Baseball: How to get ready to face Tyler Matzek

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Long Beach Wilson Coach Andy Hall is trying to figure out how to prepare his team for Friday’s Southern Section Division I playoff opener against Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley and ace left-hander Tyler Matzek (9-1).

Hall said he intends to call upon his junior varsity coach, Chris Leveque, a former pitching standout at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

‘He’s coming in to be Tyler Matzek,’ Hall said. ‘We’re making him throw from 30 feet.’

Last season, Wilson lost to Simi Valley, 4-1, in nine innings in the Division I final and had its own intimidating pitcher in first-round draft choice Aaron Hicks.

This season, the Bruins are 21-10 and have been struggling because of injuries to the pitching staff. But they beat Corona Roosevelt, 4-2, on Tuesday in a wild-card game, and they have players experienced in facing top pitchers.

-- Eric Sondheimer