The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Chicago Heights, Ill. – June 7, 2022 – Statistically speaking, the Crestwood Panthers delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances ever hurled against the Northwest Indiana Oilmen on Tuesday night.

The Oilmen were limited to one hit in a 4-1 setback to the Panthers, who struck out 17 Oilmen batters at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Ill.

“I thought we did as good of a job as we could trying to put the ball in play with the way the strike zone was today,” Oilmen manager Adam Enright said. “The only negative to the way we played is that of the four runs they scored, two were on walks in the first inning and two were on misplayed balls in the outfield. All four runs that the Panthers scored were because of what we gave to them.”

Crestwood starter Justin Schassburger yielded one unearned run over six hitless innings while walking three and striking out 12 to earn the victory. He was followed by Charlie Faoro, who nailed down the save with three shutout innings of one-hit ball.

The Oilmen scratched out their only hit on a bunt single by Dom Curcio (Aurora / Plainfield, Ill.) with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the eighth.

“At the time, it was a three-run game, so we’re trying to do something to win the game,” Enright said. “If it’s 8-0 or 9-0, maybe we don’t do that. Hits are hits, you have to defend whatever it is the other team is going to do. Dom Curcio is not going to slug the ball a ton; he’s a bunt and run type of guy, so that’s what he’s here to work on in the summer.”

Oilmen starter Tyler Preissing (Aurora / Mount Prospect, Ill.) allowed three runs on three hits in four innings to take the loss. Two of those runs came in the opening frame and both of those runners reached via walks. The Panthers tacked on a run in the fourth before Logan Strutz (Triton / Lockport, Ill.) came in and threw two scoreless innings without yielding a hit. Mike Freitas (Loran / Hobart, Ind.) permitted one run (unearned) on four hits while walking none over two frames.

After playing 10 straight games away from Oil City Stadium, the Oilmen play seven of their next eight in their home ballpark.

“It’s everything from the consistency of playing in the same place to the opportunity to do some better pregame preparation in our home ballpark,” Enright said. “We’ll have a chance to do more pregame work that we need in the summer during our home games, and then we won’t have any excuses.”

The homestand begins on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. as the Chicago American Giants come to town. Tickets are available on NWIOilmen.com. The game will be broadcast on the Oilmen Broadcasting Network, including Region Sports, AM 1230 WJOB, JED-TV and the Oilmen Facebook page.