Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Stockade Stop in New Jersey, Conclude Another Year on Road

Published on June 26, 2018 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - Most baseball teams will have to suffer through seemingly endless road trips. The Jackals, for instance, have four six game road trips, including one against three different teams. But on June 26, they began the last three game series of a nine game home stand against a team that has rarely been at home.

The Salina Stockade began play three years ago and ever since, they have been the embodiment of the Willie Nelson classic song "On the Road Again." They have only played 31 home games and those were not exactly in lavish digs. Dean Evans Stadium (the site for those games) is so small, the seating area barely reaches the on-deck circles on either side of home plate.

This season, Salina hasn't been at home at all. They were brought into the Can-Am League as one of the "traveling teams." A squad of players who rotate through the six team circuit, playing three games in each city- always batting first, always seeing crowds supporting their home team and rooting against them.

Despite the adverse conditions, the team is competitive. Although their record shows an unsightly three wins and 12 losses, they have lost by two runs or less five times. In their last game, against Rockland, they fought back from a 7-5 deficit to take an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth. The Boulders then plated two runs to walk it off, but Salina sent a message that they were not going to be that easy to beat.

"Obviously no one expects a whole lot from us, including the teams we play." Infielder Steven Longo said. "So, if we come in and give them a run for their money, it gets us excited and raises some eyebrows."

Infielder Jeremy Delgado, currently third on the team in batting average (.368), explained that the team's motivation isn't much different from anyone else in Indy ball. "We're all here to get signed, so the better we play, the closer we get to achieving that goal."

Although Major League scouts are in the stands for some Can-Am games, most of these players might get their next opportunity from one of their opponents. The Can-Am League announced that they would be holding a dispersal draft on June 27. Players chosen by Can-Am teams can then join their new squads once the Stockade finish play on Thursday.

"We just hope that's actually going to happen," explained Cody Strayer, a pitcher. "We've been fed a lot of disinformation over the years, so when we heard that was a possibility, we just hope that [the league] will follow through on the promise."

Strayer, who has struck out 11 in 13.1 innings, is also a returning player to the team. When asked why he came back to a team without a home, the Columbus, OH native smiled and said: "Honestly, I would come back to play for this team 10 more times if I had to. I just want people to keep their eyes open and continue to give me chances to play. The Stockade have done that." That sentiment was immediately echoed by others in the locker room, including one player who pantomimed a phone call from a team executive: "I live 40 hours away, but you need me there tomorrow? I'll be there!"

The Stockade will conclude their season with this three game set against New Jersey from June 26-28 and then some may join the Jackals. Which is to say- they might finally find a home.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 26, 2018


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