The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. - July 22, 2020 - The Oilmen (11-4) won their second straight game against the MCL Minutemen (5-11) following another scoreless performance from starter Jack Guzek (Iowa / Manhattan, Ill.). The Oilmen broke the game open in the top of the ninth inning when they scored 10 runs and won 12-1.

Guzek was able to continue his 18 scoreless inning streak to start the season with five innings pitched today. As the reigning MCL Pitcher of theWeek, Guzek continued to shine as he struck out seven Minutemen batters and allowed just four hits. This was Guzek’s fourth outing for the Oilmen this season as he recorded his second win.

“You have to give the Minutemen credit, they had some good at-bats today,” Jack Guzek said. “I didn’t have everything working today but that is when you just have to battle through and get outs.”

“Jack did his thing,” Oilmen manager Chris Cunningham said. “He didn’t have his best stuff today but when you are as good as he is, you are able to make it work.”

Cunningham has enjoyed owning the league’s best ERA and continued to lower that ERA with relievers Brandon Tyler (Grambling State / Calumet City, Ill.) and Connor Oliver (Wichita State / Oak Forest, Ill.) combining for three innings of work allowing just one run and striking out four batters.

The Oilmen got out to a 2-0 lead after Angelo Cantello (Lewis / Blue Island, Ill.) was hit by a pitch to force home a run in the sixth inning and a wild pitch bringing home Andre Demetral (Florence Darlington / Rochester, Mich.) in the following at-bat. The Minutemen (4-2)  answered back in the bottom half of the inning when Ryan McCoy drove in a run with a single. 

When the ninth inning came for the Oilmen they were determined to capture some insurance for the bottom half. The Oilmen drew five walks and were hit by two pitched in the inning which led to 10 runs being scored and secured the victory at Howie Minas Field for the second time in three days.

Jack Guzek advanced his record to (2-0) while Nic Vitiritti was hooked with his first loss (0-1). The Oilmen return home for a matchup with the Crestwood Panthers tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. and if you are unable to attend, the game will be streaming on Facebook Live with Brandon Vickrey and Andrew Fish on the call.