Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals vs. Capitales, Again for the Title

Published on September 3, 2013 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Quebec City, Canada -It all comes down to this.

An entire season's work now points to one series, with one dream in mind, becoming a champion.

On Wednesday night, the Jackals will make their return to Quebec's Stade Municipale for the Can Am League Championship Series. This will be the third consecutive year that New Jersey has taken part in the finals.

Described by Joe Calfapietra as a prize fight, these teams while are not crazy about one another, definitely have one another's respect and attention.

The last two years have not been so inviting to the Jackals, having lost to the Capitales in this very spot. This year, New Jersey hopes for a different result.

The Jackals bring five All-Stars to this match-up in the likes of Jeremy Barnes, Chris Duffy, Chris Curran, Jose Cuevas, and Tim Adleman; as well as, veterans Nick Giarraputo and Bryan Sabatella who have been in this series before.

If any team knows more about drama this year, it's the Jackals.

Spending much of the season struggling to find an identity, and dealing with various injuries to its top pitchers, the Jackals weathered the storm, staying within reach of the Rockland Boulders for the final playoff spot as the calendar turned to August.

"We pieced it together. When we lost Greenwalt and Isaac Pavlik, it wasn't easy. The guys stepped up, we kept on battling and fighting and now we have a chance to play for the championship," Calfapietra said after the Jackals clinched a playoff spot against Laredo.

The Jackals were very aggressive in free agency and the trade market in an effort to improve the club, and they succeeded.

They acquired Brandon Moore after his release from the Rockland Boulders and he became a steady rock in the middle of the Jackals rebuilt rotation.

Next, the Jackals acquired Wes Roemer via trade from the St. Paul Saints, and signed reliever Corey Vogt to help out an excellent, but tiring bullpen.

Finally, the Jackals put the final pieces to the puzzle in place with a monster August deal with the Kansas City T-Bones to acquire infielder Matt Padgett and pitcher Lucas Irvine, as well as re-signing one-time LA Dodger and one-time Jackal, John Lindsey.

The result equaled playoffs.

Padgett was huge down the stretch, hitting .324 with five homers and 19 RBI in 19 games with the club. His four homers in one series against the Rockland Boulders, not only propelled the Jackals to four wins at Provident Bank Park; it helped knock the Boulders out of the race.

Irvine steadied the rotation with three excellent starts out of his four with the club. After his first three starts, Irvine was 2-1 with a 0.50 ERA. He'll get the ball for Game 2 of the LCS.

Meanwhile Lindsey hit a steady .250 with three homers and 16 RBI to help push New Jersey to the postseason.

Those three combined with the guys who were already in place spearheaded a Jackals team that went 21-9 in the month of August, that at one point won 14 of 16 at the end of the month to punch their ticket to the postseason.

Game 1, Sept 4: Craig Benningson vs. Karl Gelinas, 7:05 p.m. Stade Municipale.

Game 2, Sept 5: Lucas Irvine vs. Jeff Duda, 7:05 p.m. Stade Municipale

Game 3, Sept 6: Brandon Moore vs. Bryan Rembisz, 7:05 p.m. Yogi Berra Stadium

Game 4, Sept 7: TBA vs. TBA, 6:35 p.m. Yogi Berra Stadium

*Game 5, Sept 8: Craig Bennigson vs. Karl Gelinas, 2:05 p.m. Yogi Berra Stadium

*Game 6, Sept 9: Lucas Irvine vs. Jeff Duda, 7:05 p.m. Stade Municipale

*Game 7, Sept 10: Brandon Moore vs. Bryan Rembisz, 7:05 p.m. Stade Municipale

(* - If necessary)

All games can be heard live on Jackals.com via the Listen Live Portal with Michael Cohen and Nick Delahanty beginning 15 minutes before the top of the hour. Home games will be available on Jackals.com and 88.1 FM.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

Check out the New Jersey Jackals Statistics

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Canadian American League Stories from September 3, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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