06/28/2014 11:17 AM -
TODAY'S GAME:
Southland Vikings (12-8)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (15-8, 13-7)
July 4, 2014 • 3:30 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
The Oilmen offense has come to life over the last five games, producing 41 total runs, an average of 8.2 runs per game. The Oilmen took advantage of five Lexington errors in a 9-1 victory over the Snipes on Thursday night at High Desert Field. Ryan Burvan reached base five times and drew four bases on balls, while Kevin DeFilippis had two hits and reached base four times. Every Oilman in the lineup reached base at least once and eight of the nine hitters reached base multiple times on Thursday night. Jimmy McNamara pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed only one run, a solo homer by Reed Rogers in the sixth.
Inside the Oilmen
Midwest Collegiate League All-Star rosters were released on Thursday, and the Oilmen will be well represented on the South squad. Pitchers Cameron Linck (Kingwood HS | Hill College), Keith Mahler (Highland | Heartland CC), Jimmy McNamara (Lake Central | Central Michigan University) and Matt Pobereyko (Bishop Noll | Kentucky Wesleyan) have been named to the team. Infielders Ryan Burvan (Lake Central | Purdue) and Nate Schneider (Portage Central | Western Michigan) will also participate in the All-Star Game, as will outfielders Craig Dedelow (Munster | Indiana) and Jason Gasser (Mount Carmel | Northern Illinois). The Oilmen have only played one prior Independence Day game in franchise history, a 9-7 victory over Illinois in 2012.
Inside the Vikings
The Vikings are playing their best baseball of the season and carry a four-game winning streak into Friday’s game. The Vikings have had great success against the first-place DuPage County Hounds this season as they are responsible for four of the six DuPage losses. The Vikings picked up a rare low-scoring victory on Wednesday night, defeating the Hounds 4-2. Southland had scored 43 runs over the previous three games.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen won the first three meetings of the year between the two teams, but the Vikings recorded a 14-8 victory at Oil City Stadium on Tuesday night. The Oilmen and Vikings have split the all-time series right down the middle, with each team holding 13 victories in the 26 meetings. Cameron Linck, who has been Northwest Indiana’s most effective starting pitcher with an ERA of 1.55 this season, is likely to start for the Oilmen on Friday afternoon. Linck has received six days of rest since defeating the Hounds on June 27. If he does pitch against the Vikings on Friday, it will be the first time he has faced them this season.
Around the MCL
For the third consecutive day, there is only one Midwest Collegiate League game being played. With the Hounds idle on Friday and Saturday, the Oilmen can move to within 1.5 games of first with back-to-back victories over Southland. The Lexington Snipes and Joliet Admirals will play three games on Saturday in Lexington, the completion of a suspended game plus two additional seven-inning contests.
Click "download attachment" to view a full PDF of Oilmen Game Notes
