First Inning Blitz Too Much for Sea Kings Junior Varsity to Overcome
The Sea Kings Junior Varsity visited Huntington Beach to face the Oilers in game one of their three-game series and came away with a 6-1 defeat on Tuesday.
The Oilers jumped the Sea Kings for five runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a grand slam home run and an RBI double. After the first inning, the teams settled in to an evenly-played, low-scoring affair.
In the top of the fifth inning, it looked like the Sea Kings were going to mount a comeback when they started the inning with three consecutive singles by Cash Burns (‘27), Sam Healy (‘27) and Brady Zenz (‘26). The Oilers’ skipper had seen enough and made a call to the bullpen for a relief pitcher. This turned out to be the right move, as the Oilers’ reliever proceeded to strike out the next three Sea Kings batters to thwart the rally with no runs crossing the plate.
The Sea Kings did manage to put up a run in the sixth inning when Prescott Nyman (‘27) singled, stole second base and then scored when a dropped third strike was thrown past Huntington Beach’s first baseman.
The Oilers answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the final score 6-1.
The Sea Kings actually out-hit the Oilers in the game six to four, but the seventeen strikeouts by Sea Kings’ batters was too much to overcome.
Sea Kings starter, Brooks Johnson settled in after the first inning and pitched a solid five innings, allowing only three hits and striking out seven Oilers.
Burns reached base twice for the Sea Kings, going one for two and being hit by a pitch.
Zenz’ fifth inning single extended his on-base streak to four games, while Nyman’s sixth inning single stretched his hitting streak to four games.
Huntington Beach travels to face the Sea Kings Junior Varsity for game two of the series on Wednesday, April 2.
2025 Sea Kings Baseball
Sea Kings Varsity Bested in Non-Conference Matchup
The Sea Kings Varsity played their fourth game of the week when they traveled to San Clemente for a make up of their previously rained-out contest. The result was a stretched pitching staff and a 7-1 Tritons victory over the Sea Kings.
The Tritons got things started in the bottom of the first when they scored three runs on only one hit. San Clemente took advantage of three walks and two hit by pitches on the part of the Sea Kings hurlers.
In the bottom of the third, the Sea Kings loaded the bases thanks to a variety pack, a single, a hit by pitch and a walk, but failed to score.
The Tritons posted four more runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning when they sent nine batters to the plate.
The Sea Kings were able to avoid the shutout when they scored their lone run in the seventh inning on Max Brengel’s (‘27) RBI single that plated Jackson McDonald (‘25).
For the game, the offensive punch for the Sea Kings was largely provided by JJ Haley (‘28), who accounted for half the team’s hits with his three for three day at the plate.
For the second game in a row, reliever Noah Bertrand (‘25) was called out of the pen to extinguish a rally. This time, Bertrand entered the game in the fourth inning with runners on first and third bases, and four runs already in for the Tritons. Bertrand induced a ground ball to shortstop to end the Tritons’ rally. On the day, Bertrand pitched one and one-third innings, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out one, while walking none.
Will Chavez (‘26) followed Bertrand on the mound for the Sea Kings and turned in a solid performance. Chavez pitched one scoreless inning, in which he did not surrender a hit and struck out one Triton.
The Sea Kings Varsity return to action on Tuesday, April 1 when they host Huntington Beach.
Last Inning Comeback by Sea Kings Varsity Falls One Run Short
For the second game in a row, the Sea Kings Varsity spotted the Fountain Valley Barons an early lead and then came up just short in their seventh inning rally. The Barons hung on to win 4-3.
Down by four runs heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Sea Kings mounted a furious rally, but just as in game two of the series, the Sea Kings ultimately stranded the tying runner on second base.
The rally began with a one-out single by Princeton-commit Vincent Menard (‘25). After Brady Gadol (‘25) fought back from an 0-2 count to produce a single, Ganon Overfelt (‘25) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Barons made a pitching change, but Charlie Kaster (‘26) drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the Sea Kings’ first run.
After a Sea Kings’ strikeout, Marc Solomon (‘25) drove a full-count offering into center field to bring home Gadol and Overfelt, and the score was 4-3. The second hit by pitch of the inning then put Sea Kings runners on first and second bases, but Fountain Valley was able to choke off the rally at that point and emerge victorious.
Despite not breaking through on the scoreboard until the final inning, the Sea Kings offense did produce base runners in every inning. Starting pitcher Stevie Jones (‘26) tried to help his own cause by going two for four on the day, and extended his on-base streak to five games in doing so. Gadol was also two for four, stole a base and scored a run.
Menard filled up the box score with a one for three day that included a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.
Catcher Kaster reached base twice with a single and a walk, and drove in a run.
Solomon lead the team with two RBI, while going one for three and being hit by a pitch.
