Lumberjacks First Half in Review

Published on July 10, 2003 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Bangor Lumberjacks News Release


Bangor, ME- The Bangor Lumberjacks completed the first half of play in the 2003 Northeast League season on Wednesday with a come-from-behind, 10 inning victory over the first half champion North Shore Sprit. The Jacks finished the first half with an overall record of 21-24, in third place in the North Division, 4.5 games behind the Spirit.

The Lumberjacks came on strong at the end of the first half, winning 7 of their last 9, including 5 of 6 from the Allentown Ambassadors in a series that saw the clubs play six games in three days.

Pitching was the strong point of the Lumberjacks during the first half. The club's team ERA is 3.15, good for second in the league, including a league-leading seven shutouts in the fist half. The Jacks have three pitchers in the league's top 10 in ERA, including the number one pitcher, LHP Tim Rall (4-0, 1.00 ERA) and the number two pitcher, RHP Jerry Long (1-2, 1.30 ERA) and pitching coach Kevin Pincavitch (4-1, 2.90 ERA), placing him ninth. The Jacks rotation is rounded out by Danny Miller (1-7, 4.08 ERA) and John Vigue (4-2, 3.50 ERA).

The bullpen struggled early, but has since settled down with the moving of Jeff Sparks into the closer role. Sparks has two saves, and has not allowed a run in 16.2 innings pitched, while striking out 27. Setup men Brandon Bowe, who tossed 3.1 innings of shutout ball in the first half's final game for the win, is 1-3 with a 4.00 ERA and Santiago Henry is 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA and four saves. Lefties Donnie Thomas (2-3, 2.87) and Roger Kalinowski (0-1, 4.15) complete the bullpen.

While the pitching kept the Jacks in games early in the season, recently made additions have helped balance the Jacks attack. Newly acquired Barry Paulk has hit .311 from the leadoff spot for the Lumberjacks and OF Schuyler Doakes has batted .286, coming through with many clutch hits. 1B Donnie Ross (.274-6-20) and 3B Todd Brock (.232-5-15) have provided the power. Brock and DH Lorenzo de la Cruz have began to break out towards the end of the fist half. Brock is hitting .310 with two bombs and seven RBI in his last ten; de la Cruz, .387 in his last ten. Jay, ME native Edwin Thompson has hit a solid .279 since signing with the Lumberjacks two weeks ago.

The Lumberjacks hope to carry the momentum generated with the victories over the Allentown Ambassadors and the North Shore Spirit into the second half, which they begin on Friday, July 11 in Allentown. RH Jerry Long will take the hill for Bangor in the first game, as the Jacks look to win the second half championship in the North Division for the right to face North Shore in the first round of the 2003 Northeast League Playoffs.

The Jacks return to Mahaney Diamond on Friday, July 18 to take on the first half South Division Champion New Jersey Jackals at 7:15 PM. Tickets are available by calling the Lumberjacks Ticket Office at (207) 947-1900 or by stopping in the Lumberjacks Pro Shop located in the Bangor Mall.

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Canadian American League Stories from July 10, 2003


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