The old saying goes: once is circumstance, twice is habit.  Or something like that.

Either way, the Jackrabbits are happy with the latest trend as they had multiple pitchers combine for a no hitter for the second time in a week.  Jordan Wilcox, Trevor Kellogg and Tyler Maxwell pitched three, two and two innings respectively and racked up nine strikeouts.  The Poly bats were alive as well and the home team at Blair field ran past the visiting Jordan Panthers, 11-0.  Five Poly pitchers shutdown Carson last Wednesday.

Wilcox started the game and saw just two batters over the minimum while throwing 45 pitches.  The junior is just one of seven pitchers head coach Toby Hess can send to the mound, and Hess says, “he’s the type of pitcher that keeps us in every game… he’s got the command, composure and control.”

While Wilcox was dealing on the mound, Thomas Walker, Eric Gonzalez and Nikko Santos were getting it done at the plate.  Walker had two hits including a towering triple.  Gonzalez had a single, double and two RBI, and Santos got on base three times by drawing one walk and getting hit twice more.  Once on the paths the senior catcher set the tone for the running ‘Rabbits with three of his teams’ nine stolen bases.  A six run fifth inning gave Poly more than enough breathing room.

Kellogg took the ball from Wilcox and sat down the side in order in the fourth and fifth on just 33 pitches. As a senior, this is Kellogg’s first year at the varsity level, and he’s taking full advantage of the opportunity. “He’s all about movement,” said Hess.  “He pitches to contact, but it’s never good contact.”

Maxwell came in to close the door, and he did it with authority by striking out six of the seven batters he faced.  The junior is working back slowly from a back injury, and Hess wanted to get him some work in the Moore League before a tournament weekend.  The Jackrabbits see Wilson and Lakewood in two weeks as the first place team in league with a 3-0 record.  “When (Maxwell) is at his best, he’s our best,” said Hess.

“This pitching staff is all about zeros,” said Hess.  “It’s kind of a competition.  We’ve got 25 zeros in the last 28 innings, so it’s going well… bats are fickle, they come and go, but you can always pitch well and play good defense.”

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Before the game there was yet another example of how special the sports community in Long Beach can be. The Poly Baseball Family helped the Jordan Baseball Program afford equipment this offseason, and the Panthers tried to show their appreciation with a commemorative plaque.

 
Said Jordan coach Marc Prager, “This one isn’t really about who wins or loses… you don’t see teams and schools helping each other out like this too often.  It’s pretty special and we hope they know how thankful we are.”  Smiled the veteran coach, “only in Long Beach, huh?”

CLICK HERE to read the story about the ‘Rabbits helping the Panthers