Pitching is paramount for Long Beach high school baseball teams

The margins of error are extra slim for local high school baseball teams this season. Top teams across the greater Long Beach area are boasting impressive young arms and improved team defense. The offense, on the other hand, is slow going so far.

“Pitchers are usually ahead of the hitters at this time of year,” Millikan first-year coach Ron Keester said. “The teams that aren’t willing to manufacture offense will struggle.”

By playing the majority of their league games in spacious Blair Field, that small-ball approach has been the name of the game for the Moore League in recent years. With a roster full of seniors, Millikan has the experience to do that and is the favorite to take the league title.

Shortstop Spencer Steer is a good example of where the Rams’ priorities lie. The Oregon commit is one of the best shortstops in the city, currently hitting .522 with six RBIs in seven games. Keester also has him tabbed as the No. 2 pitcher behind fellow senior Michael Killeen. The Rams have a 1.81 team ERA.

“He’s just a competitor on the mound and we need that,” Keester said of Steer.

Millikan also has great team speed with players such as center fielder Aaron Greenfield, who is committed to the University of North Carolina, and some pop at the plate thanks to the arrival of Gahr transfer David Balboa.

Lakewood, the reigning league champion, also has a team ERA under 2.00, thanks to the emergence of senior Matt Fields and junior Bryan Sandoval.

Wilson may have the most naturally talented arm in Long Beach in junior Zach Pettway. The hard-throwing righty has struggled with arm soreness recently, but that only reveals how strong the rest of the Bruins’ pitching staff is. Opponents are only hitting .182 against Wilson thanks to the performances of senior Jack Williford and junior Cole Fleming.

Poly’s strength is also on the mound with the retu of senior John Vozzella and the arrival of lefty Micah Wallette. The Jackrabbits also have an emerging Major Long Beach draft prospect, speedy center fielder Je’Von Ward.

“The Moore League will be a dogfight,” Wilson coach Andy Hall said. “It’s anyone’s race.”

Gahr, currently No. 2 in the CIF Southe Section Division 2 poll, is the only ranked team in the area. The Gladiators will play for another San Gabriel Valley League title with a very deep pitching staff. Lefties Chris Corral and Josh Haley are back after very successful 2015 campaigns. Haley, who has orally committed to the University of Arizona, struck out 47 batters in 47 iings last season with a 1.62 ERA. Paramount and Downey will likely be the toughest SGVL competition.

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La Mirada and Bellflower look to be the class of the Suburban League, but a rebuilt Gle squad is keen to repeat as league champion. Matadores ace Shawn Dumser pitches to contact and has a 0.84 ERA after three starts this season. Buccaneers senior Ricky Ramos has a 0.93 ERA after three starts and leads the team with only three walks in 15 iings.

Elsewhere, Los Alamitos and St. John Bosco are trying to rebound from disappointing 2015 campaigns. Both storied programs had overall records under .500 last year and Griffins coach Matt Nuez thinks his team needs to find a different attitude on offense.

“That grit and moxie at the plate is a fleeting concept,” Nuez said, referring to the recent exchange between Hall of Fame pitcher Goose Gossage and All-Star Bryce Harper. “You have to be comfortable in your own skin.”

Small schools Valley Christian and St. Anthony are also depending on emerging arms to carry them. Crusaders sophomore Brett Garcia has only given up one eaed run in 16 iings this season, striking out 21 batters. Saints freshman Andrew Donini also has given up only one eaed run in his first 11 iings.