JACKALS ESTRADA WINS PLAYER OF THE WEEK, BOOMERS HICKERT WINS PITCHER OF THE WEEK
JUNE 26TH, 2023 - Rusber Estrada has been selected as the Frontier League Player of the week. Estrada is the third New Jersey Jackal to be selected so far this season, joining Keon Barnum and James Nelson.
The 28 year old Estrada is from Guacara, Venezuela, he played his college ball at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama and was a 24th round selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 MLB draft.
Estrada and the Jackals started the week off right, winning 8-1 in a historic Juneteenth celebration game at Hinchliffe stadium. Estrada had a huge night, driving in five on three hits, including a home run.
The Jackals followed up with a 18-3 thumping of the Greys on Tuesday night. Estrada was the one who put the game out of reach, sending a three run home run deep into the New Jersey night in the home half of the seventh.
The next day, Estrada had two hits and also walked twice as the Jackals delivered another beatdown of the lowly Grays.
The Jackals and Estrada came into Thursday looking to stay hot and complete the sweep. They went on to do just that, the Venezuelan backstop added two hits and two RBI as the Jackals took sole possession of the best record in the league.
Boomers righty Jackson Hickert has won this week's Pitcher of the week award. He is the second Boomer to win the award this season, following Luis Perez.
The former Akron Zips hurler is a native of Hudson, Ohio and is in his rookie season in the Frontier league, so far this season he has a 2.70 ERA and a 3-1 record.
Jaime Bennett gave Hickert the ball Tuesday night on the road in Lake Erie, Bennett never got it back.
Hickert went the distance, striking out nine and only allowing three baserunners as the Boomers won 3-0
The 6'3 righty threw 120 pitches, staying in the game despite it being a two run game entering the ninth, showing how much faith Bennett has in him.
Hickert will return to the mound Tuesday on the road against Tri-City.
