Fans of Long Beach Coast attend the inaugural opening day at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
LONG BEACH — The long wait is finally over. The city of Long Beach debuted its newest professional baseball team, the Long Beach Coast of the Pioneer League, Tuesday night in front of a sold-out crowd.
Bohl Diamond at Blair Field transformed its black and gold Dirtbags’ colors for the Coast’s turquoise, white and black as fans filled the stands to welcome the team home.
The Coast thrashed the RedPocket Mobiles 13-4, picking up their seventh consecutive win in the first of a six-game series.
Manager Troy Percival, left, and the Long Beach Coast compete against the RedPocket Mobiles in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Coast’s Brett Wozniak throws a strike against the RedPocket Mobiles during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Long Beach Coast’s Patrick Roche tags out RedPocket Mobiles’ Gianni Horvat during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Coast’s Jacob Jablonski celebrates after scoring against the RedPocket Mobiles during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Mayor Rex Richardson throws the ceremonial first pitch during the Long Beach Coast’s inaugural opening day at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Travis and Denise Baker cheer for Long Beach Coast during a Pioneer Baseball League game against RedPocket Mobiles at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Coast and RedPocket Mobiles compete in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Long Beach Coast’s Jacob Jablonski tags out the RedPocket Mobiles’ Marco Martinez during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Coast’s Jacob Jablonski scores against the RedPocket Mobiles during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Coast’s Jacob Jablonski celebrates after scoring against the RedPocket Mobiles during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Long Beach Coast’s Jacob Jablonski tags out RedPocket Mobiles’ Marco Martinez during a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Coast and RedPocket Mobiles compete in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Manager Troy Percival, right, and the Long Beach Coast compete against the RedPocket Mobiles in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans of Long Beach Coast attend the inaugural opening day at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans of Long Beach Coast attend the inaugural opening day at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, six-year-old Atlas Dillinger and Jon Dillinger attend Long Beach Coast’s inaugural opening day at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans of Long Beach Coast attend the inaugural opening day at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Manager Troy Percival, left, and the Long Beach Coast compete against the RedPocket Mobiles in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Manager Troy Percival and the Long Beach Coast compete against the RedPocket Mobiles in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Coast’s Thomas McCaffrey is introduced before competing against the RedPocket Mobiles in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Manager Troy Percival, left, and the Long Beach Coast compete against the RedPocket Mobiles in a Pioneer Baseball League game at Blair Field in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The team opened the year with a 12-game road trip, getting off to a 9-3 record before their home opener led by manager Troy Percival.
“I absolutely loved everything about tonight. I’ve coached against Long Beach in college here and they have great fans,” Percival said. “But tonight was another level. It was absolutely a great environment to play.”
The 56-year-old skipper spent 14 years in the MLB, primarily with the Angels before becoming the manager of the Coast this year.
He’s led the Coast to a hot start, currently sharing second place in the Pioneer League standings alongside the Glacier Range Riders.
The team quickly won the hearts of the city.
After giving up a run in the second to the Mobiles, Long Beach responded with five runs.
The rally was sparked by a solo home run by Thomas McCaffrey.
The pouring continued in favor of Long Beach, as they scored eight more runs in the third, fifth, sixth, and eight innings to complete the 11-run night.
Second baseman Jacob Jablonski shined in the debut, going 3-for-3 with a two-run home run, a two-run triple and a single.
“I think we won as soon as the game started,” Jablonski said. “We’ve just been going crazy as a team. If it’s not me, it’s another guy, just going down the line. You could feel the crowd in your bones, we’re living the dream.”
“He’s a pleasure to have on a team, he’s so enjoyable, he’s talented,” Percival said of Jablonski. “He can hit the ball as hard as anybody I’ve ever seen, you saw that tonight.”
The Mobiles managed to score three more runs, one in the third and two in the fifth, but were shut down late in the game.
The Coast’s three pitchers Brett Wozniak, Julien Hernandez and Cole Cressend, combined to strike out nine hitters.
“This team is going to play the same way, win, lose, or draw. It’s just the brand of baseball I expect,” Percival said. “This is where you are going to come to watch exciting baseball and good fan involvement.”
Long Beach will continue its home stand with eleven more games to played at Blair Field.