HUNTINGTON BEACH – Huntington Beach and JSerra do not play in the same baseball league.

That doesn’t mean they don’t have a rivalry.

Saturday’s game, a JSerra 6-4 victory in a nonleague game at Huntington Beach High’s excellent baseball facility, had all the intensity of one.

JSerra (10-5), ranked No. 4 in Orange County, took an early lead, Huntington Beach rallied to tie, JSerra regained the lead in the top of the seventh and Huntington Beach scored a run and had the tying run on base, but that’s where the rally ended.

No. 9 Huntington Beach (10-5) and JSerra played each other three times last year. JSerra won all three, including a 3-2 win on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the championship game of the Newport Elks Tournament.

Saturday’s game drew a large crowd, with social-distancing requirements sending many to the grass viewing area along the left-field line. Attendees saw a game that featured many college-signed players, a few of whom likely will have their names called in the MLB draft July 11-13.

JSerra senior shortstop Cody Schrier, a UCLA signee and draft prospect, opened the game by launching a changeup well over the left-field fence.

JSerra shortstop Cody Schrier, who led off the game with a home run, talks about the great game he played in today at Huntington Beach High (JSerra 6, Huntington Beach 4) ⁦@ocvarsity⁩ ⁦@ocvarsityguy⁩ pic.twitter.com/3frwmFVmOf

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) April 24, 2021

JSerra senior catcher Colin Blanchard, who signed with Washington, hit two doubles, and JSerra’s No. 9 hitter Owen Fuller, a junior second baseman, smacked a double in the seventh to drive in the two runs that provided the winning margin.

The game was tied 3-3 going into the sixth inning. Jack Gibson, who was pinch-hitting for JSerra, hit a one-out double to left-center field and later scored on Gage Jump’s sacrifice fly. The Lions pushed their lead to 6-3 in the seventh when Fuller pulled an inside pitch over third base to send in two runs.

Sophomore first baseman Ralph Velasquez led off the Oilers’ half of the seventh with a double and scored one out later on a single by senior left fielder Ryan Neves. San Diego State-signed right fielder Shane Stafford walked to put the tying run on board. Lions senior pitcher Eric Silva struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Steve Granado on the call. He broadcasts JSerra baseball on the internet and he is very good. https://t.co/r4h7KZ38jw

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) April 24, 2021

“That’s the most fun you could ask for,” Schrier said. “We competed for all seven innings.”

It was the JSerra debut for Silva, a transfer from Laguna Beach who started at third base and pitched the final two innings. The UCLA signee also had a bases-loaded walk.

Huntington Beach sophomore first baseman Ralph Velasquez singled, doubled and scored a run, senior outfielder Ryan Neves had two hits, including an RBI single the seventh inning, and scored a run. Sophomore center fielder Aiden Espinoza singled, walked twice and scored a run.

JSerra takes a five-game winning streak into its three-game, Trinity League-opening series next week against Mater Dei.

The Oilers have a nonleague game at home Tuesday, April 27 against Corona del Mar and begin Surf League play next month.

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