Long Island Ducks Shut Out Ferry Hawks in Staten Island Opener

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE & THAT RICHMOND COUNTY CLUB

EMPIRE STATE
Battle of the Birds

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Staten Island Ferry Hawks

Ferry Hawks Get Their Feathers Ruffled By Flock

The Flock returned to the boroughs to resume their New York rivalry with the Ferry Hawks.

Long Island right-hander Scott Harkin and four bullpen members joined in hurling a gem.  Harkin faced 19 batters, throwing 65 pitches with an efficient 46 (70.7%) going for strikes.  He allowed no runs on four hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts over five innings for the win.  Harkin improved to 5-6 with a lowered 3.75 ERA over 72.0 innings.  Four relievers limited the Ferry Hawks to four hits and no walks over the final four innings to preserve the shutout.

The Ducks scored four runs off Staten Island starter Dakota Freese, who struggled with control.  First baseman Sam Travis scored on a fielder's choice in the second.  Designated hitter Alejandro De Aza and Sam Travis singled and delivered home runs in the third.  In the fifth, Dakota Freese walked the bases loaded, and center fielder Rusney Castillo followed with a sac-fly to right field scoring Long Island's final run of the night.  Freese allowed four hits but walked six in a losing effort.  Boxscore

Hoping our Ducks (and @AtlanticLg) fam had as spectacular a #FourthofJuly as this!

Happy Birthday America! 🇺🇸 🎇 ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/Eigl5eIQ64

— Long Island Ducks (@LIDucks) July 5, 2022

Long Island Ducks Win First Contest Against Staten Island Ferry Hawks

From the desks: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE & THAT RICHMOND COUNTY TEAM

BATTLE of NEW YORK

Staten Island Ferry Hawks

vs.

Long Island Ducks

First Meeting is a Classic; Ducks Outlast Ferry Hawks in Old-Fashioned Pitcher's Duel

A rivalry is born.  Tuesday, May 17, marked the first-ever game between New York's two independents, the Long Island Ducks and the expansion Staten Island Ferry Hawks.  

Mets fans are very familiar with the respective team managers.  Both are all-time favorites.  Second baseman for the 1986 champs, Wally Backman, is entering his fourth season as skipper of the Ducks.  Representing the 2000 N.L. champions, Edgardo Alfonzo was named the first manager in Ferry Hawks history.

The two Atlantic League teams inaugurated their rivalry with an old-fashioned pitcher's duel.  

Entering his third season with the Ducks, Brooklyn native Anderson DeLeon held the Ferry Hawks scoreless on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts through five innings pitched.  Southpaw Brady Feigl threw a scoreless sixth inning in relief of DeLeon.  Left-hander Cody Beckman entered the game in relief of Brady Feigl and tossed a scoreless top half of the seventh.

Staten Island right-hander Matt Solten yielded no runs on five hits and no walks with two strikeouts over his first six innings.  The Ducks loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but left all runners stranded.  Long Island threatened again in the seventh, but Matt Solden induced shortstop Devin Marrero into an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.

Wally Backman summoned Joe Iorio to pitch the top of the eighth and was rewarded with another scoreless frame.

Edgardo Alfonzo likewise turned to his bullpen, calling upon southpaw Chris Nunn in the bottom half of the eighth.

Second baseman Vladimir Frias led off with a bloop single to shallow right field.  Center fielder 

Alejandro De Aza advanced the runner.  First baseman Sam Travis reached safely on a strikeout/wild pitch, and Frias advanced to third.  Chris Nunn then walked Deibinson Romero to load the bases.  Designated hitter Rusney Castillo struck out looking.  With two outs, L.J. Mazzilli drew a base on balls to break the scoreless tie.

Long Island left-hander Tyler Webb was tasked with pitching the ninth and did not disappoint.  Staten Island put the tying run on second base but advanced no farther.

