Huter Keeps Mobiles Close Before Late Coast Rally

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The RedPocket Mobiles pushed the Long Beach Coast deep into Sunday afternoon's series finale, but a late eighth-inning rally sent RedPocket to a 6–2 loss at Blair Field. Long Beach scored single runs in the first and second innings, but the Mobiles stayed within reach behind a strong start from Blayne Huter, who worked seven innings and allowed just three runs, two earned, on seven hits while walking none and striking out three.

RedPocket broke through in the fifth when Maury Weaver doubled and scored on Andy Valdes' RBI single to right field, cutting the deficit to 2–1. The Mobiles then tied the game in the eighth after Spence Coffman scored on a Jordan Harrison-Dudley groundout, making it 2–2 and giving RedPocket another late chance against one of the Pioneer League's hottest teams. Valdes led the Mobiles with two hits and an RBI, while Weaver doubled and scored.

Long Beach answered immediately in the bottom of the eighth, scoring four runs to take control for good. Cuba Bess delivered the biggest blow with a two-run double, followed by RBI hits from Jacob Jablonski and Emilio Corona. Ubaldo Romo came on to finish the inning and struck out one, but the Mobiles could not mount a final rally in the ninth. The final score went against RedPocket, but Huter's steady outing, Valdes' production, and the late game-tying push gave the Mobiles another competitive effort to build on.

The Mobiles will now head back to Marysville for a six-game series against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, who are 3-7 over their last 10 games.