07/05/2016 4:24 PM -
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (14-15)
at Lakers (10-16)
*DOUBLEHEADER*
July 6, 2016 • 6:15 p.m. • Hammond, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB, 104.7 FM, NWIOilmen.com (6 p.m. pregame)
Pitching Matchups
Game 1 – NWI’s Max Siedlecki (New Mexico Highlands / Evanston, Ill.) vs. Lakers’ Casey Young. Game 2 – NWI’s Sam Geraci (Illinois Springfield / Steger, Ill.) vs. Lakers’ Bobby Humphreys
For Starters
The Oilmen hit the road for the first time since June 5 as they head to Hammond’s Riverside Park to take on the Lakers. Wednesday will mark the first time the Oilmen have played at Riverside Park in franchise history, but many Oilmen players have played on the field before. Oilmen manager Adam Enright has numerous memories at Riverside Park, dating back to playing three years of Babe Ruth ball there when he came up through the Edison youth baseball program, through his time with the Hammond Seminoles and Hammond Chiefs. The Oilmen and Lakers will play two seven-inning games on Wednesday to make up for a game that was rained out on June 1. This will be the third doubleheader for the Oilmen this season and the first since June 2. The Oilmen had three straight days away from MCL play after their losing streak reached three with a 2-0 loss to Southland on Saturday. The Oilmen also lost an exhibition against the U.S. Military All-Stars on Monday, surrendering three runs after two were out in the top of the ninth to fall 4-3. The Oilmen enter Wednesday in fourth place in the MCL standings. They are three games off the pace set by first-place DuPage County and only a game ahead of Bloomington for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Inside the Oilmen
Max Siedlecki will look to continue a stellar summer as he gets the nod for Game 1. He has a 1-1 record and 2.00 ERA in 27 innings over five starts and has struck out 18 while issuing 13 walks. Siedlecki’s last outing came on June 26 against Joliet, when he allowed two runs on four hits over six innings to notch his first victory of the season. Wednesday will mark the first time he’s faced the Lakers this season. Sam Geraci is also opposing the Lakers for the first time this year. He has a 1.88 ERA in two starts, both wins. He’s allowed four walks and struck out nine in 14 1/3 innings. In Saturday’s game, the Oilmen did not use a designated hitter, setting up Clay Keltner to become the third true pitcher in Oilmen history to notch a base hit, joining Jimmy McNamara and Hunter Clark. Keltner’s pitching work wasn’t too shabby either, as he went eight innings of one-run ball to improve his ERA to 1.30. In Monday’s exhibition, Reggie Johnson struck out seven and sent down a stretch of 22 straight while scattering three hits over 8 2/3 innings. Tommy Szczasny holds a nine-game hitting streak and has at least one hit in 15 of his 16 games with the Oilmen. Chase Dawson went 0-for-4 on Saturday to snap a 17-game on base streak. Meanwhile, Chase Fieldhouse’s 17-game on-base streak that dates back to his Oilmen debut at Bloomington on May 27 is still intact. Fieldhouse is two hit by pitches away from tying the franchise record of nine set by Elliot Bajda in 2012 and matched by Fred Smart last season. Jake Perreira’s seventh-inning single on Saturday snapped an 0-for-17 slump.
Inside the Lakers
The Lakers will attempt to recover from a doubleheader sweep at the paws of the Hounds on Sunday. DuPage County won the second game 18-0 after Lakers starter Jake Povlock was tagged for 18 runs (14 earned) on 14 hits and four walks in five innings. Game 1 starter Casey Young is 2-0 with a 1.39 ERA in 13 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits in six innings to beat the Oilmen on June 27. Bobby Humphreys is familiar with the Oilmen as this will be his third appearance and fourth start against them.
About the Matchup
The Lakers won two of three against the Oilmen last week, most recently 5-1 behind seven scoreless from Dan Snyder on June 30. The Oilmen lead the season series 4-2 and the all-time series 14-11. The Oilmen haven’t won a road game against the Lakers since the Lakers joined the MCL after going 0-4 at the Marquette Athletic Complex last season.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen Game Notes.
