LA MIRADA — After his team fell behind by a run in the first inning of a CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff game Tuesday, La Mirada baseball coach Jimmy Zurn turned the ball over to Jacob Oropeza.
Oropeza delivered 5 1/3 shutout innings in relief as the Matadores defeated Huntington Beach 11-1 in the third round of pool play.
The Matadores (24-7) will host St. John Bosco in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“Our kids are gritty,” Zurn said. “A lot of people have counted us and said that we were going to be down and we graduated a lot of guys. But this is La Mirada and we got a lot of really good kids. They’ve stepped up and grinded it out…We executed everything we did.”
POSTGAME: Speaking with La Mirada’s Jacop Oropeza about his team’s 11-1 win over Huntington Beach. He threw 5 1/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen. @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/m3lO1dg1RC
— Gabriel Duarte (@GabrielNDuarte_) May 20, 2026
Zurn was proud of the way his team handled being underdogs and hopes they will carry the same mindset into Friday’s showdown against the Braves.
La Mirada scored five runs in the third and five runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the Oilers (22-8-1).
“I don’t think there was a lot of people outside of our circle at La Mirada that saw that coming and picked us (to win),” Zurn said. “We’re gonna be in the same boat Friday.”
POSTGAME: Speaking with La Mirada’s Blake Barberena about his team’s 11-1 win over Huntington Beach. He went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/zH0EE0nRt2
— Gabriel Duarte (@GabrielNDuarte_) May 20, 2026
Oropeza. who replaced starter Julian Pardinas with two outs in the second inning, turned in one of his best outings of the season. He allowed one hit and had five strikeouts as he earned his second win of the season.
“I knew that this might be one of my last games,” said Oropeza, who is a senior. “When I got the call (to pitch), I just wanted to give everything I had and do anything for my team to get this win. The scoreboard says it all. We’re getting hot, it’s time to go on Friday.”
Huntington Beach got off to a quick start as senior Jared Grindlinger hit a home run to deep center field just two batters into the game.
It would be the Oilers’ lone run in the contest.
Grindlinger, a Tennessee commit who is MLB.com’s No. 49 prospect for the draft in July, finished his day 1 for 3 at the plate.
Right-hander Cayden Hammond started on the mound for Huntington Beach and cruised through the first two innings. He ran into trouble in the third and surrendered five runs, which flipped the momentum in favor of the Matadores.
La Mirada freshman third baseman Blake Barberena drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the third inning.
Barberena also drove in a run with a single in the sixth inning. Barbererna finished the game 3 for 4 at the plate.
“We came out super electric, dugout was in it, the presence was really good,” Barberena said.
Huntington Beach coach Benji Medure offered no excuses after the game.
“We ran into a buzzsaw and that happens in baseball,” he said. “It just sucks it happened in a playoff game where it’s win or go home.”