RIVERSIDE – After a slight hiccup to begin the season, the consensus No. 1 team in the nation is back on the winning track.
Hagen Danner homered, Cory Moore struck out six in his first start with his new team, and visiting Huntington Beach evened its record with a 10-6 win over Riverside Poly on Tuesday afternoon.
The Oilers (2-2), ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America and others, started the season by dropping two of their first three games.
“Now that we have been beat, we realized we have to really push ourselves to be the best team we can be,” said Danner, who reached base and scored three times. “No shortcuts.”
Danner opened the scoring with homer to left to lead off the second inning, and Huntington Beach batted around in a four-run third to blow it open.
Trevor Windisch provided the big knock with a two-out, two-run single as the Oilers took advantage of two walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter from Bears starter Cole Percival, the son of former Angels closer Troy.
“There was a sense of urgency to play better,” Huntington Beach coach Benji Medure said. “It was just eliminate mistakes and when we do that, we’re fine.”
Nick Lopez added a pinch-hit two-run single in the fifth Wednesday that proved decisive, and Moore, a transfer from Yucaipa, provided insurance with a two-run double in the sixth that made it 10-2.
The Oilers, who are also ranked No. 1 in the county, held off a late charge by Poly (0-1).
“Our energy level was way up compared to other games,” Danner said. “We just gotta keep pushing forward from this one.”
Mitch Kovary (2-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief, and Landon Silver hit a pair of sacrifice flies for Huntington Beach.
Before the game, Medure confirmed that senior Logan Pouelson, who is signed with UCLA, will undergo an MRI exam on his elbow today.
The pitcher/third baseman suffered a potential injury while pitching against Orange Lutheran on Monday.
– KYLE GLASER, STAFF WRITER
In other games Wednesday:
@EDISON 4, DOWNEY 2
Kyler Arenado went 2 for 3 with a triple for the Chargers (2-1) in a pool-play game of the Loara Tournament.
Contact the writer: kglaser@pressenterprise.com
