{"id":480001,"date":"2026-09-30T02:26:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T02:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/480001\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T02:26:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T02:26:18","slug":"despite-championship-loss-coast-outlook-is-trending-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/480001\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite championship loss, Coast outlook is trending up"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s never easy for a new professional baseball team to win immediately. Instead of building upon prior seasons, everything is built from scratch \u2013 from the coaching staff to the players. Results can be unpredictable when a new roster comes together and has little time to build chemistry, but the Long Beach Coast front office managed to bridge that gap.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fifteen Coast players played together as members of the Idaho Falls Chukars last year. The Chukars reached the Championship Series in 2025 and held a 2-0 series lead, but lost to the Oakland Ballers in five games. The first five hitters in the Chukars\u2019 Game 5 lineup played pivotal roles for the Coast in 2026. If you had to gut one team\u2019s roster, the squad that led the Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage might be a good start.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cherry on top, however, was signing the manager who coached all of those players: Troy Percival. Percival\u2019s arrival had extra significance, considering he was an elite closer for the geographically closest MLB team, the then-Anaheim Angels, and recorded the final out in the team\u2019s 2002 World Series-clinching victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast Manager, Troy Percival, speaks with the team inside the dugout just before spring training ends on May 12, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

A year after that PBL Championship Series loss, Percival brought his corps back to the same stage. Unfortunately, his squad came up short again, this time in a two-game sweep against the Billings Mustangs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Percival brought big-league names on his coaching staff. His hitting coach was Troy Glaus, the Angels\u2019 2002 World Series MVP and 11-year Major Leaguer Jerome Williams was the pitching coach. Many of the team\u2019s players credited the coaching staff<\/a> with their development throughout the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the final result, the Coast should be proud of their inaugural season, especially after reaching some high marks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After an ordinary 3-3 start, the Coast vaulted into contender status by winning 22 of their next 25 games. During that span, Long Beach averaged 10.08 runs per game while allowing 5.6 and their three losses came by one run.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That stretch helped the team clinch the first-half pennant and secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They did, however, finish a half game back behind the Mustangs for the top overall record, which awarded home-field advantage in the Championship Series to Billings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That set the stage for the biggest win of the season, which occurred during the first round of the Pioneer League Playoffs at Blair Field, the Coast\u2019s first-ever playoff game and it came down to a game 3 win-or-go-home match against the Modesto Roadsters. The Coast rose to the occasion and beat the Roadsters<\/a> 6-3 to send the Coast to the championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast Centerfielder Emilio Corona pops a bottle of champagne with his Long Beach Coast teammates as they celebrate a 6-3 win against the Modesto Roadsters on Sept. 12, 2026. The Coast will play the Billing Mustangs for game 1 of the championship series on Sept. 15 at 6:35 p.m. at Blair Field. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

The second half of the season saw individual players get their shine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outfielder Eddy Pelc transformed into a prototypical leadoff hitter, breaking the PBL record for walks in a season.<\/a> His 120 walks shattered the old record of 86, which stood for 55 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outfielder Emilio Corona displayed a rare combination of power and speed by hitting 27 home runs and stealing 50 bases. In addition to leading the league in stolen bases, he became the first player in PBL history to record a 25\/50 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Closer Zach Voelker shut down opposing offenses with 71 strikeouts over 51 innings and a league-record 22 saves.<\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast left fielder Eddy Pelc celebrates as he hits a solo home run to put the Coast up 1-0 on Sept. 11, 2026 at Blair Field. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast center fielder Emilio Corona puts up the \u201crock on\u201d sign as he celebrates his three-run home run on Sept. 1, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast closer Zach Voelker gets Modesto Roadsters outfielder Lucas Terilli to pop up to center field on Sept. 1, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

The star power was good enough to propel this team to the Championship Series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now they just have to build off of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, the race for next year\u2019s title has added another competitor \u2013 Orange County Baseball Club.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Starting next year, the PBL will expand to include a team based in Irvine,<\/a> which has yet to be officially named. This addition places a second team in Southern California, setting up a natural rivalry between the two clubs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Coast right handed pitcher, Gary Grosjean, signs posters for fans and gives out rosters for fans to keep on June 2, 2026 at Blair Field. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

A Farewell to Arms<\/p>\n

Per PBL eligibility rules, players on an active roster shall have completed no more than two prior years of professional baseball experience. As one of the older teams in the league, the Coast will be affected by these rules to some degree. Each club is allowed to designate one position player and one pitcher as \u201cfranchise players\u201d as an exception.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Notable names who have accrued the maximum service time include Jacob Jablonski (SS\/OF), Benjamin Rosengard (3B), Steven Ordorica (RHP) and Gary Grosjean (RHP).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Percival, who has a large voice in personnel decisions, has a keen eye for talent. Even with the potential loss of impact players, the seasoned PBL manager has a proven track of bringing in talent to his squad. In back-to-back seasons, Percival has managed and lost the final game of the PBL calendar, but it\u2019s a matter of when, not if, his club will be the last one standing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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