Late Inning Heroics Cap Off Comeback Win

The Huntington Beach Oilers (6-2-1) mount a thrilling comeback to secure another winning series as they defeat the Marina Vikings (3-6) by the final of 5-3, Wednesday afternoon from Marina High School. Today's win extends the Oilers winning streak to five games (a season-high) while also keeping them in the driver's seat of the Sunset League standings, undefeated. 

For the sixth game this season, the Oilers got on the scoreboard first as Owen Bone delivered another RBI extra-base hit (a double to center field), scoring Ely Mason. The first four batters would reach against Marina starter Ethan Pushckor, however, the ultimate threat would be cut at the knees as Sol Moriyama grounded into a double play and Tanner Brown struck out.  

Quickly, the Vikings bounced back against Oilers starter Jared Marchbank with a pair of runs in the first, capped off with a RBI single by catcher Max Conde. Through the first two games of this week's series, Conde is 5-for-7 (four singles, one double) with an RBI and run scored. 

After a failed rally in the fifth, the Oilers came to their senses in the sixth, led by Brown who connected on his first home run of the 2026 season to deep right field, cutting the Marina lead to just 3-2. From that point on the Oilers fed off momentum that carried to the game-tying RBI single by Jason Dunham (with two outs), which marks his second straight game with an RBI. The bats stayed hot as Mason extended the inning with a single (second straight multi-hit game), which placed all eyes on Jared Grindlinger who answered the call courtesy of a RBI single to right field, giving the Oilers their first lead since the first inning, 4-3. 

Out of the bullpen, junior Christian Haupt picked the perfect day for a masterful performance and he silenced the Vikings bats through four innings, allowing only three hits and striking out two. Haupt, the future Cal State Fullerton Titan, also flashed the glove on defense to end the fourth, snagging a line drive back to the mound off the bat of Bradley Hall, as if he was auditioning to be in the matrix film.

The Oilers added an insurance run in the seventh as sophomore Eddie Lucero grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring pinch-runner Steel Kurtz from third. In both games of this series, Huntington Beach has been able to knock around the Vikings bullpen, combining to score six runs in two and two-thirds innings.         

With this win, the Oilers have now won their first win of the season when trailing an opponent in the fourth inning or later. Offensively, five different Oilers extended their hitting streaks to three games or more (Mason, Grindlinger, Bone, Brown and Lucero), while as a team, this is their fifth straight game with nine total hits or more. During the five-game winning streak, Huntington Beach is averaging 6.8 runs/game and batting .403. This is also the Oilers 18th win against Marina in their last 19 head-to-head matchups. 

Oilers Scoring Plays: 

Top 1: Owen Bone Doubles to CF, Ely Mason Scores (1-0 HB)

Top 6: Tanner Brown Home Run to RF (3-2 MV)

Top 6: Jason Dunham Singles to RF, Eddie Lucero Scores (3-3 TIE)

Top 6: Jared Grindlinger Singles to RF, Mason Tapia Scores (4-3 HB)

Top 7: Eddie Lucero Fielder's Choice, Steel Kurtz Scores (5-3 HB)

Stars of the Game: 

Christian Haupt: 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 K (W)

Jason Dunham: 1-2, RBI Single

Tanner Brown: 2-4, HR

Jared Grindlinger: 2-4, RBI (5-game hitting streak)

The Oilers finish up this week's three-game series against the Marina Vikings Friday afternoon (March 20th) from HBHS Stadium. 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):