L.I. Ducks ~ Off "Two" a Good Start

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Atlantic League

of Professional Baseball

Fifteenth Anniversary Season

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  March of the Ducks Is On.

So far, two games, two wins.  That's how Duck fans like it.  The march towards another division title is on.

Long Island helped the Somerset Patriots open their 15th season of Atlantic League Baseball by handing their hosts a pair of defeats.  Game Three of their Opening Day four game series is tonight with the series concluding Sunday.

Last night, the big bat of Brandon Sing finally said hello with a double off the center field wall.  The knock was his first hit as a Long Island Duck.  And his RBI count is now up to three. Ryan Garko was the only Duck with multiple hits in the game, and Lew Ford hit his first home run for the visitors.

Coach Baez tabbed Dan Meyer as starter number two.  Last night he threw five innings of four hit ball.  Dan allowed one earned run, walked three, and struck out four to earn his first win of the season.  Making his second appearance, John Meloan pitched a shaky ninth inning, but still posted his first save in a 6-4 final.

On Thursday, Long Island opened the season with a resounding 9-4 win over the Patriots as Ray Navarrete started his 2012 campaign with a boom.  Long Island's long time second baseman went 5 for 5, with a double, two RBI, and a ninth inning home run to put the Ducks' first win of the season safely out of Somerset's reach.

Mike Loree resumed his role as staff ace, and pitched 5.1 innings in the opener.  He struck out six batters and only walked one, but got touched for six hits and three earned runs.  Loree was removed in the sixth inning with the score tied at three apiece.  He'd get a no decision for his efforts.  Jeff Lyman entered the game and kept Somerset where they were.  He earned his first win in doing so.  Jeremy Hill was touched for a run in the eighth, while Jon Meloan finished the game in a non-save situation.

TONIGHT

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

SP - Joe Esposito

vs.

Somerset Patriots

From

Somewhere in New Jersey

ATLANTIC LEAGUE:   Welcome to Texas Gentlemen.

Fans in Sugar Land didn't have to wait too long for their first taste of victory over Atlantic League competition.  The organization's first ever victory came Friday night via an overwhelming effort against the York Revolution.  The Sugar Land Skeeters inaugurated their season and new ballpark with a split of two games played so far.  But the tremendous fan turn out has made their weekend an outstanding success already.  On both Opening Night and Friday as well, 7,500 fans packed brand new Constellation Field each time.

In Texas fashion, the Skeeters went about their first victory in a big way.  The League's newest team corralled the visiting Revolution and gave the defending Atlantic League champs a good ol' 10-1 branding.

With a 3-0 lead, starting pitcher; Ryan McKeller was relieved after four innings.  He surrendered no runs, one hit, one walk, and struck out one.  For trivia sake, he is credited with the Skeeters' first win.  Will Startup and the bullpen took over, covering the remaining five innings.

The long-time Somerset Patriots' stand-out and crowd favorite; Josh Pressley; is now a member of the Sugar Land Skeeters.  Friday night, he said hello to his new home crowd with a two run home run in the first inning.  Josh then singled in the fourth, and scored on Colt Morton's home run.  Things went down hill fast for York after that.

Congratulations to Gary Gaetti and the Sugar Land Skeeters on their first every victory.

Mike.BTB