I just listened to my music, talked to my friends and got some jokes in, just staying in my zone trying to stay loose.”
Poly (8-4, 2-0) will host St. Anthony Monday back at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field and resume Moore League play at Cabrillo Wednesday and at Millikan Friday. Lakewood (3-10, 1-1) will host Compton and visit Wilson Wednesday and Friday next week.
