Oilmen look to end unofficial first half on high note SUNDAY’S GAME: July 5, 2015 • 4:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI’s Keith Mahler (Cumberland / Highland, Ind.) vs. Joliet’s TBD
For Starters
The Oilmen are looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season on Sunday. They are attempting to avoid finishing the pre- All-Star Game portion of the year at 14-9, the same record they held at the All-Star Break a year ago. The Oilmen still lead the league in batting average, but only by the slimmest of margins. They hold a .297 team average, while DuPage County stands at .296. With eight home runs, the Oilmen are tied with Lexington for second in the league. Michigan City now leads the way with nine home runs.
Inside the Oilmen
Jeremy Wright had his most productive offensive day of the season as he went 3-for-5 on Saturday. The three hits boosted Wright’s average from .185 to .250. Tyler Sroczynski has slipped to third in the league in batting average, as his .393 mark now ranks behind Michigan City’s Joe Kennedy (.418) and DuPage County’s Trent Carrier (.397). Sam Geraci’s .474 on-base percentage leads the league. Starter Keith Mahler will pitch on seven days of rest on Sunday. He tossed seven scoreless innings while scattering six hits against the Admirals on June 27. After Sunday, three of his five starts this season will have come against Joliet. Mahler holds a 2-0 record and 2.84 ERA. Sunday will be assistant coach Matt Pobereyko’s final day with the Oilmen. Pobereyko, the Midwest Collegiate League all-time saves king, will make his professional baseball debut later this week with the Trinidad Triggers of the independent Pecos League.
Inside the Admirals
Joliet has the least productive offense in the league, with only 79 runs scored this season. Micah Coffey is the team’s best hitter with a .349 average, one home run and 10 RBIs. Coffey is the only Admiral with a double-figure RBI total this summer. For comparison, the Oilmen have six players who have driven in 10 or more runs.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen have captured four of the first five meetings between the two teams this season. Most recently, they downed the Admirals 10-0 on June 27 at Oil City Stadium. The Oilmen and Admirals have three more head-to-head meetings after Sunday, the soonest of which is Tuesday, July 14 at Joliet. The Oilmen lead the all-time series against the Rockford/Joliet franchise 20-4.
Around the MCL
The Snipes have won back-to-back games, defeating the Oilmen on Friday and the Admirals on Saturday in walk-off fashion. Lexington is only two games behind DuPage County for first place in the Midwest Collegiate League and 1 ½ games in back of the Oilmen. The Hounds, who are now ½ game ahead of the Oilmen in the MCL, have a doubleheader at Michigan City on Sunday and a makeup game at Lexington on Monday.
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