Long Beach City College’s baseball team showed progress throughout the 2018-2019 season having an overall record of 28-17 and earning a spot in the playoffs.
The Vikings had a slow start at the beginning of the season but the team was able to fix their offense and defense issues and managed to win in the conference.
Despite the team having a few players with minor injuries they made it through the season while having minor setbacks.
“We all felt committed to get the win,” freshman pitcher and infielder Noel Soto said, “we were all hungry for that playoff spotlight.”
Soto made 14 hits, 10 runs, one home run and averaged hitting .255 with an on base percentage of .317.
Head coach Casey Crook entered his 26th season and in the end was proud of the teams outcome.
“This team definitely built their personnel with each other and worked extremely good as a team,” Crook said.
After making it to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), the Vikings won their first game against Ventura College with a score of 3-1, but lost the second game with a score of 5-0 at Ventura.
In the following game the Vikings took the win with a score of 12-3.
Making it to CCCAA Super Regionals at Orange Coast, the team lost both games which put a final end for the Vikings baseball team.
This year the team came out eager to get better week by week and grow as a team because they didn’t make it to the playoffs last year.
Sophomore Infielder Travis Aversa, felt great about coming back this year and being able in the playoffs.
“I definitely think this year’s team was a lot closer and that played a big part in our success versus last year,” Aversa said.
“The group of freshmen are very talented, they looked up to a team that came out and always competed on the field.”
This season, Aversa had 31 runs, 57 hits, an averaged hitting of .320 and an on base percentage of .393.
Aversa will not be returning next year, but is confident in next year’s team and what the team will bring.