The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Lisle, Ill. – June 22, 2014 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen had their chances in Sunday’s game against DuPage County, stranding 10 runners on base.

The Hounds took full advantage of Northwest Indiana’s lack of timely hitting, edging the Oilmen 2-1 to end Northwest Indiana’s seven-game winning streak. In the process, the Hounds extended their own winning streak to six.

The Oilmen (10-5, 8-4) have now dropped all three meeting with the Hounds this season. DuPage County (13-3) holds a 3.5-game lead over the Oilmen for first place in the MCL standings.

“Obviously, they’re a good team,” Oilmen manager Justin Huisman said. “They’ve thrown some good starters against us. We’ve played well against them. We’ve had a couple of close games. I’m not really worried about it; you’re going to play one team a lot over the course of the summer, so we’re going to get more chances at them.”

Lake Central graduate Ryan Burvan had three hits in five at-bats, while Bishop Noll alum Larry Crisler doubled high off the left-field fence in his Oilmen debut. Craig Dedelow drilled a double in the fifth to plate Nick Vogelmeier for the only NWI run of the game.

Dedelow’s double skipped into the tarp in foul territory down the right field line, causing a ground-rule double to be enforced. Had the tarp not been located down the right field line, Huisman believes Burvan would have scored the tying run on the play.

“That tarp down there is not rolled up the way it’s supposed to be,” Huisman said. “That ball kind of went behind it, so I don’t think either way the tarp was rolled up would have affected anything. It’s just one of those unfortunate circumstances.” 

Keith Mahler hurled five solid innings, allowing two runs, one earned run and three hits. He took the loss to drop to 1-3. Crown Point graduate Nick Nauracy tossed three perfect innings of relief, retiring all nine men he faced.

“They did a great job,” Huisman said. “We only gave up two runs, one earned. I can’t really complain too much about that. Both of those guys have been getting better and better as the season has gone along. With the rainouts and everything, I was glad to get both starters out there.”

DuPage County’s Josh Davis picked up the win, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings.

The Oilmen also left 10 men stranded on base in a 6-3 loss to the Hounds on June 5 at Oil City Stadium.

“The frustrating thing is that we had our chances,” Huisman said. “We had more chances than them. The unearned run cost us, but we had the bases loaded a couple of times with opportunities to put crooked numbers on the board. We just didn’t get the job done.”

The Oilmen return to action on Mustache Monday at Oil City Stadium against the Southland Vikings on Monday at 7:10. All fans with mustaches will receive free admission to Monday’s game.