FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
July 6, 2007 815-774-2881

JACKHAMMERS POWER EIGHT RUNS ON 14 HITS TO BEAT CRACKER-CATS 8-1

JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers (21-25) scored seven runs over the first three innings to beat the Edmonton Cracker-Cats (18-28) 8-1 before 4,423 fans at Silver Cross Field on Friday night. The JackHammers earned their second consecutive victory with the win.

Edmonton got on the board first with a run off of JackHammers starting pitcher Matt Smith (2-4) in the first inning. Rob Recuenco (2-4) hit a one-out double and went to third base on a groundout by Ryan Radmanovich (0-2). Terence McClain (2-4) hit an RBI single to score Recuenco and make it 1-0 Edmonton.

The JackHammers scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cory Harris (1-4) led off the inning with a double and Tim Hutting (2-4) was hit by a pitch. Juan Diaz (2-5) followed with a three-run home run to give the JackHammers a 3-1 lead.

Joliet added to its lead with a four-run third inning. Diaz hit a one-out double and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Chad Ehrnsberger (2-4) hit an RBI single to score Diaz and make it 4-1.

Kevin Sullivan reached base on a fielder’s choice, as Ehrnsberger was retired at second base. Dennis Blackmon hit a single to move Sullivan to third base. Chris Brown smacked an RBI double to score Sullivan and Blackmon and make it 6-1.

Eric Scriven (3-4) followed with an RBI single to score Brown and increase the Joliet lead to 7-1.

Tim Hutting hit his second home run of the season in the sixth inning to round out the scoring at 8-1.

Smith went seven innings to earn the win and allowed one run on seven hits and walked one while striking out two.

Loose Gravel: The JackHammers have scored 24 runs on 34 hits over the last to games to earn back-to-back victories.

Joliet and Edmonton battle on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Mike Henry (1-4, 5.36) gets the ball for Edmonton against Raymond Jenkins (0-5, 6.05). Pre-game coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on AM 1340 WJOL and online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

The JackHammers are currently home through Sunday, July 8^th! For tickets or for more information, please give the JackHammers a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), go online to www.jackhammerbaseball.com or stop by the Box Office at Silver Cross Field during normal business hours.

###