The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

The Northwest Indiana Oilmen headed into the week with a 3-3 record in the Midwest Collegiate League, coming off a spilt versus nonleague opponent Michigan City.

The Oilmen were looking to start the week with some momentum against a non-MCL team the Illinois Sparks. The plan to start a winning streak had to wait until Thursday as Tuesday’s game versus the Sparks was postponed due to the rain.

The Oilmen had a four-game home stand starting on Thursday as the Oilmen took on the Southland Vikings. Thursday was Strikeout ALS Night at the ballpark. Half of the ticket proceeds that were sold, and the 50-50 raffle held at the stadium, went to the ALS Foundation to help find a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The Oilmen raised $600 for the entire night.

The Oilmen defeated the Southland Vikings on Thursday night by the score of 5-4. All the scoring in the game came all before the sixth inning, and no one scored after the fifth inning. The Vikings scored three in the top of the fifth, and Oilmen scored three in the bottom of the fifth, capped off by a two RBI triple by Jason Gasser.

Gasser had the best game of his Oilmen career in his first year with the team, he was 3-for-4 in the game with four runs batted in.

Jimmy McNamara picked up his second win of the season while pitching six innings and giving up four runs with five strikeouts.

The second Oilmen game of the week was Friday the 13^th against the Joliet Admirals. Friday was Zombie Apocalypse night at the ballpark. Many kids dressed up as zombies and kids were able to get their face painted by Evelyn Garcia.

The Admirals struck first on a RBI ground out by Michael Diviesti and that is all the Admirals would score the game as Oilmen starter Cameron Linck pitched five strong innings only allowing one run. The Oilmen would tie the game back up in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single by Munster alum Craig Dedelow.

The Admirals starter Quinn Ahern was dealing the entire game until the Oilmen were able to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI ground out by James Meeker. Ahern pitched the entire game, going eight innings and only allowing two runs, but that is all the Oilmen needed as he threw 123 pitches and took a tough loss.

Matt Pobereyko came into the game chasing his own history, with his own record of saves in a season. Pobereyko had five saves in his first season with the Oilmen. He would strikeout every batter he faced in the top of the ninth to tie his record with his fifth save on the season.

The Oilmen off a two-game winning streak would face a struggling Chicago Zephyrs team that is in last place in the MCL with a 2-8 record and losers of three straight. The Oilmen won the game 8-0.

Saturday was Superheroes Night at the ballpark, where kids from all over the region were able to get in game with free admission. There was Superman, Spiderman, Green Lantern, Wolverine and many more as it was a great night to be at the ballpark.

Oilmen starter Keith Mahler was able to pick up his first victory in an Oilmen uniform, pitching his best game all season and going six innings only allowing two hits with six strikeouts. 

“Feels good to win for the first time this season,” Mahler said. “There will be many more wins to come.” 

James Meeker was able to go 3-for-4 with three base hits along with two RBIs in the game. Dedelow was able to get two doubles in the game and pick up three RBIs.

“I found a good pitch to hit and was able to get a good hit,” Dedelow said on his performance. “I have been playing nonstop since the fall so there was no rust on my part.”

The Oilmen finished off the week facing the Lexington Snipes and extended their winning streak to five games.

Oilmen starter Nick Nauracy took the mound hoping to rebound from his last start. Nauracy pitched five innings allowing three runs five hits.

“I went out and did what the coach told me to do,” Nauracy said on his performance. “I had a rough first inning, but my team backed me up in the bottom of the first.”

The Snipes struck first by a key error in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs but the Oilmen were able to bounce right back in the bottom of the first with a huge five spot while the Oilmen were all patient at the plate, drawing walks and getting timely hits. The Oilmen scored again in the bottom of the eighth for an insurance run.

Matt Pobereyko, after having Saturday off, came in Sunday afternoon to break his own MCL record for saves in a season as Pobereyko picked up his sixth save.

“It is nice after having pitching in a lot of non-save situations last year and still picking up saves in some games,” Pobereyko said.