The Huntington Beach baseball squad clinched the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship on Saturday, edging Cathedral Catholic 5-3 in a tightly contested final that showcased both offensive firepower and late‑game poise.
A Thrilling Finale
Senior Jared Grindlinger ignited the offense with a two‑run home run in the opening inning and later sealed the victory by striking out the final batter, while the team built a 5‑0 lead in the sixth before Cathedral Catholic answered with three unearned runs in the seventh.
The win capped a season marked by a two‑week hiatus between the team’s last loss and the playoff stretch, a pause that coach Benji Medure used to fine‑tune strategies and rally his players. Navigating two road victories to reach the championship, the Oilers leaned on a balanced pitching staff, with Mason Tapia delivering four scoreless innings and Duncan McLeod starting on the mound.
Depth across the roster proved crucial, as contributions from teammates such as Dane Cunningham, Sol Moriyama, Charlie Henderson, Parker Leoff, Joshua Priest, Jose Partida, Adam Springston and Trent Grindlinger added stability and flexibility throughout the campaign.