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McNamara Mows Down Snipes as Oilmen Continue Home Dominance

06/20/2013 10:41 PM -

Whiting, Ind. – June 20, 2013 – Lake Central High School graduate Jimmy McNamara and the Northwest Indiana Oilmen needed only two hours and three minutes to dispatch the Lexington Snipes 3-0 on Thursday night at Oil City Stadium.

McNamara worked eight shutout innings, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out seven.  The Central Michigan lefty was the winning pitcher to improve to 2-0 with a microscopic 0.43 ERA in his first three appearances as an Oilman. 

“That was like the first time that’s happened that I’ve gotten the feeling of being in the zone,” McNamara said.  “I just felt comfortable; it was just different.  The first three or four innings, it was kind of like high school.”

McNamara, who said every inning he pitched took six minutes or less, has always delivered each pitch as soon as he receives the ball back from the catcher.

“When I was a sophomore [in high school] and I played JV, I played outfield and we had a pitcher that took like 45 seconds between every pitch and I hated it,” he said.  “I’ve never even thought about taking deep breaths.  I’m ready to go.”

McNamara said he felt more comfortable on Thursday night than he did during his college season because he can throw more curveballs.  During the college season, he threw about 80 percent fastballs.

“I don’t throw hard enough to be a fastball guy,” he said.  “Throwing curveballs keeps guys off balance; I think that’s why I had good success.”

Oilmen manager Justin Huisman said McNamara worked at a “Mark Buehrle pace.” 

“The ump had a big zone, and both pitchers were using it pretty well,” he said.  “We strung together some hits in the sixth inning and that’s all we needed.”

The first run of the game came on an error by Snipes first baseman Jacob Hendren that allowed Ty Hogan to score in the fifth.  Northwest Indiana added two more in the sixth on an RBI single by Anthony Bova and sacrifice fly off the bat of Rashawn Tillman

Gavit grad Aveeno Nasiloski worked out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to notch his first save of the season.  Nasiloski has not surrendered an earned run all season in six relief appearances.

Hogan, Bova and Nick Saldutti picked up two hits each to lead the offense. 

The Oilmen continued their dominance in Whiting with the victory.  The Oilmen have now won nine consecutive home games, are 9-1 overall at home this season and have an all-time mark of 26-9 in the confines of Oil City Stadium.   

“Our guys just enjoy playing here,” Huisman said.  “It’s a good atmosphere; it’s a good view; it’s got a good feel to the ballpark.  I think it’s a little bit tougher of a batter’s eye here, so once you get used to it, it’s a little bit of an advantage.”

The Oilmen improved to 11-4 overall and 9-3 in the Midwest Collegiate League, keeping pace with the DuPage County Hounds, who bested Rockford 1-0 Thursday.  The two teams are locked in a first place tie entering Friday night’s meeting at DuPage.