Oilmen Reveal 2022 Position Players Whiting, Ind. – May 22, 2022 – As the Northwest Indiana Oilmen get set to embark on their 11th season of baseball excellence in Northwest Indiana, the club announced the position players who will comprise its 2022 roster on Sunday. Outfield The Oilmen outfield will include Josh Outlaw (Parkland / Des Plaines, Ill.), Chazz Clark (Xavier University of Louisiana / Chicago, Ill.) and Angelo Luna (University of Illinois-Springfield / Chicago, Ill.). Outlaw and Luna are both entering their freshman seasons, while Clark is wrapping up his first year at the collegiate level. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play with college-level players,” Outlaw said. “I’m glad I’ll have the chance to do that close to home so I don’t have to live out-of-state. I’m really focused on making sure I don’t take plays off and I’m doing everything I can to help my team win from the first pitch to the last pitch.” Early in the season, the Oilmen will also be bolstered by several temporary players, including Nick Andersen, who plays outfield as well as first base and catcher. Mike Moralez (Trinity Christian / Portage, Mich.) is another player who will be with the team early in the season as others finish up their spring campaigns. He has the ability to play first base and corner outfield. Furthermore, based on new league rules that allow for graduated players who are pursuing careers at the professional level to participate, former Oilmen standout Chris Baker will be back with the club as a temporary player. Catchers The Oilmen have a trio of catchers on the 2022 roster, including Sebastian Cabeza (Black Hawk / Aurora, Ill.), Colin Horneman (Lincoln Trail / St. John, Ind.) and Kyle Czarnecki (Kankakee / Minooka, Ill.). Horneman is a Mount Carmel product, while Cabeza and Czarnecki attended Kaneland and Minooka, respectively. “I’m hoping to bring leadership behind the plate,” Cabeza said. “I have a strong arm and hope to control the game. One of my teammates at Black Hawk played for the Oilmen last summer and told me it’s a good place to be.” For Horneman, the opportunity to play for the Oilmen is a chance to take the field for a team that he grew up watching. “My dad works right down the street from where the Oilmen play,” he said. “I knew that when I graduated from high school, I wanted to play for the Oilmen. I’ve heard good things from previous players and from (former Oilmen General Manager) Scott Trcka.” Czarnecki heard rave reviews about playing for the Oilmen from 2021 RHP Matt Lelito. “I had connections with various players who were on the Oilmen last summer,” he said. “Those connections as well as my college baseball coach helped connect me to the Oilmen, and it ended up being a good spot for me. I plan to play hard every chance I get. I want to use my speed on the base paths as a catcher and take pride in my baserunning. I’m a gap-to-gap hitter who likes to hit line drives.” Infield The 2022 Oilmen infield will feature David Marshall (College of DuPage / Downers Grove, Ill.), Joe Cosenza (College of DuPage / Downers Grove, Ill.), Jack Zebig (Maryville / Plainfield, Ill.), Tylor Phommachanhom (Dayton / Joliet, Ill.), Nolan Rimkus (Belmont Abbey / Orland Park, Ill.), Kyle Tyler (Valparaiso / Alsip, Ill.) and CJ Deshazer (Northwood / Hanover Park, Ill.). In addition, Charlie Szykowny will see time for the Oilmen early in the season as a temporary player. Deshazer played in 19 games for the Oilmen in 2018, their most recent season under manager Adam Enright prior to this year. Since his first Oilmen season, Deshazer has only played one spring season due to injuries and the COVID year. The middle infielder also played in the league briefly in 2021 with the MCL Minutemen. “I love playing baseball, so it’s crazy how fast time flies,” Deshazer said. “It’s crazy to be back here playing for the Oilmen. I still have two college seasons ahead of me. Adam Enright is back coaching again, so he’s the reason I’m back.” Tyler is connected to Northwest Indiana in a variety of ways, as he is finishing his senior season at local baseball powerhouse Andrean before beginning his freshman year of college in Northwest Indiana by playing at Division-I Valparaiso University in the Missouri Valley Conference. In between those two stops on his baseball journey, he’ll take the diamond for the Oilmen this summer. “I used to play travel ball in the summer, but with me going to Valpo and playing a higher level of competition next season, I wanted to play the highest level of competition I could going into my freshman year,” Tyler said. “Travel ball was fun, but it’s time to upgrade and play against guys who have college experience. Coach Enright reached out to me and we developed a relationship, and I figured it would be a good spot for me to play this summer to get my feet wet in college ball.” Rimkus is finishing up his freshman year of college and describes himself as a high-intensity player who can get the team going and hit for a high average. Cosenza brings leadership skills to the table as a captain of his high school team. He hits for power and has a strong arm. Marshall is very selfless and positive and prides himself on being a good teammate. Zebig also brings a lot of energy and positivity to the dugout and his teammates. “I was looking for some good competition to play since this will be my first college look,” he said. “I wanted to stay somewhat local, so I thought the Northern League would be the best fit. I was really impressed with the team and the facilities, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to get ready for college. The Oilmen will announce their pitching staff on Monday morning in advance of the season opener on Monday night at 7 p.m. at Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream, Ill. against the Joliet Generals in a rematch of the 2021 League Championship Series. The game will air on the Oilmen Broadcasting Network, available through the Region Sports Network, the Northwest Indiana Oilmen Facebook Page and YouTube, with Leo Stauacher and Adam Oppenheim on the call. |