The562’s high school baseball and softball coverage for the 2022 season is sponsored by LBUSD Board of Education Member Megan Kerr
The CIF Southern Section baseball and softball brackets feature nine Long Beach teams looking to make a postseason run after exciting league seasons. All games at 3:15 p.m. today unless otherwise noted.
BASEBALL
In Division 2, Moore League champion Millikan has a true home game on campus in the first round as the Rams host Mission Viejo.
The Rams (20-9, 11-1) clinched their fourth league title in the last six years by beating Long Beach Poly in dramatic fashion on the last day of the regular season. After Millikan pitcher Myles Patton and Long Beach Poly pitcher Ryan Skjonsby battled through six scoreless innings, Rams center fielder Cameron Hegamin delivered a game-winning bases loaded single in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the outright Moore League title for Millikan with a 1-0 victory.
Mission Viejo (12-16) is the second place finisher out of the South Coast League. The Diablos have lost seven of their last eight games.
In Division 4, Wilson (19-9, 10-2) has a great local matchup against St. Anthony at Clark Field. Wilson coach Andy Hall is a St. Anthony alum of the Saints baseball program that has flourished under coach Kris Jondle.
“I think it will be fun for the kids on both teams,” Jondle said. “Most of the guys know each other. Is it good for (the St. Anthony baseball program)? If we win it is. But, we are the big underdog so we can play loose and free and let it all hang out.”
St. Anthony (15-13) won a share of the Santa Fe League title. The Saints have won five of their last seven games.
Lakewood is visiting Moorpark in the first round of Division 2 today after finishing third in the Moore League.
Long Beach Poly travels to Capistrano Valley Christian in the first round of Division 3 on Friday after finishing fourth in league.
SOFTBALL
Moore League champion Millikan hosts Crescenta Valley in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs today. The Rams are back-to-back league champions and Crescenta Valley is the second-place finisher from the Pacific League.
Second-place Lakewood has a fascinating local matchup in the first round of Division 3 when they visit St. Anthony at Pan Am Park. The Saints are the Del Ray League champions.
“I think we have been the best softball team in the city,” St. Anthony coach Joseph Younger said before the season. “Two years ago when we got shutdown we were ranked as a top 10 team in the country. Last year we battled with Millikan and I didn’t pitch Cano. I want to play the Moore League schools. I don’t know if it’s important to us to feel like we’re the best in the city, but we can play with those big schools.”
Third-place Long Beach Poly is also in Division 3 and travels to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame for the first round.
Wilson finished fourth in the Moore League and started the playoffs by traveling to El Rancho for a Division 3 wild card game on Tuesday. Pitcher Emily Castano took a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the Bruins, but an error and a single led to the only run of the game as Wilson lost 1-0.
