TERRIFYING TUCKER TURNS TEAMS TO TEARS

Little Falls, NJ – The New Jersey Jackals have announced the re-signing of pitcher Rusty Tucker for the 2010 season. Tucker will also assume the duties as the Jackals pitching coach.

Last season Tucker had another stellar year for the Jackals, breaking his own single-season record for saves with 24. Tucker also added to the Jackals career record for saves with 59, more than doubling the previous record of Mike Hartung’s 29. In 40 appearances, Tucker had a 5-2 record and a 2.70 ERA to go along with his 24 saves. In 41 1/3 innings pitched, Tucker continued to baffle batters with 56 strikeouts.

In 2008, Tucker continued his dominance as one of the premiere closers in the Can-Am League. The southpaw set the new Jackals single-season record for saves with 21, a mark that had stood since the inaugural season of the franchise in 1998 when Mike Hartung notched 17 saves. In 2007, Tucker recorded 14 saves in 25 games before having his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers.

“We are very excited to have Rusty back,” commented Jackals manager Joe Calfapietra. “Rusty is did a great job as our pitching coach and closer last season and we look forward to another great year from him.”

The accomplished Gloucester, MA native enters his third season with the New Jersey Jackals and eighth in professional baseball. A graduate of the University of Maine, Tucker was named the American East Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2001. Later that year, the San Diego Padres selected Tucker in the 21st round of the 2001 amateur draft. He split the first season of his professional career between the Fort Wayne Wizards of the Midwest League and the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League, where he finished the year with 27 saves in 57 games while posting a 7-4 record and striking out 88 batters. In 2003, while playing for the Mobile Bay Bears of the Southern League, Tucker set a personal best in saves with 28, which ranked second in the league and earned him a spot on the Southern League Baseball America Double-A All-Star team.

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. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.