The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

On a typical summer night at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, the Northwest Indiana Oilmen compete against an opposing Midwest Collegiate League squad. For one night, the Oilmen are fighting a much more meaningful battle as they attempt to defeat breast cancer.

For the first time in the team’s three-year history, the Oilmen will host a “Paint the Game Pink” night on Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. as the team takes on the Lexington Snipes.

Fans will have a chance to enter silent auctions and raffles for pink game-used jerseys, baseballs and bats to help support the fight against breast cancer. All of the proceeds from pink jerseys, pink Hoosier bats, pink baseballs, pink Oilmen T-shirts and a “Split the Pot” raffle will be donated to breast cancer research. In addition, 10 percent of all ticket sales will go straight to research and awareness.

This is a very personal cause for Oilmen President Don Popravak, whose wife lost her mother and grandmother to breast cancer.

“This is an important cause for our organization and a personal one for my family,” Popravak said. “We are very proud to be a part of the city’s efforts to fight breast cancer.”

The “Paint the Game Pink” event coincides with the month-long “Paint the Town Pink” effort across the city of Whiting.  One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer, a statistic that motivated the city of Whiting to dedicate the month of May to raising awareness.

“We hope that everyone will consider coming out to the game on Wednesday night to support the Oilmen and help us raise funds for this cause,” Popravak said. “This first-time event will be a special night for the entire Oilmen organization, our partners and our fan base.”