The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June 19, 2013 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen continued their dominance at Oil City Stadium on Wednesday by recording their seventh consecutive home win and leaping into first place in the Midwest Collegiate League with a 10-5 win over the Lexington Snipes. 

The Oilmen offense came to life late, plating three runs in the seventh before tallying five in the decisive eighth inning. 

Jack Czeszewski reached base in all five plate appearances, walking twice and stroking three singles.  He also drove in two and scored twice.  Six different Oilmen turned in multi-hit games.

“It makes coaching a lot more fun over there at third base knowing that you have options,” Oilmen manager Justin Huisman said.  “You have guys that can bunt, guys that can steal and guys that hit for power.” 

Nick Saldutti singled to start the eighth-inning before Kenny Mahala, Tyler Baar, Rashawn Tillman and Czeszewski all drove in runs in the frame.

Andrean graduate Mike Hanchar, who started for Northwest Indiana, departed with one out in the sixth after been struck in the shin by a batted ball.  He allowed three runs, two of which were unearned, on four hits. 

Danny Pobereyko, who graduated from Bishop Noll High School earlier this month, came on in relief of Hanchar with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth.  He allowed just one additional run to cross the plate in that frame.

“I was just trying to throw strikes,” Pobereyko said.  “I realized the bases were loaded, so I was just trying to get a ground ball low in the zone.”

Pobereyko tossed two innings, allowing two runs, one of which was earned, on just two hits before giving way to his older brother Matt.  Matt Pobereyko, also a Noll grad, hurled 1.2 innings of shutout baseball.

“They (the Pobereyko brothers) battle,” Huisman said.  “They’re not intimidated by anyone out there.  That was probably the tightest situation [Danny’s] pitched in so far, so I was interested to see how he would respond to it.  That inning could have spiraled out of control, and then it would have been a totally different ball game.”

Matt Poberekyo was the winning pitcher, while Nick Barnhill took the loss after allowing five runs in one inning of relief.

Lexington manager Billy Dubois was ejected from the game in the sixth inning for arguing a call at home plate.

The Oilmen and DuPage County Hounds are now tied atop the MCL standings with identical 8-3 records.  The Snipes drop to 7-3, 0.5 games off the pace.  The league lead will be at stake on Thursday night as Northwest Indiana and Lexington lock horns once again at 7:10 at Oil City Stadium.