Joe Iorio earns the win, and Chris Nunn takes the loss.  BOXSCORE

Staten Island Ferry Hawks Make Atlantic League Debut at Charleston, West Virginia

From the desk: RICHMOND COUNTY NINE

STATEN ISLAND FERRY HAWKS 

MAKE ATLANTIC LEAGUE DEBUT

Staten Island Ferry Hawks  vs.  Charleston Dirty Birds  

The first-ever professional baseball game played by the Staten Island Ferry Hawks (...to borrow a phrase) is in the books.  

The Richmond County nine opened the season at Charleston, West Virginia, against the Dirty Birds and will make their home debut on Tuesday, May 3, against the Lexington Legends.

Recently acquired Julio Teheran opened the season for Staten Island but walked off to a no-decision.  He faced 17 batters, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts through four innings pitched.

After falling behind 2-0 in the fourth inning, the Ferry Hawks mounted their first-ever rally.  First baseman Kacy Clemens led off the top of the fifth with a home run to right field, and with two outs and a runner on first, New York City native and former Mets prospect, Ricardo Cespedes homered to give Staten Island a 3-2 lead.

But it would not last.  Charleston scored single runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings that went unanswered by the Ferry Hawks.

L.I. Ducks: Home Run Happy Lexington Legends Clinch Atlantic League Championship

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

LEXINGTON LEGENDS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

GAME ONE    GAME TWO    GAME THREE

Lexington Left Fielder Courtney Hawkins Hits Three Home Runs in Rout of Ducks; Legends Clinch 2021 Atlantic League Championship

Faced with elimination and surrendering their claim to the Atlantic League title, the Ducks entrust Joe Iorio with starting Game Four against right-hander Zac Westcott for the Legends.  

But the Long Island native is walloped early and often by Lexington - too early for Wally Backman to make a move, and too late for all intent and purpose as the Legends explode for thirteen runs and deposit seven baseballs beyond the outfield wall.

The Legends promptly jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back home runs by left fielder Courtney Hawkins and first baseman Denis Phipps.  

Long Island gets one back.  Left fielder L.J. Mazzilli leads off the second inning with a single and later scored on Chris Shaw's base hit to center field.  

But the Legends answer right back in the bottom of the frame.  Joe Iorio yeilds consecutive singles, and with one out, right fielder Ben Aklinski hits the Legends' third home run of the game.  Second baseman

Brandon Phillips then drives in the inning's fourth run for a 6-1 lead.

Joe Iorio exits the game after pitching a scoreless third.  He allows six earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs, and one walk.  

Duck right-hander Anderson DeLeon fares no better.  Lexington's lineup greets him with consecutive singles leading off the home fourth and a three-run home run off the bat of Courtney Hawkins, his second of the game.  Not yet done, designated hitter Ben Revere hits a one-out home run to deep right/center field, Lexington's fifth home run of the game for a 10-1 lead.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Boog Powell takes first base on a hit-by-pitch and later scores on Steve Lombardozzi's sacrifice fly.  

Right-hander Brendan Feldmann holds Lexington scoreless in the bottom half of the frame.

Leading off the home fifth inning, Courtney Hawkins hits his third home run of the game!  Then with one out and a runner on first, shortstop Roberto Baldoquín hits the Legends' seventh home run of the game giving Lexington an insurmountable 13-2 lead and their ultimate margin of victory.

The Ducks split the first two games at Long Island.  Afterwhich, the Legends take two straight at home.

After winning back-to-back titles in the South Atlantic League, the Lexington Legends in ther first season in the Atlantic League are 2021 champions.

L.I. Ducks: Late Rally Gives Lexington Legends 2-1 Championship Series Lead

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

LEXINGTON LEGENDS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

GAME ONE    GAME TWO

Failure to Convert Early Inning Opportunities Comes Back to Haunt Ducks; Legends Seize 2-1 Series Lead With Eighth Inning Rally

With Lexington, Kentucky, hosting their first-ever Atlantic League championship series game, Game Three pits right-hander Scott Harkin for Long Island against J.J. Hoover pitching for the Legends.