Reliever Noah Bertrand (‘25) entered the game in the sixth inning with a man on second and a run already in for the Barons in the frame. Bertrand was able to put out the fire when he induced a ground ball for the third out. For the game, he pitched one and one-third innings, allowing only one hit and no runs.
The Sea Kings Varsity next play a make-up game at San Clemente on Saturday, March 29.
Barons Shut Down Sea Kings Junior Varsity in Series Finale
The Sea Kings Junior Varsity played the final game of their season series with the Fountain Valley Barons on Friday and came away on the wrong end of a 9-0 shutout.
The Barons took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. It looked like the Sea Kings were going to strike back in the top of the second inning when Prescott Nyman (‘27) and Cason Yarnell (‘27) lead off the frame with back-to-back singles. Fountain Valley’s starter was able to put down the potential rally with a flyout and a ground ball double play, and the score remained 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Barons went back to work and stretched their lead to 3-0. The wheels came off the wagon for the Sea Kings in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Fountain Valley took advantage of three Sea Kings’ errors to post four unearned runs.
The Barons pitchers cruised through the game and ultimately faced only twenty-three Sea Kings batters, two above the minimum.
The Sea Kings Junior Varsity travels to Huntington Beach to start their three game series on Tuesday, April 1.
Sea Kings Freshmen Battle to the Last Out, Lose 4-2
In a game that came down to the wire, the Sea Kings Freshmen dropped a 4-2 decision to the Fountain Valley Barons on Friday. The Sea Kings actually out-hit the Barons, but saw a number of potential runs evaporate on the base paths, as the Barons turned two double plays and the Sea Kings stranded eight runners throughout the game.
The Sea Kings broke the seal on a 0-0 tie in the top of the third inning when Tait Weissman (‘28), JJ Haley (‘28) and Luca DiNapoli (‘28) hit consecutive singles to plate a run and put the Sea Kings up 1-0.
Fountain Valley bounced back to knot the score at one in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Undaunted, the Sea Kings responded in the top of the fifth inning and reestablished a one-run lead with a two-out rally that saw DiNapoli’s single drive home Haley, who had doubled.
Again, the Barons stormed back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Sea Kings’ pitcher courted trouble with a leadoff hit by pitch and walk. One batter later, a double drove in both baserunners and the Barons had a 3-2 lead.
The Barons added some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning, again courtesy of a walk. After the free pass, the Barons’ baserunner stole second and third bases, and scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Sea Kings put up a fight in the seventh inning, as Danny Angeloff singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Haley was up next, but the Barons were taking no chances and intentionally walked the slugger to put the tying run on first base. The move paid off when the Sea Kings’ next batter popped out to second base to end the game.
Haley filled up the scorebook, going three for three on the day with two doubles, while adding a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Haley’s hitting streak now stands at seven games.
DiNapoli extended his on-base streak to four games, as he went two for four with two RBI and two stolen bases.
With her second inning single, catcher Claire O’Kelly (‘28) stretched her on-base streak to seven games.
The Sea Kings Freshmen begin their three-game set with the Huntington Beach Oilers on Tuesday, April 1.
Sea Kings Varsity Comes Up One Run Short
The Sea Kings Varsity spotted the Barons of Fountain Valley three runs in the first inning and could never make up the gap, ultimately losing 5-4 on Wednesday.
The Sea Kings closed the deficit to one run when they posted two runs in the top of the fourth inning. With one out in the frame, a walk to Charlie Kaster (‘26) was followed by a single by Stevie Jones (‘26). A double by Sea Kings’ third baseman William Chiechi (‘25) then drove in both runners.
The Barons punched back in the top of the fifth inning with a run to push the lead back out to 4-2.
In the top of the sixth inning, the trio of Kaster, Jones and Chiechi struck again. This time, the roles were reversed with Kaster getting the one-out single followed by a walk to Jones. After Kaster advanced to third base on a wild pitch, Chiechi drove him home with a ground out to shortstop and the score stood at 4-3.
Again, Fountain Valley answered. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Barons tacked on a run thanks to two Sea Kings’ errors.
The Sea Kings mounted one final charge in the seventh inning, scoring a run, but ultimately left the tying run on base as the final gun sounded.
Kaster, Jones and Chiechi accounted for the bulk of the Sea Kings offense on the day. Kaster was one for two plus a walk, and scored two runs. Jones, who extended his on-base streak to four games, was one for one plus two walks, while scoring a run. Chiechi was one for three with a double, and three RBI.
The Sea Kings got excellent work out of the bullpen from Will Chavez (‘26). Chavez pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing zero earned runs on one hit. He also struck out three Barons without issuing a free pass.
The Sea Kings Varsity and Fountain Valley will face off in the rubber match of the series on Friday, March 28.
