In a late-night affair that didn’t end till 10:30 (didn’t someone say this was youth baseball?), the Long Beach boys in blue prevailed again with a 10-5 win over Simi Youth that advances them to the third round of the Super Regional Tournament in Glendora.  They’ll next face Victoria of Riverside Sunday night at 7pm, after Victoria beat Chula Vista 10-9 yesterday–last year, Victoria’s younger team (their current All-Star squad) won the World Series in the 13-year old age division, so you can expect a battle royale.

Long Beach got off to a hot start with Jeremiah Gordon on the mound and the bats popping, racing out to a 6-0 lead.  Then things got a little out of control as Simi racked up five innings in the fifth to pull the game within one.  “A brutal game,” said LB manager Ken Jakemer after.

Good hitting and base-running got them out of trouble in the top of the seventh with four insurance runs, the first coming on a home-plate steal by Jonathan Pasillas.  Pasillas and Jayson Casias led the way offensively, both going 3-3, combining for four runs and three RBIs; Casias hit a solo jack in the second to start the scoring.  Michael Zidek came in and got the save with a solid last four outs.

Heartwell PONY also advanced, with a 3-0 win over Redlands; they’ll now face Cypress over in the Whittier bracket, tonight at 6pm.  If they and Long Beach both win, they’ll face each other in a rematch of the Whaley Park Sectional Tourney’s title game on Monday at 8pm.  Stay tuned for more updates at LBPostSports.com!