L.I. Ducks ~ Mike Loree Stops The Revolution

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

THURSDAY

Game Two

York Revolution (0-1)

vs.

Long Island Ducks (1-0)

From

Bethpage Park

LONG ISLAND, N,Y.



*    *    *

Game One Final:

York Revolution.......0

Long Island Ducks....1

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Game One was a Classic Pitcher's Duel.  Ducks Manage Only One Run and Four Hits.  Mike Loree Betters Great Performance by York Starter.



If you didn't know who he was, know him now.  His name is Nick Schumacher.  Wednesday night in Game One of the Atlantic League Championship Series, he pitched in only his 6th game this season as a member of the York Revolution.  He made his first appearance for them on September 1st.  So if you didn't know who he was, neither did I; and perhaps not even the Ducks knew.  But after last night, I'm sure he left a lasting impression on them and made them want to not see him again.



Nick Schumacher was the only pitcher York needed all night.  He stymied the Ducks like most pitchers in the League only wish they could against Long Island's potent offense this season.  He didn't throw a shut-out.  But York couldn't have asked for more than he gave them.  He limited the Ducks to four hits over eight innings; allowing no bases on balls while striking out six.  A third inning double by Matt Esquivel and single by Kraig Binick produced the only Long Island run of the night against Schumacher.



But for the home team, it was the only run they'd need.  Because Long Island Ace; Mike Loree; was better.  Mike Loree won the opening game of the Liberty Division Championship Series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  And Wednesday night he won Game One of the Atlantic League Championship round in a much needed convincing fashion.



He pitched seven innings of no run; seven hit baseball.  Along the way, he struck out ten Revolutionaries while walking only one for his second post-season victory and sixteenth of the season overall.



Bubbie Buzachero is settling into his new set-up role.  He pitched a scoreless eighth inning allowing only a walk.  The ninth inning now belongs to Jon Hunton.  He retired the York Revolution in order for the Save; his third of the playoffs.



There were no errors in this game and only one extra-base hit per team.  This was just a great old fashioned pitcher's duel from start to finish.  Mike Loree is a known commodity and it's fair to expect a performance like he offered tonight.  But what the Ducks saw from Chris Schumacher tonight must have been startling.  After allowing 2 hits in the third, he didn't allow Long Island another hit until the eighth inning.  Six times, Schumacher retired the Ducks in order.

Game Two will be played Thursday evening and conclude the Long Island portion of this series.  The series will shift to York, Pennsylvania for the remainder of the games and where this season's Champion will be crowned.  Long Island held the option of scheduling preference.  They opted to play two games at home, then take the show on the road.  The strategy worked for them in round one.

Mike.BTB