Slow And Steady Wins The Game; Oilers Hold On To Take Game One Versus Marina
Jared Grindlinger takes charge on the mound, while the offense stays in sync with another hitting parade
The Huntington Beach Oilers (5-2-1) stay undefeated in Sunset League play as they take the opening contest against the Marina Vikings (3-5) by the final score of 6-1, Tuesday afternoon from HBHS Stadium. This win adds to the longest winning streak of the season (4) and furthers their winning ways against Marina to 16 in their last 17 head-to-head matchups.
Senior ace Jared Grindlinger, pitching in his team-leading fifth appearance, dazzled once again through four-plus innings of work. The southpaw would pick up back-to-back strikeouts in the first, navigate around a one-out single in the second and retire the Vikings in order through the third and fourth inning, proving how precise he could pick apart the Marina lineup. Fellow starring pitcher Johnny Wilcox for the Vikings hung tough in the early goings as he stalled the Oilers offense scoreless through four innings.
With a 0-0 score in the fifth, Marina would scratch the game's first run via a throwing error by Dane Cunningham off the bat of third baseman Fisher Veal. This was the third time this season the Oilers did not score first in a game, which has led them to a 0-1-1 mark.
Quickly, the Oilers got right back into an offensive rhythm, scoring two in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a single up the middle by Jason Dunham that brought in pinch-runner Charlie Henderson (who advanced from first to third on two previous wild pitches) and Owen Bone hooking a double down the left field line to allow Dunham to touch home. The Oilers would not stop as they collected four insurance runs in the sixth on a total of five hits. Off the bench, catcher Rex Fox delivered the biggest blow by dropping a two-run double to the left field corner, netting his first two runs batted in of his Varsity career. Grindlinger would cap off the frame with a RBI single of his own, extending his hit streak to a team-high, four games.
Out of the bullpen, senior Mason Tapia and Steel Kurtz cruised through the later innings, combining to toss three shutout innings and a total of three strikeouts. Kurtz, the future Idaho State commit, retired the final five batters, with back-to-back punch outs to end the game. Huntington Beach now owns four consecutive wins against the Vikings in the last two years and improves their overall record to 2-0-1 when wearing their orange jerseys.
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Bot 5: Jason Dunham Singles to CF, Charlie Henderson Scores (1-1 TIE)
Bot 5: Owen Bone Doubles to LF, Jason Dunham Scores (2-1 HB)
Bot 6: Tanner Brown Singles to CF, Eddie Lucero Scores (3-1 HB)
Bot 6: Rex Fox Doubles to LF, Tanner Brown & Maxx Hopkins Scores (5-1 HB)
Bot 6: Jared Grindlinger Singles to CF, Rex Fox Scores (6-1 HB)
Stars of the Game:
Jared Grindlinger: 4 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 4 K + 1-3, RBI Single
Owen Bone: 1-3, RBI Double
Jason Dunham: 1-2, RBI Single
Maxx Hopkins: 2-3, R
Steel Kurtz: 2 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
The Oilers continue this week's three-game series against the Marina Vikings tomorrow afternoon (March 18th) on the road from Marina 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. MARINA VIKINGS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):
