Long Beach’s new pioneer league team trains and finalizes roster at LBCC’s field

Long Beach City’s new minor league baseball team, The Coast, also known by their alter ego The Regulators, used LBCC’s baseball diamond during the team’s “Spring Training” in preparation for their opening game as a way to finalize the team’s roster.

Over the week-long training experience, prospective players showed their skills off and worked with the three coaches to prove their worth and be picked for the team’s inaugural lineup, which was revealed a few days later on the day of the team’s opening game.

Coach and former MLB player Jerome Williams, who focuses mostly on pitching, admitted that choosing the lineup would be “very difficult”.

“We’re getting a week’s worth of guys to get them ready and prepare them for a season that starts next week to be at 100%. We already told the players, ‘When you’re coming in, you need to be ready to go,’ and some guys have done that and others haven’t,” said Williams. 

^{Pitcher Conner Gleissner from the Long Beach Coast gets set to throw the next pitch during spring training on May 16 at LBCC. The Coast is a new baseball team in the Pioneer Baseball League and will play its first game on June 2 at Blair Field. (Bella Schultz)}

Williams continued, “You look at a guy’s stuff, like the basics, there’s a lot of things that go into who’s ‘better’, you got to be a team guy, as of right now we look at talent and what they can bring to the team.”

The team’s inaugural roster was announced on May 19, just three days after the training week wrapped up, with twenty-six players picked to represent the Coast as part of the Pioneer Baseball League, an independent minor league comprising teams located in the western United States.

One of the players picked for the team, outfielder Eddy Pelc, noted his mantra in preparation for being picked for the team.

“Just showing up, being the same guy every day, making good memories with the team and keeping that positive energy within the games is key to winning baseball games,” Pelc said.

Catcher Thomas McCaffery, who was chosen to be part of the team’s roster, noted his experience during the Training Week as “a fun experience”. 

“I really enjoy the team I’m with right now, they’ve treated me so well here, this week’s gone by so quick” Said McCaffery.

“As a catcher, I learned a lot because I really need to build these relationships with the pitchers in order to catch them and know their games, a lot of it was building these friendships and camaraderie with them. If I make the team, I’ll be sure to take that knowledge to help the team win.” McCaffery continued.

^{Submarine pitcher Steven Ordorica from the Long Beach Coast throws a pitch during spring training at LBCC on May 15. The Long Beach Coast is in its inaugural season in the Pioneer Baseball League. (Bella Schultz)}

Though the Coast had their opening game on May 19, which they won against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds 10-6, their first few home games starting on June 2 are much anticipated by both the players and team staff.

“I’m really excited for them to win because so many of our players have been in the Pioneer League before and are really, really talented. I know we’re going to be winning a lot of games and that’s really exciting to be a part of. I’ve been pulling almost 10-hour days during this training week, so I’ve grown connected to the players and front staff,” said social media team manager Alana Johnson.

Johnson continued, “We are really excited for the inaugural Regulators night on June 5, which is our first Friday game, they’re a little later and it’s going to be really dark in the stadium. I couldn’t be more excited about that one; another one I’m excited for includes our Father’s Day game, where kids will be able to play catch with their dad and stuff.”

A menagerie of themed nights and promotional Coast events are being promoted by Johnson and the rest of the social media team in an effort to bring more fans to see the team play throughout the season.

“The community is excited, they want to be involved, even some of the fans that showed up today during the training week just to watch some drills being played, it’s been so exciting and has been an amazing experience since being part of the team since its beginning,” said Johnson.

^{Outfielder Matthew Bardowell from the Long Beach Coast is about to bat during batting practice in a spring training session on May 16 at LBCC. The Coast held spring training at Long Beach City College’s baseball field and will play its inaugural home opener game on June 2. (Alejandro Diaz Lopez)}

This community aspect has been echoed throughout the team as a major component of the team, from the players to the staff.

“We’re the LBC, that’s the city and our team name, we’re really leaning into that. It’s perfect for the city and our community, which is something really important for us,” said the assistant general manager, Jacob Benabou.

^{Long Beach Coast manager Troy Percival, middle, and assistant coaches Troy Glaus, left, and Jerome Williams, right, talk to each other during their spring training at LBCC’s baseball field on May 16. (Alejandro Diaz Lopez)}

The Coast will be having its sold-out inaugural home game against the Red Pocket Mobiles at Blair Field on June 2. Tickets for future games throughout the season can be purchased here. The team’s official Instagram page has a full list of the promotional themed nights to look forward to throughout the summer.

^{Catcher Thomas McCaffrey from the Long Beach Coast catches a pitch during spring training at LBCC on May 16. The Coast used LBCC’s baseball field for spring training, but will play its first home game on June 2 at Blair Field. (Bella Schultz)}

^{The Long Beach Coast huddles after their spring training practice to debrief on May 15 at LBCC. The Coast is in its first season in the Pioneer Baseball League and will play its first game on June 2 at Blair Field in Long Beach. (Bella Schultz)}