The562’s high school softball coverage for the 2023 season is sponsored by Long Beach City Councilwoman Megan Kerr.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly athletics in the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by Poly alum Jayon Brown and PlayFair Sports Management.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly athletics in the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by JuJu Smith-Schuster and the JuJu Foundation.
The rumors and high expectations surrounding Long Beach Poly softball’s powerful lineup haven’t been exaggerated.
In their first Moore League game of the season on Monday, the Jackrabbits exploded for 12 hits and a pair of home runs in a 12-0 win over Wilson in five innings due to mercy rule.
“It is pretty impressive,” Poly coach Elizabeth Sanches-Martin said of her offense. “When I grew up playing softball I showed up to hit. So I’m having a really good time coaching these girls. They bring the bats. I think in our first two games we scored 24 runs.”
Poly junior Tiare Ho-Ching set the tone from the leadoff spot where she went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI.
“Our chemistry has been building and no one is playing for themselves,” Ho-Ching said. “We play as a team. We’re taking everything personally this season and we’re looking to take the Moore League title.”
Sakarah Buckner and Janelle Morris both hit home runs to the opposite field over the short but tall fence between the campus field and the tennis courts.
“I think we put in a lot of hard work,” said the freshmen catcher Morris. “I think it was really fun playing on the home field and being able to hit it out and especially hitting it oppo.”
Buckner’s 3-run home run in the first inning got Poly going, and then they put the game away with eight runs in the third inning when Morris hit her 2-run homer. She went 3-for-3 and scored twice.
“She doesn’t even know how special she is,” Sanches-Martin said of Morris. “It’s the same thing with all three freshmen. They’re amazing ball players and you’d never know. Everyone on this team is so humble, grateful and they’re just having a good time. This is supposed to be their happy place. Travel ball is a business and they’re cropped. Here they’re empowered.”
Poly freshman Kiele Ho-Ching had two hits, including a 2-RBI double, and scored twice. She and her older sister showed why they’re at the top of the lineup together with four RBI and five runs combined. They’re the daughters of Poly football legend Herman Ho-Ching.
“I’m not surprised when I see a face and they say, ‘Oh I know you,’” Tiare said of walking campus. “It’s a big thing to carry, especially in Long Beach and going to Poly. It’s a thing to live up to and it’s super exciting.”
Poly senior Daisy Martin also drove in two runs with a single in the eight-run third inning while the Jackrabbits showed incredible poise and aggressiveness at the plate all game long.
“It’s see ball, hit ball,” Sanches-Martin said of her coaching style. “I know it’s shoulders to knees and all that stuff, but I’m more like eyes to toes because if you can hit it, hit it. It’s very liberating to go up in a bunt situation and have your coach give you the green light to swing away. I know at any time any of these girls can leave the yard.”
Poly also got a great start from Nyla Springer who scattered three hits over the five innings. The senior pitcher didn’t walk a batter and struck out three.
The Jackrabbits host Millikan at Joe Rodgers Stadium next Monday in a key matchup. Wilson hosts Jordan on Tuesday.
“We just need to stay as a family,” Morris said. “That’s our main thing and our momentum stays when we play together and have fun.”
