The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – Nov. 27, 2017 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen have announced the return of catcher Hunter Thorn for the 2018 season.

A graduate of Portage High School and a current sophomore at Purdue Northwest, Thorn is entering his second season with the Oilmen and his third in the MCL after spending the 2016 summer campaign as a member of the Southland Vikings.

“Playing with the Oilmen is close to home and it gives me the opportunity to stay home for the summer,” Thorn said. “They treated me well last summer and we performed well as a team. I trust (manager Adam Enright) as a coach; he knows exactly what he wants to do in the game and he’s always staying ahead.”

Thorn burst on to the MCL scene in 2016 following his senior season at Portage, earning an MCL All-Star Game appearance while hitting .253 with one home run and 15 RBIs. In 2017 with the Oilmen, Thorn drove in 21 runs while compiling a .253 average – the exact same average he posted the year prior with the Vikings.

Thorn, an electrical engineering major, made 41 starts at Purdue Northwest as a freshman, ranking third on the team with a .313 batting average, second with 45 hits and led the team with 29 RBIs.

“I love PNW; Dave Griffin is an amazing coach who cares about all of the athletes on the team,” Thorn said. “He’ll tell you straight up what you need to work on. Everyone that I’ve met is super nice and I’m having a great time.”

During his prep days, Thorn was a four-year letter winner at Portage, earning first-team all-conference, all-area and all-state honorable mention accolades. He was a North/South All-Star and the team’s 2016 Most Valuable Player. He batted .456 during his senior season for the Indians.

“Hunter has high-end skills,” Griffin said. “He’s a very good athlete; he can play outfield or first base if needed. He has the potential to hit third in the lineup with a little more seasoning. He’s got a high-compete level and he’s the kind of kid you take a shot on because you know he’s going to work hard and do everything necessary on the baseball field and in the classroom to make sure we have success.”