In a tightly contested battle on Thursday, the Northwest Indiana Oilmen managed to edge out the Elkhart County Miracle at home. The game saw both teams displaying strong efforts, but ultimately, the Oilmen found a way to secure the win. The final score was 13-2.
The Oilmen’s offense was able to generate enough pressure to secure the victory. Nick Upperman was a significant force, getting hit by a pitch three times and drawing a walk. Drew Church hit a single and drew a walk. Aidan Nohava was hit by a pitch and drew a walk. Luis Termero drew two walks and reached on a fielder’s choice. Hobbs Dunne drew a walk. Nare Brumfield drew a walk and hit a single. Ryan Hartz drew two walks and hit a fly out. Andrew Lim also drew a walk. Khamaree Thomas drew a walk and hit a single. Gavin Garnica drew two walks and hit a single. Matthew Rutkay was hit by a pitch twice and reached on a fielder’s choice. The collective efforts of the Oilmen offense, drawing numerous walks and finding timely hits, ultimately paved the way for their narrow victory.
The defense was just as strong, with all four pitchers collaborating on a combined no-hitter! Once again this season, the Oilmen defense combined for 10 strikeouts. For the first time in over a week, NWI committed no errors in the field.
Key Takeaways
The Oilmen found their momentum defensively. The team very rarely goes a full game without committing an error, and in this game, they made great plays and made it look easy. Hopefully, those good plays in the field continue through the rest of the season.
NWI pitching has never looked better. While Jack Wilson had a slower start than usual, his three relievers made every pitch count, and all four pitchers put up fantastic stats. Amaan Khan may be the closer the team turns to in most do-or-die situations.
Midwest Orthopaedics Player of the Game
Jackson Montgomery pitched the 4th and 5th innings in this game. He struck out four of the six hitters he faced and did not give up a single base. His animated style of pitching caught the entire Oil City Stadium’s attention and got the crowd excited for the remainder of the game.
The Northwest Indiana Oilmen will face the Hammond Vikings on Friday at Oil City Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm. The last time the two teams matched up, the Vikings won by a very thin margin. The game can be viewed on Region Sports Network or the NWI Oilmen Facebook page.
