Dazzling Debuts Spark Oilers 8th Consecutive Victory

The Huntington Beach Oilers (9-2-1) continue to stay hot, especially within Sunset League play as they defeat the Corona Del Mar SeaKings (6-8), 8-2, Tuesday afternoon from HBHS Stadium. Today's win extends the Oilers season-high winning streak to eight games and keeps a spotless record, 7-0 to begin Sunset League action in 2026. 

For the ninth time this year, Huntington Beach got on the board first as Ely Mason rockets a double to right field, scoring Parker Leoff, who led off the game with his first hit of the season. The Oilers added two more runs in the frame courtesy a groundout from Dane Cunningham and Sac-Fly from Tanner Brown. The 3-0 lead after one, proves to be the Oilers largest scoring first inning of the season thus far in 12 games. 

Starter Cayden Hammond, making his Huntington Beach Oilers debut, found a rhythm early and often on the mound as he cruised through the SeaKings. Tossing five strikeouts and yielding no hits, while quietly retiring the side in order in three of his four innings pitched.

Manufacturing runs continued the rest of the way as the Oilers added one in the third on a RBI double by Cunningham, extending his hitting streak to three games, then dropping three in the fifth. The trio of runs driven in Mason (RBI double), Brown (Sac-Fly) and pinch hitter Brayden Wood (RBI single) ballooned the shutout to 7-0. The three-run fifth matched a season-high for runs scored in a fifth inning, plus the Wood single extended the Oilers streak of nine or more hits in a game to eight consecutive (dating back to March 10 vs. Edison). 

Even though the Oilers recorded a no-hitter through five and one-third innings, Corona Del Mar scratched for two runs in the sixth, netting just one total hit in the game, an RBI double by outfielder JJ Haley. Outside of that play, the Oilers bullpen continued to keep the opposition silent. Steel Kurtz tossed a 1-2-3 fifth inning, while Jared Marchbank tossed the final two frames.  

Jared Grindlinger would complete the scoring this afternoon with a Sac-Fly in the bottom of the sixth, scoring pinch-runner Charlie Henderson.  

With a 8-2 victory, the Oilers keep up their dominance at home, now at 7-0, with one game remaining this week from HBHS Stadium. Also, today marked the first time this year where the Huntington Beach offense struck for six doubles, the most since March 20 vs. Marina where they had five.  

Oilers Scoring Plays: 

Bot 1: Ely Mason Doubles to LF, Parker Leoff Scores (1-0 HB)

Bot 1: Dane Cunningham Ground Out, Jared Grindlinger Scores (2-0 HB)

Bot 1: Tanner Brown Sac-Fly, Ely Mason Scores (3-0 HB)

Bot 3: Dane Cunningham Doubles to LF, Parker Leoff Scores (4-0 HB)

Bot 5: Ely Mason Doubles to RF, Parker Leoff Scores (5-0 HB)

Bot 5: Tanner Brown Sac-Fly, Ely Mason Scores (6-0 HB)

Bot 5: Brayden Wood Doubles to CF, Dane Cunningham Scores (7-0 HB)

Bot 6: Jared Grindlinger Sac-Fly to CF, Charlie Henderson Scores (8-2 HB)

Stars of the Game: 

Parker Leoff: 3-4, 3 R (Season Debut)

Ely Mason: 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 Doubles

Dane Cunningham: 2-3, 2 RBI, R

Cayden Hammond: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K (Season Debut)

Steel Kurtz: 1 IP, 0 ER

The Oilers continue this week's three-game series against Corona Del Mar tomorrow (April 1), hitting the road to Corona Del Mar 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 2:45 PM, followed by first pitch at 3:00 PM (projected times).       

LISTEN TO HUNTINGTON BEACH VS. CORONA DEL MAR SEAKINGS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):