FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
May 13, 2008 815-774-2881

JACKHAMMERS CLOSE OUT EXHIBITION SEASON WITH A WIN

Beat Florence 8-5; Regular Season Opens Thursday

JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers got home runs from 1B Freddy Thon (1-3) and CF Cory Harris (3-4) to earn an 8-5 victory over the Florence Freedom in the JackHammers final exhibition game of 2008. The JackHammers now open up the 2008 season on Thursday, May 15 against the Gary SouthShore RailCats at U.S. Steel Yard at 7:05 p.m. The JackHammers 2008 home schedule opens on Friday, May 23 at 7:05 p.m. against the Winnipeg Goldeyes for Harris Bank Opening Night at Silver Cross Field with fireworks to follow the game.

The Freedom got on the board in the first inning because of a solo home run by Nick Salotti (2-5) against JackHammers starter David Moraga. Despite the early home run, Moraga did settle down by striking out three hitters through the first two innings.

The JackHammers’ lefty surrendered three runs in the third inning of play. The Freedom took a brief 4-0 lead before Joliet started to chip away in the home half of the third inning.

Second baseman Joe Hooft (2-3) led off the inning with a double and Thon hit a two-run home run over the right centerfield wall to bring the JackHammers within two runs at 4-2.

The ‘Hammers pushed across three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Dorian Rojas (0-2) led off the inning with a walk and went to second base on a single by Harris. Juan Diaz (2-4) smacked an RBI single to score Rojas and get the JackHammers one run away from tying the game at 4-3.

Harris, who went to third base on the single by Diaz, scored on a groundout by Wally Backman, Jr. (0-3) to tie the game at 4-4. Hooft laced an RBI single to score Diaz and give the JackHammers a 5-4 lead.

Joliet tacked on three insurance runs in the fifth inning. New catcher Nick McIntyre (0-3) worked a walk to lead off the inning and went to third base on a single by Eric Scriven (1-3). Steve Garrabrants (0-4) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score McIntyre.

Scriven stole second base and went to third on a throwing error. Rojas hit an RBI ground to bring Scriven across home plate. Harris capped off the scoring with a solo home run. Joliet took an 8-4 lead into the fifth inning.

Moraga worked four innings and allowed four runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out five. Joliet left-hander Dustin Taylor yielded one run in two and two-thirds innings pitched. Craig Pfautz worked an inning and a third of scoreless baseball while Drew Shetrone closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning.

After a day off on Wednesday, the JackHammers open the 2008 season in Gary, IN on Thursday night against the defending Northern League Champion Gary SouthShore RailCats. RHP Nate Sevier (13-4, 4.66 for Joliet in 2007) will start for the JackHammers. The first pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on AM 1340 WJOL and online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com.

The JackHammers currently have full season seats, mini-plan packages, group outings and individual tickets on sale. To invest in tickets, or for more information, please contact the JackHammers Ticket Department TODAY at 815.726.2255 (BALL), stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours or visit the JackHammers website at www.jackhammerbaseball.com.

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