Coast Avoid Sweep in Final Yuba-Sutter Road Series

MARYSVILLE, CA – The Long Beach Coast (32-10) avoided their first opposing sweep with a 13-8 series finale against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (14-28) on Sunday afternoon.

The Coast batsmen were eager to start strong, scoring 10 runs in the first three innings, causing Freebirds starter Ryan Velazquez to exit the game after throwing 64 pitches in two complete innings. Prior to Sunday, the Coast had only scored two runs in the first three innings of either of the first two losses that began the series. 

With the early run support, Coast starter Nathan Hemmerling kept Freebirds offensive innings brief. Hemmerling faced ten batters in his inaugural three frames, with the only baserunner allowed in the form of a leadoff home run to Freebirds first baseman Andrew Kirchner.

The majority of the Coast’s early nine-run advantage came from a six-run rally in the top of the second when the offense batted around. The final runs for the Coast that inning plated on a two-run home run by center fielder Emilio Corona, tying Cuba Bess for the team lead with his 13th home run of the season.

Yuba-Sutter began their offensive comeback in the fourth and sixth innings when Hemmerling served two home runs resulting in five runs on the Coast starter’s line. The second home run led to Hemmerling’s eventual exit without recording an out in the bottom of the sixth inning. In Hemmerling’s seven starts and nine appearances on the mound for Long Beach this season, he had not given up a home run until Sunday, when he allowed three to the Freebirds – two off the bat of Kirchner.

Freebirds reliever Drew Aguiar aided the momentum shift during the late comeback in the sixth and seventh innings, striking out the side in the top of the seventh heading into stretchtime.

Nick Bautista, a common starter in the Coast rotation, came out of the bullpen in a long relief effort following Hemmerling’s exit in the sixth. Bautista gave up a lone run to the Freebirds in the bottom of the seventh in his 2.1-inning appearance. The run allowed by Bautista would be the final of the game for Yuba-Sutter.

Coast closer Zach Voelker locked down the final five defensive outs of the game, holding a four-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. Coast first baseman Cooper Vest hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth for an extra run of insurance, allowing Voelker the chance to close the game out in the bottom of the ninth.

Voelker loaded the bases with no outs, but the following three Freebirds in the lineup were retired in order, leaving the three Yuba-Sutter baserunners stranded to end the game and secure the victory.

The final series for Long Beach visiting Marysville in the 2026 regular season ended on a high note for the visitors, despite the first two games of the series going to the Freebirds. Prior to the Independence Day weekend series, the Coast had not lost two consecutive games in any of their initial 12 series.

The Coast and the Freebirds will travel down to Long Beach to play another three-game series, starting on Tuesday night with the Beach Ball Pregame Show at 6:15 PM PDT on HomeTeam Network and the Long Beach Coast YouTube channel. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM. 

The magic number for Long Beach to secure a first-half spot in the 2026 PBL Playoffs is down to two, meaning any two Coast wins and/or third place losses (currently the Glacier Range Riders, as of Sunday afternoon) in the final six upcoming games of the first half will give the Coast their first-ever playoff berth. Don’t miss your chance to see the Coast potentially clinch the playoffs this week at Blair Field – tickets are available at tickets.longbeachcoast.com.

Joey Miller