Lucas Perez Leads the Charge as Newport Harbor Clinches Series Against Oilers (2025)

Huntington Beach – Oilers Field

In a hard-fought Sunset League series finale, the Sailors of Newport Harbor outlasted Huntington Beach with a 6-3 victory on Friday afternoon. Newport Harbor rebounded from an early deficit and never looked back, using timely hitting and a strong outing on the mound to claim the series.

The Oilers struck first in the bottom of the opening frame when Trent Grindlinger lined a double to the gap, bringing home the game’s first run. However, the Sailors answered quickly in the third. Adam Martin ripped a single to right field to tie it up, and Gavin Guy reached safely on a dropped third strike, allowing another run to score and giving Newport Harbor a 2-1 advantage.

The momentum stayed with the Sailors into the fourth. Wyatt Gahm crushed a solo home run over the left field fence to extend the lead, and Ryan Williams later added another insurance run with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Keoni Wun home to make it 4-1.

After the Oilers trimmed the deficit in the bottom half of the fourth with a solo shot by Jayton Greer and a sacrifice fly, Newport Harbor responded once again. Lucas Perez launched a solo home run in the fifth inning, restoring the Sailors’ two-run cushion. In the sixth, Gavin Guy grounded out to first, allowing Ryan Williams to cross the plate and cap off the scoring for Newport Harbor at 6-3.

Despite a late push by Huntington Beach, Lucas Perez kept the game under control from the mound, delivering a complete game to secure the Sailors’ win.

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Pitching

Lucas Perez turned in a complete-game gem for Newport Harbor. The right-hander tossed all seven innings, allowing just seven hits and three runs while striking out two and issuing only one walk. Perez efficiently managed the Huntington Beach lineup, working out of several key jams to preserve the Sailors’ lead. Tyler Bellerose led the mound for the Oilers, surrendering four runs across 3.1 innings, striking out five and walking one.

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Batting

Newport Harbor’s offense was powered by balance and timely execution. Ryan Williams, Adam Martin, and Wyatt Gahm each recorded two hits to pace the Sailors. Gahm and Perez each blasted crucial solo home runs, while Williams, Martin, Guy, and Perez each drove in runs to keep constant pressure on Huntington Beach’s pitching staff. Keoni Wun added a stolen base and scored twice, providing a spark at the bottom of the lineup. On the Huntington Beach side, Trevor Goldenetz stood out from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases.

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What’s next

Newport Harbor will open a key three-game set at home against Marina on Tuesday as they look to continue dominating the Sunset League standings. Meanwhile, Huntington Beach will regroup and begin a critical series against Edison, hoping to stay in the lead for the league title.