The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – April 26, 2015 – The select group of Whiting High School graduates to play collegiate summer baseball in their hometown has received a new member.

Shawnee State University (NAIA) freshman Matt Dvorscak will play for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen this summer. Dvorscak is a two-way player, seeing time as both a pitcher and infielder for the Bears.

The right-handed pitcher has made one start and four relief appearances for Shawnee State this season, but Dvorscak’s strength has been on the infield. His best position is shortstop, but he also plays second base and third base. He has seen regular playing time, making 22 starts and 34 appearances as a position player.

“He shows a lot of strength and he does things naturally well based on athleticism,” Shawnee State coach Chris Moore said. “When he got to campus in the fall, he was more game-ready on a college level than I anticipated him being and he was a bit further along than some of our other freshmen. We think he has a future as a leadoff hitter.”

Dvorscak joins Elliot Bajda (2012) and Andrew Lowe (2014) as Whiting graduates to play for the Oilmen.

“It will be really nice because I’ll get to play on that field again and there will be a good support system there,” Dvorscak said. “Hopefully having a person that people know will help make the community want to come to the games. I think it will be a really good atmosphere.”

Moore wants to see Dvorscak work on improving his offensive output over the course of the summer. Because Dvorscak has such significant natural ability, Moore holds him to a higher standard than many other players.

“Summer ball is an exciting opportunity,” Moore said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best time to play when you’re a college-aged kid. The weather is fantastic; you don’t have to worry about classes. Everything is set up for you. If he takes a professional approach to the summer, I expect to see big things out of him when he comes back.”

Andrean graduate Jimmy Skiff and Hobart alumni Brandon Barnes are among the 2015 Oilmen who played with Dvorscak at various levels of baseball growing up.

Dvorscak will once again call Oil City Stadium home after concluding his career with the Oilers at the downtown Whiting ballpark in 2014. He pitched an eight-inning complete game in a career-ending loss to Bishop Noll on the Oil City Stadium diamond last May.

“When you play there, it’s different every day with the wind and conditions,” he said. “It keeps you locked into the game. It’s a really nice stadium; you can’t ask for a better place to play baseball. It’s a great feeling being on the field.”