Bad Hops Lead To Oilers Loss in Boras Classic Finale

The Huntington Beach Oilers (13-4-1) suffer a loss in the final day of the 2026 Boras Baseball Classic, falling to the Patrick Henry Patriots (11-6), by the final of 4-3, Friday night from Jserra Catholic High School. The Oilers finish this week going 2-2 and over the past five years within the tournament, combining to go 14-6 overall.   

Once again, a pitching duel broke out between the Oilers and Patriots with senior right-hander, Mason Tapia getting the starting nod and flourishing in the role. Tapia tossed a season-high four and two-thirds innings, yielding one earned-run and three hits and also setting a season-high in strikeouts with five. He navigated around a pair of two on and two out jams in the first and second inning, then capping off a 1-2-3 frame in the fourth. As a starting pitching staff this week, the combination of Cayden Hammond, Jared Grindlinger, Jared Marchbank and Tapia completed a final line of 19.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 BB and 25 K (1.42 ERA).  

After the Oilers were held to only two hits through three innings, the fourth inning turned out to be a profitable affair. Seven batters stepped to the plate with four reaching base and Ely Mason coming up clutch by dropping in a two-RBI double to center field that got lost in the lights. Mason, the Oklahoma State commit, continues to stay dialed in at the plate, going 9-for-11 (.818 Avg.) over the past three games with two doubles, three runs batted in and one run scored.   

Patrick Henry did not go away quietly, evening up the contest in the fifth with an RBI double from Parks Kronk-Hawley. The Oilers took the lead right back (3-2) the next half inning with pinch-runner Eddie Lucero scoring from third on a wild pitch in the dirt. However, with reliever Christian Haupt staying on the mound for his second inning of work, the Patriots once again delivered with a two-out rally, taking advantage of the St. Pierre Field turf. Second baseman Sol Moriyama became the victim of an infield chopper clanking off his glove, followed immediately with a slow chopper inducing an errant throw to first. These back-to-back plays led to two runs and a 4-3 lead for the Patriots, which became their first and only needed lead of the contest. 

Huntington Beach would have just one baserunner reach in the seventh (Owen Bone - Hit By Pitch), but failed to bring him around for the tie. The Oilers left 11 runners on base throughout the game and also limited to just five hits (or less) for the fifth time this year.    

With today's unfortunate loss, the Oilers fall to 1-3-1 in games decided by one run, and surprisingly lose their second game of the year in 11 opportunities when scoring first. They will now look forward to picking up the pieces over the next three weeks (nine games), as they return to Sunset League play against Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos and Newport Harbor.

Oilers Scoring Plays: 

Top 4: Ely Mason Doubles to CF, Tanner Brown & Logan Studebaker Scores (2-0 HB)

Stars of the Game: 

Ely Mason: 2-3, RBI

Mason Tapia: 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 K

The Oilers are back to business in the Sunset League with a three-game series kicking off on Tuesday, April 14 on the road against the Fountain Valley Barons. You'll be able to listen to all the action on hbhsathletics.mixlr.com with the "Voice of the Oilers" Dominick Lorenz. The pregame show kicks off at 3:00 PM, followed by first pitch at 3:15 PM (projected times).