SCORING OPPORTUNITIES LOST

The Ducks threaten early but keep coming up empty.  They load the bases in the first but leave all runners stranded.  Catcher Hector Sanchez doubles with one out in the second and advances to third but is also left stranded.  Then with two outs in the third and Vladimir Frias, the base runner at second, L.J. Mazzilli singled to left field, but Frias is thrown out at home attempting to score.

As fate would have it, Lexington opens the scoring on catcher Christian Correa's home run leading off the bottom half of the third.

DUCKS TWICE OVERCOME DEFICIT

After getting set down in the fourth, center fielder Boog Powell ties the game in the fifth with his second home run of the playoffs.

But Lexington retakes the lead with two runs in the home sixth on a walk, a fielder's choice, a wild pitch, and Juan Silverio's two-run base hit.

Scott Harkin exits on the losing side after allowing three runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts through six.  Meanwhile, J.J. Hoover leaves on the winning side, allowing one run on just four hits and two walks through six innings.

Long Island's Dylan Peiffer and Henry Owens for Lexington twirl a scoreless seventh.

With two outs in the eighth, L.J. Mazzilli singles, and Deibinson Romero ties the game with a two-run blast to left field.

BULLPEN IMPLOSION

Wally Backman turns to Frank Moscatiello, who pitched well in Game Two for the bottom of the eighth.  After retiring his first two batters, Moscatiello walks the next batter prompting another change by Backman.  But Wally's maneuverings backfire.  Southpaw Darrell Thompson yields three consecutive hits as the Legends plate three runs en route to a 6-3 lead and the final margin of victory.

Frank Moscatiello takes the loss for walking the potential go-ahead run.  Scott Harkin escapes with a no-decision.  Henry Owens earns the victory in relief of Hoover, and Austin Adams earns his second save.

• BOXSCORE

L.I. Ducks: Flock Takes Game Two; Series Shifts to Lexington Knotted at One Apiece

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

LEXINGTON LEGENDS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

GAME ONE

Ducks Bullpen Silences Legends Over Final Six Innings While Bats Mount Comeback; Series Tied at One

Game Two features right-hander Francisco Jimenez for Lexington facing off against Darin Downs for host Long Island.

Downs gets himself into immediate trouble but pitches out of harm's way.  Lexington opens the game with consecutive singles, and after a pop-up, Downs walks the bases loaded.  Afterwhich, Downs induces an infield pop-up and strikes out catcher Christian Correa to end the threat.

Center fielder Boog Powell homers over the left/center field fence leading off the home first.  Shortstop

Vladimir Frias follows with a double, and Steve Lombardozzi singles putting runners at the corners.  The ageless Lew Ford drives home Frias, and with L.J. Mazzilli at the plate, Lombardozzi scores on a wild pitch.  Mazzilli then walks, and Deibinson Romero singles to reload the bases.  However, Chris Shaw bounces to first for a 3-2-3 double-play.  But Sal Giardina picks up his mate with a base hit, scoring Mazzilli for a 4-0 Duck lead.

Lexington answers back in the second.  With the bases loaded, Brandon Phillips singles home a run. Deibinson Romero's error at third then leads to a pair of runs, and a sacrifice fly plates the game-tying run. 

Lexington starter Francisco Jimenez was removed after the first inning, and Wally Backman pulled Darin Downs after the second.

Boog Powell draws a leadoff walk in the home second, and Vladimir Frias follows with his second double of the game.  Lombardozzi's sac-fly scores Powell from third as the Ducks retake a 5-4 lead.

Facing reliever Brady Dragmire in the third, the Legends score three times, highlighted by Brandon Phillips' two-run home run, for a 7-5 Legend lead.

Dragmire tosses a scoreless top half of the fourth, and the defending champions then begin chipping away.  A Brandon Phillips error leads to a pair of unearned runs in the home fourth, Chris Shaw drives home a run in the fifth, and L.J. Mazzilli knocks home a run in the sixth for a 9-7 Duck lead.

