Jackals Hold Lead in Can-Am Standings, Hope to Take Advantage of Struggling Miners

(Photo by Double G Media)

With little more than a dozen games remaining in regular season play in the Can-Am League, the New Jersey Jackals currently hold a 2.5 game lead over the Quebec Capitales for first place. When we last looked in at the Jackals’ season they were holding on to almost a four-game lead in the standings. The last update came as the Jackals opened a four-game series in Quebec with the Capitales. They would take three of four from the Capitales and once again demonstrate why they were on top of the league.

The Jackals swung hot bats while they were north of the border and amassed a whopping 55 hits over their four-game series in Quebec. Coming dangerously close to sweeping the four game set, the Jackals dropped the finale on Thursday, August 11, 6-5 and settled for three of four in Quebec.

The Jackals have since had two important series against teams in third and fourth place in the standings. First, they hosted Ottawa at Yogi Berra Stadium with a doubleheader on August 13 which they swept with scores of 4-3, and 7-4. However, once again they were unable to complete the sweep and dropped the finale of the three-game set in a lopsided score of 6-0.

Next up the Jackals welcomed the Quebec Capitales into town beginning Monday, August 15 for a three-game series. New Jersey took the series opener behind eight spectacular innings from Fernando Cruz who gave up only one run and struck out nine. The Jackals dropped the second game 7-5 to the Capitales. The rubber match in the series was a close affair but the Jackals wound up on the wrong side of a 3-2 score.

This past weekend the Jackals travelled to Rockland to face off with the Boulders. Unfortunately after dropping the final two games against Quebec the Jackals’ struggles continued. They dropped Friday’s opener 4-2 and Saturday’s matchup 5-2. The attempt at avoiding the sweep was suspended on Sunday due to heavy rain.

The Jackals are back in action tonight in Sussex County to open up a three game series with the struggling Miners.