The New Jersey Jackals continue to play impressive baseball as the 2021 Frontier League season is now officially in full swing. In their past seven games, New Jersey has gone 5-2, including splitting a two-game series with the New York Boulders at home and winning a single game on the road against the Tri-City ValleyCats.
Coming into the first game on Tuesday, June 22, outfielder Russ Olive was swinging quite the hot bat, as he was on a six-game hitting streak with four straight multi-hit games. He was 12-for-24 with two home runs and four RBIs over that span. He would extend his hitting streak to seven in the top of the first, crushing a ball off the right field wall for a one-run double. Jason Agresti followed that up by grounding one up the middle for a two-run single in the same inning as New Jersey jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
"It was pretty good," said Russ Olive on his big hit. "Just seeing pitches and just trying to stick to the process and do the right things and good things happen."
Starting pitcher Angelo Baez was solid throughout the first five innings of this one, allowing just one run. However, he quickly got into trouble in the top of the sixth allowing two runs. Manager Brooks Carey proceeded to go to his bullpen, bringing in Reece Karalus. Karalus quickly found himself into a bases-loaded jam with no outs. However, he proceeded to get a pop fly and two strikeouts to get out of the jam with the Jackals lead in-tact. New Jersey added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and cruised onto a 6-3 victory.
New Jersey's bats got going quick, fast, and in a hurry in the second game on Wednesday, June 23. It started when Todd Isaacs, who the Jackals activated from the inactive list on June 19, crushed one for a three-run home run in the second. Jason Agresti lined one up the middle for a two-run single the very next inning and the Jackals had a 5-0 lead. However, the Boulders came roaring back in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs to tie it. Tucker Nathans drove in two of them with a double.
Isaacs would give New Jersey the lead back with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Despite this, New York would tie the game again in the sixth then score three in the top of the seventh, to give them a 9-6 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, New Jersey would once again mount a comeback, with Todd Isaacs leading the way with a two-run triple. He proceeded to score the tying run on a single by Riley Mihalik, which ultimately sent the game into extra innings. Isaacs finished the series going 4-for-7 with seven RBIs.
"I feel really confident right now," said Todd Isaacs on how he's swinging the bat. "As a hitter, confidence is the biggest thing. We put in so much work every single day to perfect our craft. But what it boils down to is just who wants it more. And right now I think no one wants it more than me right now." When asked about how he felt about getting back on the baseball field, Isaacs said "It feels amazing. It really and truly feels amazing. I never take baseball for granted. With the pandemic and everything and it being so long since I last played, I really have a new gratification for the game. I never took it for granted before but I'm having fun and that's all that matters."
Despite their efforts, the Jackals were unable to come away with the victory in extra innings as New York scored in the top of the tenth on a sacrifice fly to make it 10-9. That would go on to be the final as New Jersey was unable to bring a run in to tie it in the bottom of the tenth.
Following the two-game series against New York, New Jersey would head on the road to Tri-City to play a single game against the ValleyCats on Thursday, June 25. Willy Garcia gave Tri-City the lead early with a two-run double in the first. However, New Jersey would tie it in the sixth when Russ Olive extended his hitting streak to eight with a one-run single. Starting pitcher Chase Ingram had a solid game on the mound for New Jersey, going seven innings allowing just the two runs and striking out seven.
Juan Silverio gave Tri-City the lead in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run, sending the game into the top of the ninth with the ValleyCats up 3-2. Justin Wylie would give New Jersey the lead right back with a three-run home run, his second homer of the season, which would turn out to be the game-winner as the Jackals went on to win the game 5-3.
The New Jersey Jackals currently stand with a record of 15-9 on the season, tied with the Sussex County Miners for first place in the Northeast Division. They'll begin a three-game series at home with Equipe Québec on Friday, June 25.
