L.I. Ducks: Monday Swim; Gut Check Time

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

"When you see a fork in the road ... take it!"

Yogi Berra's words never rang more true. 

Long Island Ducks: Path to Success or Road to Ruin? Upcoming seven game trip will test Flock's mettle.

As if you need reminding, the Patriots swept four games from the Ducks during the season's opening series at TD Bank Ballpark, then very recently took two of three games from the Ducks at the Pond.

So if there's a crucial road trip the Ducks need to make good on, this would be the one.  After a four game series in Sugar Land, Texas, Long Island will attempt another invasion of Somerset.

After starting the season 13-0, the Somerset Patriots have cooled considerably, going just 4-7 since, for an overall 17-7 first-half record.  The Skeeters are partly responsible for Somerset's recent downturn after sweeping a three game set last week at Sugar Land.

The Long Island Ducks, on the other hand, have turned themselves around.  After stumbling out of the block with a 1-6 record, they have gone 13-3 since, for an overall 14-9 first-half mark.  They'll enter Tuesday's opener against the Skeeters trailing the Patriots by just 2.5 games in the Liberty Division race.

The Patriots are fresh off losing two of three against the Barnstormers, and now draw the Bridgeport Bluefish prior to Long Island's Friday arrival.

It's up to the Ducks, then, to strike while the iron is hot.

They'll have to face Somerset's kryptonite first.  The Ducks and Skeeters will play four games in three days in their first meeting of the season.  Sugar Land is 13-11 so far, and battling the York Revolution for first place in the Freedom Division.

The Ducks will then descend upon Somerset for what will be the team's final encounter of the first half.  Long Island can make up for their poor 1-6 record against the Patriots to date, with a strong showing.

NOTES:

• Nate Freiman's initial acquisition allowed the Ducks to untangle their infield positioning situation, but did not last long.  His contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox.

• The Ducks then promptly signed OF/1B Tyler Colvin, 30 years old, who brings over 400 games of MLB experience with him.  He should add an appreciable measure of slugging to the line-up.  He hit 20 home runs and drove in 56 runs in 2010 for the Cubs, then another 18 home runs and a career high 72 RBI in 2012 for the Rockies.