GARY, IN. 6-28-2010 – The Gary SouthShore RailCats and Joliet JackHammers, separated by less than 45 miles on Interstate 80, will have a little extra on the line in 2010 when the teams will compete for the I-80 Trophy, it was announced today.

The RailCats and JackHammers will play 14 times before the end of the season, and whichever team wins the series will claim the trophy and year-long bragging rights.  The teams will meet six times at U. S. Steel Yard, with a three-game series set to begin Monday night at 7 p.m., and eight times at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, including a season-ending four-game set September 3-6.

The RailCats have dominated the JackHammers in recent years, going 14-5 vs. Joliet in 2009 and 65-30 in the regular season since Greg Tagert’s arrival as manager in 2005.  The RailCats have won or split each of the last 14 series the two teams have played, dating back to the 2007 season.  So far this year, the RailCats are 20-17, just three games out of first place, while the JackHammers are 17-18 under first-year manager Chad Parker.

Tickets are still available for tonight’s series opener on a NIEMI Associates Dollar Monday.  When fans buy one ticket, the second is just a dollar, plus the RailCats will have dollar hot dogs, popcorn, programs, pop, merchandise and more available all night.  For tickets or more information, call 219.882.2255 or visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.