Hammers Add Former Gator Ace to Staff
Published on February 2, 2006 under Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
JOLIET, IL - Tommy Boss, one of the best college "post season" pitchers last year, has signed with the Joliet JackHammers. Boss, a 6'2" 215lb right-hander from the University of Florida, was a big reason why the Gators made it to the 2005 College World Series finals. Boss pitched back to back complete game victories over North Carolina in the NCAA regionals and rival Florida State in the NCAA Super Regionals. In those 18 innings of work, he allowed only 10 hits and 3 runs. But his heroics were just beginning. In the game to decide which team was to advance to the College World Series Championship Series, Boss came in after the Gators starting pitcher went down with an injury. He took the ball and threw 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball allowing just 4 hits against Arizona State in front of 17,000 fans and in front of a national television audience.
"He certainly knows how to win the big game," said JackHammers manager Hal Lanier. "You need solid rookies to build your roster and we feel we have one in Tommy. His collegiate success at a top notch program speaks volumes for what he can do on the mound," added Lanier.
Boss, 23, made 20 appearances for Gators in his senior season. He was 9-4 with a 4.11 ERA on the year allowing just 18 walks in 111 2/3 innings. Further, he led the team in games started (19), complete games (2), hits allowed (126) and earned runs allowed (51). In addition, he was named to the NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team and was a SEC Academic Honor Roll selection for the third consecutive year. The JackHammers fifth anniversary season is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 26 at 7:05 p.m. versus the Edmonton Cracker-Cats at Silver Cross Field in Joliet's City Center.
LOOSE GRAVEL: Silver Cross Field will host the 29th annual Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class A State Tournament in 2006. The tournament will run Friday, June 2 through Saturday, June 3. The eighth annual IHSA Class A Hitting Derby and four quarterfinal games are scheduled to take place on June 2, with two semifinal games, a third place game and the championship game scheduled to take place on June 3.
The JackHammers have full season tickets, mini-plan ticket packages and a variety of group ticket packages available for the 2006 season. For additional information, call 815-726-BALL (2255), visit the team's website at www.jackhammerbaseball.com, send an e-mail to info@jackhammerbaseball.com or visit the team offices at Silver Cross Field.
Northern League Stories from February 2, 2006
- Flyers name Bobby Bell hitting coach - Schaumburg Flyers
- Hammers Add Former Gator Ace to Staff - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats Sell Connelly's Contract to Angels - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Catching Up With RailCats Manager Greg Tagert - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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