The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Chicago Heights Ill.- After having their eight-game win streak snapped on Monday the Northwest Indiana Oilmen were looking to start one up again Tuesday night. A historic outing from their pitching staff helped the team get back in the win column.

Nick Miketinac (Saint John/ Butler), Nolan Lorenz (LaPorte/ IU South Bend), and Nick Torres (Homer Glenn/ Missouri St. Louis) combined for a seven-inning no-hitter in the club’s 14-0 win over the MCL Minutemen. This was the first no-hitter in franchise history.

Miketinac started the day on the hill with five scoreless frames and seven strikeouts. The four batters he walked were the only baserunners the Minutemen had in game. This was his fourth star of the season and the most innings he threw in those starts.

“His past two outings he did not have his best stuff, but he still figured out how to come out and compete,” Oilmen manager TJ Marik said. “Today he had his stuff and competed like I knew he was going to no matter how he was pitch wise.”

Lorenz came out of the bullpen in the sixth inning and struck out the side. Torres shut the door in the seventh and added a strikeout of his own.

Luke Napleton (La Grange/Quincy) made his first start at catcher today and did so in spectacular fashion in the no-no. He had three hits and a walk offensively but Marik was most complimentary of his presence behind the plate.

“He is a really good player. I knew when I was getting a Napleton that I was getting a solid player,” Marik said. “For him to go back in the first game behind the plate in a long time and call a combined no-hitter is great and I’m super excited to see how the rest of his season goes.”

Offensively the Oilmen were firing on all cylinders as all nine batters found their way on base. Leadoff hitter AJ Wright (Griffith/ Northwood) set the tone with four hits and the rest of the lineup followed suit. Jacob Ferry (Aurora/ Morehead State) had a team high five runs batted in as well as completing three legs of the cycle with a double, triple, and inside the park homerun. With 17 hits as a team the offense was a complete reverse of their four-hit outing against Southland on Monday.

“This was what we needed to see after yesterday’s game where we really struggled to hit,” Marik said.  “I expect us to be really competitive and do a good job hitting with two strikes, with runners and third base, and with two outs. That’s the stuff we need to see every day.”

The Oilmen will return to action on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. against the Joliet Generals at Oil City Stadium. Tickets will be available at the stadium ticket office prior to the game. For those who cannot attend, Brandon Vickrey and Leo Staudacher will have the call on the Oilmen Broadcasting Network, which is available on JED TV and AM 1230 WJOB.