Long Island's bullpen keeps Lexington scoreless over the final six innings.  Relievers Frankie Moscatiello and Rob Griswold join together in limiting the Legends to just one hit and no walks with four strikeouts over the last 4.1 innings of the game.  Moscatiello tosses 2.1 innings for the win, and Griswold completes a six-out save.

• Vladimir Frias; 5 for 5, 2 runs scored.
• Lew Ford; 2 for 5, 2 RBI.
• Ducks Pitching: 10 strikeouts, 4 walks.

Long Island salvages a split at The Pond and now will head to Lexington, Kentucky, where on Monday, the series resumes.  The Ducks need to win two of three games to retain their Atlantic League title.  Former members of the South Atlantic League, the Lexington Legends, are vying for their first Atlantic League championship.  Like the Ducks, Lexington in 2019 captured the Sally League flag.

• BOXSCORE

L.I. Ducks: Lexington Legends Take Game One of Championship Series at The Pond

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

LEXINGTON LEGENDS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

Lexington Legends Bullpen Lockdown Ducks

Game One features New Jersey native Eli Garcia toeing the rubber for Lexington against right-hander

Brendan Feldmann for the Ducks.  Both pitchers are knocked out of the box early.  Garcia fails to make it out of the third, and Feldmann is relieved in the fourth.

Lexington opens with single runs in the first and second innings.  Legend left fielder Courtney Hawkins

homered in the first.  Two hits and a hit by pitch loaded the bases in the second, and a sac-fly gave Lexington a 2-0 lead.  

Long Island catcher Hector Sanchez singles opening the home third, and a pair of walks issued to Ty Kelly and Boog Powell loaded the bases.  With one out, Steve Lombardozzi's sac-fly to right field scores Sanchez.  Left fielder Lew Ford singles on a comebacker and advances two bases on an errant throw to first; both Kelly and Powell score.  Right-fielder L.J. Mazzilli then singles home Ford for a 4-2 Ducks lead.

But Long Island's lead is fleeting.

Brendan Feldmann surrenders a leadoff double, followed by two consecutive walks to load the bases in the top of the fourth.  Wally Backman then summons Anderson DeLeon from the bullpen, who promptly unleashes a wild pitch allowing home a run.  A second run crosses home on a sac-fly, tying the game at four.  Both runs are charged to Feldmann.

The Lexington bullpen shuts out the Ducks, beginning in the fourth through eighth innings.  Meanwhile, the Legends bunch together three hits and benefit from a throwing error resulting in two runs in the sixth, then tack on their seventh run in the eighth.

Trailing 7-4 entering the home ninth, Boog Powell draws a leadoff walk, and shortstop Vladimir Frias singles putting runners at the corners.  Steve Lombardozzi looks at strike three, and Lew Ford goes down swinging.  L.J. Mazzilli walks to load the bases, after which Deibinson Romero draws yet another walk to force home Powell from third.  With two outs and the bases still jammed with Ducks, designated hitter Chris Shaw lifts a ball deep into the right/center gap chased down and caught by center fielder Cole Sturgeon for the game's final out.

Four members of Lexington's bullpen join together in limiting the Ducks to one run on five hits and five walks with three strikeouts over the final 6.1 innings.  Shawn Blackwell earns the win in relief of Garcia, and Austin Adams earns a troublesome save, but a save nonetheless.

Duck right-hander Dylan Peiffer takes the loss.

BOXSCORE

L.I. Ducks: Flock Strikes Back; Force Decisive Third Game in North Division Series

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION SERIES

SOUTHERN MARYLAND BLUE CRABS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

BOXSCORE GAME TWO

Scott Harkin Tosses Gem to Force Decisive Game Three Against Blue Crabs

Needing to force a third game in the North Division series, Long Island right-hander Scott Harkin does just that by hurling a gem in game two against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

Harkin allows just four hits, none for extra bases, and no walks with six strikeouts over 7.0 innings for the win.  He faces 26 batters and throws 99 pitches, with 64 going for strikes.  Frankie Moscatiello

allows just one hit and fans three in a scoreless eight-inning, and Dylan Peiffer throws a no-hit, no-run ninth inning to complete the shutout from out of the bullpen.

