The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Crown Point Ind.- In their first ever matchup with the Lake County Corn Dogs the Northwest Indiana Oilmen were unable to get a run across the plate falling 5-0 to the Northern League’s newest team.

Mike Schalasky (Palos Heights/ U Indy) started things off on the hill for the Oilmen allowing one run over four innings while striking out four. Caleb Deel (Gary/ Lake Eerie), Luke Pappas (Chicago/ Saint Leo), and Mike Freitas(Bourbainais/ Olivet Nazarene) all helped cool off the Corn Dog bats, combining for four strikeouts over five innings of relief work. A solo tally in the first inning and a seventh inning that saw seven batters walk proved to be the difference despite the Oilmen staff putting up goose eggs throughout the game. 

“Other than the seventh inning we pitched really well.” Oilmen Manager Adam Enright said. “Seven of the eight innings we threw really good and we were in the game and were in a position to win the game.”

Offensively, Chris Baker (South Holland/ Trinity Christian) provided a spark from the leadoff spot as he contributed two singles. Baserunners were hard to come with 14 Oilmen whiffing on strikes, a strike heavy approach from the Corn Dog pitching staff proved difficult to deal with at the dish.

“Their starter mixed three pitches for strikes which forced our hitters to cover more than they were comfortable with. We had to be defensive in our at bats because he was so good with multiple pitches.” Enright said. “Our approach wasn’t necessarily bad, we would just get that one pitch we were looking for and not do something positive with it.”

Defensively the squad continued to look like a well oiled machine as they turned a double play for the second consecutive game. Baker also made his presence felt defensively when he made a diving grab in center field to take away what could have been an extra base hit in the fifth inning. 

The Oilmen will have a quick turnaround rematching with the Corn Dogs on Friday at 7:00 P.M. The game will be broadcast on Region Sports Network and Facebook Live.