Oilers Roughed Up, Drop Series Finale To Sailors

The Huntington Beach Oilers (19-4) fall for the second consecutive game to the Newport Harbor Sailors (19-6) by the final of 6-3, Friday afternoon from Huntington Beach High School. This loss shortens the Oilers lead in the Sunset League standings to just one game, the slimmest margin since early March.  

For the 17th time this year, the Oilers got on the board first as Trevor Goldenetz utilized his speed to steal second and advance all the way home courtesy of a pair of throwing miscues from Newport Harbor. With a 1-0 lead after just one inning of play, the day looked promising for starter Tyler Bellerose as he collected three strikeouts through two innings and achieved 100 total innings pitched as a member of the Oilers Varsity staff. 

However, the wheels fell off in the third as the Sailors offense capitalized on uncharacteristic defensive mistakes for the Oilers, taking a 2-1 lead. They would continue their relentless attack with a pair of runs in the fourth and solo runs in the fifth and sixth to garner a total of six runs and nine hits this afternoon. 

The closest the Oilers would get was 4-3 in the fourth as Jayton Greer turned defense (a leaping grab over the rain tarp in right field - top of the fourth) to offense with a solo blast to right field (321 Ft) and Goldenetz delivered once again with a Sacrifice Fly, scoring Jared Grindlinger. The Oilers did not threaten again as the final 11 batters were sent down by Sailors starter Lucas Perez, who tossed a complete game even though he yielded three earned runs and seven hits.     

Today's loss secured the first losing streak for the Oilers this season, the last coming in the final two games of the 2024 NHSI Tournament when losing to Corona (6-5) and Farragut (TN) (5-3). This also becomes the second time losing in the orange uniforms and first when facing a right-handed starting pitcher (16-1). 

Oilers Scoring Plays: 

Bottom 1: Trevor Goldenetz Scores on Throwing Error (1-0 HB)

Bottom 4: Jayton Greer Homers to RF (4-2 NH)

Bottom 4: Trevor Goldenetz Sac Fly to CF, Jared Grindlinger Scores (4-3 NH)

Stars of the Game: 

Jayton Greer: Solo HR

Trevor Goldenetz: 2-3, RBI, 2 SB

Ethan Porter: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K

The Oilers will fight to bounce back to the win column following the weekend reprieve as they hit the road to kick off a three-game series against the Edison Chargers on Tuesday, April 29. 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.