Crestwood, Ill. – July 13, 2021 – In the midst of their first-ever playoff run, the Crestwood Panthers’ talent-laden roster will be on full display at the MCL All-Star Game. The league’s annual midsummer classic will take place on Tuesday, July 20 at Oil City Stadium, and stands to feature five key Panther players, all of which are ready to make an impact.  

Gannon Andrews (Purdue University Northwest / Portage, Mich.) has impressed on both sides of the baseball, serving as Crestwood’s top option behind the plate, while slashing a splendid .300/.410/.380. The catcher has also posted 12 RBIs, tied for third-most on the team, and has scored 11 total runs. He has thrown out six would-be base stealers, which paces the Panthers, and has committed just three defensive errors. 

Michael Laudando (Rockhurst University / Westchester, Ill.) has burst onto the scene after recently graduating from St. Laurence High School. He currently garners a 3.00 ERA, and has issued just one walk against nine strikeouts. Laudando’s precision has accounted for his success, and has served the Panthers quite well in 2021.  

Hayden Matulich (Purdue University Northwest / San Jose, Calif.) has served as Crestwood’s most productive hitter in 2021. He leads the team in RBIs (19), runs scored (19), hits (23), doubles (7), batting average (.315), and OPS (.929). Matulich’s continued presence in the Panthers’ lineup has resulted in countless clutch hits, and now, his first All-Star Game selection.  

Donavan Noble (South Suburban College / Chicago, Ill.) continuously puts the Panthers in a situation to win. As the team’s lead-off hitter, Noble is sporting an eye-popping .487 on-base percentage, to go along with 18 runs scored and 20 walks. His ability to always find a way on base has sparked early runs and numerous rallies, allowing Crestwood to jump out to leads early.  

Justin Schassburger (Anderson University / Dyer, Ind.) just graduated from Andrean High School, and today, is clearly Crestwood’s ace on the mound. He is second on the team in innings pitched with 19 1/3, but leads all Panthers in strikeouts (23) and ERA (2.79). His growth throughout the season has been exceptional, and those numbers, impressive as they are, are expected to further improve by the end of the year. 

The 2021 MCL All-Star Game will be carried on the Oilmen Broadcast Network, available via JED-TV and AM 1230 WJOB. The video stream is available on a subscription basis with a one-month, 99-cent trial available by using the promo code OILMEN99CENTS. The radio broadcast is available free of charge on the WJOB app and over the air on AM 1230 Hammond. Brandon Vickrey (NWI Oilmen) and Jon Zaghloul (Crestwood Panthers) will be on the call, beginning at 7:00 P.M.