The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Carol Stream Ill.- After suffering a close loss on Friday the Northwest Indiana Oilmen were hoping to flip the script against the Joliet Generals Monday night. 

Behind stellar pitching from Mike Schalasky (Palos Heights/ U Indy) and a big fifth inning from the offense it was the Oilmen coming out on top in a 7-3 victory over the defending champions.Schalasky went seven innings on the mound striking out seven while allowing just two runs on five hits and only walking two. His ability to locate the strike zone proved to be crucial in the win.

“He put them in swing mode early in counts. Which put them in a position to make less than ideal swings early,” Oilmen Manager Adam Enright said. “They were defensive early in counts because they knew he had multiple good swing and miss pitches that he had command of.”

On the offensive side of things it was a fifth inning rally that saw the Oilmen take the lead and they wouldn’t look back from there. A two rbi single from CJ Deshazer (Hanover Park/ Northwood) capped off an inning that saw the Oilmen cross the plate four times. Jason Hodges (Park Forest/ John A. Logan) would score on  a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to add one more mark for good measure. 

Hodges finished the day with two runs scored. Big performances were also turned in by David Marshall (Downers Grove/ College of DuPage) who reached base three times and Chris Baker (South Holland/ Trinity Christian) who provided the first run of the game for the Oilmen after reaching base on a hard hit triple.“It looks like some of our hitters are really starting to turn a corner,” Enright said.

“We were getting extra base hits and taking really good at bats with runners in scoring position.”

It will be a quick turnaround for the Oilmen as they host the Generals at 7:10 P.M. at Oil City Stadium on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast across all platforms of the Oilmen broadcasting network.