A big aspect of the New Jersey Jackals joining the Frontier League is the team getting the opportunity to play other independent league baseball teams they've never faced before. One of those teams is the Florence Y'alls, as they came to Yogi Berra Stadium as the Jackals first and only out-of-conference opponents this season for three games. However, due to inclement weather, including the landfall of Hurricane Henri, the two teams would only manage to play two games with both teams splitting.
The opening game of this series was scheduled for Aug. 20. However, due to heavy rain leaving the field conditions at Yogi Berra Stadium less than ideal, the game was postponed. Meaning the Jackals and Y'alls would play a doubleheader the very next day on Aug. 21. Todd Isaacs helped give the Jackals an early lead, reaching first on an infield single which extended his hitting streak up to 10 games. He then took second on a passed ball and scored on a Santiago Chirino single.
"Just trying to keep it simple," said Todd Isaacs on his approach at the plate during his hitting streak. "Just trying to have fun and get on base and get things going to help my guys win. So that's just been my focus. Just to have fun, work the counts, and just try to be a good leadoff hitter."
The game would ultimately be decided in the top of the third inning, however. Florence would go on to plate six runs in the inning. Chad Sedio and Jordan Brower drove in five of them as Sedio hit a two-run home run while Brower hit a three-run home run. Justin Wylie would attempt to give the Jackals some momentum back in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run homer, his 10th of the season. However, it wouldn't be enough as Florence would go on to take the first game of the doubleheader 6-3.
The second game of the doubleheader would be a pitcher's duel early on. Christian Tessitore had an impressive game on the mound for New Jersey, pitching five innings allowing two runs, none earned, and striking out four. Jared Cheek was impressive as well for Florence, pitching five innings allowing two runs, one earned, and striking out six. The game would be all tied up 2-2 through five innings.
This would be when once again heavy rain would start to come down around Yogi Berra Stadium. Despite the inclement weather, however, the game would continue on to the bottom of the seventh inning. New Jersey would end up winning this one in walk-off fashion as Dalton Combs hit one opposite field that got down for a single allowing Nicco Toni to score from third, giving the Jackals the 3-2 victory.
Nicco Toni takes home on a Dalton Combs single and the New Jersey Jackals win! They walk it off against the Florence Y’alls 3-2! New Jersey takes game two of the doubleheader. Rubber game of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. EST. #GetJacked #JerseySports pic.twitter.com/uMOYjzUaFv
— Adam Grassani (@AGrassani6) August 22, 2021
"My thoughts were to just try to hold them at 2-2 and get a run in the seventh inning so Karalus could come in and shut it down," said Jackals manager Brooks Carey. "Get a guy on second base as fast as we could and see if we could bloop a single into left field. So all the plans worked out.
Up Next For Jackals
Hurricane Henri made landfall the next day on Aug. 22. Therefore, the rubber game of the series scheduled for that day was cancelled. The series-split leaves the New Jersey Jackals with a record of 32-43, third in the Northeast Division. They'll head on the road for a three-game series against the Sussex County Miners on Aug. 24 before returning home for three games against the New York Boulders on Aug. 27.
