Porter Pulverizes Walk-Off Blast In Series Opening Win vs. Los Alamitos

The Huntington Beach Oilers (16-2) returned to Sunset League play in victorious fashion as they secured the 3-2 extra innings win against division rival Los Alamitos Griffins (15-5-2), Tuesday afternoon from Huntington Beach High School. This win extends the Oilers winning streak to two and now winners of nine of their last 10 games, dating back to March 27.

On the mound, Otto Espinoza kept the Oilers in the game throughout the afternoon as the offense slowly found its way back into a consistent rhythm. The senior right-hander spun a season-best, six and one-third innings, while yielding just two earned runs and matching a season-high in strikeouts with eight. Espinoza leads the Oilers pitching staff with 38 total punch outs through 18 games. He also received stellar defense in the outfield as Matt Haidl once again impressed with a diving grab to rob Wyatt Joyce of extra bases and an RBI in the third. This defensive gem turned out to be an inning-ending double play as lone baserunner Tyler Smith failed to re-tag second upon retreating to first. 

Finally, Huntington Beach would provide run support to their starter with a pair of runs late in the sixth. After Trent Grindlinger walked to lead off the frame, Ethan Porter would drive in pinch runner Micah Riola all the way from first with a left-center field gap double, his four two-bagger of the year. Porter would soon touch the plate to even the score at 2-2 as Jared Grindlinger lined a two-out infield single off the thigh of Griffins' reliever Logan Anderson.

As Tanner Brown kept the Los Alamitos lineup silent out of the bullpen in the seventh and into extra innings, Porter would drop the final dagger on the very first pitch of the bottom of the eighth. The senior utility player launched a middle-high curveball over the protective netting in left field for the walkoff, kicking the Oilers undefeated in Sunset League play. 

Today marks the second walk-off win for Huntington Beach this season, the first coming last week in the 5-4 win vs. Poly Prep (NY) at the 2025 NHSI Tournament. This was the first walk-off celebration at HBHS Stadium since May 10, 2024 when Trevor Goldenetz sent the Oilers to the CIF Division 1 Semifinals with a two-run single against Santa Margarita. Also, the Oilers stay perfect in extra innings affairs, now 2-0 this season.   

Oilers Scoring Plays: 

Bottom 6: Ethan Porter Doubles to LF, Micah Riola Scores (2-1 LA)

Bottom 6: Jared Grindlinger Singles to P, Ethan Porter Scores (2-2 Tie)

Bottom 8: Ethan Porter Solo HR to LF (3-2 HB)

Stars of the Game: 

Ethan Porter: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Jared Grindlinger: 2-3, RBI

Otto Espinoza: 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 K

Tanner Brown: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 K (W)

The Oilers continue their three-game series tomorrow afternoon on the road against the Los Alamitos Griffins. You can listen to the game on hbhsathletics.mixlr.com with the "Voice of the Oilers" Dominick Lorenz, beginning with the pregame show at 3:00 PM, followed by first pitch at 3:15 PM.    

LISTEN TO HUNTINGTON BEACH VS. LOS ALAMITOS GRIFFINS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):