All seemed lost for Wilson after visiting Arcadia took a 4-0 lead on Tuesday in the top of the sixth inning.
However, the Bruins bounced back to tie it up in the bottom of the frame, and win the CIF Southern Section Division 3 second-round game 5-4 on a walk-off wild pitch in the eighth inning.
“The seniors gave us pep talk in the middle of the sixth inning,” Wilson shortstop Alex Seguine said. “We had to step up for them. We knew (Arcadia) is one of the best teams in this division, and we knew we were going to beat them.”
CIF Baseball: Long Beach Wilson vs. Arcadia
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Wilson (20-11-1) travels to Bellflower on Friday for its first quarterfinals appearance since 2011 when Chase De Jong led the Bruins to the semifinals.
“I’m so proud of this team,” Wilson coach Andy Hall said. “It’s been a tough year, but they’ve gotten better and better all year, and to beat a quality opponent like this is reassuring.”
The five unanswered runs for Wilson started with a leadoff single from Nolan Ornelas. Senior Ryan Guerero also singled to right field, and then Crixtian Taveras drove a single to left field. It bounced past the left fielder, and both runners scored.
Wilson catcher Nick Mores then drew a walk, and Kyle Clothier bunted for a single to load the bases. Taveras scored on a fielder’s choice before Mores scored on a sacrifice fly from Miguel Martinez to tie the game.
After reliever Aiden Alaniz pitched perfect seventh and eighth innings, Clothier led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. He stole second with one out, took third on a single from Martinez, and scored on a wild pitch with Seguine at the plate.
Arcadia (24-3) was the No. 2 seed in Division 3.
Seguine, Clothier, Taveras and second baseman Jaylin Cannon all had two hits for Wilson. Cannon played his first game for the Bruins after transferring from Cypress and getting cleared last week.
Wilson starting pitcher Dean Kefalas stranded five base runners in the first two innings, and pitched into the fourth before Alaniz came on in relief.
