JackHammers take series with 9-3 win
Published on May 22, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Joliet, ILâAfter splitting the first 2 games of the series with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, the Joliet JackHammers came out swinging, in an attempt to win their season opening series at home. The JackHammers sent Nathan Kent to the mound as their game 3 starter while Gary had Mike Schaefer to start the contest. Kent entered the game with experience from '04 vs. the RailCats, as he made 3 starts last season against Gary and pitched very well. Schaeffer meanwhile was another transplant from Springfield/Ozark of the Frontier League where Gregg Taggert, skipper of the Cats this season, managed in 2004.
It would be a day of flexing their offensive muscles for the JackHammers, as they would indeed take the 3rd game of the series by a final of 9-3. With the win, that gives the JackHammers (2-1) their first series win of the year. Jayson Drobiak would lead the JackHammers in their efforts at the plate, going 3-4 with a season high 7 RBI. Jayson would have 2 home runs, a 3-run shot in the 4th, and a 2-run no doubter in the 6th.
It would be Gary (1-2) that would score first, as they plated an un-earned run in the 2nd on a throwing error by John Lackaff. That would be a sign of things to come for the âHammers as they would finish the night with a season high 4 errors. The JackHammers would respond in the 3rd however with 4 runs off the Cats starter Schaeffer. Kyle Logan's single to left tied the game up and Josh Loggins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, to give the team a 2-1 lead. A 2-run single by Drobiak would make it 4-1 as 10 men would hit in the inning.
8 more men came to the plate the next inning, as Joliet knocked out the starter Schaeffer, the big blow of the inning coming off the bat of Drobiak, a line drive "laser" of a 3-run home run that made it 7-1. His 2-run shot in the 6th would ricochet off the 1st Midwest Bank, giving him a career night at the dish. With his performance Sunday afternoon, Drobiak's name goes right up there with the best ever single game performances in the 4 year existence of the JackHammers.
Steve Haake would lead the RailCats at the plate, with a solid 3-4 night in a losing effort.
Tanner Townsend would be the only other player with a multi-hit evening, finishing up 2-5.
Mike Schaeffer (0-1) was hit with the loss for the RailCats while Nathan Kent (1-0) would get his 1st win of the season. Kent finished with 6 innings pitched, allowing only an unearned run off of 4 hits while striking out 5. Joey Siak pitched the final 3 innings for the rarely seen 3 inning save, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs in his time on the mound as the RailCats plated 2 runs in the 9th to make it respectable.
The JackHammers now welcome the Kansas City T-Bones (1-1) to town as Joliet continues their 7 game home stand. The first pitch will be at 7:05 on Monday the 23rd. The RailCats meanwhile return to U.S Steel Yard to begin a 4 game series with the Edmonton CrackerCats.
Northern League Stories from May 22, 2005
- Explorers take series from Vipers - Sioux City Explorers
- JackHammers take series with 9-3 win - Joliet JackHammers
- Williams, Austin power RedHawks to victory - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Saltdogs Take Series with 18-3 Win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- RailCats Lose Series Finale at Joliet; Open Home Season Monday - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Saints double their pleasure in 15-2 win - St. Paul Saints
- 'Leon' debuts in Flyers loss - Schaumburg Flyers
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