The 562

Long Beach City College turned heads earlier this month with the announcement that it would be suspending its baseball program while undertaking a complete overhaul of the school’s baseball facilities. As the Vikings get ready to celebrate their 100th year of athletic competition in 2027, they will do so without an active baseball program. That news drew the ire of alumni, fans, and community members online, while leaving the current roster in a state of shock.

Changes are coming for the Long Beach City College baseball program, as the school is set to embark on a complete renovation of its baseball facility over the next few years. Earlier this month, LBCC announced plans to suspend their baseball program while undergoing a complete overhaul of their on-campus field, turning it into a “state-of-the-art” complex upon the program’s return. According to LBCC Athletic Director Kal Stewart, the renovation project is expected to cost between $18-19 million.

The Millikan Football program has made a habit of putting together competitive schedules against some of the most talented teams in the area, and this fall will be no exception. With the changes coming to Moore League Football–and Cabrillo and Compton headed to the associated Hub City League–there’s two extra Friday nights for head coach Romeo Pellum to use to challenge his team, and he’s put together the most consistently challenging slate of his tenure with the Rams.

A pair of local pitchers were selected in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft last Sunday afternoon. Recent Millikan alum Daunte Bell II went in the 14th Round to the Milwaukee Brewers, while Lakewood alum Diego Gutierrez was taken in the 17th Round by the Baltimore Orioles out of the University of San Diego. Bell is the two-time Moore League Pitcher of the Year, going 9-4 as a senior with a 0.67 ERA. He also struck out 100 batters while allowing just nine walks in his 83.2 innings pitched.

The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins. A program in search of stability has turned to one of its own to lead the way, as Long Beach Poly has named Davis Towne as its new head baseball coach. Towne called it a “full circle moment” going through the interview process, and said he’s excited to be back at his alma mater.

Baseball is a common American pastime. As our country developed, so did the sport – and it continues to grow as more time passes. The ceiling continues to rise, and more ballplayers are stepping onto the field. Young women are trailblazers in the sport, and some of those stars are representing local cities on national stages.

As residents enjoy a relaxing summer in Long Beach, the scenic shoreline of the city is buzzing with excitement as they prepare for a major athletic event to return to the city. After a record-breaking race in 2025, the Supertri Long Beach, formerly known as the Long Beach Legacy Triathlon, is returning to the city July 19.

Long Beach sports fans eager to become a part of the LA 2028 Olympics (which will include several events taking place in the city) will soon have a chance to apply to volunteer at the Games. The LA28 Volunteer Crew application window opens Tuesday, July 14 at LA28.org, at which point fans can fill out the online application to help put the Games on.

With the Villa Riviera and the Queen Mary providing a picturesque backdrop at Alamitos Beach, the Association of Volleyball Professionals returned to Long Beach for Week 5 of AVP League action. The Miami Mayhem turned in a dominant weekend, going 4-0 behind two pairs with Olympic aspirations. Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft, along with Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh, each earned victories to keep Miami in contention for the AVP League Championship Weekend.

A standout debut campaign has continued to pay dividends for Millikan alum and Texas Longhorn Anthony Pack, who was recently selected to USA Baseball’s 2026 Collegiate National Team. Pack is currently competing in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan, which runs from July 11-15. This year’s National Team features players from 21 schools across five US-based conferences.