07/23/2014 11:33 AM -
TONIGHT'S GAME
Southland Vikings (23-11)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (23-15, 21-14)
July 23, 2014 • 7:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
The Oilmen stand at 23-15 overall with five games remaining on the regular season schedule. In order to avoid the lowest win total in team history, the Oilmen will need to win four of their final five games. They won 28 regular season games in 2012 and 27 games in 2013. The Oilmen finished in second place in the regular season standings in both 2012 and 2013. After producing a team batting average of .286 in 2012 and .283 in 2013, the Oilmen are hitting .244 as a team this season. Wednesday’s game is the final regular season home game at Oil City Stadium this year. The Oilmen will return to the O.C. on either Tuesday, July 29 or Wednesday, July 30 for at least one postseason home game.
Inside the Oilmen
With five games remaining in the regular season, it appears that the majority of the single-season Oilmen franchise records will remain intact. John Loeffler’s .387 batting average from 2012 will remain the highest in Oilmen history. Andrew Ray needs one home run over the final five games to tie Billy Miller’s franchise record of three established in 2012. Craig Dedelow and Jason Gasser are both four doubles away from Bennett Oliver’s record of 13. Jason Gasser leads the team with 17 RBIs, well short of the league-record 37 set by Nick Bartolone last season. On the pitching staff, Matt Pobereyko has set the team and league record for saves with 12. He is also in position to shatter the team record for earned run average of 0.84 set by Aveeno Nasiloski last season. Pobereyko has allowed just one earned run all year for an ERA of 0.45. Whichever pitcher leads the Oilmen in strikeouts this season will become the team’s single-season strikeout record holder as Danny Pobereyko (46) and Nick Nauracy (44) have already surpassed Michael Steensen’s mark of 43 from 2013. Danny Britt’s wins record of seven will stand through this season as Danny Pobereyko leads the club in wins with five.
Inside the Vikings
The Vikings, who have not been in first place at all this season, have a chance to take over the top spot in the Midwest Collegiate League with a win over the Oilmen and a DuPage County loss to Joliet on Wednesday. The Vikings are ½ game behind the Hounds. They downed the Admirals 7-1 on Tuesday as starting pitcher Rick Fordan tossed five scoreless innings to earn the win. Jeff Boehm and Brandon Mallder had five hits each for the Vikings.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen and Vikings have split the first eight meetings of the year right down the middle, meaning the season-series hinges on Wednesday’s game. The last time the two teams met, they split a doubleheader at Homewood-Flossmoor High School on July 14. The Vikings hold a 16-14 lead in the all-time series against the Oilmen.
Around the League
The Hounds hold a slim ½ game lead over Southland, with the Oilmen and Snipes tied for third place, three games behind DuPage County. Thursday will be a busy day as the Oilmen head to Joliet for a doubleheader, while the Snipes and Vikings play two in Flossmoor.
Click "download attachment" to view a full PDF of Oilmen Game Notes.
