Long Beach’s professional baseball team put its undefeated record on the line this week — and still hasn’t lost.

The club is now a pristine 1-0.

The Long Beach Coast, which was founded last year, went on the road on Tuesday, May 19, and won its Pioneer League debut 10-6 against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds at Bryant Field in Marysville. The Coast received five strong innings from starting pitcher Gary Grosjean — but it was an early offensive explosion that carried the day. Long Beach scored six runs in the first inning before three solo home runs in the second turned the season opener into an early laugher, though the Freebirds did their best to chip away at the deficit later in the game.

Taking the opener, even on the road, was the ideal start for a club that, as one of its founders said last year, has aspirations of bringing “a joyful, high-quality baseball experience to the region.”

The nascent team was established over the summer as the Long Beach Baseball Club, backed by Innovation Baseball Partners, which includes members of the Oakland Ballers ownership group. The Ballers were cofounded by Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel in 2023 after the Athletics announced their departure from Oakland. That Bay Area team has seen success, so Freedman and Carmel decided to try out the model elsewhere — and settled on Long Beach.

After a community naming contest narrowed down possible monikers for the club, the organization, in January, settled on the Long Beach Coast, with the Regulators as an alter ego that nods to the city’s hip-hop legacy. The Coast also partnered with Cal State Long Beach to play home games at Blair Field. Several previous independent professional baseball teams played at Blair Field, including the Long Beach Breakers from 2001 to 2003 and the Long Beach Armada from 2005 to 2009.

The Coast are in the independent, 12-team Pioneer Baseball League and will play nearly 100 games in 2026.

“This team reflects the heart of our city and the community that supports it,” Ena Patel, president of the Long Beach Baseball Club,” said during Long Beach’s State of the City event on Jan. 13, during which the team’s name was announced. “We’re quickly counting down to opening day, and we can’t wait to welcome you all back to Blair Field.”

The home opener is next month.

First is a 12-game road trip — beginning in Marysville.

Center fielder Emilio Corona got the Coast’s scoring started in the first inning, blasting a solo shot with one out. Third baseman Paul Winland Jr. singled in the second run of the game before back-to-back RBI doubles by Second baseman Jacob Jablonski and catcher Thomas McCaffrey made it 5-0. Shortstop Anthony Mata’s RBI single extended the lead to 6-0.

The second inning was all about the long ball.

After the lineup turned over, two-hole hitter Corona, first baseman Cooper Vest and designated hitter John Bess went yard in consecutive at bats — and just like that, it was 9-0.

The Coast wouldn’t score again until the seventh inning, thanks to an error by the right fielder.

But pitcher Grosjean held the Freebirds in check for much of the game. He went 5 innings, and while he only struck out one, he only yielded 1 run on 3 hits while walking none. The bullpen faltered in the seventh, with the Freebirds scoring five — cutting the deficit to 10-6.

That’s all Yuba-Sutter would get.

Right-hander Steven Ordorica tossed a scoreless eighth before Kristofer Bow closed it out in the ninth, giving the Coast the first win in its short history.

The Coast were scheduled to face the Freebirds again on Wednesday evening — after this publication’s deadline — in the second of a three-game set. Long Beach will then travel to Oakland for six games against the Ballers. The Coast will then head back north to finish the season-opening road trip with three more against the Freebirds.

Then they’ll finally return to Long Beach for the home opener against the RedPocket Mobiles on June 2.

To see the Coast’s 2026 schedule, visit longbeachcoast.com/sports/bsb/2026/schedule.