Facing Southern Maryland starter Kolton Mahoney, Long Island strikes for an early run in the first.  Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi singles home Boog Powell.  With two outs in the second and runners at the corners, Boog Powell lays down a bunt fielded by the pitcher who throws to first;  Deibinson Romero scores on the play giving the Ducks a 2-0 lead.

Long Island adds two in the sixth on runs batted in by catcher Hector Sanchez and Chris Shaw.

Chris Shaw singles home his second run in the eighth, and with the bases loaded, Steve Lombardozzi draws a walk forcing home Shaw.  Right fielder Ramon Flores knocks in the Ducks' seventh and final run in the visitor's ninth.

Kolton Mahoney allows four runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.1 innings for the loss.

Boog Powell leads Long Island with three hits, and Deibinson Romero goes 2 for 3 with two walks and four runs scored.

GAME ONE

L.I. Ducks: Flock Drops North Division Series Opener to Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION SERIES

SOUTHERN MARYLAND BLUE CRABS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

The still defending Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks set out defending their title on Monday against the Southern Mayland Blue Crabs in the first game of the North Division playoff series at the Pond.

Long Island won their fourth-ever Atlantic League championship in 2019, but then, of course, last season was canceled due to COVID.  The Ducks captured the North Division first-half flag this season with a 37-23 record, six games ahead of second-place Southern Maryland.  The second-half flag was more tightly contested and decided in the season's final weekend, with the Blue Crabs edging out the Ducks by one game.

The Ducks finished the regular season with a league-best 68-52 overall record, while Southern Maryland finished with a 63-57 record.

Southern Maryland Bullpen Locks Down the Flock in Series Opener

GAME ONE pits Southern Maryland right-hander Kyle Murphy against veteran Darin Downs for the Ducks.

After two scoreless frames, the Blue Crabs opened the scoring in the visitor's second.  Shortstop Michael Baca doubled home a run and scored on a bunt base hit.  Long Island answers with one in the bottom of the frame on Chris Shaw's home run to right field.

The team then traded single runs in the fifth.  Left fielder Matt Hibbert singles in a run for the Crabs, and Duck shortstop Vladimir Frias knocks in Chris Shaw.

Downs is relieved after the fifth.  After allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts, he exits on the losing side.  Right-hander Anderson DeLeon takes over in the sixth.

Kyle Murphy exits after yielding two runs on just four hits and three walks after 5.2 innings pitched.

Afterwhich, four Blue Crab relievers join together in limiting the Ducks to no runs on just three hits and one walk over the final 3.1 innings of the game.

Kyle Murphy earns the win, Darin Downs the loss.  

• BOXSCORE

Long Island Ducks Retake First Place From Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island leads Southern Maryland; 2-1

I - SMD 1; LID 0

II - LID 5; SMD 4

III - LID 4; SMD 3

GAME FOUR

BLUE CRABS

vs.

DUCKS

MONDAY

Look Who's Number One, Again!

With the weekend series tied at one entering Sunday's action, a first-place standing continues hanging in the balance.  The formerly first-place Ducks surrendered their perch to the Southern Maryland Blue Claws.  Still, with yesterday's victory in game two, the Ducks began Independence Day just 0.5 games behind Southern Maryland.

The Blue Crabs score single runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings for a 3-0 lead through the first five and a half innings of play.  In the meantime, Blue Crabs starter Mike Devine holds Long Island scoreless through the fifth.  

However, Devine becomes unraveled in the home sixth when first baseman Deibinson Romero, backstop Hector Sanchez, and right fielder Daniel Fields wield consecutive doubles for two runs.  Afterwhich, center fielder Breland Almadova singled home Daniel Fields with the tying run.

