Two Home Runs Are Not Enough As Sailors Sink Oilers In Game Two
Oilers launch two homers from Ethan Porter and Owen Bone, but a four-run fourth for Newport Harbor proves to be the difference maker
The Huntington Beach Oilers (19-3) have their five-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Newport Harbor Sailors (18-6) by the final of 5-2, Wednesday afternoon from Newport Harbor High School. This loss is the first for the Oilers this season within Sunset League action, ending an undefeated 12-0 start.
For the 16th time this year, the Oilers struck first with a solo home run from Ethan Porter over the batter's eye in center for the 1-0 lead. This is the third wallop and 14th RBI for the right fielder in his senior season.
On the mound, starter Jared Grindlinger was only able to last two innings due to a tight left calf muscle that plagued the sophomore in the second, but worked his way around a bases-loaded, one-out jam to keep the 1-0 Huntington Beach lead. However, three consecutive Sailors hits to kick off the fourth would lift lefty Duncan McLeod and steamroll into a four run frame, capped off by an infield hit by Adam Martin that scored two (the later being charged to an error/collision at first base).
Outfielder Owen Bone swung the momentum back slightly to the Oilers favor with his first big fly of 2025 on a 3-0 breaking ball. The baseball gods stuck with their plan and kept the Oilers humbled throughout the game as Newport Harbor would slash for a run in the fifth, adding more insurance for reliever Elijah Haseth. The lefty tossed two and one-third shutout innings, securing the save and sending the Oilers to their third loss of the season.
Today's loss was the first road loss for Huntington Beach since April 11, when they fell to Trinity Christian (FL) in the NHSI Semifinals. Also, this is the first loss when scoring first (15-1) as well as when wearing the gray road jersey (4-1).
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Top 2: Ethan Porter Homers to CF (1-0 HB)
Top 5: Owen Bone Homers to LF (4-2 NH)
Stars of the Game:
Ethan Porter: 1-3, Solo HR
Owen Bone: 2-3, Solo HR + Double
Jared Grindlinger: 2 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
Dane Cunningham: 1 IP, 0 ER
The Oilers will wrap-up this year's three-game series against the Newport Harbor Sailors Friday afternoon from Huntington Beach High School. 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.