L.I. Ducks ~ Season Ends With Dual Division Titles

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:   THE POND Celebrates End of a Great Regular Season.   Reasons to be Proud Abound.

Mike Loree wins pitching Triple Crown.
Kraig Binnick wins Atlantic League Batting Title.
Ducks claim both half Division Titles.
Ducks end season with League's best record.
Long Island leads League in attendance.




Ducks Win Both Half Titles for First Time in Team's History.


After missing out on the playoffs last year, the Long Island Ducks spent all season sending one long continuous message to the League; - They would not be denied a second consecutive time.  They made their case loud and clear by mounting a ferocious return to post-season play finishing the 2011 campaign thirty-one games above the .500 mark and amassing the League's best record.



The Long Island Ducks concluded their best regular season ever at 4:30 Sunday afternoon with one final win, and taking the regular season ending series against the surging Bridgeport Bluefish.  And with that final win of the season, they clinched the Liberty Division's second-half title; just as they clinched the first-half title.  It's the first time in their history they have won both pennants in the same season.  Bridgeport came on strong this season; fulfilling their potential perhaps a little too late for the Division race.  However they did pull to within one game of the Ducks and with a win Sunday and could have forced a one game playoff to decide the second half Liberty Division Title.



The Ducks not only cliched both halves of the Atlantic League season, they clinched the League's overall best record at 78-47; making it the first time they ever won the League's top mark.  They were the first team to reach fifty wins; sixty wins; and seventy wins this season.  Even though suffering through a late season malaise, they dominated the Atlantic League from practically from start to finish. Only a brief trading of first place with South Maryland in the first half, and a fleeting little taste of second place served up by Bridgeport in August, prevented Long Island from leading wire to wire



The Bethpage Park Demolition Crew short-circuited scoreboards all over the Atlantic League this season.  In addition to their other regular season accomplishments, they also led the Atlantic League in runs scored.



The third; fourth; fifth; and sixth ranked League leaders in RBI were Long Island Ducks.  Javier Colina led that list of Ducks and also held the team lead with 90 RBI.  J.R. House and John Rodriguez finished with 81 RBI each.  John Rodriguez missed games with injuries on three separate occasions this season, and recently missed a month as the schedule wound down.  Somehow he held the RBI lead two different times this year and still managed to finish among the RBI leaders.  Having him healthy and hitting fourth in the line-up come playoff time this Wednesday is imperative to the Ducks' potent attack.  Upon his return Sunday for the season finale, he went 4 for 4 to demonstrate why he's so necessary to ensure an edge in team slugging come playoff time.



Then on the RBI list at number six is, Ducks' legend; Ray Navarrete; who finished with 79 RBI this season.  Ray Navarrete also finished with 27 home runs, which ranked him second in the League and just one home run behind the League leader.   Javier Colina placed third with 25 home runs. 



Ray Navarrete; the long time crowd favorite; spent a season helping the Ducks dominate, but also padding a few career milestones and setting more records.  Earlier this season, he became the Ducks All-Time runs scored leader and the franchise's All-Time career leader in hits.  Ray Navarrete is also the franchise's All-Time leader in home runs and RBI as well.  He holds Ducks' single season records for hits; RBI; games played; and doubles.  Ray also holds Long Island's single game records for most home runs and RBI.



Leading all Atlantic League hitters in batting average this season was none other than Long Island Duck; Kraig Binnick.  It was an achievement he seemed destined to accomplish since the season began.  Before taking a ball to the face on a play at second base early this season, he maintained an average above the .400 level.  After his return to action, he tailed off a bit; slipped out of the League lead; then rebounded to finish and win the season title with a .343 batting average.  Matt Esquivel placed third with a .328 batting average.



With a ball in his hand, Mike Loree was the Atlantic League's undisputed King of the Hill this season.  He dominated every pitching Triple Crown category; despite spending time in Atloona this season after being purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates system.  But he's back for Long Island's playoff run.  And that's probably the most welcome news of all.  Before he left the team, the Ducks were winning games at a +70% clip.  They slipped afterwards and finished the season with a .624 winning percentage.



