Oilers, Led By Otto, Oust Barons To Continue Hot Start In 2025
Otto Espinoza tosses a season-best eight strikeouts, while Trevor Goldenetz plates a pair of runs in dominant road outing
The Huntington Beach Oilers (5-0) lock up their second victory of the season against Fountain Valley Barons (5-5) Thursday afternoon from Fountain Valley High School. By virtue of today's win, the Oilers now match their best five-game start to a season since 2017, where they began 9-0 before their first loss of the season. Otto Espinoza diced up the Barons batting order by striking out the side in the first inning and eventually punching out a total of eight, which is the most by an Oilers pitcher this season. Steel Kurtz and Tanner Brown made their season debuts on the bump in a relief capacity by combining to go three innings and striking out a trio of Barons. This is the third consecutive game the Huntington Beach pitching staff yielded just one total run in a contest.
Offensively, the bottom of the order got the scoring started in the third as Matt Haidl slashed a single up the middle scoring Micah Riola, followed by Trevor Goldenetz bringing in Haidl on an ensuing single. Prior to the three hits in the inning, the Oilers were held hitless through two and one-third frames. The offense cashed in once again in the fifth via RBI singles from Dane Cunningham (Pinch Hit) and Goldenetz. The centerfielder (Goldenetz) has now secured at least one hit in each of the team's first five games and his first RBI of his senior campaign.
By securing the series win, the Oilers have now won 12 of their last 17 head-to-head matchups against the Barons, dating back to 2021. Over the past 20 years, the Oilers own a .608 winning percentage (31-20) in this Sunset League rivalry.
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Top 3: Matt Haidl Single to CF, Micah Riola Scores (1-0 HB)
Top 3: Trevor Goldenetz Single to CF, Matt Haidl Scores (2-0, HB)
Top 5: Dane Cunningham Singles to LF, Cole Clark Scores (3-0, HB)
Top 5: Trevor Goldenetz Single to CF, Dane Cunningham Scores (4-0 HB)
Stars of the Game:
Otto Espinoza: 4 IP, 0 ER, 8 K (Season High)
Trevor Goldenetz: 2-3, 2 RBI
Matt Haidl: 1-2, RBI, R
Dane Cunningham: 1-1, RBI
The Oilers will return to Sunset League action tomorrow, March 21, as they hit the road for the series finale 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. FOUNTAIN VALLEY BARONS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):
