{"id":461899,"date":"2026-09-12T19:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/461899\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T19:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:52:16","slug":"coast-bats-go-cold-in-series-tying-defeat-to-roadsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/461899\/","title":{"rendered":"Coast bats go cold in series-tying defeat to Roadsters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Strong pitching continues to define the playoff series between the Long Beach Coast and Modesto Roadsters. This time it was Modesto who stifled Long Beach\u2019s offense, winning 4-1 Friday night to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the first round of the Pioneer Baseball League playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Coast struck first on the scoreboard when Eddy Pelc hit a solo home run toward the light tower in right field in the third inning. Unlike in Game 1, where the Coast scored first and kept their lead while slowly adding to it, the Roadsters fought back with a bomb of their own and the Coast couldn\u2019t muster enough offense, combining for seven hits and two walks after the lone home run.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Coast bats had a chance to overcome a poor offensive showing when a Cooper Vest double, Jacob Jablonski hit by pitch and Pelc intentional walk gave catcher Johnny Pappas a shot with the bases loaded while down to their final out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Long Beach faithful, who didn\u2019t have much reason to cheer aside from the homer and occasional defensive gem, started to believe their team could snatch victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pappas worked the count to 2-2 but struck out swinging, stamping his 0-for-4 day and evening the series for the Roadsters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast left fielder, Eddy Pelc, celebrates as he hits a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to put the Coast up 1-0 on Sept. 11, 2026 at Blair Field. The Modesto Roadsters responded quickly with a three-run home run the next inning, foreshadowing the Roadsters win and forcing a game three with the final score 4-1. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Roadsters pitcher Kelvan Pilot was originally slated to pitch Friday\u2019s contest, but was scratched in favor of Devyn Hernandez several hours before the game. With his team on the brink of elimination, Hernandez met the moment, allowing only one earned run while pitching 7 \u2153 innings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Starting on the mound for the Coast was Nathan Hemmerling, who suffered his first loss of the year Friday night after going 9-0 in the regular season. The formerly undefeated pitcher threw 6 \u2153 innings, surrendering eight hits and four earned runs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hemmerling got off to a hot start, allowing only two singles and a stretch where he struck out three in a row in the first three innings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast starting pitcher Nathan Hemmerling began game two of divisional playoffs with three quick innings on Sept. 11, 2026. However, things quickly got out of hand after the Modesto Roadsters\u2019 designated hitter Max Handron hit a three-run home run on Hemmerling as the Roadsters beat the Coast 4-1 at Blair Field. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Roadsters center fielder Tyler Williams responded in the fourth with a double that was inches away from Emilio Corona\u2019s diving catch in center field. Next up, second baseman Leiker Figueroa reached first via a single to put runners at the corners. Then, first baseman Bryce Cannon erased a 1-2 pitcher\u2019s count by connecting for a three-run go-ahead homer. That swing was the Roadsters\u2019 first home run off Hemmerling this year, a feat they couldn\u2019t pull off in four appearances prior.<\/p>\n

In the fifth inning, the Roadsters hit two singles off two-strike counts to drive in another run, prompting a mound visit from pitching coach Jerome Williams before Tyler Williams\u2019 hot bat stepped up to the plate with two outs. Williams hit the ball toward the knees of Jacob Jablonski at first base, who was able to corral the frozen rope off the dirt, step on first for the third out and stun Williams, who made solid contact.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bryce Cannon, the Modesto Roadsters\u2019 first baseman, celebrates with his third base coach as he rounds the bases after a three-run home run on Sept. 11, 2026. Cannon\u2019s home run pushed the momentum into the Roadsters\u2019 favor as they beat the Coast 4-1 at Blair Field in the team\u2019s first-ever divisional playoff appearance. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Hemmerling\u2019s night came to an end in the seventh inning with two outs remaining after surrendering his eighth hit and an intentional walk to bring to the plate shortstop Jacob Lojewski, who has batted 5-for-31 in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Submarine pitcher Steven Ordorica steered his team out of the inning by forcing a foulout and groundout in his two at-bats. Relievers Ordorica, Ryan Faulks and Brett Wozniak combined to allow two baserunners and zero runs in the final 2 \u2154 innings to prevent further damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Brett Wozniak relief-pitched for the Long Beach Coast in the ninth inning on Sept. 11, 2026. Even though Wozniak allowed no runs in his one inning of duty, it was not enough to keep the Long Beach Coast in the game as they lost 4-1 against the Modesto Roadsters at Blair Field in the divisional playoffs. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

The defense also performed admirably to keep the Coast within striking distance all game. Right fielder Cooper Vest caught a fly ball in the eighth inning and rifled it to third baseman Benjamin Rosengard, who tagged out an advancing Williams for an inning-ending double play.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rosengard collected three of Long Beach\u2019s eight hits Friday. The remaining Coast batters combined for a .161 average.<\/p>\n

The winner-take-all Game 3 will take place Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Blair Field. Modesto\u2019s Game 3 starter is unknown, but starters who have yet to appear in the series include Ethan Rourke, Jonah Jenkins and Kelvan Pilot. Long Beach\u2019s probable pitcher is Gary Grosjean.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tickets for the deciding game can be purchased on the team\u2019s website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"JoshuaJoshua MinReporter<\/p>\n

Joshua Min is a senior journalism student at California State University, Long Beach and an assistant copy editor for the school\u2019s newspaper, the Long Beach Current. In his first month with the Current, Joshua\u2019s column \u201cFuture U ignores today\u2019s problems, leaving \u2018U\u2019 out of the picture\u201d won third place for Best Opinion Piece at the California College Media Association Awards. Aside from his copy editing duties, Joshua loves to cover sports and fill in to report on games whenever necessary.<\/p>\n

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