Come From Behind Victory Not in the Cards for Sea Kings Junior Varsity
The Sea Kings Junior Varsity lost to the Fountain Valley Barons 8-4 in game two of their three-game set this week. The Sea Kings rallied from a five-run deficit, but couldn’t complete the comeback, as base running and fielding miscues allowed the Barons to seal the win.
The Barons jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the first five innings largely thanks to four extra-base hits.
The Sea Kings came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases with no outs. The end result was only a single run scored, as the pitcher’s best friend, a double-play, was followed by a strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 5-1, the Sea Kings went back to work. With one out, Max Brengel (‘27) was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Prescott Nyman’s (‘27) line drive single to center field put runners on the corners. Porter Fyke (‘26) then lined an RBI single to left field to drive in Brengel. With runners on first and second, Crosby Eddy (‘27) singled to center field to plate Nyman, but Fyke was thrown out when he was caught between second and third bases. After a Barons’ pitching change, a walk to Sam Healy (‘27) again put runners at first and second for the Sea Kings. A hard ground ball just inside the third base bag by Brady Zenz (‘26) drove in Eddy and the Sea Kings had pulled to within one run.
Fountain Valley capitalized on sloppy Sea Kings’ defense in the top of the seventh to score three runs and put the game out of reach.
The Sea Kings offense was, literally, hit or miss all day. While they recorded eight hits, the Sea Kings also struck out ten times.
A trio of Sea Kings lead the offensive charge for the Sea Kings. Zenz was two for three with an RBI. Nyman was two for three with a run and a stolen base. And Eddy scored two runs, while going one for two plus a walk and driving in a run.
Brengel was held hitless for the first time in eight games, but his hit by pitch in the sixth inning allowed him to extend his on-base streak to ten games.
Nick DeSouza (‘27) came out of the bullpen for the Sea Kings to throw two innings without surrendering an earned run and striking out two.
Up next, the Sea Kings Junior Varsity travels to Fountain Valley for the final game in the series on Friday, March 28.
Sea Kings Freshmen Defeated by Barons
The Sea Kings Freshmen faced off with the Fountain Valley Barons in the middle game of their three-game set and came out on the wrong end of an 11-0 shutout. The game was competitive through the first four innings, but the Barons overwhelmed the Sea Kings for seven runs in the fifth.
The Sea Kings offense tallied five hits and drew five walks on the day, but the Fountain Valley pitchers spread the traffic on the bath paths across multiple innings to thwart any damage. The Barons doubled up the Sea Kings in the hits department, a problem that was exacerbated by the eleven walks issued by Sea Kings’ pitchers and five errors committed on defense.
Center fielder JJ Haley (‘28) lead the Sea Kings offense going two for three, including a double, and drew a walk.
Brody Majit (‘28) and Claire O’Kelly (‘28) both were one for two with a walk for the Sea Kings.
The Sea Kings Freshmen (3-7-1) will aim to salvage a victory in the final game of the series when they travel to Fountain Valley on Friday, March 28.
Opportunistic Sea Kings Varsity Secures First Conference Win of the Season
The Sea Kings Varsity scored a 4-2 victory over the visiting Fountain Valley Barons on Tuesday. The Sea Kings’ pitchers held the Barons’ hitters in check throughout the game, allowing zero earned runs. On offense, the Sea Kings took advantage of three Barons’ errors to score two unearned runs and combined that with a pair of timely RBI extra-base hits to put runs on the scoreboard in the third, four, fifth and sixth innings.
The Sea Kings started the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, when they cashed in a walk to Dylan O’Kelly (‘25) on Brady Gadol’s (‘25) two-out double to left field.
The Barons tried to make some noise in the top of the fourth inning, but ended up stranding runners on second and third.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Barons again found themselves paying the price for issuing a walk, this time to Princeton-commit Vincent Menard (‘25), who scored on an error by Fountain Valley’s pitcher.
The bottom of the fifth inning saw the Sea Kings offense again take advantage of Barons’ miscues. With two outs, the Sea Kings parlayed a walk and pair of Fountain Valley errors into a run, making the score 3-0.
The Fountain Valley offense jolted to life in the top of the sixth inning when they started the frame with three consecutive singles. A pair of Sea Kings’ errors then allowed the Barons to plate two runs.
Marc Solomon (‘25) lead off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run, his second of the year, to stretch the Sea Kings’ lead to 4-2.
Sea Kings’ starter, Stonehill College-commit Marcello Anelli (‘25) pitched five and one third innings, striking out eight, while issuing only one free pass. Stevie Jones (‘26) entered in relief in the sixth inning, recording the final five outs to close the game.
The Sea Kings Varsity will host the Barons of Fountain Valley on Wednesday, March 26.