The562’s coverage of Vikings athletics is sponsored in part by Long Beach City College.
The Long Beach City College baseball team has been one of the most consistent programs at the junior college over the last three decades. That’s due in large part to the even-handed leadership of head coach Casey Crook, who is going into his 31st year coaching the Vikings. LBCC, which finished ranked No. 18 in the state last year, has won 678 games, nine conference titles, and one state championship under Crook, who freely admits he may have more seasons in the rearview mirror than he does in the windshield.
“I don’t have a target date (for retirement), I know it’s not 10 more years, but I think it’ll hit you when it hits you, that’s what people tell me right now,” said Crook. “I still enjoy it. I really enjoy the competition and the players on the team. I admit, I don’t think I get as excited for another season as I did 20 years ago, but I do think I’m a better coach than I was then too.”
That’s how the Vikings were able to navigate a season in 2023 where half the pitching staff got injured, but LBCC still managed to find their way into the state playoffs.
The Vikings finished 20-22 last season and sent their top players off to the next level. This year they’ll feature fresh pitching talent, but returning talent around the field. Of course the other reason for LBCC’s success, behind Crook’s steady leadership, is the deep talent base in the area. LBCC has always been a true hometown team and this year is no different, as the Vikings boast 12 players from Long Beach and Lakewood.
LBCC is off to a 7-3 start and will open conference play Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (at home at noon) against Pasadena City.
The Vikings feature a young pitching staff, with freshmen Royce Roberts, Dylan Proust, and Myles Dismute getting the starts in a three-man rotation and Max Sasaki, Brian Pham, Benjamin Dorantes, and Jay Carr making up a big chunk of the bullpen staff. Crook also praised the work of pitching coach Josh Frye, a Millikan and Long Beach State alum who was hired this season to work with the team’s bullpen.
The Vikings are deep this year and will utilize a lot of talent, but they do have a core of solidified starting talent. In center field will be Wilson grad Xander McLaurin who got off to a hot start offensively this year, and Lakewood alum James Provencio looks good at third. Olin Snakenborg is the team’s shortstop, and Reef Danner its everyday second baseman, also currently leading the team in batting average at .375. The catcher will be Luke Davis, and at first base will be Millikan alum Ryan Geck.
Geck is a good defensive first baseman and a terror at the plate, where he uses is 6-5, 230 pound frame to produce a lot of power. Ten games into the season Geck is batting .318 with four homers, 15 RBIs, and is slugging .659.
Crook feels his team has the top-end talent and the depth to contend this year.
“We expect to compete for a conference championship,” he said.
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