During the season Mike Loree posted a 14-5 won/loss record; which led the League.  And with 14 wins he is also now the new holder of the Ducks All-Time single season wins record.  He led the League with 131 strikeouts; while walking only 28 batters over 123 innings pitched.  And Mike Loree's minuscule 1.98 ERA was also the League's best mark by a wide margin.  The League's next best ERA was a 3.33 mark.




By August, there were gaping holes in the starting rotation and the season was taking on water fast. There were matters to ponder like; were the contract purchases of Lenny DiNardo first; Mike Parisi; then Shane Youman; and ultimately Mike Loree; going to torpedo one of the best Ducks' seasons ever and stop the Ducks quest for a Championship cold in their webbed tracks?  



Yes; admit it; you thought about it.



The very savvy; and timely acquisition of starting pitcher, Josh Banks, was desperately needed to get a stopper (a losing streak stopper) back in the rotation.  And now with the return of Mike Loree, the Ducks starting rotation looks poised again to get through two rounds of playoffs.  With the healthy return of Ehren Wassermann, their deep bullpen; which has been nothing short of outstanding this season; should round out a very effective pitching staff well prepared for the playoffs.




And lastly, the Ducks were the undisputed kings in attendance this season which included celebrating the 600th sellout of Bethpage Park and welcoming the Five-Millionth fan to walk through the gates over the last 12 seasons.




The Atlantic League decided the Bridgeport Bluefish and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will play a one-game Wild Card Playoff on Tuesday; with the winner earning the right to play Long Island in the Liberty Division round.




Last year's Champion, the York Revolution and the Lancaster Barnstormers will square off in the Freedom Division's first round.  Lancaster was the only other Atlantic League team to surpass 70 wins this season.  Lancaster was the Freedom Division first half Champs.  York won the back stretch.



The full slate of playoffs begin Wednesday evening.

AtlanticLeague.com

Articles; Winning Pics; and Vids

at LongIslandDucks.com

TONIGHT

ATLANTIC LEAGUE ~ WILD CARD PLAYOFF GAME

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

vs.

Bridgeport Bluefish

From

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard

Bridgeport, Conn.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Win
Wild Card

FINAL

Blue Crabs  9

Bluefish       4

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Hook Bluefish With First Place on the Line

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Taking on the Surging Bridgeport Bluefish After Dropping Two of Three to Lancaster.  Heading Into Tonight, Ducks Led Bluefish By Mere Half-Game in Second-Half Standings.


Tuesday Night Final:
Ducks.......7
Bluefish....5

Second Half - Liberty Division

Long Island Ducks     18-6      *

Bridgeport Bluefish    17-8    1.5  GB

Delayed; but in one of the few games that wasn't rained-out in the local area, the Long Island Ducks hosted the Bridgeport Bluefish in a second-half battle for first place of the Liberty Division.  Both teams were 8-2 over their last ten games entering tonight.  The Bluefish were only a half game behind Long Island with a 16-7 record.  Last year's A.L. Champion is mounting a second-half surge I thought they were capable of back in June; but it was a surge which never materialized for them before the first half ended.  Before tonight's final, the 17-7 Ducks were coming off a series in which they dropped two games out of three to the Lancaster Barnstormers.


Long Island's Ruddy Lugo started in search of his fifth win of the season.  After six innings pitched, he left the game with the Ducks staked to a 7-3 lead.  He allowed the Bluefish seven hits and surrendered four earned runs.  He walked four batters and struck out four before giving way to Jeremy Hill for the seventh inning.


Bridgeport jumped on Ruddy Lugo right away.  A walk; double; and two singles plated three first inning runs on three hits for the Bluefish.


Long Island got them all back plus one in the second inning.  John Rodriguez reclaimed the League lead in RBI by leading-off the inning with his 15th home run of the season and accumulating his 69th RBI of the season.  John Rodriguez led the League earlier in the season before being sidelined by a few injuries.  He's found his way back to the top, ahead of team mate, J,R. House.  Bridgeport's Wes Bankston is third in the League.  Kraig Binick then tripled home J.R. House and Matt Esquivel who reached base on consecutive singles.  Kinnard Jones got Binick home with a sac-fly for a 4-3 Ducks lead.


