The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

WHITING | The Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest Collegiate League announced April 9^th, 2013 that former Kansas City Royals Pitcher and Purdue Calumet alumni Justin Huisman is returning this summer.

Justin Huisman is returning to coach the Northwest Indiana Oilmen for what should be another outstanding season. Under the management of Huisman, the Oilmen were able to pull off an impressive 28-16 record and take home the Midwest Collegiate League Championship last year. This successful first season for the Oilmen is one of Huisman’s many achievements.

Huisman began his baseball career at the University of Mississippi as an infielder/pitcher, earning Honorable Mention All-American honors as a freshman while setting single-season and career school records in saves.

In 2000, Huisman's professional career took flight when he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th Round of the June, 2000 First Year Player Draft. He spent time at numerous levels of the Rockies development system, earning South Atlantic League (Single-A) All-Star honors in 2001 with the Ashville (NC) Tourists and Carolina League (Advanced Single-A) All-Star recognition in 2002 for the Salem (VA) Avalanche. In 2003, he advanced to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, where he was named to the Texas League All-Star and Baseball America Double-A All-Star Teams while setting the Drillers single-season record for saves.

Huisman was traded to the Kansas City Royals organization in 2004, beginning the season with the Triple-A Omaha Royals before receiving a call to the Major League Royals on April 25, 2004.

Since ending his professional career, Huisman earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue Calumet University and has shifted his focus to coaching, first as Assistant Coach at Concordia University in Chicago, then as an Assistant, and now Head Coach, for Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois.

"I am fortunate and excited to lead the Oilmen again this season," said Oilmen Manager Justin Huisman. "This year I have recruited players not just from Northwest Indiana, but across the nation as well.  I believe we have a very diverse team that can once again win the Midwest Collegiate League Championship.”

Head Coach Huisman and The Northwest Indiana Oilmen will take to the field this May at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Indiana. The Oilmen are made up of some of the top collegiate baseball players from around the country, from the Midwest, and from local communities. This is the player’s first taste of professional-level, wood bat baseball before advancing to their own professional careers in the minor leagues.