Oilers Bats Stay Hot; Clobbering Edison On The Road
13 runs on 17 hits sets the tone all afternoon as the Oilers get back-to-back wins to open this week’s Sunset League series
The Huntington Beach Oilers (3-2-1) get in the win column for the second straight day as they demolish the Edison Chargers (4-5) by the final of 13-3, Wednesday afternoon from Edison High School. Huntington Beach not only secures a series win with today's victory, but also nets their first road win of 2026.
Right off the bat, the Oilers offense picked up right where they left off from the previous game, as first baseman Owen Bone drilled his first home run of the season to right-center field, creating a 2-0 advantage. Edison would cut the deficit in half in the home half of the first as a spiked wild pitch by starter Jared Marchbank would allow Jordan Alvarez to score, 2-1 Oilers after one.
The run support for Marchbank would continue in the second as catcher Gavin Pluma, making his first start of the season, connected on a RBI double to center field, scoring Maxx Hopkins. Then, Pluma would come around on a two-out Jared Grindlinger RBI single, adding to the Oilers 4-1 lead.
After a clean third inning from both staffs, the Oilers got right back to their scoring ways with five combined runs between the fourth and fifth inning. Key run producing opportunities came off the bat of Dane Cunningham (2-RBI Single), Tanner Brown (Squeeze Bunt) and Jason Dunham (RBI Triple). Through five innings alone, the Oilers collected nine runs on 12 hits, with the leadoff batter reaching in all five frames.
On the mound, Marchbank stayed dialed in during his first start of 2026, completing four innings, yielding just one run on three hits and matching a single game high in strikeouts with five. The initial high was set by Jared Grindlinger on February 24 vs. Sierra Canyon. The senior right-hander capped off the day by striking out his final four batters, which included striking out the side (all swinging) in the fourth.
Runs would not stop for the Oilers, even with a 9-3 lead, as they struck for four runs in the seventh with the reserves checking into the contest. Outfielder Charlie Henderson plated fellow outfielder Eddie Lucero with a single to right, Cunningham dropped in another 2-RBI hit to the left-center warning track, and infielder Luke Crespo blooped a single to right, scoring the pinch-runner Grady Ream.
Relievers Benny Breese (1 IP, 0 ER) and Steel Kurtz (1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K) combined to shut down the final seven Chargers batters to lock down a 13-3 victory. Today's win for the Oilers extends their dominance in the Sunset League against the crosstown rival Edison Chargers by winning their 16th consecutive match and improving their recent overall record to 36-14 (.720). In addition, the Oilers had 11 different players record at least one hit, eight players with at least one RBI and four players with a multi-hit game.
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Top 1: Owen Bone Home Run to RCF, Scores Ely Mason (2-0 HB)
Top 2: Gavin Pluma Doubles to RF, Maxx Hopkins Scores (3-1 HB)
Top 2: Jared Grindlinger Singles RF, Gavin Pluma Scores (4-1 HB)
Top 4: Dane Cunningham Singles to LF, Ely Mason and Jared Grindlinger Scores (6-1 HB)
Top 4: Tanner Brown Squeeze Bunt, Owen Bones Scores (7-1 HB)
Top 5: Jason Dunham Triples to RF, Mason Tapia Scores (8-1 HB)
Top 5: Jared Grindlinger Sac-Fly, Jason Dunham Scores (9-1 HB)
Top 7: Charlie Henderson Singles to RF, Eddie Lucero Scores (10-3 HB)
Top 7: Dane Cunningham Doubles to CF, Jared Grindlinger and Charlie Henderson Scores (12-3 HB)
Top 7: Luke Crespo Singles to LF, Grady Ream Scores (13-3 HB)
Stars of the Game:
Owen Bone: 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Dane Cunningham: 3-4, 4 RBI
Jared Grindlinger: 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 R
Gavin Pluma: 2-2, RBI, R
Jason Dunham: 1-2, RBI
Jared Marchbank: 4 IP (W), 1 ER, 5 K
The Oilers wrap-up their three-game series versus the Edison Chargers on Friday (March 13th), back at the friendly confines of Huntington Beach High School. You'll be able to listen to all the action 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 (projected times).
LISTEN TO HUNTINGTON BEACH VS. EDISON CHARGERS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):
