Corn Dogs Command Generals, Advance to 10-2 on the Season

By Noel Fary

The Lake County Corn Dogs have had their way with the Generals throughout the start of the 2023 season and Friday’s game was no different, winning 8-1 in a game that they dominated on offense and defense.

Corn Dogs ace Ryan Troxel pitched perfect game through the first five innings. Troxel allowed one earned run in the top of the sixth, but in six innings pitched, he gathered eight strikeouts to two walks and only four hits.

Check out the box score from the game.

After two scoreless innings to start the game, the Corn Dogs offense silenced all words of doubt, putting up eight runs in just four innings. The outburst started with a double from Kevin Hall, who was named Macron Player of the Game. Hall finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks, and three trips across home plate.

Scott Hansen started a streak of four straight Corn Dogs players who singled in the third inning, putting the game out of reach immediately for the Generals. All but two Corn Dogs finished the game with a hit.

Manager Justin Huisman praised his team for their offensive production after some shaky appearances to start the season.

“It was nice to finally string some hits together,” Huisman said. “As nice as our record has been so far I really don’t feel like this team has hit its stride yet.”

With a limited pitching staff, the Corn Dogs looked to Adam Walters to finish the game after Troxel’s left the game. Walters did just that and then some.

In just three innings, Walters collected eight strikeouts and gave up only one walk and hit. Walter’s ability to play on both sides of the ball impacts the Corn Dogs significantly, and Huisman believes he is a reliable player to have on the team.

“He’s built up to throw as many as we need him to,” Huisman said. “I knew he was going to do a good job.”

The victory comes after just the second loss of the season against the NWI Oilmen and the Corn Dogs play Saturday in Crown Point at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Photo Caption: Danny Puplava heads to first base on a hit that brought Ray Hilbrich in to score.

Photo by Josh Brunette