Jacks First Half in Review

Published on July 15, 2004 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Bangor Lumberjacks News Release


Bangor, ME- The Bangor Lumberjacks completed the first half of their 2004 Northeast League slate on a high note Wednesday night, banging out 19 hits on their way to a 14-5 win over the Brockton Rox for a three-game sweep. The Jacks look to carry that momentum into the second half of the season, after finishing 25-21 in the first half, seven games behind North Division winner, North Shore.

The Jacks had a tough start to the season, dropping four of their first five games, but the hitters got hot in the month of June, carrying the team to a 16-12 record. The Lumberjacks had four players named Northeast League Batter of the Week in a row, including OF Jake Whitesides, DH Donnie Ross, OF Willie King, and OF Derry Hammond.

The pitching staff was led by Jerry Long, who went 2-1, with a 1.45 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 37 innings. The bullpen was strengthened by the additions of John Boker, who did not allow a run and former 10th round pick Isaac Pavlik, who also did not allow a run.

The Lumberjacks kept the hits coming through the first two weeks of July, batting .318 as a team to post an 8-5 record. The club's pitching staff also posted a team ERA of just 3.86, as Jerry Long kept his position as Northeast League's ERA leader.

Through the first half, the Lumberjacks are third in the league in hitting with a .278 average, leading the league in stolen bases (55) and walks (186) as a team. The pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.19, good for fifth in the league.

Individual leaders for the Lumberjacks include Jerry Long, whose 1.77 ERA leads the league and is second in strikeouts with 55 and fifth in innings pitched with 61.0. Reliever J.C. Huguet is second in the league in appearances with 22.

OF Derry Hammond has hit a league best 15 home runs and also leads the league in RBI with 37. DH Donnie Ross is directly behind Hammond in home runs with 12. Hammond trails Ross, however, in slugging percentage (Ross is 2nd with a .627; Hammond is 3rd at .617) and extra-base hits (Ross is 2nd with 26; Hammond is 4th with 24). Ross is also second in the league in on-base percentage with a .428 clip. Jake Whitesides has his name appearing in almost all offensive league leaders including seventh in the league in batting average (.320), second in stolen bases (14), second in hits (57), first in doubles (15), second in triples (4), and third in extra base hits (25).

The Lumberjacks placed three players on the Northeast League All-Star Team to play in the All-Star game against the stars of the Central League on July 20 at LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, TX, home of the Central League's Fort Worth Cats. The Jacks All-Stars include RHP Jerry Long (4-3, 1.77), DH Donnie Ross (.311-12 HR- 24 RBI), CF Jake Whitesides (.320- 6 HR- 30 RBI) and manager Kash Beauchamp who will serve as a coach on the Northeast League team.

Team Leaders from the Lumberjacks First Half:

Average: Jake Whitesides (.320) Games: Donnie Ross and Jose Garcia (46) At-Bats: Jake Whitesides (178) Runs: Donnie Ross (34) Hits: Jake Whitesides (57) Doubles: Jake Whitesides (15)* Triples: Jake Whitesides (4) Home Runs: Derry Hammond (15)* RBI: Derry Hammond (37)* Base on Balls: Donnie Ross (33) Stolen Bases: Jake Whitesides (14) Slugging: Donnie Ross (.627) On-base: Donnie Ross (.428)

Wins: Matt Scheuing (5) Losses: Clayton Andrews (4) ERA: Jerry Long (1.77)* Games: J.C. Huguet (22) Complete Games: Lance Calmus (2) Shutouts: Jerry Long (1) Saves: Isaac Pavlik (3) Innings: Jerry Long (61.0) Earned Runs: Clayton Andrews (32) Walks: Jerry Long (24) Strikeouts: Jerry Long (55) OPP BA: Isaac Pavlik (.061) *denotes also league leader

The Lumberjacks kick off the second half of the season with three games in New Haven to face the Cutters before taking a break for the All-Star game and then heading to Brockton. If the Lumberjacks were to win the second half of the season, they would face the North Shore Spirit in the first round of the playoffs.

The Jacks return to the Wink on Monday, July 26 for Cumulus Broadcasting's Elvis Night. The Lumberjacks game against the New Haven Cutters will be Elvis themed with Elvis giveaways and an Elvis costume party. There will even be an Elvis impersonator on hand for a pre-game performance. Game time is 6:30 PM, with gates opening at 5:30. For tickets, call the Lumberjacks Ticket Office at (207) 947-1900, stop in the Jacks Pro Shop in the Bangor Mall, or purchase them online at www.bangorlumberjacks.com.

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Canadian American League Stories from July 15, 2004


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