Yachinich Added to Oilmen Roster Whiting, Ind. – Dec. 28, 2017 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen have added another Minnesota Duluth player to the mix for the 2018 season. Just two days after announcing the return of Cory Krolikowski for the 2018 summer campaign, the Oilmen have unveiled the addition of Krolikowski’s college teammate, sophomore middle infielder Eric Yachinich. “Cory played for the Oilmen after our freshman season and said it’s a great experience and good competition,” Yachinich said. “When the opportunity came up, I jumped all over it.” Yachinich, a native of Ashland, Wis. and graduate of Ashland High School, is a junior at Minnesota Duluth. Yachinich saw significant playing time for the Bulldogs as a sophomore in 2017, appearing in 34 games and making 23 starts. That came after he hit .277 in 32 games (10 starts) as a freshman in 2016. “My biggest strength is my defensive play in the middle infield,” Yachinich said. “At the plate, I hit for a little bit of power and also have the ability to hit for average. I would like to decrease my strikeouts and put the ball in play with two strikes more frequently.” He spent the 2017 summer playing for the Carroll Merchants of the Pioneer Collegiate Baseball League, where he played in 28 games and had 89 plate appearances. Yachinich, a finance business major, enjoys spending time outdoors, including hunting and fishing. He also enjoys football and hockey and was a captain for his high school in both of those sports. During his prep days on the diamond, Yachinich earned first team all-Lake Superior Conference honors in 2014 and 2015 and was voted team MVP and selected to the West Senior All-Star team his senior season. Yachinich will live with Krolikowski over the summer. “I’m excited to play with one of my best friends here at Minnesota Duluth,” Krolikowski said. “I can’t wait to show him the ropes of Oilmen baseball and let him see what the Oilmen have to offer.” |