• BOXSCORE

• Atlantic League
  

After a scoreless seventh, the Ducks push across the game's decisive run in the eighth on a Hector Sanchez home run over the right-field fence, his seventh this season,

... and the packed house of 7,200 fans goes crazy!

Daniel Fields leads the Ducks going 3 for 4 with a double and three runs batted in.

Right-hander Michael Tonkin tosses a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save.  Starter Clint Freeman escapes with a no-decision upon yielding three earned runs on five hits and six walks with five strikeouts through5.2 innings pitched.  Brady Dragmire strikes out two in two scoreless innings for the win in relief.

Southern Maryland reliever Andrys Briceno takes the loss.

With a second straight victory over the Blue Claws, the Long Island Ducks reclaim first place by one-half game over Southern Maryland.  The teams conclude their series on Monday at the Pond.

Long Island Ducks Take Two Of Three From West Virginia Power

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks def. West Virginia Power; 2-1

I - LID 15; WVP 3

II - LID 4; WVP 2

III - WVP 5; LID 2

West Virginia salvages the series finale as Long Island takes two of three from the Power

BOX: Game One 6/15/21 - Long Island shorts circuits the visiting West Virginia Power while generating their own amperage to the tune of 15 runs on 15 hits.  However, nine of the Ducks runs are unearned.  Shortstop Ryan Jackson leads the Flock going 3 for 4 with a double, home run, and three runs batted in.  Center fielder Ray Fuentes is 2 for 4 with a home run and four runs batted in.  The ageless one, Lew Ford and second baseman Steve Lombardozzi drive home two runs apiece.  Long Island starter Mike Bolsinger allows three runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a winning effort.  Three members of the bullpen secure the final 3.1 innings in scoreless fashion. 

BOX: Game Two 6/16/21 - Ducks right-hander Vin Mazzaro allows two runs, a two-run home run in the fourth by third baseman Jimmy Paredes, but otherwise yields six hits and two walks through six innings pitched for the win. Rey Fuentes crosses the plate with Long Island's first run, and Charlie Tilson doubles home Sal Giardina in the second. Hector Sanchez then homers in the third, and Steve Lombardozzi closes out the Ducks scoring with a home run in the fifth.  

BOX: Game Three 6/17/21 - Ducks starter Brendan Feldmann outduels his opponent in the early going, allowing a lone run on five hits and two walks through 5.1 innings pitched.  West Virginia right-hander Elih Villanueva exits on the losing side after yielding two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings pitched.  With one out in the top of the sixth, Power first baseman Edwin Espinal homers to left field off Brady Dragmire in relief of Feldmann, tying the game at two.  Long Island's bullpen blows a fuse in the eighth as Power right fielder Rymer Liriano connects off Clint Freeman on a three-run home run for a 5-2 lead the final margin of victory.  Freeman takes the loss.

Long Island Ducks Lose Series To York Revolution

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

York defeats Long Island; 2-1

I - LID 6; YRK 0

II - YRK 3; LID 1

III - YRK 4; LID 2

Long Island Loses Rubber Game At York

GAME ONE BOX 6/11/2021 - That's NEW York to you ... Making his third start, Long Islander Joe Iorio allows no runs on just four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings pitched for the win.  Relievers Chris Reed hailing from across the pond, native Brooklynite Anderson DeLeon, fellow Long Islander, and St. John's alum Anthony Rosati each toss an inning apiece to preserve the shutout.  Center fielder Charlie Tilson and third baseman Sal Giardina join together for four hits and four runs batted in.  Steve Lombardozzi and Johnni Turbo drive in a run apiece.

