New Tradition: Joliet Takes First I-80 Series Trophy
September 6, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
JOLIET, IL - The Joliet JackHammers (53-47) ended the 2010 regular season with an 11-0 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats (52-48), taking home the three seed in the Northern League playoffs and capturing the first ever I-80 Series Trophy. Joliet will open the playoffs on Wednesday night at Silver Cross Field against the Kansas City T-Bones at 7:10 p.m.
Joliet came out with a bang scoring two in the first on Jon Nelson's 27th home run, a two run blast off Jeremy Hauer (0-3). Nelson's 27 long balls is the second most in a single season by a JackHammer, one shy of Juan Diaz's 28 in 2007.
The JackHammers continued to play long ball the rest of the night, smacking four off Gary pitchers. Kevin Rios ballooned the lead to 7-0 in the fourth, launching a three run bomb off Hauer after Joe Billick and Jonathan Wyatt singled and walked to start the frame.
Todd Privett got the start, working the first four frames on a pitch count. The southpaw allowed three hits while striking out four.
Rory Shortell (4-9) went the rest of the way, tossing five scoreless innings for his fourth victory. Shortell surrendered only four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Brad Correll joined the home run barrage with a solo shot in the sixth, lining the first pitch from Andy Weeks over the wall in left field.
Louis Ott came on in the eighth, allowing a single to Rios and walking Correll to start the inning. Josh Flores came off the bench and slammed a three run pinch hit homer into the Bud Beach in right field for the 11-0 final. It was the third pinch-hit home run this season by Flores.
Hauer garnered the loss, allowing seven runs in four innings on ten hits in his first start with Gary.
Rios led the 'Hammers with three hits and four runs batted in. Correll, Nelson, Richard Mercado and Roberto Mena each collected two hits.
The JackHammers will make their second playoff appearance in franchise history Wednesday night at Silver Cross Field against Kansas City. Joliet's lone appearance came in the team's inaugural season in 2002, a first round sweep at the hands of Sioux City. Game time on Wednesday is set for 7:10 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. pre-game show on 1340 WJOL.
Loose Gravel - The JackHammers take home the I-80 Series Trophy after finishing 8-6 against Gary in 2010, including a 4-4 mark at Silver Cross Field - Richard Mercado collected two more hits and pushed his hitting streak to 15 games - Freddie Thon played in his 99th game of the season, a new JackHammers single season record - Joliet recorded their fifth shutout of the season and their first against Gary
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Northern League Stories from September 6, 2010
- RailCats Close Regular Season with 11-0 Loss in Joliet - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- New Tradition: Joliet Takes First I-80 Series Trophy - Joliet JackHammers
- Fielders End 2010 Season in Fashion with 5-4 Walk Off-Win - Lake County Fielders
- West Wins NL Batting Title - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- T-Bones Drop Regular-Season Finale, 9-6 - Kansas City Monarchs
- JackHammers Host Fan Appreciation Night - Joliet JackHammers
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