LONG BEACH — After being taken out of the game after just one at-bat, Lakewood senior Tanner Miramontes said he felt his emotions go down.

Then in the final inning of Lakewood’s matchup against Wilson on Friday, Lancers head coach Spud O’Neil put the center fielder back in the lineup. That move set up the winning RBI for the Lancers.

With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, senior Noah Nunez laid down a perfect bunt to reach base. With one out, Miramontes ripped a double to right-center field to drive in Nunez with the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory for Lakewood in the Moore League.

“Being taken out at my second (at-bat) brought me down a little,” Miramontes said. “But I just know how to do the job. It felt amazing, one of the best feelings ever.”

“That was awesome,” O’Neil said of Miramontes’ performance. “He’s worked very hard on his hitting, and he’s the best defensive guy in center field. I’m happy for him.”

Wilson came into the game unbeaten in Moore League play. Lakewood had lost just one game in league, a 2-1 walk-off loss to Long Beach Poly.

The starting pitchers for both teams — Wilson’s Cooper George and Lakewood’s Xavier Nunez — didn’t allow a hit until the third inning.

Things go rolling in the third, as Lakewood score two runs on singles from Anthony Rueda and Joel Melena.

The Bruins made it 2-1 when a run scored on a fielder’s choice.

Pinch runner Gabe Opp tied the game 2-2 in the fifth when Lakewood pitcher Lathan Rivas walked Eddie Becker with the bases loaded.

Wilson’s batters struggled in the last two innings against pitcher Jayden Pea, going 1 for 7.

Their sole hit was by Cesar Castro in the sixth — a double — and he was left stranded on base.

The Bruins finished the game with just two hits.

“You get two hits and it’s tough to give any pitcher the support they need to win the game,” Wilson head coach Andy Hall said. “They stole the momentum early by scoring early and we just didn’t respond at all. We’re going to have to wear this one down and figure out a way to come back.”

Prior to first pitch, Hall presented O’Neil – who is retiring after this season – with a written speech of recognition and a framed photo of the two coaches together.

“Obviously, to see this be his last year it’s bittersweet,” Hall said of the Lakewood manager. “He’s been such a stalwart in our community for so long. When I read my speech at lunch today, I almost came to tears reading it. You know, he’s a good guy.”

With Wilson’s loss and Long Beach Poly’s loss to Millikan on Friday, there are four Moore League teams – Lakewood, Wilson, Poly and Millikan – in a tie for first place.

“You know it’s a long season, so I am just taking it one day at a time,” O’Neil said. “Let’s just see where it ends up at the end.”