GAME TWO BOX 6/12/2021 - Long Island opens the scoring in the first.  Steve Lombardozzi scores on L.J. Mazzilli's sacrice fly to right field.  But the Ducks would score no more.  York starter  Austin Nicely yields just three hits and four walks with three strikeouts through 6.2 innings for the win.  The Revolution tie in the fifth then goes ahead in Melky Mesa's two-run home run in the sixth.  Making his third start, Brendan Feldmann faces 28 batters and throws 103 pitches, with 60 going for strikes.  He allows seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in a losing effort.  Sal Giardina accounts for two of Long Island's five hits.

GAME THREE BOX 6/13/2021 - York wastes no time against Long Island starter Chris Reed.  An opening error by third baseman Jesse Berardi and a base on balls set the stage for a couple of extra-base hits and a 3-0 lead.  Revolution's starter Austin Steinfort keeps Long Island off the board through the fifth.  Ducks' center fielder Charlie Tilson singled home two runs with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth.  But York shortstop Yan Sanchez drives home a run in the seventh, giving the Revs a 4-2 lead and the final margin of victory.  Chris Reed takes the loss.  The bullpen surrenders only one run in six innings to no avail.  York takes the series, two games to one.

• The contract of Akeel Morris was purchased by the San Francisco Giants.
• ATLANTIC LEAGUE

L.I. Ducks: The Monday Swim 6/7/2021

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island def. Southern Maryland; 2-1

I - SMD 7; LID 0

II - LID 19; SMD 3

III - LID 5; SMD 1

Sunday, 6/6/2021 - On the heels of Saturday's 19 run rampage, the Long Island Ducks are limited to just four scattered hits through the first six innings of Sunday's affair.  Southern Maryland takes a 1-0 lead in the fourth on catcher Jake Marshall's run-scoring base hit.  But Long Island hurlers would yield no more.  Facing Blue Crabs reliever Patrick Baker in the seventh, Johnni Turbo is hit by a pitch, and two walks loaded the bases.  Catcher Hector Sanchez then clears the bases with a double to left field.  With two outs in the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Ben Farias drives home two more runs giving the Ducks a 5-1 victory and two games to one series win.  Starter Clint Freeman surrenders one run on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts through five innings.  He exits on the losing side but is taken off the hook for the no-decision.  Jose Cuas earns the win in relief of Freeman, with three scoreless innings pitched and five strikeouts.  Michael Tonkin closes out the victory with a scoreless ninth.  Long Island gets back above .500 with a 5-4 record and trails the first-place Lancaster Barnstormers by just one-half game in the North standings.

⚾

With the departure of the Somerset Patriots, Sugar Land Skeeters, and New Britain Bees, so went the respective Liberty and Freedom division format.  Somerset was the last remaining charter member of the Atlantic League.  Their departure now makes the Long Island Ducks the senior-most member club.  The defending 2019 champions now share the North Division with the Lancaster Barnstormers, York Revolution, and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  In the South Division, the High Point Rockers were established in 2019, while the Lexington Legends, West Virginia Power, and Gastonia Honey Hunters are all first-year members. 

The Ducks open a short three-game homestand against the High Point Rockers on Tuesday before heading back out on the road to York, Pennsylvania.

Long Island Ducks Unleash Offensive Maelstrom at Southern Maryland

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks vs. Blue Crabs; 1-1

I - SMD 7; LID 0

II - LID 19; SMD 3

SUNDAY

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

The Ducks accomplished several things Saturday night.  They evened their series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at one, achieved par with a 4-4 record, and essentially ruined anyone's scorecard who might have been keeping a formerly neat account of the game.

Long Island erupts for 19 runs on 17 hits, eight of which go for extra bases and tally no less than two runs against any of six different Maryland pitchers.  Shortstop Ryan Jackson is 3 for 6, with a double, home run, three runs batted in, and three runs scored.  Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi goes 4 for 4 with two doubles, four runs batted in, three runs scored, and Brock Stassi also drives home four.  Right fielder Ronni Turbo has two hits, homers in the ninth, and drives in three runs.  

