06/08/2018 12:26 PM -
FRIDAY’S GAME:
Joliet Generals (4-4)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (2-6)
June 8, 2018 • 7:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Broadcast: Oilmen Broadcasting Network (Facebook Live)
Pitching Matchup
NWI RHP Brendan Kelly (Purdue Northwest / Grandville, Mich.) vs. Joliet RHP Mike Santarelli (Benedictine / Homer Glen, Ill.
For Starters
The most accomplished player to ever wear an Oilmen uniform returns to Oil City Stadium on Friday night. Unfortunately for an Oilmen team that has dropped six of its first eight, matching 2016 for the worst eight-game start in team history, he won’t be in uniform. Two-time MCL Player of the Year Tyler Sroczynski will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Oilmen welcome the Joliet Generals. He rewrote the Oilmen record book during his three-year tenure with the team and is currently the team’s all-time career leader in runs scored, hits, home runs, runs batted in and stolen bases. Sroczynski is slated to join play-by-play broadcaster Brandon Vickrey in the third inning on the Oilmen Broadcast Network, which can be watched via the Northwest Indiana Oilmen Facebook page.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen hold a 2-0 record against the Crestwood Panthers, but an 0-6 mark against the league’s other four teams. NWI owned a 10-1 lead through three innings on Thursday, but a nine-run fourth for the Southland Vikings tied the game, an eventual 13-10 Southland win. Tommy Farrell enjoyed a four-hit game to up his average to .471 in five appearances, while Nick Figus continues to lead the team by hitting at a .500 (12-for-24) clip. Figus has hit safely in all seven games he’s played with the Oilmen and garnered his fourth multi-hit output on Thursday. Brendan Kelly will get the start for the Oilmen on Friday, making his Oilmen debut. He went 1-1 with a 4.81 ERA in 12 games, two starts this season as a junior at Purdue Northwest. Kelly issued nine walks and struck out 11 in 24 1/3 innings. As a team, the Oilmen are hitting .263 and have a 7.01 ERA.
Inside the Generals
The Oilmen will see a familiar face on the mound for the opposition as right-handed pitcher Mike Santerelli goes for Joliet. His last outing came in relief against the Oilmen on Saturday, when he threw 129 pitches in 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win as the Generals outdid the Oilmen 14-12 in Joliet. Santerelli was charged with eight earned runs on 10 hits and struck out seven while walking two. For the season, he is 1-0 with an 8.18 ERA in 11 innings over two games. Joe Hernandez’s Generals are 4-2 in their last six games and have their season record up to 4-4. They won their second straight game last night, edging Crestwood 4-3 in 10 innings. Scott Wojcik drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the top of the 10th. Bryce Cross leads Joliet with a .419 average and seven RBIs over eight games.
About the Matchup
This will mark just the second meeting between the Oilmen and Generals as they are a first-year MCL franchise. There is a history of MCL baseball in Joliet, as the Admirals called Wayne L. King Jr. Field home leading up to this season. Saturday’s game was a wild one that saw the Generals use a nine-run fifth inning in a 14-12 win over the Oilmen. Five Oilmen had multi-hit games, led by Brenden Butler’s 4-for-5, four-RBI showing. Jack Kraus led the Generals with three hits and drove in a pair.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen game notes.
