Three Coast Batters Record Four Hits in Matinee Win at Oakland

OAKLAND, CA – The Long Beach Coast (20-6) blasted by the Oakland Ballers (12-14) in an 18-5 drubbing on Wednesday afternoon. Right fielder Matthew Bardowell led the charge with Long Beach’s first-ever five-hit performance, while catcher Derek Laferriere and first baseman Cooper Vest followed up with four knocks, each.

Vest’s first hit began the scoring barrage with a first inning double. The Utah-native and Bardowell would both homer in the fourth. Second baseman Jacob Jablonski and Bardowell both doubled twice during the contest, as well. Vest tied the L.B.C. single-game high for RBIs with six. Every Coast batter reached base with all besides shortstop Tyler Young doing so twice.

The third inning three-spot included the first professional hit for two-way lefty Jaxon Byrd, a two-run single to right field. Hit and walk carousels produced a pair of five-run frames in the seventh and ninth.

On the mound, starter Nathan Hemmerling cruised to his second win with six innings where he stared down only one run on four hits with eight strikeouts. Relievers Jake Dixon and Ricky Tibbett combined to allow four runs over 1.1 innings, but right-handers Ryan Faulks, Julien Hernandez, and J.J. Almeda proceeded to shutout the B’s across the rest of the eighth and ninth frames.

The series finale in Oakland takes place at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday. After that rubber match, the Coast return home on Friday, rebranding as the Long Beach Regulators for the evening, to begin a weekend series against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:35 p.m. PDT, the Beach Ball Pre-Game Report on the Home Team Network kicks off at 6:15 p.m., and gates open to the public at 5:05 p.m.

Jesse Cook