Corona, Huntington Beach advance to National High School Invitational semifinals; La Mirada, Livermore Granada rebound with wins in North Carolina

Following dramatic late-inning victories to open the National High School Invitational, both Corona and Huntington Beach made sure to produce early offense in Thursday’s quarterfinals, resulting in the past two champions of the event advancing to Friday’s semifinals at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

Seth Hernandez pitched a complete game for top-ranked Corona, allowing three hits and an unearned run, with one walk and 11 strikeouts, as the Panthers relied on three first-inning runs to secure a 4-1 victory against Columbus High of Florida, extending the program’s winning streak to 24 in a row, including last season.

Seth Hernandez of Corona baseball | Photo courtesy of National High School Invitational

Huntington Beach scored seven runs in the second and sophomore Jared Grindlinger surrendered one hit and struck out three in four innings to help the Oilers achieve a 12-1, five-inning triumph against Collierville High of Tennessee.

Corona (16-0), the reigning tournament champion, will square off Friday in the semifinals against Venice High of Florida (20-3), a 4-1 winner in nine innings against Corona del Sol from Arizona (15-4).

Huntington Beach (14-1), a National High School Invitational winner in 2016 and 2023, reached the semifinals for the sixth time in event history and will compete Friday against Trinity Christian Academy from Florida (20-3), a 3-1 quarterfinal winner Thursday against Regis Jesuit of Colorado (5-3).

Both semifinal contests are scheduled for 7 a.m. PDT.

Trent Grindlinger had two hits and three RBIs, with Ethan Porter, CJ Weinstein and Trevor Goldenetz each driving in two runs against Collierville for Huntington Beach, which outlasted Poly Prep Country Day of New York by a 5-4 margin in eight innings in Wednesday’s opener.

Ethan Porter of Huntington Beach baseball | Photo courtesy of National High School Invitational

Jason Dunham, Goldenetz and Jared Grindlinger all scored twice for the Oilers, who benefited from eight walks and three errors by Collierville (22-2), in addition to collecting eight hits.

Cael Allen drove in JD Whitworth in the third inning with a two-out double for Collierville.

Huntington Beach added three runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Trent Grindlinger, and scored one apiece in the fourth and fifth to prevail by the 10-run mercy rule.

Hernandez (6-0) improved to 15-0 the past two years for Corona and has allowed only 11 hits, recording 58 strikeouts with only three walks in 29 ⅓ innings this season.

Hernandez also had two hits, scored a run and drove in another for the Panthers, who rallied for an 8-7 victory Wednesday with three runs in the bottom of the seventh against Casteel High of Arizona.

Anthony Murphy, Ethin Bingaman and Brady Ebel also scored runs Thursday for Corona, with a sacrifice fly by Billy Carlson driving in the fourth run for the Panthers in the third inning.

Columbus (19-5) manufactured a run in the sixth to avoid being shut out for only the second time this season, as Jose Correa drove in Alec Cruz with an RBI single.

Livermore Granada 1, Holly Springs (North Carolina) 0: Senior Tyler Kennedy struck out nine in 5 ⅔ innings to help the Matadors (11-3) prevail in the consolation quarterfinals at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

Tyler Kennedy of Livermore Granada | Photo courtesy of National High School Invitational

Chase Nadeau drove in Peyton Richards, who tripled, in the fourth on a sacrifice fly for the lone run of the contest.

Connor Rariden overcame three walks by striking out four batters in 1 ⅓ innings of relief for Granada, which rebounded from a 10-3 loss Wednesday against Corona del Sol from Arizona.

Tommy Brown, who doubled, and Carlos Hernandez had two hits each for Granada.

Anthony Zezza allowed five hits and struck out five in six innings for Holly Springs (9-6).

La Mirada 6, Poly Prep Country Day (New York) 2: The Matadores (15-3) received two hits each from Ian Nunez and Jesse Colon in the consolation quarterfinal victory at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. 

Travis Friend produced a two-run double in the second inning for La Mirada, which received an RBI single in the third from Nunez.

Maverek Russell brought home a run on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, with Jason Rodriguez driving in another run in the fourth for the Matadores on a sacrifice fly.

Kevin Jeon collected an RBI single as part of the three-run output for La Mirada after Poly Prep Country Day (4-6) cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fourth.

Nathaniel Maldonado and Adrian Meraz combined for four innings of scoreless relief for La Mirada, allowing two hits and striking out three.