Jackals Spoil Playoff Hopes, Use Offense To Avoid Sweep
August 27, 2003 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Berkshire Black Bears News Release
New Jersey stood right in the way of the Black Bears' last hope for a playoff berth and held like a brick wall, beating the Black Bears 8-4 at Wahconah Park Wednesday night.
Down 2-0 in the second inning, the Black Bears clean up hitter, Manny Crespo led off with single to spark a lethargic looking Berkshire club. Two batters later, Ryan Jones homered over the centerfield fence for the second game in a row, a two-run blast that tied the game at two. After Mark Burnett and Brady Williams walked, Jose Mateo singled to right field and Burnett scored from second, giving the Black Bears an early 3-2 edge. However, the Jackals were determined not to let the brooms come out, and immediately responded in the third inning when Scott McKee hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game at three.
Berkshire reliever Shane Waroff got Berkshire out of a jam in the fourth, but then yielded a big attack in the six inning. The Jackals took the lead again when Joe Kerrigan doubled to right center field, scoring Chris Rowan from second. The onslaught continued when Scott Samuels hit a big two-run single to left field, making the score 6-3. The Jackals would add two more runs in the eighth inning off All-Star Eddie Aucoin, putting away the Black Bears' last hope to the playoff.
Hall threw four and a third innings, allowing three runs on nine hits for a no decision. Waroff fell to 4-2 with the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over one and a third innings. New Jersey starter, Jackson Crowther (8-3) returned to winning form, allowing three runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.
Despite being 3.5 games back of New Jersey with four to play, the Black Bears were eliminated from the playoffs because they trail Elmira by 2 games in the South Division, and the Jackals face the Pioneers head to head in New Jersey to close the regular season. Berkshire will finish the 2003 season with a chance to play the spoiler of Brockton for the second time this year.
Berkshire swept the Rox to end the first half, destroying Brockton's grasp on the first half North Division crown. The Black Bears and Rox will meet in a four game series, starting Friday night at Wahconah Park.
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Canadian American League Stories from August 27, 2003
- Bangor Plans Ed Ott Commemorative Watch Giveaway - Bangor Lumberjacks
- Jackals Spoil Playoff Hopes, Use Offense To Avoid Sweep - Berkshire Black Bears
- Ambassadors Lose in Ninth, 6-5, to Bangor - Allentown Ambassadors
- Bears Fall to Wagner and Surf, 11-4 - Newark Bears
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