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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Rally Twice to Take Doubleheader

June 28, 2007 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - Thanks to inclement weather, the New Jersey Jackals and the New Haven County Cutters were forced to play a game and a half on Thursday. Unfortunately for the Jackals, they had to start the first game with an 8-1 deficit in the fourth inning.

The team that took the field for New Jersey on Wednesday was not, by any means, the same team that took the field on Thursday. The Jackals looked tired and indifferent on Wednesday, and that was the main reason that the were losing 8-1. However, the rain prolonged the game until Thursday and what a difference a day makes. The Jackals scored six runs in bottom of the fourth to start the day. The first three runs were all scored on RBI walks by catcher Matt Lauderdale, center fielder Tim Turner, and right fielder Francisco Leandro.

Phenominal pitching by reliever Tim Sabo kept the Cutters off the board and gave the Jackals a chance to inch closer and closer. In the sixth inning the Jackals did just that. Leandro tied the game with a home run over the right field wall. Second baseman Zack Smithlin followed with a single and would come around to score, giving ther Jackals a 9-8 lead.

The team would provide insurance runs in the seventh when short stop Guillermo Reyes and left fielder Napoleon Calzado came around to score.

When it was all said and done, the Jackals would score ten unearned runs, winning the game 11-8.

Sabo's efforts earned him the win in relief. Aaron Kalb took the loss and Rusty Tuckert earned the save.

Due to the league rules, the second game of the day was shortened to seven innings because technically Thursday was the host of a double header. The seven inning game had most people in the stadium thinking that the game would move along quickly, and after the first few innings that notion seemed to ring true.

The Jackals, thanks in large part the third baseman Wilton Veras' first homerun of the season, neck-a-neck with the Cutters early in the game. However, Jackal starter Josh Brey would start to lose his control and the Cutters would take a 4-2 lead.

The Jackals went into the bottom of the seventh in a do or die situation. Smithlin got on base with a one out walk and Leandro and Thigpen would both walk. Designated hitter Sandy Madera would then come up with the bases loaded and a chance to win the game. With everyone in the park expecting a big fly from the slugger, Madera would hit a high chopper just over the pitchers mound. Although Madera was thrown out at first, Smithlin manged to sneak home and tie the game, sending the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth the Cutters threatened to take the lead with a runner on third and two outs. Chas Terni, the teams usual short stop, came in to pinch hit and hit a soft flair to left field. It appeared to be a base hit that would drive in the go ahead run, but left fielder Jud Thigpen made a phenominal diving catch, ending the threat and the inning.

The game finally would come to an end in the bottom of the eighth.

Madera led off the inning with a single and moved over to second on an intentional walk given to Veras. Catcher Clak Kuklick, who at the time was 0-4, chopped a ball over the pitchers mound, similar to Madera's game tying RBI. Cutters' second baseman Matt Mercurio bobbled the ball initially and then rushed his throw to first. The ball got by first baseman Chris Gaski, allowing Madera to come around third and score the winning run. Kuklick was awarded a hit and the winning RBI on the play.

Ben Thurmond earned a victory in relief and Andy Weimer, despite an admirable performance in relief, took the loss.

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