Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Madera, Williams lift Jackals past Grays

Published on June 23, 2007 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - The lethargy that had plagued the New Jersey Jackals in Friday night's 3-2 loss to the Grays hung around for the start of Saturday's game. Both starting pitchers in the ballgame ran into difficulty containing their pitch counts and finding their location, leading to lengthy innings and lots of runs in the early going.

Although the Jackals jumped out to a 3-0 lead, the Grays pushed across four runs in the bottom of the fourth, as well as pushing Jackals' starter Demetrius Banks out of the game.

Second baseman Josh Colafemina got things started with a double to center field. First baseman Jose Velasquez, catcher JB Tucker, and designated hitter Sean Gamble all reached base consecutively, and all three would come around to score. The big blow came from center fielder Anthony Bennett.

In the fifth inning left fielder Chad Gabriel and Velasquez would reach base and both come around to score.

At this point in the game, the Jackals looked to be finished. However, the offense decided to wake up from their brief slumber, putting across three runs in the fifth to tie the game. Designated hitter Sandy Madera, who had homered earlier in the game, singles to lead off. Sandy would finish with four hits. First baseman Clyde Williams would walk, leaving two men on with no out. Two batters later, catcher Matt Lauderdale drove a triple to the wall in right center, driving in two runs. Shortstop Guillermo Reyes took the next pitch to right center field for a game tying RBI double.

In the sixth inning left fielder Jud Thigpen provided insurance with a towering homerun over the left field wall.

The game truly turned into the Jackals favor in the bottom of the seventh when the Grays had the tying and go-ahead runs on base with two outs. Colafemina would rip a single to center, and everyone thought that the Jackals had conceded the tying run. However, centerfielder Tim Turner came up firing to home, throwing a strike at the chest to Lauderdale. Lauderdale, who had perfectly blocked the plate with his leg, caught the ball and laid the tag on Bennett coming home. Throughout the melee, Lauderdale managed to keep his composure and, most importantly, the ball. The out preserved the Jackals lead.

The offense carried the momentum into the eighth inning when Williams ripped a bases clearing RBI single, scoring three and putting the Jackals up 10-6.

Ryan Pacyna picked up the victory in relief and Matt Zachary took the loss for the Grays.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 23, 2007


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