The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. - July 9, 2020 - After giving up the big inning in yesterday’s game against the Southland Vikings, the Oilmen flipped the script by putting together a 10 run inning themselves in the eighth.

The Oilmen came into the eighth inning tied 1-1 after a pitching duel through the first seven innings of play. The Oilmen changed the complexion of the game with a huge rally that saw 14 Oilmen come to the plate with 10 scoring. This cracked the game wide open and forced a 10-run mercy rule to be put into effect with an Oilmen 11-1 victory over the DuPage Hounds.

The game saw Oilmen ace Jack Guzek (Iowa / Manhattan, Ill.) pitch four innings and escaping each inning with runners in scoring position. Guzek’s total of scoreless innings is now seven to start the young season. This was also Guzek’s second consecutive start without recording a win despite his dominance.

“We know what we are going to get when he is on the mound,” Oilmen manager Chris Cunningham said. “He is really good and we know that he is going to give us a chance every time he steps on the mound.”

The Oilmen (4-1) got out to a 1-0 lead after a double by Nick Anderson (Kankakee CC / Highland, Ind.) and an RBI single by Tyler Nelson (Indiana / Crown Point, Ind.). The Hounds (4-2)  answered back in the seventh inning when Anthony Fernero drove in a run with a double.

When the eighth inning came for the Oilmen they were determined not to allow for another blown lead to result in a loss. After a two-run RBI single by Angelo Cantello (Lewis / Blue Island, Ill.) propelled the Oilmen back into a comfortable lead the Oilmen would continue to pass the torch while scoring 10 runs in the biggest inning of the Oilmen’s season and would be enough to force the game to end after the Hounds failed to score in the bottom of the inning.

“We have been very fortunate to have these big innings,” Cunningham said. The Oilmen have now scored 10 or more runs in three of their five games this season.

The Oilmen return home for a matchup with the Crestwood Panthers on Friday at 7:10 p.m. and if you are unable to attend the game will be streaming on Facebook Live with Brandon Vickrey and Jon Zaghloul on the call.