Jacks, Jackals open series on Wednesday Bangor pitching staff to face potent lineup

BANGOR – Bangor Lumberjacks manager Kash Beauchamp began his head coaching career as manager for the New Jersey Jackals. Pitching coach Kevin Pincavitch played for two Jackals championship teams. First baseman Mark Burke played for Beauchamp’s Jackals in 1999.

Other than that, the only thing else the two teams have in common are the same team primary colors and the presence of the word ‘Jack’ in both team names.

New Jersey (28-18 in second half, 53-39 overall) hosts Bangor (31-15, 56-36) in the Northeast League semifinals Wednesday and Thursday (7 p.m. starts both days) in the best-of-five series, and by most accounts, they key matchup will be Bangor’s pitchers against New Jersey’s hitters

This will be the first playoff appearance for a Bangor minor league baseball franchise that’s barely only two years old – and that should provide more than enough motivation for players to perform at top-flight level.

Still, this is extra special.

“The incentive for Beach, myself and Mark is to go back and beat New Jersey,” said Pincavitch. “They got us two years ago in Adirondack and there’s still some things brewing that we would like to get them. They still have a couple players from when I was there.”

“We know what they’ve got. They’re a very good fastball-hitting team and they’re solid defensively,” Beauchamp said. “Their one through nine lineup is probably the toughest lineup in the league offensively and that will put the pressure on how we pitch.”

That pressure will rest squarely on the shoulders of Bangor starters Adam Thomas, Clayton Andrews and Matt Scheuing for the first three games.

Thomas (9-5) has allowed 108 hits and 37 walks in 113 innings. He also has a 93-mph fastball and 81 strikeouts.

“If the good Thomas comes out, we’ll be fine and even if the average Thomas comes out, we’ll probably be alright,” said catcher Brad Hargreaves.

Both Thomases came out in his last start, but after a rocky first inning, Thomas trusted his stuff, didn’t try to be too fine, and settled down.

“They’re a strong staff and an aggressive hitting team,” said the 25-year-old Miami native. “I just have to keep them off balance and hit my spots with the fastball. I need to pace myself; be patient by working the corners, move in and out and change speeds on them; and not try to overthrow.”

Scheuing (11-5 with a 3.98 ERA, 58 K’s, 26 BB, 116 hits, 108 1/3 innings) and Andrews (4.36 ERA, 79 K’s, 28 BB, 117, 105 1/3) have helped make Bangor’s pitching staff the best in the league with a team ERA of 3.76, but the Bangor staff is weakened right now.

League ERA leader Jerry Long has had his start pushed back from game two to four and is questionable with a torn labrum and a partial tear in the rotator cuff in his pitching arm.

“It feels better now and I think I can definitely throw since the pain goes away with more rest,” Long said.