Oilmen Alumni Update: 2019 College Season Numerous former Northwest Indiana Oilmen players enjoyed successful 2019 campaigns with their respective college teams. Together they earned various first-team and second-team all-conference honors and contributed to their team’s season success. A few former Oilmen even saw their teams earn NCAA Regional bids. 2018 Oilmen: Nick Figus (Illinois Wesleyan University) - Figus finished the 2019 campaign with a .399 batting average — good enough to lead the team — 36 runs and 25 RBIs. He was chosen to the first team of D3baseball.com’s All-Central Region Team as well as the first- team of College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin all-league squads. Connor Spear (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) - Spear was dominant for the Warhawks during the 2019 season, finishing with a perfect 7-0 record, 1.44 ERA and a .196 batting average against. He was chosen to the All Midwest Region second-team by D3baseball.com as well as the ABCA All-Region second-team. Brandon Hickey (Robert Morris University) - Hickey started five games for the Eagles during his senior season, compiling a 4-0 record and 2.70 ERA. Nate Montgomery (Tusculum University) - Montgomery hit .358 this season and added 48 RBIs for Tusculum this season. Chad Patrick (Purdue Northwest) - Patrick started 10 games for Purdue Northwest, finishing with a 4-4 record. He ended the season with a 3.45 ERA and struck out 63 batters. 2017 Oilmen: Alex Nisle (Trinity Christian College) - Nisle had a great year at the plate for the Trolls, batting .303 with 48 runs, 57 RBIs and nine home runs. His 57 RBIs were good enough for third in the conference, and he finished second in the conference in doubles. He was chosen second-team all conference. Chase Dawson (Valparaiso University) - Dawson led the Crusaders in average, batting .324. He added 39 runs and 28 RBIs on his way to being named second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference. Amir Wright (Saint Leo) - Wright finished the 2019 season with a .320 BA, 41 runs, and 11 stolen bases. Bo Hofstra (Purdue University) - Hofstra had a great season serving as the Purdue closer. His 1.62 ERA (sixth best in program history) and seven saves (eighth most in program history) earned him third-team All-Big Ten Honors. Blake Cleveland (Central Michigan University) - Cleveland’s CMU team advanced to the NCAA Regionals. 2016 Oilmen: Chris Baker (Trinity Christian College) - Baker hit .379 on the season for the Trolls and added 54 runs, 46 RBIs, eight home runs and 13 stolen bases. He led the conference in total bases and finished second in OBP. Those stats earned him first-team all conference in the CCAC. Tommy Szczasny (Northern Illinois University) - Szczasny hit .280 for the Huskies during the season and earned a spot on the MAC All-Tournament team. Braden Nikish (Illinois State University) - Nikish’s Illinois State team advanced to the NCAA Regionals. |