FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
July 4, 2007 860-309-9293 cell

SEVEN JACKHAMMERS NAMED TO THE 2007 NORTHERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM

Nicholson, Diaz and Harris Named Starters for the South Division

JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers will be well-represented at the 2007 Northern League All-Star Game on July 10 at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, North Dakota; the home of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Seven JackHammers will play under Gary SouthShore RailCats manager Greg Tagert on the South Division All-Star team. JackHammers Derek Nicholson (1B) Juan Diaz (DH) and Cory Harris (OF) were named starters on the South Division All-Star team. Catcher Dennis Blackmon and pitchers Derrick Ellison, Nate Sevier and Nick Renault were named reserves on the South Division All-Star team. Northern League field managers, radio announcers and newspapers writers voted for the All-Star team. The JackHammers will begin a five-game home stand with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats Wednesday, July 4 at Silver Cross Field at 7:05 p.m.

Nicholson started the season with on a torrid pace with five home runs and 12 RBI in the first six games of 2007. He had a series of 10 consecutive games where he earned at least one RBI from May 19-29. He is in his first season with the JackHammers after spending the previous nine years in the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros minor league systems.

Diaz currently leads the Northern League with ten home runs heading into the July 4 game against Edmonton. The former Major Leaguer (Boston Red Sox, 2002) has now hit four home runs over the last six games. Diaz has also played first base in addition to being the club’s designated hitter.

Harris has made a tremendous impact in his first season in the JackHammers outfield. He has put together hitting streaks of 11, seven and nine games respectively in the first half. He is hitting .303 with seven home runs and 31 RBI for Joliet in the first 43 games. Harris last made the All-Star team in 2005 as a member of the St. Paul Saints.

Blackmon makes his first appearance in the All-Star game after having an outstanding season behind the plate for Joliet. He has caught almost every JackHammers game over the last month, beginning June 3 with the JackHammers in Kansas City. In 2007, Blackmon is hitting .292 with a career-high five home runs and 12 RBI.

Sevier has proven to be one of the most effective JackHammers starting pitchers in 2007. He is 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA in nine starts. Sevier has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last four starts, including a complete game four-hit shutout against the Schaumburg Flyers on June 19.

Renault has been equally as impressive for the JackHammers in their starting rotation. He is 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA in 9 starts with Joliet. Renault just recently completed a 17.1 innings scoreless streak at Silver Cross Field and earned wins in four of his first five starts in 2007.

Ellison has continued to dominate Northern League hitters in his second year with Joliet. He is 3-1with a 3.38 ERA in 21 appearances. Opposing hitters are batting just .181 against Ellison.

Loose Gravel: The seven All-Stars are the most ever by the JackHammers at an All-Star game in their six-year history. When the JackHammers hosted the 2004 Northern League All-Star game at Silver Cross Field, the club had six players on the All-Star roster.

For tickets or for more information, please check out the JackHammers official website at www.jackhammerbaseball.com or call the JackHammers at (815) 726-2255 (BALL). You can also stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.