The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Bishop Noll graduate Matt Pobereyko is in his second season with the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, looking to pick up where he left off last season after posting a 2.25 earned run average and recording five saves after Tommy John surgery.

“Baseball is a lifestyle to me now. Every day it is part of my life,” Pobereyko said.

Pobereyko has played baseball since he was five years old and was inspired by his father to play the game. Before entering college baseball, Pobereyko pitched four years at Bishop Noll as a starter and a reliever for the Warriors.

Pobereyko and his brother Danny are the first pair of brothers to play on the Oilmen.

“I really like coming home to play baseball for the Oilmen,” Pobereyko said. “My teammates are very nice and are good players. I have a good relationship with them.”

Pobereyko just finished off his junior season at Kentucky Wesleyan University where he made three appearances for the Panthers, as he was limited this past season after having to undergo his second elbow surgery.

Pobereyko made the 2013 Midwest Collegiate League All-Star Game in his first season as an Oilman. Pobereyko hopes to improve from where he set the Midwest Collegiate League record for saves in a season (5), and Pobereyko so far has three saves through the first two weeks. Pobereyko is on pace to break the record that he set a year ago.

“Oil City Stadium feels like an actual stadium and has the real baseball feel,” Pobereyko said. “It is close to home and it is nice that we have the stadium right near home.”

Pobereyko is hoping he can get more innings this season with the Oilmen after his junior season with the Panthers was cut short after the injury.

“It takes time. I have to rehab and take it one game at a time,” Pobereyko said. “I have to be patient after coming back from a second major elbow surgery.”