Latest news with #LongBeachState
Los Angeles Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Minor league baseball could be coming to Long Beach
Could the fourth time be the charm for minor league baseball in Long Beach? On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council is scheduled to consider whether to order city staff to work toward an agreement with the ownership group for a 'new professional baseball team' that would play at Blair Field, the city's storied ballpark. The ownership group includes Paul Freedman, one of the co-founders of the Oakland Ballers, a successful independent league team launched last year amid the departure of the Oakland Athletics. The new team would open play next season and participate as an expansion team in the Pioneer League, the same league in which the Ballers play. The league includes teams in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. 'I got into this industry because of love for baseball and the community, and love for Oakland,' Freedman said. 'I see a tremendous amount of parallels between the city of Oakland and the city of Long Beach, and I think the kind of community-oriented baseball that is working in Oakland can work in Long Beach as well.' In minor leagues affiliated with major league organizations, those organizations sign and pay players, then assign them to a minor league team. In an independent league, the teams sign and pay players, most of whom hope to play well enough to earn a contract from a major league organization. Independent leagues also serve as labs for the major leagues: The 'swing-off' that decided this week's All-Star Game has been a rule in the Pioneer League since 2021. Three independent minor league teams have come and gone in Long Beach over the last 30 years: the Barracuda (renamed the Riptide) in 1995-96, the Breakers (2001-02) and the Armada (2005-09). Freedman said he believed the struggles reflected instability in the various leagues in which the teams played more than an inability of Long Beach to support a team. 'It's a city with a huge baseball tradition,' Freedman said. 'It's a diverse city on the rise. It's hosting the Olympics. I think now it's time to have a team to represent the town. 'I think baseball has worked in Long Beach, and I think Long Beach is in an even better condition now to embrace a new kind of baseball.' The Long Beach State baseball team, proudly known as the Dirtbags, attracted more fans last season than any of the other nine Big West Conference teams based in California. The Dirtbags are the primary tenant of Blair Field, and the motion before the city council would require city staff to work with Long Beach State on a 'collaborative partnership agreement.' A city spokesman did not return a call seeking comment.
Los Angeles Times
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Sage Hill boys' volleyball secures state title with sweep in Division III final
Sage Hill boys' volleyball swiftly put up one program first after another over the last two seasons, the crown jewel arriving Saturday in the inaugural state championships. When the hardware was handed off to Sage Hill coach Jordan Hoppe, he raised the trophy — shaped like the state of California — above his head. His players surrounded him and began chanting in celebration. This was the pinnacle of a two-year run led by a transformative force in Jackson Cryst, the 6-foot-10 outside hitter headed to Long Beach State. Cryst had 23 kills, three service aces and 1½ total blocks, as Sage Hill swept San Francisco International 25-19, 25-16, 25-23 in the CIF State Division III final at Fresno City College. 'It was a business trip, and I think everybody took it really seriously, and that's why we got the result that we wanted,' said Cryst, who transferred from Long Beach Millikan for his junior year. 'Nobody came in there to mess around, and I think that showed in the clean sweep.' Sage Hill (23-11) finished the season on a 13-match winning streak, which also saw the Lightning claim a second section title in as many seasons by beating Santa Barbara on the Dons' home court in five sets in the Division 4 final. 'The season's over now,' Cryst added. 'I think for so long, it was always on to the next game. Even after winning CIF, we knew the job wasn't finished. To finally be able to know that the season was over, we did all we could and we won and we reached that goal, I think that was super motivating for everybody. It was honestly a huge relief. If you look at everybody on match point, it was almost like a huge sigh of relief that we did it.' Junior Connor Gapp, who split his playing time between the positions of setter and opposite, supplied 24 assists, six kills, three aces and 1½ blocks. 'It's kind of like a symbol of what we've done,' Gapp said of bringing home a state championship trophy. 'Winning felt the best, and touching that trophy, maybe taking a few pictures with my teammates, my coaches, my trainer, my family, especially, that was really sweet to be with all of them. 'The trophy will always be up at Sage. The banners will always be there. It will be nice to look at that next year, maybe give us some motivation to do something similar in the future.' Junior setter Jonathan Ye contributed 14 assists and an ace. Junior outside hitter Ryan Manesh added 11 kills and an ace. Junior middle blocker Carson Ellis had two kills and two block assists, and junior opposite Dylan Han chipped in with three kills. Manesh struck a similar chord to Gapp, noting the 'journey' that led the Lightning to the championships was what was most important to him. He recalled the team bonding experiences, such as playing card games on the bus. 'These memories are going to last a lifetime,' Manesh said. 'Obviously, winning the finals, that has a special place in my heart, but like the team, the team culture, the team bonding, just this team as a whole, I'm going to remember them for the rest of my life.' Santino Scanlon had eight kills, an ace and a solo block to lead International (27-8). Lyndon Song and Liam Wilson each produced five kills, and Colton Klingebiel added four kills and two blocks. Hoppe reflected on the title, saying 'it's very cool to be on the right side of history.' 'To be able to do that is just an incredibly special achievement and honor,' Hoppe said of bringing Sage Hill its first state title in a male sport since the school opened in 2000. 'To be remembered in the gymnasium with a banner up there and just to think about the guys on this team, and just the total buy-in of all the individuals on this team. It was incredible. 'Clearly, we had arguably one of the best players in the country, Jackson Cryst, but that's just one player. Our team was able to really buy in and elevate their game to support and to provide the right team chemistry to make this thing happen.'
