Fresh off a 4-1 win over the NWI Oilmen on Tuesday (July 12), the 22-9 Lake County Corn Dogs are in first place — and a strong contender to repeat as Northern League champs.

More tests are to come, as the Corn Dogs have a crucial three-game homestand beginning Friday (July 14). First pitch is 7 p.m. for games on Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available in advance at corndogsbaseball.com/tickets/.

Homestand Promotions Announced

  • On Friday, the Corn Dogs will host ABRA Inc., a foster care rescue group dedicated to sheltering pets. They will have pets at the field which people can adopt.
  • On Saturday, the Corn Dogs host Bishop Noll Institute, and honor Relay for Life Lake County and Lean Kitchen will attend.
  • On Sunday, the Corn dogs celebrate Christian’s Dream Day, a nonprofit youth sports organization in honor of Christian Villarreal, who died tragically in an automobile accident at a young age.
  • On Tuesday, July 18, the Corn Dogs celebrate “Christmas in July.”
  • On Thursday, July 20, the Corn Dogs sponsor First Responders Night.

“While we’re winning plenty of games and our guys have been on fire lately, we’re also living up to our organization’s focus on ‘building community through baseball,’” Majority Owner Ralph Flores said. “We’re fortunate to have groups like ABRA Inc., Christian’s Dream Day, Bishop Noll and our first responders coming to our ballpark. Next Thursday, our Christmas in July celebration will be a lot of fun.”

12 Corn Dogs Players Named to All-Star Team

In their second season, the Corn Dogs have continued to excel on the ball field, reflected in their league honors and selection to the Northern League All-Star Game. Corn Dogs Manager Justin Huisman will lead the East team all-stars for the game on July 18 at Oil City Stadium in Whiting. The game will be broadcast on JED-TV, AM 1230 WJOB, Region Sports Network and Facebook Live.

Corn Dogs All-Stars:

  • Ranko Stevanovic – North Park College/Chicago, Ill.
  • Kevin Hall – Grambling University/ Munster, Ind.
  • Shane Jones – South Suburban College / Homewood, Ill.
  • Hayden Matulich – Purdue University Northwest / San Jose, Calif. (out)
  • Scott Hansen – Toledo University / Portage, Ind.
  • Ethan Nielson – Indiana Tech / Rolling Prairie, Ind.
  • Adam Walters – South Suburban College/ Schererville, Ind.
  • Ryan Troxel – Indiana Tech / Valparaiso, Ind.
  • Dylan Matusak – Heidelberg University / Crown Point, Ind.
  • Sean Kasper – Purdue UniversityFort Wayne / Chesterton, Ind.
  • Ivan Balboa – Ivy Tech / Hobart, Ind.
  • Gavin Gallagher – Florida National / Kishwaukee College/ Hobart, Ind.)

Former Corn Dog Ray Hilbrich would have been a cinch to make the all-star team, but earlier this season he became the organization’s first professional signee when the 23-year-old Schererville resident and Lake Central High School graduate inked a contract with the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers of the Michigan-based United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL).

Corn Dogs Win Battle for First Place

The Corn Dogs snapped a four-game losing streak against the Oilmen by putting up one of their best pitching performances of the season.

Harrison Dubois pitched a near flawless game through four innings. The game stayed even until the seventh inning, thanks to shutout relief pitching from Eric Santaguida.

The Corn Dogs grabbed two more runs in the bottom of the seventh after a wild pitch and sacrifice fly, putting them up 4-0. The Oilmen threatened late, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth, but the Corn Dogs shook off the attack, winning 4-2.