14-6 Corn Dogs Come Home to Crown Point for Three-Game Series Friday, Saturday & Sunday

By Noel Fary

The Lake County Corn Dogs dropped a game to the Indiana Panthers 4-3 while on the road on Wednesday. It was anyone’s game to the very end and the Corn Dogs almost pulled off another late comeback.

The last time these two teams played, scoreless inning after scoreless inning piled up as a pitcher’s duel raged on before Hayden Matulich ended the game on a walk off homerun. To start, this game was on the same track.

Check out the box score from the game.

David Zaragoza started on the mound for the Corn Dogs and put up two scoreless innings to start the game, giving his team the momentum from the start. Zaragoza finished the day with three innings pitched, three strikeouts and four earned runs.

The Corn Dogs struck first, with a hard-hit double by Shane Jones sent Zach Zychowski barreling home, giving the Corn Dogs a 1-0 early. Jones shined for the Corn Dogs, finishing the day 3-5, with an RBI and a run scored.

The Panthers took the lead 4-1 in the bottom of the third and held it for the majority of the game. Solid pitching from both teams kept the contest neck and neck until the top of the eighth.

After countless great plays made on defense by the likes of Zychowski, Jones and Imlach, the Corn Dogs needed an offensive spark. Ranko Stevanovic delivered just that with a single that drove in Scott Hansen. A wild pitch put the Corn Dogs within one after Ranko Stevanovic scored.

Tensions rose in the top of the ninth when the Corn Dogs advanced runners to first and third, but came up just short, dropping the contest by a run.

Corn Dogs Drop One to the Oilmen

The Corn Dogs fell to the NWI Oilmen 4-0 Thursday in Whiting in a game where they had trouble capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

This is the second straight loss to the Oilmen this season and the first time the team has lost two games straight since June 9 of last season.


Check out the box score from the game.

The game started on a high note, with reliable Corn Dogs leadoff hitter Kevin Hall reaching on a base hit to start the game. Immediately following the play, the Corn Dogs hit into a fielder’s choice and a double play, halting momentum and foreshadowing what was to come.

Dylan Matusak started for the Corn Dogs and looked to continue his streak of dominance. Matusak kept the game within reach through four innings pitched, with four strikeouts, three hits and three earned runs.

The Oilmen saw themselves up 3-0 after the bottom of the second inning, and starter Joey Turek looked solid and capable of stopping any Corn Dog offensive attack.

Hits were not an issue for the Corn Dogs, as they out-hit the Oilmen eight to five, marking the second game the Corn Dogs out-hit their opponent in a loss.

The Corn Dogs threatened in the top of the eighth inning with two straight singles advancing runners to second and third. However, after being called safe at third, Ethan Imlach saw the call overturned after a discussion between umpires. All momentum once again was halted, and the Corn Dogs came up short after nine innings.

Corn Dogs home Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Corn Dogs host the Elkhart Miracle, a new Northern League team that has proven formidable, and the Southland Vikings on Saturday at Legacy Fields in Crown Point. Both games are at 7 p.m. Sunday’s 4 p.m. start is versus Lake County’s league rivals, the NWI Oilmen.

Photo caption: The Lake County Corn Dogs and their partner, Off Square Brewing, have created “Golden Batter,” a beer made just for Corn Dogs fans.

Photo by Josh Brunette

*This story will be updated with Thursday’s late results and box score.