Early Scoring Helps Oilers Cruise To Fourth Straight Win
Cayden Hammond’s balance on the mound paired with a clutch two-run single sets the tone for another Sunset League statement day
The Huntington Beach Oilers (17-4-1) take the opening match of this week's series versus the Los Alamitos Griffins (7-16), 6-3, Tuesday afternoon from Los Alamitos High School. Locking down a victory pushes the Oilers to a 33-16 (.673) record against the Griffins in their last 49 matchups, while continuing to be undefeated in the Sunset League (13-0).
For the third time in the last four games, the Oilers got on the scoreboard first in the first inning. With runners on the corners and just one out, team RBI leader Dane Cunningham ripped an opposite field single to right, scoring Parker Leoff for a 1-0 lead. The very next batter, Owen Bone, would add to the scoring mix via a sacrifice fly, scoring Ely Mason, giving starting pitcher Cayden Hammond an early 2-0 lead.
Los Alamitos went quietly in the first, allowing the Oilers to jump right back into action in the second courtesy of a two-out, two-run double by Mason, for a 4-0 lead. This becomes the sixth multi-RBI of the year for the future Oklahoma State commit, plus he bumps up his overall RBI total to 21.
Hammond, the senior right-hander found a way to navigate around multiple threats from the Griffins offense. After yielding one run in the second with only one out, he induced a fielder's choice/runner thrown out at home and a strikeout to end the frame. He also held the lead at 4-1 in the third by stranding the bases loaded with two outs. On the flip side, Hammond helped his own cause in the fifth, delivering a two-run single down the left field line, bringing home pinch-runner Eddie Lucero and Sol Moriyama. The bat, which is a primary focus for Hammond this year after transferring from Highland High School in Arizona, continues to heat up with his first multi-hit game as well as hits in three of his last five at-bats.
Even though he was lifted in the fifth with one out, Hammond finished the day going four and one-third innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out three. Help came from the bullpen in the same frame as the combination of Benny Breese and Duncan McLeod found a way to retire the final two batters and keep the Oilers ahead 6-3, cutting the Griffins rally to just two runs on a wild pitch and a bases loaded walk.
McLeod, entering his first appearance since April 7, came back out to the hill in the sixth, spinning a clean frame and striking out the side in just 17 pitches (11 strikes). Fellow reliever Steel Kurtz made quick work of Los Alamitos in the seventh, shutting the missile of the order down 1-2-3 in just six pitches along with two dynamic defensive gems from Jason Dunham and Parker Leoff.
With this win, the Oilers are now 13-2 when scoring first and improve to 7-3 when wearing the black uniforms. Since beginning Sunset League play on March 10, the Oilers are 16-2 and 7-1 as the designated road team. They still hold a two-game lead over the Newport Harbor Sailors with five games remaining in the league portion of the regular season.
Oilers Scoring Plays:
Top 1: Dane Cunningham Singles to RF, Parker Leoff Scores (1-0 HB)
Top 1: Owen Bone Sac-Fly, Ely Mason Scores (2-0 HB)
Top 2: Ely Mason Doubles to LF, Cayden Hammond and Parker Leoff Scores (4-0 HB)
Top 5: Cayden Hammond Singles to LF, Eddie Lucero and Sol Moriyama Scores (6-1 HB)
Stars of the Game:
Cayden Hammond: 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 K (W) + 2-3, 2 RBI, R
Owen Bone: 2-3, RBI - 8-Game Hitting Streak
Ely Mason: 1-2, 2 RBI
Duncan McLeod: 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
The Oilers return home tomorrow afternoon (4/22) for the second game of this week's series versus the Los Alamitos Griffins. You'll be able to listen to all the action on hbhsathletics.mixlr.com with the "Voice of the Oilers" Dominick Lorenz, with the pregame show at 3:00 PM, followed by first pitch at 3:15 PM (projected times).
LISTEN TO HUNTINGTON BEACH VS. LOS ALAMITOS GRIFFINS HIGHLIGHTS HERE (CLICK IMAGE BELOW):
