The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Lexington, Ill. – July 3, 2014 – After lasting only four innings and allowing seven total runs in a start against the Zephyrs last week, Oilmen starting pitcher Jimmy McNamara was a man on a mission on Thursday night against Lexington.  

That mission was accomplished as McNamara (3-1) earned the win in a 9-1 rout of the Snipes.  McNamara hurled 6 2/3 innings, shutting down the Snipes to the tune of one run on six hits while striking out seven. The only run against McNamara was a solo home run by Reed Rogers.

“He was a little sore and had a little knee tweak last time,” Oilmen manager Justin Huisman said. “I know he doesn’t want to give excuses, but he was definitely up in the zone more than I’ve ever seen him in the last two years. Today, he was down in the zone, a little more confident and had a little more zip on his fastball.”

The Oilmen scored twice in the second inning as Ryan Burvan drove in a run with a single and Andrew Ray came in to score on a wild pitch. Lexington starter Adam Casson (1-1) settled in and did not allow another run until the fifth, his final inning of work. Nick Vogelmeier lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to drive in Larry Crisler.

After that, the Oilmen opened the flood gates with three in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the eighth. Kevin DeFilippis reached base four times with two walks and two hits. Alec Ornelas enjoyed his second three-hit game of the week, going 3-for-6 with a double. The Oilmen offense has scored five runs or more in each of the last five games.

“Guys are squaring up the ball a little more,” Huisman said. “When we’re getting guys to third, we’re getting them in. We’re just taking advantage of some things and taking some extra bases here and there and just getting the big hits when we need to.”

The Oilmen (15-8, 13-7 MCL) held off the Snipes (12-9 MCL), who could have moved into second place in the MCL standings with a win on Thursday. The victory also allowed Northwest Indiana to pull within 2.5 games of first-place DuPage County.

The Oilmen will hold an All-American Celebration game on Friday at 3:30 against the Southland Vikings. All tickets are $4 with veterans, active duty service members and children 12 and under receiving free admission to the game.