Bellerose, Oilers Surge Past Vikings To Start March Madness Stretch
Tyler Bellerose picks up his third win in as many appearances, while offense manufactures two crooked innings to stay undefeated
The Huntington Beach Oilers (3-0) make it three in a row to begin the 2025 season by sinking the Marina Vikings (7-3) Tuesday afternoon from Marina High School. With today marking the first game of this year's three-game series, the Oilers snapped the Vikings four-game winning streak and matched their Sunset League rivals largest margin of defeat. Starting pitcher Tyler Bellerose cruised through a season-best four innings, limiting the opposition to just one run on two hits. For the first time this season, manager Benji Medure dug deep into the bullpen and found success with Duncan McLeod (Varsity debut), Jake Frohn and Jared Marchbank (Varsity debut). The trio combined for three shutout innings while sprinklining in four punchouts.
After stranding the bases loaded in the first inning, the Oilers offense did not hold back in the third inning, capitalizing for four runs after the first three batters reached via the walk. Insurance came in handy in the seventh as the top of the order cut through Marina reliever Bradley Hall with an RBI Double by CJ Weinstein and two-run Home Run from Trent Grindlinger. Today marks the second consecutive game the Oilers catcher put a ball over the fence.
This was the first head-to-head matchup between these two programs this season as Huntington Beach lost their only meeting in 2024. Looking back to the previous year of 2023, the Oilers did secure a win on the road versus the Vikings (10-1) which led to their incredible 15-game winning streak after a 2-6 start.
With today's win, the Oilers improve to 3-0 overall, which is their best start since 2020. Before the Covid pandemic cancelled that season, the Oilers reached 4-0, before closing out the "condensed season" at 6-3.
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Top 3: Trent Grindlinger Hit By Pitch, Ethan Porter Scores (1-0 HB)
Top 3: Jared Grindlinger Fielder's Choice, Trevor Goldenetz Scores (2-0, HB)
Top 3: Cole Clark Sac-Fly to LF, CJ Weinstein Scores (3-0, HB)
Top 3: Jayton Greer Doubles to LF, Jared Grindlinger Scores (4-0, HB)
Top 7: CJ Weinstein Doubles to RF, Trevor Goldenetz Scores (5-0, HB)
Top 7: Trent Grindlinger Homers to LF, CJ Weinstein Scores (7-0, HB)
Stars of the Game:
Trent Grindlinger: 1-2, HR, 3 RBI
CJ Weinstein: 1-2, RBI, R, 2 BB
Jayton Greer: 2-3, RBI
Tyler Bellerose: 4 IP, 1 ER, 2 K
Ducan McLeod & Jared Marchbank: Shutout relief appearance in Varsity debut
The Oilers will return to Sunset League action tomorrow, March 19 as they return home to continue the three-game series against the Marina Vikings. You can listen to the game on hbhsathletics.mixlr.com with the "Voice of the Oilers" Dominick Lorenz, beginning at 3:00 PM with the pregame show followed by first pitch at 3:15 PM!
LISTEN TO HUNTINGTON BEACH VS. MARINA HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):
