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HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — It鈥檚 February, and you know what that means — it鈥檚 time for Oiler baseball. With so many standouts on the roster this year, this season is one you won鈥檛 want to miss. Having led the team for 22 years, head coach Benji Medure runs a program whose reputation precedes them.

鈥�We鈥檒l be going to the National High School Invitational tournament in North Carolina [in April],鈥� Medure said. “And competing against the best 16 teams in the nation.鈥�

What does it take to earn a spot in Huntington Beach High School鈥檚 baseball program? Both talent and commitment.聽

鈥淲e play in one of the most competitive environments in the United States,鈥� Medure revealed. 鈥淥ur expectation is high for our players to perform at the highest level possible.鈥�

They Value Scholar Athletes

That 鈥減erformance鈥� includes turning in good grades because the coaching team expects the same amount of hard work in the classroom as on the ball field. In fact, the team motto is 鈥渁ll in all the time.鈥� Moving from second base to outfield this season is Owen Glascoe, a senior who exemplifies that goal.聽

鈥淥wen is a model of great character and perseverance,鈥� Medure said of the Advanced Placement student. 鈥淗e is an incredibly smart young man with impeccable morals.鈥�

Glascoe acknowledges that juggling study time with practice and personal workouts requires lots of sacrifice; however, maintaining his 4.1 grade point average has been worth it. He鈥檚 been accepted at his dream school: the Prescott, Arizona, campus of Embry鈥揜iddle Aeronautical University. Owen describes his Oiler teammates, some of whom he鈥檚 played with since their early youth in Huntington Valley Little League, as being 鈥減retty close鈥� because their social life outside of the team is limited. However, they also 鈥渓ove each other and play our best when we鈥檙e relaxed and having fun.鈥�

A Few Good Men聽

One of the things that sets the Oilers apart from other schools is the effort that the coaches put into developing not just good players, but also players of good character. According to Glascoe, he and his teammates are encouraged to behave in such a way both on and off the field that they earn a good name.

鈥淲e need to be seen as different and act accordingly, Glascoe said.

Through team meetings, social media posts, and one-on-one communication, coach Medure sets clear expectations.聽

鈥淲e want to have the best possible kids in the program with the highest possible character,鈥� Medure explained. 鈥淲e want to send them in the world with a good foundation of being a good human, not just a great baseball player.鈥�

Team membership is a year-round commitment. In the fall, the weeks usually get filled with cross-training — two fielding practices, one day in the pool swimming laps or playing water polo, another day of beach workouts, and then a wrap-up on the track running sprints and doing conditioning.

鈥淭hat schedule ends when our field gets reseeded, then it鈥檒l be all five days of field practice,鈥� Glascoe explained of the pre-season prep. 鈥淭hen our games start mid-February.鈥�

While the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams practice separately from the Freshman one, Oiler baseball is a cohesive program that is about both fun and inspiration. They even hold an 鈥淚nner Squad World Series鈥� where everyone gets to play together.

鈥淭he freshmen get to see how things are run [on Varsity],鈥� Glascoe said. “And how we take care of business.鈥�

Spring Standouts

Last season finished with the Varsity Oilers getting knocked out during the third round of CIF Division 1 Championships via a heartbreaking, one-run loss to Corona High School. This year鈥檚 talent-packed lineup (most of whom have already committed to play at colleges) could go all the way. In addition to Owen Glascoe, coach Medure suggests keeping an eye on:

The Oilers baseball team. Credit: Kelli M. Larson

Jackson Brummett, senior, C, Whittier College

Nick Dumesnil, senior, RF, California Baptist University

Ben Jacobs, senior, LHP, University of California, Los Angeles

Tyler Prystajko, senior, RHP, uncommitted

Adyn Lucero, senior, RHP, US Naval Academy

Jack Smith, senior, RHP, California State University, Northridge

Ryker Sullivan, senior, RHP, Colorado Christian University

Dean Carpentier, junior, SS, Loyola-Marymount University

Aidan Espinoza, junior, CF, University of California, Los Angeles

Brian Trujillo, junior, 2B, uncommitted

Ralph Velazquez, junior, 3B, Arizona State University

鈥淥ur team is stacked with players of different skillsets: We can hit for power, and we can play small ball,鈥� Glascoe said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a really fun season. Come out to a game and show your support.鈥�

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