The Jackals Experience

The first home game of the season for the New Jersey Jackals at Yogi Berra Stadium was a wild one as rain interrupted the game and forced a 32-minute delay at the end of the 6th inning.

Things got started off with a great sight to see. The Little Falls Little Leaguers and girl softball players paraded around the field to the home crowd's applause.

The 15th anniversary season for the Jackals kicked off with the first 1,000 fans getting free magnet schedules. The home slate will feature 15 home games in the month of June.

Three Little Falls coaches got to throw out the first pitch before the home team took the field against the Rockland Boulders.

The atmosphere was unbelievable as Jackals baseball was in the air. Kids were running around on the right field hill. The kid zone down the first base line was packed. And the concession stands were at least 10 people deep through the first couple of innings.

Jack the Jackal got involved in the middle of the first inning when he came running down the third base line. Fans got on their feet and a t-shirt toss ensued with the rest of the Jack Pack.

The in-game launch a ball contest, the dance for your dinner and a tug of war against Jack the Jackal were the fun on-field promotions for the night.

The Jackals did end up holding on 9-5 in the first of a three-game homestand against the Boulders.

The next morning the Jackals were back in action for an 11:05 first pitch. It was the first school and business day of the season at Yogi Berra Stadium.

The Cliffside Park Middle School band performed the National Anthem. They did a fantastic job and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

The second at bat of the day was a wild one as a broken bat flew in to the stands. No one was hurt and one lucky fan went home with a souvenir.

The Jackals Strike Zone was packed with kids wanting Jackals merchandise. The big hit of the day in the merchandise store was the blow up Jackals claws that fans put on their hands to cheer for the hometown team.

The ketchup, mustard and hot dog race was a spectacle to see in the middle of the fourth inning. Three Jackals interns dressed up as a mustard bottle, a ketchup bottle and a hot dog and raced around the infield. Mustard and Ketchup got in to a huge collision near centerfield. This freed up the hot dog to win the race. And fans behind home plate won free hot dogs.

The Jackals ended up winning the game 9-7 off Bryan Sabatella’s grand slam.

The Jackals end the three game series with the Rockland Boulders tonight at Yogi Berra Stadium. First pitch is 7:05 and it is dollar beer night.