In a game loaded with offense, the Huntington Beach Oilers defeated the Sea Kings Freshmen 13-7. The two teams combined for thirty-six baserunners putting stress on the pitchers throughout the game.
The Sea Kings jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning when Luke Kittleson’s (‘28) groundout drove in JJ Haley (‘28), who had reached on a walk.
The Oilers answered in the top of the second inning with two runs and then tacked on a third inning run to established a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Sea Kings pulled back to within one run when Tait Weissman (‘28) lead off with a walk and then scored after tagging up on a foul ball out to right field.
A hit by pitch, botched fielder’s choice and a single loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Haley cleared those bases with a grand slam to put the Sea Kings in the lead 6-3.
Huntington Beach took the lead for good when they scored five runs over the fifth and sixth innings.
The Sea Kings tried to go back in front for the third time in the game with a sixth inning rally. A single by Brody Majit (‘28) drove home Luca DiNapoli (‘28), but the Sea Kings left two men on base as the inning ended with the score 8-7 Oilers.
The Oilers added five runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Haley, who extended his hitting streak to nine games, finished the game two for three plus a walk, two runs scored and four RBI.
Majit was three for four with a double and two RBI.
DiNapoli stretched his on-base streak to six games, as he went two for three, and scored two runs.
Sea Kings backstop Claire O’Kelly walked and was hit by a pitch. She has now reached base in nine straight games.
The Sea Kings Freshmen and Huntington Beach Oilers close out their season series on April 4.