Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Ballon's Late Blast Pushes Quebec Past New Jersey

Published on June 2, 2004 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ- The New Jersey Jackals dropped the first game of a doubleheader against the Quebec Le Capitales, 3-1, and left the second game tied at 3 before it was suspended due to Northeast League rules.

The double header was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m, but officials determined that the field was not yet in playable condition. After almost two and a half hours of grooming the field, which included setting the dirt around home plate on fire, umpires finally deemed the field playable, and the game got underway.

New Jersey put the first runs up on the board in the top of the third, when Steve Checksfield unleashed a double down the left field line. The following batter Carlos Pagan singled to center, scoring Checksfield, and the Jackals took a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Quebec would rally with two outs to tie the game at one, after Shane Hopper singled to center for his fourth RBI of the season.

New Jersey had a key opportunity to take the lead in their half of the fourth when Kevin Grijak singled, and Wady Almonte doubled to make it runners second and third with no one out, but New Jersey could not convert.

Quebec would come up huge in the bottom of the six. John Ballon launched a solo-homerun deep into the night, to give Le Capitales a 2-1. Quebec would add one insurance run a few batters later when Olivier Lepine doubled, scoring Lee Delfino.

Reliever Coogie Freedman notched the win for Quebec, Jackson Crowther got the loss for the Jackals, and closer Paul Abraham got the save.

In Game 2, the Jackals were out to salvage the series in Quebec by picking up a win, and they got off to a strong start. Leadoff batter John Anderson reached on an error, and the following batter Craig Conway singled on the hit and run. Designated hitter Scott Goodman then singled, scoring Anderson, to give New Jersey the 1-0 advantage. Carlos Pagan then plated Conway on a sacrifice fly, and the Jackals were up 2-0.

New Jersey added one more run in the top of the fourth. Steve Checksfield was hit by a pitch, and then stole second base. With one down, Chris Rowan singled, scoring Checkfield.

Quebec would cut the Jackals lead in the bottom half of the inning when John Ballon singled, scoring Eddie Lantigua from second base, to make it 3-1 in favor of the Jackals.

In fifth, Quebec would complete their comeback. Benoit Emond led the inning off with a single, and he was driven in by Buck McNabbs RBI double only two batter later. Lantigua would single later in the inning to even the score at 3-3.

Due to Northeast League rules prohibiting an inning beginning at midnight, the game was suspended at the conclusion of the fifth with a 3-3 tie. The game will be completed on June 18, 2004 when Quebec travels to New Jersey.

The New Jersey Jackals return home on Monday, June 7, 2004 as they host their rival Brockton Rox at Yogi Berra Stadium for a three game set. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For information, log onto www.Jackals.com. For tickets, please contact the Jackals Ticket Office at (973) 746-7434

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Canadian American League Stories from June 2, 2004


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