The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June. 9, 2023 – A chance to extend the win streak to five looked dull going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Then, Ryan Little stepped up to the plate.

Ryan Little stepped in with the tying run on third and two outs. Little had a rough day through his first five at-bats, going 0-for-5. But when it mattered most, he was able to make contact and drive in the run. The Oilmen weren’t done yet. After Kevin Denty and Logan Anderson walked, Ethan Rossi stepped up. With one swing of a bat, Rossi became the hero for the Oilmen, driving in the winning run by launching a walk-off single off the wall in left. The Oilmen beat the Indiana Panthers 6-5 at Oil City Stadium.

“Little’s at-bat was huge just because he had such a tough game at the plate,” Oilmen manager Adam Enright said. “He saw some pitches and got a little more feel of what the pitch sequence was going to be.”

Indiana Panthers reliever Anthony Scanlon struck out three but walked five. While The Oilmen sent in Jack Niekrasz and Aaron Buckholtz late into the game. Niekrasz only allowed one hit. Buckholtz walked one but allowed no runs.

“(Niekrasz) is slowly but surely getting back to the viable bullpen arm that we saw last year,” Enright said.

Early into the game, both pitchers were looking very strong on the mound. Oilmen starter Silas Noe sat down six via the strikeout while only allowing two hits. His night would eventually come to an end in the fifth inning. Panthers starter Jaden Jones showed poise at the mound in his five innings pitched. Jones would strike out four while only walk a pair before being relieved after the fifth.

With Friday’s win over the Indiana Panthers, the Oilmen improve to 5-3. The Oilmen will face the Southland Vikings on Saturday night. The Oilmen look to keep their winning ways after a walk-off win in Friday night’s affair.

First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Ind.