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Never-Say-Die, Jackals Force Final Game

September 19, 2004 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


Lynn, MA – The North Shore Spirit had to know it would not be easy to close out the New Jersey Jackals and capture the Northeast League championship, but they could not have anticipated anything like this.

Two days after rallying from a three-run deficit and winning in 13 innings, the Jackals duplicated the feat with a 4-2 win in 11 innings at the New Fraser Field Sunday to force a deciding fifth game Monday night.

The Jackals mounted the game-winning rally with two out and none on in the 11th. Spirit closer Ryan Bicandoa allowed an infield hit and two walks before Scott Goodman lined a two-run single down the right-field line.

Aaron Myers, who was the scheduled Game 5 starter, worked two perfect innings to pick up the win.

The Spirit were three outs from the championship, but could not close the deal. The Jackals tied it, 2-2, with a run in the top of the ninth and could have had more if not for the clutch relief pitching of Bicondoa, who took over for Bryan Morse with the bases loaded and no outs. A grounder to short allowed the tying run to score, but Bicondoa struck out Chris Rowan and retired Darren Ciraco on a fly ball to center.

That run prevented Spirit catcher Frank Charles from being the hero in what would have been his last professional game. The 35-year-old veteran, who is retiring after this season, doubled to left in the bottom of the eighth to score Joe Hastings, who had led off with a single and moved up on a ground ball. Rob Fischer, who was intentionally walked, tried to score from first on the play but was erased by a nice throw from cutoff man Rowan.

Each team scored a run in the first and that was it for the scoring until the eighth. New Jersey got on the board first thanks to an RBI double by Wilton Veras. The Spirit answered in the bottom of the inning on an RBI sacrifice fly by Travis Oglesby.

Game time for the finale is 7:05 Monday at Fraser Field. Klae Calvert (1-1, 4.91) will pitch for the Spirit, while the Jackals starter is TBA.

You can catch all Spirit games, home and away, on the flagship station of the North Shore Spirit, WESX 1230 AM. All games are also broadcast via the Internet on www.northshorespirit.com.

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