WIDEMAN DOMINANT AGAIN AS JACKALS DOWN TORNADOES 5-1

Worcester, MA – Left-hander A.J. Wideman allowed one run on four hits in eight innings and first baseman Juan Tejeda went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as the New Jersey Jackals defeated the Worcester Tornadoes 5-1 on Saturday night at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

Wideman (4-0), the June Can-Am League pitcher of the month, struck out four batters while walking one as he earned the win to stay perfect this season. The Tornadoes lone run against Wideman didn’t come until the bottom of the eighth inning when right fielder Carlos Sosa hit a leadoff home run to right field.

After being held scoreless over their previous 19 innings, the Jackals opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning against Worcester southpaw Ryan Lobban. After second baseman Marcus Sanders led off with a single, left fielder Ryan Rogowski ripped his third home run of the season to right field to give New Jersey an early 2-0 advantage. The home run for Rogowski was his third of the season.

In the top of the third, New Jersey added two more runs to take a 4-0 lead. Shortstop Mike DeJesus began the frame with a single before a ground ball off the bat of right fielder Myron Leslie snuck through the legs of Worcester second baseman Jeff LaHair to put runners on first and third with no outs. Tejeda followed by lining a ball off the base of the left-center field wall to plate DeJesus and Leslie.

In the fifth inning, the Jackals struck again to extend their lead to 5-0. In similar fashion to the third inning, DeJesus led off with a single and Leslie reached on a throwing error by Tornadoes’ shortstop Garrett Olson before Tejeda lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate DeJesus.

Lobban (4-2), a Ramsey, NJ native who defeated the Jackals on June 26 at Yogi Berra Stadium, took the loss after allowing five runs – three earned – on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks in five innings. Worcester relievers Nick Conway, Albert Ayala, and Chris Anderson combined to toss four scoreless frames.

With the win, the Jackals improve to 23-12 and hold a 5 ½ game lead over Les Capitales de Quebec with 12 games remaining in the first half. With the loss, the Tornadoes fall to 16-17.

The Jackals and Tornadoes conclude their three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. at Hanover Insurance Park when New Jersey sends right-hander Ted Serro (4-1, 4.42 ERA) to the mound against Worcester righty Alex Pena (2-3, 5.91 ERA). Cody Chrusciel has the call with the live webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.