JACKALS SPLIT SERIES WITH QUEBEC, CRUISE INTO PLAYOFFS WITH A WIN

Quebec City, QUE – Memories of back-to-back losses were erased on Monday afternoon as the New Jersey Jackals defeated the Quebec Capitales 8-3 to close out the regular season on a high note before beginning the playoffs on Wednesday night.

Jackals starter Giuseppe Granitto (2-4) looked very solid in his 12th start of the season, allowing just two earned runs on four hits in six innings of work on the mound. The left-hander struck out four batters and walked four as well before giving way to the bullpen which was absolutely dominant. The trio of Mark Suchowiecki, Kevin Gunter and Rusty Tucker didn’t allow a base runner in their combined three innings of work and struck out six of the nine batters they faced.

Offensively, New Jersey was in groove, scoring seven runs off of Quebec starter Dan Sausville (9-4). Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning, the Jackals got RBI-doubles from left fielder Jerod Edmondson and third baseman Mike Scanzano, with first baseman Chris Garcia contributing an RBI-single to set the score at 4-1.

New Jersey continued to pile on the runs, scoring in each of the next three innings as well to put the game out of reach for the Capitales. In the fifth, second baseman Marcus Sanders led off the inning with his first home run of the season, a solo blast to left. In the sixth inning, shortstop Mike DeJesus put his stamp on the game by lacing a two-run single to left field, before designated hitter Quinn Stewart ripped an RBI-double to set the final score for contest.

The victory gave the Jackals a 13-10 edge in the regular seasons series against the Capitales and gave them a 55-39 record overall, the second best record in the Can-Am League.

New Jersey will begin its quest for a championship on Wednesday night in Worcester, MA with the first round of the Can-Am League playoffs, beginning a five game series with the Worcester Tornadoes. New Jersey will turn to ace left-hander A.J. Wideman for game one while the Tornadoes will counter with left-hander Ryan Lobban in the 7:05 p.m. contest. Joey Whelan will have the live call of the game at www.jackals.com with the pre-game show starting 10 minutes prior.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. The Jackals have clinched the 2009 Can-Am League first-half title and an automatic berth in the playoffs, which begin on September 9. Playoff and regular season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.Jackals.com.