DOMINATING 11-1 VICTORY CARRIES JACKALS TO CAN-AM LEAGUE FIRST-HALF TITLE

Worcester, MA – New Jersey Jackals’ starter A.J. Wideman shut down the Worcester Tornadoes and the Jackals pounded out 11 runs on 16 hits as they defeated Tornadoes 11-1 on Thursday afternoon to clinch the Can-Am League first-half title and an automatic berth in the playoffs.

Wideman (5-0) retired 10 consecutive batters to begin the game en route to another dominating performance. The 24-year-old southpaw allowed just one hit, a two-out infield single by Worcester shortstop Mike MacMillan in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wideman walked one batter and tied his season-high with seven strikeouts.

After waiting until the ninth inning to score their first run in last night’s loss, the Jackals got the bats going immediately in Thursday’s contest against right-hander Josef Frias. Second baseman Marcus Sanders led off the top of first inning with a walk before scoring on a triple to right-center off the bat of left fielder Ryan Rogowski. The next batter, designated hitter Quinn Stewart, lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Rogowski to make it 2-0 New Jersey.

In the top of the second, the Jackals tacked on their third run of the game when Sanders grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and no outs, enabling right fielder Quentin Davis to score from third.

The Jackals pushed an unearned run across in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-0 after Davis led off with a double before scoring on a throwing error by Frias. Then in the fifth, New Jersey scored a pair of runs to take a 6-0. In the sixth, an RBI single by catcher Matt Lauderdale made it 7-0 before the Jackals scored their eighth run on an RBI double by designated hitter Quinn Stewart in the top of the seventh against Worcester reliever Nick Conway.

With the double, Stewart has now reached base in 21 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the league this season.

In the top of the ninth, the Jackals used a trio of RBI singles by Stewart, shortstop Mike DeJesus, and Lauderdale to cap their scoring at 11-0 with reliever Chris Anderson on the hill. New Jersey closer Rusty Tucker entered in the bottom of the ninth inning and allowed a leadoff home run to Tornadoes’ third baseman Chris Colabello, but Tucker settled down to seal the victory.

In his third start of the season, Frias (1-2) took the loss after allowing seven runs – five earned – on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three batters and walked four. Jackals’ reliever Kevin Gunter added a scoreless eighth inning in the victory.

With two games remaining in the first half, the Jackals improve to 28-17 while the Tornadoes fall to 20-24.

The Jackals and Tornadoes continue their four-game series on Friday at 7:05 p.m. when New Jersey sends right-hander Ted Serro (5-2, 3.83 ERA) to the mound against Worcester left-hander Zach Zuercher (1-4, 3.94 ERA). Cody Chrusciel hasthe 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.