The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June. 17, 2023 – After 10 long innings of baseball, a Northwest Indiana Oilmen victory against the Southland Vikings looked bleak. Then, with one out and two runners on, Jayden Comia stepped up to the plate.

Comia had a rough day against the Vikings early. He entered the final at-bat 0-for-5 while striking out and grounding out three times including a double play. Just when many thought the Vikings had their second straight win over the Oilmen, Comia unleashed a three-run home run to walk it off. At first, Comia thought that the ball stayed in the yard until his teammates assured him that the ball did leave the ballpark. His home run marks the second walk-off win for the Oilmen this season as they beat the Vikings 8-5 in 10 innings.

“That was the game plan, see something low and so I know I can elevate it up and just let the big dog eat,” Jayden Comia said. “I was running back to the guys, and they said no go, that one was gone.”

Through the first seven innings, only one run was scored, and both pitchers were red hot. Silas Noe once again showed great poise on the mound. He struck out five and walked two in seven innings on one-run ball. Southland’s Will Moell walked seven but was able to keep a shutout through six innings. After the seventh inning, it became a more offensive game as both teams found ways to get on base and score runs often. Most notable was Brenden Stressler’s three-run homerun to give the Oilmen the lead in the top of the eighth.

“We have a lineup full of guys who come up with the big hit or the big play,” Manager Adam Enright said. “Comia was hardest on himself after the at-bats where he had runners on base and didn’t get them in. It was just a matter of time before he stepped up and got it done. Noe has been really good his last three times out, His secondary pitches have been effective.”

The Oilmen bounced back to win against the Vikings, who ended NWI’s eight-game win streak just a night earlier. With the win, the Oilmen improve to 9-4 on the year. The Oilmen will look for win number 10 against the Elkhart County Miracle on Sunday night.

The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. CST and 2:00 pm EST at Northwood High School in Nappanee, Ind.