07/02/2014 5:00 AM -
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Southland Vikings (13-8)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (15-9, 13-8)
July 5, 2014 • 7:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
The Oilmen and Vikings are set to meet for the second straight day following Southland’s 7-3 victory on Friday. This is the only time all season at that the Oilmen play back-to-back home games against the same opponent on consecutive days. The Oilmen committed five errors in yesterday’s loss, the third time they have made five errors in one game this season.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen hitters have fallen victim to strikeouts on a regular basis this season. Northwest Indiana has the most strikeouts by an offense in the league with 175. Lexington has the lowest number with 133, just better than Southland’s 135. Nate Schneider singled in the ninth inning yesterday to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Craig Dedelow has hit safely in five straight and 11 of his last 12. Cameron Linck has gone at least five innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer in all six of his starts this season. The Oilmen and Chicago Zephyrs are the only two teams that have yet to hit a home run in a Midwest Collegiate League game this year. The Oilmen have two homers, but both came in a nonleague game against the Michigan City Lakers.
Inside the Vikings
The Vikings are the hottest team in the Midwest Collegiate League after extending their winning streak to five games on Friday night. Southland leads the league in runs scored with 124, home runs with 12, doubles with 49, hits with 210 and batting average at .305. Bobby Sheppard leads the league in batting average at .441 and ranks second in RBIs with 15. Dan Potempa is second in the league in home runs with four, two of which came against the Oilmen on Tuesday night.
About the Matchup
The Vikings holds a 14-13 lead in the all-time series against the Oilmen. The Vikings have rattled off back-to-back wins over the Oilmen this week on Tuesday and Saturday. The Oilmen won all three matchups in June, but the Vikings have thus far dominated the July portion of the season series. The Vikings and Oilmen will meet three additional times this season, a doubleheader on July 14 at Homewood-Flossmoor High School and a game at Oil City Stadium on July 23.
Around the League
The winner of Saturday’s game will take over sole possession of second place in the Midwest Collegiate League standings. The winner of the game will also pull within 2.5 games of the DuPage County Hounds, who have the day off. The Joliet Admirals and Lexington Snipes will complete a suspended game on Saturday at High Desert Field before playing two additional seven-inning contests as part of a scheduled doubleheader.
Click "download attachment" to view a full PDF of Oilmen Game Notes
