FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
July 7, 2007 815-774-2881

JACKHAMMERS RECORD THIRD CONSECUTIVE VICTORY WITH A 9-5 WIN OVER EDMONTON

JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers (22-25) scored four runs in the first inning powered by a three-run home run by catcher Dennis Blackmon (2-5) to earn a 9-5 victory over the Edmonton Cracker-Cats (18-29) before 3,260 fans at Silver Cross Field on Saturday night.

The JackHammers victimized Edmonton starting pitcher Mike Henry (1-6) with four runs in the first inning. Cory Harris (0-2) led off the game with a walk and went to third base on a single by Tim Hutting (2-3). Harris scored on a wild pitch to give the JackHammers a 1-0 lead. After Juan Diaz (0-4) struck out and Chad Ehrnsberger (0-4) grounded out, Kevin Sullivan (1-3) reached base on a walk.

Blackmon hit a three-run home run to give the JackHammers a 4-0 lead.

The Cracker-Cats scored one run in the third inning. George Sandell (1-4) reached base on a one-out single and went to third base on a single by Rob Recuenco (1-4). Ryan Radmanovich (0-3) hit an RBI groundout to score Sandell and get the Cracker-Cats within three runs at 4-1.

The JackHammers scored three more runs in the fourth inning against Henry. Anthony Monegan (2-3) led off the inning with a single and went to second base when Eric Scriven (1-3) was hit by a pitch. Harris walked to load the bases.

Hutting hit an RBI single to score Monegan and give the JackHammers a 5-1 lead. Sullivan hit a two-run double to score Harris and Hutting and make it 7-1 Joliet.

The Cracker-Cats scored four runs in the seventh inning to get within two runs at 7-5. Rhett Teller (0-3) led off the inning with a single and scored on a two-run home run by Tim Ryan (1-4). Sandell and Receuenco reached base on walks. Aaron McEachran (2-4) hit a two-run single to score Sandell and Recuenco.

Joliet got two runs back in the seventh inning to take a four-run lead at 9-5. After Blackmon hit a one-out single and went to second base on a walk by Chris Brown (0-3), Monegan worked a walk to load the bases. Walks by Harris and Hutting scored two more runs to make it 9-5.

Jenkins (1-5) worked six innings and allowed one run on four hits while walking three and striking out six to pick up his first victory of the season.

Loose Gravel: The JackHammers have now scored 33 runs on 42 hits over the last three games against the Cracker-Cats.

Joliet and Edmonton battle on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. Chris Kemlo (0-5, 9.09) gets the ball for Edmonton against Nick Renault for Joliet (5-3, 3.96). Pre-game coverage begins at 4:50 p.m. on AM 1340 WJOL and online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com. The first pitch is at 5:05 p.m.

The JackHanners will host a baseball giveaway sponsored by the Talon Group to the first 1,000 fans. It’s also another Family Autograph Sunday, with the JackHammers players signing autographs on the field following the game.

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.

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