New Jersey Jackals
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The New Jersey Jackals are a baseball team in the independent Can-Am League. They play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey.
The club was formed in 1998, and they posted the best record in the Northeast League in their inaugural season under manager Kash Beauchamp. They went on to sweep two playoff series and win the league championship, capturing the final game at Heritage Park in Colonie, New York, over the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs.
From 1999 to 2002, the Northeast League was in partnership with the Northern League. The Jackals won the combined league championship in 2001 and 2002 under manager George Tsamis, defeating the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the final series both years. The deciding game was played at CanWest Global Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2001 and at home in 2002.
The leagues went their separate ways in 2003, and the Jackals qualified for the Northeast League playoffs once again but were turned back by the eventual league champion Brockton Rox in the first round. However, the Jackals continued their winning ways in 2004, rebounding from two home losses against the North Shore Spirit to win the championship by capturing the final three games at Fraser Field in Lynn, Massachusetts
On August 28, 2002, Jeremy Callier pitched the only no-hitter in Jackals history. He completed nine no-hit innings but had to wait to celebrate because the game remained scoreless. In the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Kane hit a home run to left field, giving the Jackals a 2-0 victory over the Berkshire Black Bears and making Callier's no-hitter official.
Season Records
| Season | Manager | First Half Record | Second Half Record |
| 1998 | Kash Beauchamp | 30-12, 1st place South | 23-19, 2nd place South |
| 1999 | Kash Beauchamp | 23-19, 1st place South | 22-21, 2nd place South (tie) |
| 2000 | Kash Beauchamp | 17-25, 4th place South | 14-27, 4th place South |
| 2001 | George Tsamis | 20-25, 3rd place South | 25-20, 2nd place South |
| 2002 | George Tsamis | 30-15, 1st place South | 32-12, 1st place South |
| 2003 | Joe Calfapietra | 28-17, 1st place South | 24-20, 1st place South |
| 2004 | Joe Calfapietra | 26-21, 1st place South | 28-18, 1st place South |
Post-Season Records
- 1998: Defeated Allentown Ambassadors, 2 games to 0; def. Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, 2 games to 0, for league championship
- 1999: Defeated Allentown Ambassadors, 3 games to 0; lost to Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, 3 games to 1, in championship round
- 2001: Defeated Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, 3 games to 0; def. Elmira Pioneers, 3 games to 2, for league championship; def. Winnipeg Goldeyes, 3 games to 1, for championship of combined Northern League
- 2002: Defeated Elmira Pioneers, 3 games to 2; def. Adirondack Lumberjacks, 3 games to 2, for league championship; def. Winnipeg Goldeyes, 3 games to 1, for championship of combined Northern League
- 2003: Lost to Brockton Rox, 3 games to 1, in opening round
- 2004: Defeated Bangor Lumberjacks, 3 games to 1; def. North Shore Spirit, 3 games to 2, for league championship
External link
- New Jersey Jackals (official site) (http://www.jackals.com)