The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

After four hours of baseball, four home runs, and an extra innings duel, the Northwest Indiana Oilmen have been named Northern League Champions. After allowing seven unanswered runs, and trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the eighth, the Oilmen dug deep, and battled until the 11th inning at Oil City Stadium. 

With two outs left in the bottom of the 11th, it was Tre Honduras who blasted a solo shot over the Brick Monster, giving the Oilmen a 10-9 victory. Honduras made his first start this season with the Oilmen on Friday, and finished the night 3-for-5, scoring four runs. 

Before the Oilmen were in a position for the walk-off, it took a late game comeback, and dominance from the Oilmen bullpen. 

“This was the most enjoyable baseball group that we’ve had,” Oilmen Manager Adam Enright said. “Guys that really enjoyed being here, and just wanted to get better and play baseball everyday.”

Both Randy Seymour and Tre Honduras hit home runs, with Seymour being named the series MVP. Seymour hit two home runs in the championship series, and finished 2-for-5 with two RBI’s during Friday's contest. 

The comeback gained traction in the eighth, thanks to a two RBI single from Kevin Denty, which cut the deficit to 9-8. After Denty’s two RBI single in the eighth, it was Nick Daugherty who brought in the tying run in the ninth with an infield single. 

However, while the Oilmen came out on top, the Corn Dogs battled until the last pitch. The standout for Lake County was none other than Hayden Matulich. Matulich was the lifeblood for the Corn Dogs on Friday, shattering two home runs, with a grand-slam being one of them. Matulich finished the game 4-for-5, with 5 RBI’s.

“Up and down the lineup, all of our guys improved by the end of the season,” Enright said. “That’s always going to be the most important thing for me is that guys leave here better off and are more prepared for what is to come in their fall seasons.”

The Oilmen capped off the summer season with a Northern League title, the organization's fourth championship since 2012.