The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

The Northwest Indiana Oilmen came into the week with a two-game winning streak on teams the Oilmen lost to the last time the two met, the DuPage County Hounds and the Chicago Zephyrs.

To start the week, the Oilmen would defeat another team that the Oilmen lost to last time the two met, the Joliet Admirals. Nick Nauracy was on the mound to start for the Oilmen against the Admirals. Last time Nauracy faced the Admirals was on June 26, when it was a night Nauracy would like to forget, taking the loss in the game going only one inning in relief and giving up five runs, two of which were earned. Nauracy pitched five innings and only allowed one run and picked up the victory versus the Admirals on June 29.

The offense really came alive in the win versus Joliet scoring eight runs off Admirals starter Tomas Aguilar. Oilmen right fielder Jason Gasser went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.

The Oilmen had a game scheduled for June 30 to make up a rained out game versus the Southland Vikings, but that game was also postponed due to the rain.

The Oilmen would hope for improvement in the month of July after going 12-6 in the month of June.

The first game of July was the Veterans Benefit Game on July 1. Current military members, veterans, Habitat for Humanity, Civil War Infantry and their families were all in attendance for the game to see the Oilmen take on the Vikings. Sixty percent of all ticket sales from the game went to Habitat for Humanity and the Northwest Indiana Veterans Action Council the Veterans Build Project. Concluding the game there were post-game fireworks for fans to enjoy after the game.

The Oilmen fell to the Vikings 14-8, but people were cheering on the entire, regardless of the score. The fans were excited for the game of baseball with the Vikings hitting two home runs in the game. The Oilmen pitching allowed 23 hits to the Southland Vikings.

Oilmen starter Danny Pobereyko did not have his best stuff Tuesday night against the Vikings, only lasting four innings and allowing eight runs with three home runs.

The Oilmen took the day off on Wednesday before making a road trip to Lexington as the Oilmen would take on the Lexington Snipes on July 3 at 5:30.

The Oilmen pitching showed up Tuesday night, only allowing one run all game, mainly due to starting pitcher Jimmy McNamara, who pitched 6 2/3 innings, only allowing one run, a home run by Reed Rogers on the Snipes. Anthony Gomez and Andrew Lowe did the rest for the Oilmen to go along with the nine runs produced by the offense.  Oilmen third basemen Kevin DeFilippis paved the way for the offense as he reached base four times and went 2-for-4 with five RBIs.

The Oilmen would have a rematch versus the Vikings the team that has been red-hot on offense, who won Tuesday 14-8.  The Oilmen offense was shut down by Vikings starting pitcher Tyler House, who did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. House went seven strong innings, allowing one run and two hits with six strikeouts. Anthony Colosimo and Zack Jones drove in the only runs of the game for the Oilmen as the Oilmen dropped two straight games to the Vikings.

The Oilmen would take on the Vikings for the third time in the week on Saturday night, hoping to defeat them for the first time all week as Keith Mahler took the mound for the Oilmen as he opposed Vikings starter Brandon White.

Mahler allowed five runs and 10 hits over only four innings.

Vikings starter Brandon White, on the other hand, was locked in all game for the Vikings able to turn in the Vikings second straight pitchers gem. White went eight innings, only allowing one run.

The Oilmen offense was nowhere to be found the last two games against the Vikings scoring only six runs but four of those runs coming in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Oilmen end the week tied for third place with the Lexington Snipes with a 13-9 record. The Oilmen start the second half Friday versus the Snipes and Saturday against the DuPage County Hounds.