The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June 13, 2014 – Oilmen starting pitcher Cameron Linck, a Hill College athlete and Texas native, wanted to impress his family that was in attendance for Friday’s game at Oil City Stadium.

Linck did just that, tossing five innings of one-run ball and receiving a no decision as the Oilmen pulled out a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Joliet Admirals.

The game was tied at one heading to the bottom of the eighth inning, when Nate Schneider and James Meeker strung together consecutive singles to start the frame. Alec Ornelas laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving runners to second and third with one away.

Zack Jones lifted a fly ball to center for the second out, but Schneider dashed home to score the go-ahead run on the sacrifice fly. The relay throw came into third base in an effort to cut down Meeker, who was attempting to advance from second to third. The throw beat Meeker to the bag, but the umpire ruled that the swipe tag missed the sliding runner.

“I had Meeker slide to the backside of the base,” Oilmen manager Justin Huisman said. “The third baseman did a swipe tag on the front side of the base. Apparently, the umpire thought that the tag was missed. It was tough for me to tell, but Meeker said he didn’t get him. I’m not going to argue when we get the call.”

Linck recorded nine strikeouts, finishing one shy of establishing a new Oilmen franchise record for strikeouts in a single game. The record of 10 was set by Josh Negele on July 31, 2012 against the DuPage County Hounds.

“A couple of guys on our team knew a few of those guys and gave me a little heads up on them,” Linck said. “I just tried to slow their bats down and throw my off-speed pitches for strikes. It worked for me for the most part. It was a good time; I really enjoyed it in front of my family.”

In the process of making his family happy, Linck also caught Huisman’s attention by turning in his third straight quality start.

“Cameron’s done a great job so far,” Huisman said. “He’s had three quality starts; he’s given us a chance to win every single time. He’s throwing strikes. He’s had a pretty good breaking ball. He’s going to be a guy that does a good job for us all summer.”

The first Oilmen run of the night came in the fifth inning, when Craig Dedelow’s first hit as a member of the Oilmen drove home Ryan Burvan to tie the game at one. Burvan was the only NWI player with a multi-hit game by going 2-for-4.

Anthony Gomez tossed a scoreless top of the eighth inning despite allowing a leadoff double to Alec Barnhart. Kevin DeFilippis cut down Barnhart at the plate as he attempted to score on a Stephen Yant grounder. Gomez earned the win in relief.

Matt Pobereyko latched down his fifth save of the year. Only 10 games into the season, Pobereyko has already matched his own single-season Midwest Collegiate League saves record with five. Five of the six Oilmen wins this season have required a Pobereyko save. The Bishop Noll graduate has converted on all five save chances, retiring the side in order in Friday’s ninth.

With DuPage County’s loss to Southland on Friday, the Oilmen (6-4, 5-3) have pulled with 1.5 games of the Hounds in the league standings. The Oilmen continue a four-game homestand on Saturday night as they take on the Chicago Zephyrs. It is superhero night at the ballpark as all fans that dress as superheroes receive free admission to the ballpark.