06/01/2018 9:23 AM -
FRIDAY’S GAME:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (1-1)
at Southland Vikings (0-1)
June 1, 2018 • 5 p.m. • Flossmoor, Ill.
Broadcast: Oilmen Broadcasting Network (Facebook Live)
Pitching Matchup
NWI’s Max Franklin (Heartland CC / Chicago Heights, Ill.) vs. Southland’s John Hendry (University of Indianapolis / Park Ridge, Ill.)
For Starters
The Oilmen have mustered up eight total hits (.140 AVG) in the first two games of the season, but they lead the league with 25 walks in just two games. For comparison – the Vikings, Generals, Hounds and Panthers have combined for 24 walks among four teams. Cory Krolikowski has walked in seven of his nine plate appearances, giving him an on-base percentage of .778. For comparison, Krolikowski walked 12 times in 89 plate appearances when he played for the Oilmen in 2016. Jackson Dvorak owns half of the team’s hits as he has posted back-to-back multi-hit games to begin his MCL campaign.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen will send a familiar face to the mound in Max Franklin, who is back for his second season with the team after finishing his sophomore year at Heartland. The right-hander racked up 39 strikeouts while compiling a 3-1 record over eight games (six starts) with NWI last summer. He logged 32 2/3 innings while posting a 3.03 ERA. The Oilmen have two players on their roster who were a member of the Southland Vikings a year ago – infielder Tyler Kenjic and pitcher Connor Spear. Catcher Hunter Thorn is also a former Viking, as he played with Southland in 2016 before joining the Oilmen in 2017. In addition, there is a name on the Southland roster that Oilmen fans will recognize as South Suburban shortstop Dashon Moore has joined the team after hitting .283 with 17 RBIs in 36 games with the Oilmen last season.
Inside the Vikings
On the mound, the Vikings will go with right-hander John Hendry, a native of Park Ridge, Ill. and graduate of Notre Dame College Prep who just finished his sophomore season at the University of Indianapolis. There he is college teammates with NWI’s Jake Perreira. The Greyhounds are well represented on the rosters of the two teams going at it on Friday, as Southland catcher Will Smithey also attends U Indy. Hendry is the son of former Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry, who is currently a member of the Yankees front office. Southland played to a 6-6 game against Crestwood that was suspended due to darkness on Tuesday, then fell 9-2 at DuPage County on Thursday. The Vikings have won three MCL titles in the last five years, including an improbable run to the league championship a year ago as both the Oilmen and Hounds were upset in the first round of the playoffs. The Vikings are under the direction of first-year manager Dave Letourneau this season.
About the Matchup
This is the first meeting of the 2018 season between the Oilmen and the Vikings. The last time the two teams met, NWI dropped a tight 2-1 game on July 27, 2017. The Oilmen holed a 30-28 edge in the all-time series. The Oilmen have played more game against the Vikings than any other MCL opponent.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen Game Notes, click on this to view the Oilmen StatPack.
