The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June 21, 2023 – On Wednesday night, the league’s top 2 teams faced off in a matchup that brought the Northwest Indiana Oilmen two games behind the Lake County Corn Dogs.

The Oilmen defeated the Corn Dogs 2-1at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Ind. Starter Tyler Laux had a strong showing despite giving up seven hits. He pitched seven innings, striking out four and allowing the Corn Dogs only run.

 Jack Niekrasz and Steve Washilewski finished off the last two innings. Both Niekrasz and Washilewski pitched one inning while allowing no runs.

“Niekrasz was our most reliable guy from the bullpen last year and has working his way into being that again,” manager Adam Enright said. “He’s a fast-paced, strike thrower, that gets people off balance and produces ground balls.”

The Oilmen tallied four hits to the Corn Dogs 11 but timely walks and hit batters would prove to be key in a close Oilmen win. Logan Anderson scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth after a wild pick-off throw by Corn Dogs pitcher Ethan Lambrigge.

Kevin Denty was the busy man for the Oilmen as he walked twice and went 1-for-2. Denty also scored one of only two Oilmen runs.

“The name of the game at this point in the summer is getting into bullpens,” Enright said. “Some of those at-bats didn’t turn into hits or base runners,”

The Oilmen improve to 15-7 in a key win over the Corn Dogs. The Oilmen host the Southland Vikings Thursday, June 29 at 7:10 p.m.