The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

WHITING, Ind. – Tommy Farrell, senior at St. Laurence High School, has signed to play for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen for the 2017 season.

Farrell has been playing baseball for 12 years, ever since T-Ball.

“My dad introduced me to baseball at age 5 and I have been playing it ever since,” Farrell said.

Farrell, who is currently in his senior season for the Vikings, committed to University of Illinois-Chicago after his sophomore season.

“I am excited and ready for the competitiveness in the league,” Farrell said. “I did not hear anything about the team but Coach McDermott and my dad told me about the team so I decided to sign up.”

Adam Enright, manager of the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, said Coach McDermott gives the Oilmen guys who will be successful.

“We have always had a good relationship with UIC, good luck getting good talent from them,” Enright said. “I expect Tommy to hit in the top of the lineup and drive in runs.”

The infielder hit .477 and stole 26 bases as a freshman and was called up to varsity by the end of the season. For his first full year on varsity as a sophomore, Farrell did not disappoint he led St. Laurence with a .430 batting average and 20 stolen bases. Farrell will play first base and the outfield for the Oilmen and has some goals he has set out.

“I want to be able to get live at bats, get some great experience,” Farrell said. “I want to be a table setter, do anything I can to help team.”

Farrell said his previous playing experiences will help him with the Oilmen.

“Similar work methods, becoming very comfortable and being happy,” Farrell said.

Farrell will graduate high school in June and will be a freshman at UIC in the fall and he plans to major in Rehabilitation Services.

The Northwest Indiana Oilmen are coming off a 30-24 record and their second ever Midwest Collegiate League Championship in 2016 after defeating the DuPage County Hounds in three games.