Nichols Powers JackHammers to Win
July 19, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
KANSAS CITY, KS-DH Kyle Nichols (2-5) lead the JackHammers with five RBI, including a three-run home run in the 8th inning and the go-ahead, two-run double in the 10th inning to give the Joliet JackHammers a 9-5 win over the Kansas City T-Bones before 5,830 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Sunday night.
The JackHammers scored a single run in the 1st inning against Kansas City LHP Ryan Knippschild. C Phil Avlas (1-5) led off the inning with a single and stole second base. A groundout by CF Adam Klein (2-5) moved Avlas to third base. SS Kevin Rios (1-3) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Avlas for a 1-0 Joliet lead.
The T-Bones took their first lead of the game with two runs in the 2nd inning against Joliet RHP Rory Shortell. DH Jim Fasano (1-5) led off the inning with a single and scored on a triple by 2B Neb Brown (2-3). After SS Mark Minicozzi (1-3) struck out on a curve ball from Shortell, 3B Jacob Blackwood (2-5) smacked a double off the top of the left field wall to plate Brown for a 2-1 T-Bones advantage.
Kansas City tacked on two more runs in the 4th inning to knock Shortell out of the game. Brown was hit by a pitch and moved to third base on a double by Minicozzi. Blackwood smacked a single to score Brown for a 3-1 lead. Minicozzi scampered to third base on the single and scored on a sacrifice fly by CF Aharon Eggleston (2-3) for a 4-1 lead.
Shortell went three and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. LHP Devin Anderson came into the game and pitched two and one-thirds scoreless innings before yielding to RHP Drew Shetrone in the 7th inning.
The JackHammers exploded for four runs in the 8th inning. 2B Rob Dahlberg (0-3) worked a leadoff walk and stole second base. Avlas flew out to right field and Klein reached base on an error by Kansas City SS Jeff Helps. Avlas moved up to third base on the play. A walk to SS Kevin Rios loaded the bases for LF Brad Correll (0-2), who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the T-Bones down to 4-2.
Nichols stepped up to the plate and smacked a three-run home run over the left field wall to give Joliet their first lead of the game at 5-4.
The T-Bones tied the game in thrilling fashion in the 9th inning on a squeeze play. RF Greg Jacobs led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. 1B Craig Hurba (2-4) singled Jacobs to second base. Fasano flew out and C Ryan Fox (0-4) struck out. A wild pitch by Paul moved both runners in scoring position for 2B Neb Brown (2-3).
He laid down a bunt up the third base side of the field to score Jacobs from third base for a 5-5 tied score.
Joliet wasted no time by jumping on RHP Justin James in the 10th inning. Klein hit a one-out single and moved to second base on the single by Rios. Correll walked to load the bases for Nichols, who smacked a two-run double to give the JackHammers a 7-5 lead.
1B Freddie Thon (3-5) followed with a two-run single to plate Correll and Nichols for a 9-5 lead.
Paul stayed on for the 10th inning and recorded the win. He pitched two and one-thirds innings and struck out six men for the JackHammers.
Loose Gravel: Rios's 9th-inning single extends his hitting streak to a season-high 19 games for the JackHammers. The streak dates back to June 27 in Gary and surpasses 1B Freddy Thon's 16-game hitting streak set back from May 30 to June 17.
After a day-off on Monday, Joliet begins a three-game series in Fargo-Moorhead on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. Joliet sends LHP Ryan Gehring (3-5, 4.15) to the mound against a yet-to-be announced starter for the Fargo-Moorhead. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on AM 1340 WJOL and online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com.
The JackHammers currently have pro-rated full season seats, mini-plan packages, various group outings, affordable marketing opportunities and individual game tickets available for the 2009 season. To invest, or for more information, please contact them TODAY at 815.726.2255 (BALL), visit their website (www.jackhammerbaseball.com) or stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.
Northern League Stories from July 19, 2009
- T-Bones Drop Rubber Match in 10 Innings - Kansas City Monarchs
- Nichols Powers JackHammers to Win - Joliet JackHammers
- RedHawks Win 15-7 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Different Day, Same Story - Schaumburg Flyers
- RailCats Take Over First Place, Sweep Flyers With 6-1 Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
