
Jackals Finish First Half With 30-15 Record
Published on July 12, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release
Billy Rich Heads Into 2nd Half With 18 Game Hit Streak
LITTLE FALLS, NJ-The New Jersey Jackals, the 2001 Northern League champions, closed out the season's first half with a 30-15 record, best in the NL East. The Jackals clinched first-place in the NL East's south division, which guarantees New Jersey a spot in the playoffs. With that playoff spot set, New Jersey becomes the first defending Northern League champion in three years to defend their title in the playoffs the following season.
The Jackals first half was highlighted by a 13 game winning streak between June 16th and June 29th in which the club outscored the opposition by the composite score of 106-34. The winning streak was the longest in franchise history and tied for the longest in Northern League history.
Offensively New Jersey scored the most runs in the league in the season's first half with 304. The team batting average of .290 ranked second amongst teams in the Northern League East.
The Jackals' offense has been led by right fielder Travis Bailey (.288, 8 home runs and 42 RBI) who leads the league in runs-batted-in and extra-base hits (25) and who is ranked second in home runs, third baseman Ryan Kane (.292, 7 HR, 40 RBI) who is tied for 2nd in the league in RBI, center fielder Billy Brown (.327, 6 HR, 32 RBI) who is the league's 8th leading hitter and who is 5th in base hits (54), designated hitter David Kennedy (.315, 5 HR, 29 RBI), first baseman Dave Callahan (.273, 8 HR, 28 RBI) who leads the league in runs scored (38) and is tied for 2nd in home runs and left fielder Billy Rich (.336, 3 HR, 29 RBI) who is the league's 6th leading batter and who is currently on an 18 game hitting streak. Rich's hitting streak is the fourth one this season by a Jackals' player that has reached at least ten games in length.
Veteran right-hander Joel Bennett (7-1, 2.88 ERA, 89 strikeouts) once again has led the Jackals' pitching staff. The former major leaguer leads the Northern League East in strikeouts and innings pitched (75) and is tied for the lead in victories and complete games (3). Fellow starters Aaron Myers (5-2, 4.37), Mike Bertotti (5-3, 4.70) and Steve Fish (4-2, 5.16) have combined for a 14-7 record so far this season.
New Jersey opens up the second half of the 2002 season Friday evening in Quebec City against the first-half north division champion Les Capitales de Quebec.
Canadian American League Stories from July 12, 2002
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- Poor Defense Downs Surf - Atlantic City Surf
- Black Bears Start Second Half with Win - Berkshire Black Bears
- Jackals Offer $5,000 to Whoever Can Survive the Stadium - New Jersey Jackals
- Jackals Finish First Half With 30-15 Record - New Jersey Jackals
- Bears Prepare for Second Half - Newark Bears
- Surf Trade for Garry Maddox, Jr. - Atlantic City Surf
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