Starter Joe Iorio wins his first game upon yielding two runs, one earned, eight hits and no walks with three strikeouts through six innings pitched.  In relief of Iorio, Justin Kelly surrenders a run in the seventh.  But Johnny Hellweg and Michael Tonkin secure the victory with a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.

This victory comes on the heels of Long Island getting whitewashed 7-0 by the Blue Crabs on Friday.  The rubber game is scheduled for Sunday.

Long Island Ducks: The Pond Is Open For Business

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

OPENING SERIES

Long Island Ducks def. Lexington Legends; 3-1

I - LID 5; LEX 0

II - LEX 9; LID 8

III - LID 4; LEX 3

IV - LID 5; LEX 2

THE 2019 ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS FINALLY RETAKE THE FIELD

The Atlantic League defending champions are back.  This past Saturday, the Long Island Ducks returned to the playing field hosting for the first time in Atlantic League history the Lexington Legends, formerly of the South Atlantic League.  The Legends, like the Ducks, are defending 2019 champions of their former circuit.

5/29/2021

GAME ONE - Long Island wins their first game of the season, defeating the Legends 5-0 in the front end.  Starting for the Ducks, Akeel Morris allows just one hit and two walks with six strikeouts through four innings pitched.  In relief of Morris, right-hander Jose Cuas earns the victory pitching a scoreless fifth.  Johnny Hellweg tosses a scoreless sixth, and southpaw Justin Kelly secures the shutout with a scoreless seventh.  Three of Long Island's five runs were unearned.  Left fielder LJ Mazzilli, shortstop Ryan Jackson, and pinch-hitter Juan De La Cruz drive in runs for the Ducks.

GAME TWO - Try as they might, the Ducks come up short in game two.  Trailing 9-3 heading into the last half of the seventh, Long Island scores five runs to no avail.  Starter Mike Bolsinger allows three runs in two innings.  Afterwhich, Lexington strikes for another five runs off Anderson DeLeon pitching in relief of Bolsinger.  Ryan Jackson finishes 4 for 4 with a run scored and one run batted in, and catcher Sal Giardina drives home three runs.

Jupiter Pluvius caused a postponement of Sunday's game, forcing the Ducks and Legends to play another twin bill on Monday.

5/31/2021

GAME ONE - Trailing 3-0 after four and a half innings, Long Island answers with four runs in the home fifth for the win.  Starter Joe Iorio battles through his first start, allowing three runs, two earned, on just two hits, but walks five.  The Legends' only other hit comes off Mike Tonkin in the seventh and final frame.  With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Ducks catcher Hector Sanchez connects for a grand slam home run against Lexington's Liam O'Sullivan for a one-run margin of victory.  Devin Raftery earns the win in relief of Iorio.

GAME TWO - What did Yogi say, "it's deja vu all over again?"  The home crowd gets two thrillers for the price of one.  With the Ducks trailing 2-1 after eight and a half innings, a collective and rather excellent pitching duel comes to an end.  With two outs and the bases jammed with Ducks, crowd favorite Steve Lombardozzi connects off Lexington reliever Shawn Blackwell for a walk-off grand slam home run.

• Lexington Legends
• Long Island Ducks

TUESDAY

Long Island Ducks

vs.

West Virginia Power

FROM

Appalachian Power Park

In their first road trip of the season, the Long Island Ducks arrive in Charleston, West Virginia, where on Tuesday they opened a three-game series against the Power.  West Virginia is a former affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and most recently the Seattle Mariners.  Like the Lexington Legends, the Power are formerly of the South Atlantic League.

Game One

Ducks    3

Power    4

Final/Box

Catcher Sal Giardina opens the scoring with a home run in the third.  But the Power gives Ducks starter Brendan Feldmann a jolt with three runs in the fourth.  Right fielder Daniel Field's two-run home run in the eighth tied the game at three.  But West Virginia retakes the lead in the bottom half of the frame against Devin Raftery.  Long Island goes down in order in the top half of the ninth.  The first game at Appalachian Power Park between the Ducks and newly independent Power goes to the hosts.