L.I. Ducks: Patriots pick up where they left off; sweep Flock to open season

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Patriots run Ducks out of town;

complete four game sweep.

Long Island Ducks: The Flock already sporting an early limp in their waddle.

The first series of the new season is now a matter of record.  The Long Island Ducks, however, remain the lone Atlantic League team still without a victory.  Although we're only talking about four games, Flock fans hope their opening weekend flop against the Somerset Patriots was not an omen of things to come.

Patriots fans would argue the team simply picked up where they left of last season, after winning the Liberty Division flag outright, then eliminating the Ducks from the first round of playoffs.

The Somerset Patriots completed a rather one-sided sweep of the Ducks with a 6-1 victory Sunday afternoon, while outscoring them 26-11 over the four games.

I have a saying - you can't win pennants in April, but you sure can lose them.  In a half-season format, the Ducks are now four games back of the leaders.  Just saying...

• Batting lead-off - Fehlandt Lentini went 8 for 16 with a walk against the Patriots.

• Souvenirs - Lew Ford, Cody Puckett, and Dan Lyons, all hit their first home runs of the season.  The Patriots hit 6 home runs against the Ducks.

Disturbing the Bees' Hive

Next stop on the Ducks 7-game season opening road trip is New Britain, where they'll play their first ever games against the newly created Bees baseball club.

The Camden Riversharks are no longer members of the Atlantic League ... as we once knew them.   The team was unable to reach a lease agreement with the owners of beautiful Campbell Field, thus necessitating their move to the state of Connecticut.  The team now operates as the New Britain Bees.

Opening Day at Bethpage Ballpark is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

The Starting Rotation

Coach Baez' initial starting rotation appears set.

• John Brownell started Game One
• Darin Downs started Game Two
• Bobby Blevins started Game Three
• Jack Snodgrass climbed the hill for Game Four

Next up - Right-hander Mark Blackmar, 23, is tentatively scheduled to pitch Monday's opener against the New Britain Bees.  He was originally drafted in 2011 by the Baltimore Orioles, where he spent four years in their organization making his way to A+ level.  Last season, he played a full AA season with the Chicago White Sox organization.  He pitches to contact, and posted a 3.71 ERA over 448.1 combined minor league innings pitched.