Heartbreak For Huntington Beach As NHSI Dreams Dashed On Final Play Of Semifinals
A throwing error and massive collision at first base spoil an Oilers one-run lead in the seventh as Trinity Christian heads to the NHSI Finals
The Huntington Beach Oilers (14-2) suffer immense heartbreak on final play in 3-2 loss against the Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors (21-3), Friday morning from the USA Baseball Training Complex. This loss not only snaps the Oilers seven-game winning streak, but halts the last remaining California school from reaching the finals for the second time in the last three years.
Oilers mustered minimal offense throughout the morning and relied on pitching to stay alive as long as possible. After the Conquerors took a 1-0 lead in the first on a RBI Double from Brady Harris, the Oilers stormed back with a two-run third inning, capped off with a RBI Double by Trent Grindlinger and RBI Single from Ethan Porter.
The story of the day was Tyler Bellerose, who spun quite a gem matching a career-best six and two-thirds innings, yielding only one earned-run. The Senior right-hander navigated his way through the Trinity lineup, sitting down 13 of 15 batters between the end of the second and sixth inning. Upon exiting with two-on and two-out, reliever Ethan Porter walked the bases loaded and got the Conquerors down to their final strike. However, as catcher Gage Petrutz chopped the ball to third, the ensuing throw from third baseman Jason Dunham led to a collision near first between Petrutz and Jayton Greer. As both body's went flying, the ball skipped away, allowing Trinity Christian to score twice and walk off on the Oilers.
With today's loss, the Oilers have now lost back-to-back NHSI Tournament semifinals and will gear up for a consolation game on Saturday to wrap up the tournament. On the brightside, Ethan Porter continues to be a force in the Oilers lineup and is dominating at the plate in the two tournaments these past few weeks. In seven total games (Boras Classic & NHSI), the future Oregon State Beaver is batting .450 (9-20) with 1 HR and 9 RBI, boosting his overall production to a .340 in 16 games.
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Top 3: Trent Grindlinger Doubles to LF, CJ Weinstein Scores (1-1 Tie)
Top 3: Ethan Porter Singles to RF, Micah Riola Scores (2-1 HB)
Stars of the Game:
Trevor Goldenetz: 3-4, 2 SB
Trent Grindlinger: 1-3, RBI
Ethan Porter: 1-3, RBI
Tyler Bellerose: 6.2 IP (Season-High), 1 ER
The Oilers will wrap up NHSI Tournament play tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 PM (EST)/9:00 AM (PT) with a matchup against the Edwardsville Tigers (Edwardsville, Illinois). You can listen to the game on hbhsathletics.mixlr.com with the "Voice of the Oilers" Dominick Lorenz, beginning at 11:45 AM (EST)/8:45 AM (PT)!