Senior Day Celebration; Oilers Secure Penultimate Regular Season Win In High Offensive Showdown Versus Barons

The Huntington Beach Oilers (23-4) wrap up the 2025 Sunset League portion of the schedule in sweeping fashion as they defeat Fountain Valley (15-12), 9-6, Tuesday afternoon from Huntington Beach High School. This win secures a 16-2 mark within league play and boosts the odds of a potential first round bye in the CIF Division 1 Playoffs.   

After trailing 2-0 heading to the bottom of the third inning, the Oilers scratched to tie the game on back-to-back fielder's choice ground balls off the bat of Jared Grindlinger and CJ Weinstein. Thanks to a clean fourth inning on the mound by Tanner Brown (today's winner), the offense thrust themselves into the lead for good as Jayton Greer connected on his sixth home run of the season (312 FT) to left field. The three run shot gave the Oilers the 5-2 lead, however, fellow catcher and senior Trent Grindlinger would not hand over the home run title that easily. Grindlinger would drive a 1-2 fastball deep into left field (337 FT) and add to the lead, 6-2.

The Oilers bullpen (Tanner Brown, Ashton Arroyo and Ethan Porter) picked up starter Jake Frohn after he yielded two earned in 2.1 innings with a combined effort of 4.2 innings allowing only three earned runs and minimizing damage throughout the afternoon. 

In the sixth, Huntington Beach added three insurance runs against Barons right-hander Billy Kutsch as the first five batters reached base with run producing opportunities courtesy of a RBI Double from Greer, bases-loaded walk to Otto Espinoza and Sac Fly from Weinstein.  

Today's win solidifies the Oilers as the dominant force in the Sunset League as they sweep five different opponents (Marina, Corona Del Mar, Los Alamitos, Edison and Fountain Valley) and outscore opponents 102-39. They also improve in games where the opposition scores first to a record of 6-2 (.750) and have recorded an extra-base hit as a team in 13 straight games dating back to April 10. 

Oilers Scoring Plays: 

Bottom 3: Jared Grindlinger Fielder's Choice, Trent Grindlinger Scores (2-1 FV)

Bottom 3: CJ Weinstein Fielder's Choice, Ethan Porter Scores (2-2 TIE)

Bottom 4: Jayton Greer Home Run to LF, Matt Haidl & Trevor Goldenetz Scores (5-2 HB)

Bottom 4: Trent Grindlinger Home Run to LF (6-2 HB)

Bottom 6: Jayton Greer Doubles to CF, Trevor Goldenetz Scores (7-5 HB)

Bottom 6: Otto Espinoza Walks, Mason Tapia Scores (8-5 HB)

Bottom 6: CJ Weinstein Sac-Fly, Charlie Henderson Scores (9-5 HB)

Stars of the Game: 

Jayton Greer: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI

Trent Grindlinger: 1-1, HR, 2 R, 2 BB

Ethan Porter: 2-2, R & 1.1 IP, 1 ER, SV

Trevor Goldenetz: 1-2, 2 R, 4 SB

The Oilers will wrap up the regular season schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7 on the road versus the Gahr Gladiators. 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. FOUNTAIN VALLEY BARONS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):