The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Wilson scored twice in the first inning and that was enough for starting pitcher Ben Howard. The senior’s compete-game performance led the Bruins to a 3-1 Moore League win over Long Beach Poly on Friday at Wilson’s Skip Rowland Field.
“I’ve played on this field for four years and I remember being here as a freshman dreaming of being on varsity, so yeah (winning on the mound here) hits harder than a game at Blair, of course.”
Howard scattered five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. He found his groove down the stretch last year and is riding that momentum featuring a naturally developing cut fastball.
“I think he believes in his own skill set and his own athletic ability. He believes he’s going to be tougher on the mound than you are at home plate. He’s one of our senior guys, and we’re starting to go that direction with the senior guys.”
Howard would have handed over the ball with Wilson leading 3-1 in the seventh inning, but asked for a chance to finish the job while going over 100 pitches.
“I feel like I’m my best competitor in the game when I’m on the mound, I just unlock a different type of personality when I’m on the mound,” Howard said.
Wilson’s 2-0 lead in the first inning was the product of walks to Rudy Carlos and James Mirabile before RBI hits from Logan Smith and Eddie Becker.
Poly starting pitcher Daylen Carey also went the distance and shook off his early control problems to strike out two and strand eight runners.
The Jackrabbits got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally started by Deven Munoz’s single. Carey drew a walk and Matthew Garcia drove in the run with a single. Wilson third baseman James Mirabile made a highlight catch of a foul ball to end the inning.
The Bruins added an insurance run in the six when
Diego Valdez singled and came around to score on a fielder’s choice.
The top four Moore League baseball teams will be at Blair Field next Friday as Wilson takes on Millikan and Poly faces Lakewood.
