The Northwest Indiana Oilmen put on a commanding performance on Wednesday, securing a decisive victory over the Hammond Vikings at Dowling Park. From the first pitch, the Oilmen showed up ready to play, with strong offensive contributions and solid defensive plays that kept the Vikings at bay.
NWI’s offense was relentless, putting pressure on the Vikings’ pitching from the outset. Nick Upperman was a force at the plate, getting hit by a pitch twice and drawing a walk. He also added a stolen base. Khamaree Thomas kept the momentum going with a single and showed great discipline at the plate. Max Miller and Matthew Rutkay both contributed, with Miller hitting into a double play but Rutkay delivering a timely single. Cole Hockman walked and notched a double, showcasing his power. Hobbs Dunne added a single and hit into a ground out. Drew Church came through with a single and a sacrifice fly, driving in a run. Gavin Garnica hit a double, and Ricky Robinson added another double, both showcasing their extra-base power. Damon Brena and Nate Brumfield also contributed with singles.
On the defensive side, the Oilmen were sharp, limiting the Vikings’ opportunities. Pitching and fielding worked in harmony to shut down the Vikings’ attack, ensuring their offense struggled to string together hits.
Key Takeaways
Even the best hitters in this league are struggling against Oilmen pitching. Jalen House, who has been talked about as a major player to watch in this league, was kept to 0-2 on the day with a strikeout. What is usually a very offensive Vikings team was kept to two hits in the whole game.
NWI is giving relief pitchers a very hard time in this league. This is the third time this season that the Oilmen brought in seven or more runs off relief pitchers late in the game. Even players subbing into the game late have had big at-bats to keep runs scoring.
Midwest Orthopaedics Player of the Game
Jack Wilson started on the bump for the Oilmen, giving five strong innings. In those five innings, he only gave up two hits and struck out three. After his performance, he was heard telling a teammate he was extra focused on changeups in this game. A large 63% of batters saw first-pitch strikes, leading to quick outs. Wilson averaged 13.6 pitches per inning.
The Oilmen travel to Elkhart Central High School to play a very difficult Miracle team on Thursday. First pitch is set for 6:00 ET on the Oilmen Facebook page.