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Parade celebrates Cal State Long Beach men's volleyball 2025 NCAA champs
For the fourth time in program history, the California State University Long Beach men's volleyball team holds the 2025 NCAA championship title. The final NCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship game took place Monday in Ohio, where the Beach swept UCLA, 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21. To celebrate, a victory parade will take place Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown Long Beach. The community is invited to join along the parade route on Pine Avenue, from Fifth Street to Third Street. An 11:30 a.m. reception takes place at Altar Society Brewing Co. COLUMBUS, OHIO - MAY 12: Moni Nikolov #1 of the Long Beach State Beach hits a kill against the UCLA Bruins during the Division I Men's Volleyball Championship held at the Covelli Center on May 12, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images It's been six years since the Beach took the championship title, in 2019. Long Beach State also won in 2018 and in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player. Freshman Moni Nikolov, who at 6-foot-10, was named the NCAA All-Tournament MVP and holds the Big West Player of the Year title. The team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the final 14 weeks of the season. Long Beach State is home to several notable volleyball players including two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, US National Team player Alan Knipe, and National Championship team players TJ DeFalco and Kyle Ensing. COLUMBUS, OHIO - MAY 12: The Long Beach State Beach celebrate their victory against the UCLA Bruins during the Division I Men's Volleyball Championship held at the Covelli Center on May 12, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Nikolov leads Long Beach St. to three-set sweep over UCLA to claim NCAA volleyball crown
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Freshman Moni Nikolov posted six kills, four aces and a pair of digs and Long Beach State beat UCLA 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 to win the NCAA men's volleyball tournament on Monday night. It was the Beach's (30-3) fourth championship in program history and first since 2019. Long Beach State also won the title in 2018 and claimed its first title in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Nikolov leads Long Beach St. to three-set sweep over UCLA to claim NCAA volleyball crown
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Freshman Moni Nikolov posted six kills, four aces and a pair of digs and Long Beach State beat UCLA 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 to win the NCAA men's volleyball tournament on Monday night. It was the Beach's (30-3) fourth championship in program history and first since 2019. Long Beach State also won the title in 2018 and claimed its first title in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player. The 6-foot-10 Nikolov, who just turned 18, started the match with an opening-serve ace and ended UCLA's two-time reign with a thunderous kill. 'Not for one second did we think we were going to lose that game,' Nikolov said. 'Before the game in the locker room we told each other we were here. We were born for this (expletive) game.' The animated Nikolov paused, apologized for his faux pas and went on to say: 'We were built for this game. Even when we were down five, we trusted each other because we knew we were the better team.' Trailing 1-0, UCLA led 18-13 in the second set before the nation's No. 1-ranked team outscored the Bruins 12-5 for a two-point win. In the third set, Alex Kandev's kill gave Long Beach State a 4-3 lead and the Beach led for the remainder. Kandev finished with a .452 hitting percentage. The Bruins entered the tournament with the second highest hitting efficiency in the country but were stifled in part by Long Beach State's length and were outhit by the Beach .354 to .192. UCLA's Cooper Robinson finished with a .381 hitting percentage. The championship match was the third meeting between the two teams this season with Long Beach State owning a 9-1 set advantage. Long Beach State dropped just a single set as it beat Fort Valley State 3-0 and Pepperdine 3-1. Two-time defending champion UCLA (22-7) sought to become college volleyball's first three-peat champion since the Bruins' won four in a row from 1981-84. ___ AP college sports:
