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.
The start of the 2025 baseball season is also the dawn of a new era for Long Beach Poly’s baseball program, one they hope will be marked by success and also stability. The last two years saw coaching changes, field shutdowns, and tension (if not outright strife) between the program’s booster club and school administration. The Jackrabbits have their leader for the future in first-year coach Soloman Williams, who’s happy with the state of the program and optimistic about the next steps.
“There’s always going to be disagreements taking over a new program but no, 99.9% of it has been very supportive and communicative, with the administration and with the parents,” said Williams. “The main thing I ask for is communication. I communicate what I need and ask for the same back–that line of communication has been open and I’m super happy with it.”
One of those initial hurdles was over the shutdown of Gwynn Family Field, Poly’s historic on-campus baseball field, which will be unavailable for several years due to campus construction. The Jackrabbits are practicing at LBCC and at Long Beach State’s campus field, and hosting home games at historic Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
“The administration has been great at communicating, the parents have a carpool system, it hasn’t been bad,” said Williams. “Once we’re on the fields we’re having amazing practices as well–it’s much more efficient than using Poly with three teams and sharing with soccer and lacrosse and everyone, the boys love it.”
For all of the ups and downs of the program, it’s been a historically successful stretch for the Jackrabbits, who are winners of three of the last five Moore League titles (with Millikan winning in 2022 and 2024). Last year the Jackrabbits finished third in league and return first-team All-Moore League studs in junior Tate Hammond, who has a big bat and plays second base, and shortstop Izaiyah “Z” Gutierrez.
Williams said he has a team with strong pitching and defense that will have to come along offensively throughout the season.
“If we can find nine guys to have tough at bats consistently, we’re going to be a good team,” he said. “That’s the last step for us. We’ve got a lot of seniors and juniors who can pitch and defend. I’d rather have what we have than the opposite–pitching and defense is something you can trust more on a given day.”
Leading the way on the mound are a pair of pitchers who stand up with anyone else in the league: senior Daylen Carey and junior Ryan King.
Carey is stepping into a starring role after getting some chances to contribute in spots last year–he has a good fastball and at 6-2 is a blooming athlete who can throw five or six pitches for a strike.
“For how calm he is as a human being he competes on the mound, he gets some fire to him,” said Williams. “He’s starting to get looks and offers, he’s really showing his upside.”
King has already been a name on the prospect lists for a while because of his velo, and is a tall pitcher with a very bright future.
“He’s getting a lot of looks, he’s got a power fastball everyone loves and he can spin it really well,” said Williams. “The movement and spin are there, that’s what college coaches like about him. He’s a quiet kid who competes really hard.”
Behind them is a sturdy defense with an athletic, proven middle infield in Gutierrez and Hammond, both of whom Williams has high hopes for this season. The catcher will be sophomore Caleb Safotu, a rare youngster on a team full of seniors and juniors. Giovanni Migliazza (1B) and Deven Munoz (3B) will play the corners, with Antonio Yepez, Damian Marquez, Fausto Gaziola, and Victor Gonzales all getting time in the outfield.
Gutierrez agrees with his coach’s assessment about the team’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I’m excited, the team is looking good, our defense is going to be on lock,” he said. “The energy is really good this year. I definitely think our defense will be our strength.”
Williams is bullish about Poly’s future and excited about taking the next steps with the Jackrabbits.
“With what Poly has to offer even outside of sports–academically, historically–you’re always going to get top kids at Poly,” he said. “That’s where we’re at right now, that’s where I see it continuing to go.”
Long Beach Poly Starting Lineup
P – Daylen Carey, Sr. / Ryan King, Jr.
C – Caleb Safotu, So.
1B – Giovanni Migliazza, Sr.
2B – Tate Hammond, Jr.
3B – Deven Munoz, Sr.
SS – Izaiyah Gutierrez, Sr.
LF — Antonio Yepez, Sr.
CF – Fausto Gaxiola, Jr
RF – Damian Marquez, Jr. / Victor Gonzales, Sr.