Bridgeport tied the game at four apiece with a run off Ruddy Lugo in the fifth inning.  But the Ducks picked up three runs in their sixth inning allowing Ruddy Lugo to leave on the winning side of this game.  J.R. House led-off with his 17th home run of the year.  Kraig Binick reached first on an E3 to load the bases after Matt Esquivel and Matt Padgett both singled.  Esquivel scored when Dan Lyons grounded into a double-play.  And Kinnard Jones singled home Matt Padgett to make the game 7-4 Ducks.


Jeremy Hill allowed the Bluefish a run in the seventh inning to make it a 7-5 game.  In all he pitched two innings allowing only the one run.  He gave up one hit and a walk.  Three strikeouts highlighted his night.


Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning and set down all three batters he faced with strikeout to end the game.  It was his 14th save of the season.  And for Ruddy Logo, he earned his fifth win of the year against two losses.


Tuesday night's win ups the Ducks record to 58-30 over-all on the season; the League's best.




Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ This Series Is Possible Glimpse Into Future

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  In A Possible Playoff Preview,
Lancaster Comes Barnstorming Into Bethpage Park.


The League's One and Two teams over all this season;  the two first-half champions of their respective divisions; will play three in Bethpage Park this weekend.  They square-off in a possible playoff preview as the Atlantic League enters it's last month of the regular season.


After a fast second-half start by the Camden River Sharks, Long Island has recaptured first place in the Liberty Division and now lead a surging Bridgeport team by 1.5 games and Camden by two.  Lancaster; the first-half Freedom Division Champ; trail the second-half first place team York Revolution by only one-half game.


Mike Loree is the scheduled starter for Long Island tonight.  He enters the game looking to continue a dominant season while seeking his 14th win.  So far, he leads the Atlantic League with 13 wins this season against only two losses, to go along with his League best 1.91 ERA.


Lancaster Big Man; Slugger; Tommy Everidge, leads the Atlantic League in home runs with 21.  Then the Ducks round out a list of the top six home run hitters in the League with three players; Ray Navarrete (17); J.R. House (16); and Javier Colina (15).

TONIGHT

Lancaster Barnstormers (49-36)

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS (56-28)

From

Bethpage Park, L.I.

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Dancing to (J.R.) House Music

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Sweep Somerset; Win Seventh in a Row.  Duck Sluggers Lead League in RBI.  Staff Ace Goes Tomorrow Against Lancaster.

Clearly the Somerset Patriots have had their share of struggles this season and it's starting to wear on them a bit.  But that should in no way take away from the fact the Long Island Ducks, with their seventh win in a row, are starting to impose their will on the League now. 


Friday's drubbing of Somerset completes a three game sweep of the five-time A.L. Champs.  They increased their first place lead over Camden; who were in second place before Friday's games; in the second-half standings to two games as the River Sharks lost to Southern Maryland in the home ninth inning.  But now Bridgeport has snuck in at 1.5 games behind the Ducks. 


Friday night's win also improves Long Island's over-all record to a League best 55-28; and remain as the only team to breech the fifty-win mark.


As part of a seventeen hit barrage, J.R. House set a Long Island record with his fourth Grand Slam of the season.  He and John Rodriguez combined to drive in nine of the Ducks' eleven runs against Somerset Friday.


The Ducks got busy right away against Somerset starter, Jim Magrane, who was making his second start for the Patriots this season.  With two outs in the first inning, Javier Colina singled and John Rodriguez drove him home with a two-run blast for an early 2-0 Duck lead.


In the third inning, the Ducks added two more.  With the bases loaded, Lew Ford singled to score Ray Navarrete from third.  Then, Javier Colina scored on a sac-fly by J.R. House.


In the fourth inning, Long Island went boom on the Patriots.  With the bases jammed, John Rodriguez drove in two runs with a single.  Then Lew Ford walked to load the bases again.  That's when J.R. House stepped up and pounded out his fourth Grand Slam of the season.  It was his 16th home run of the season and fifth RBI of the night.  Dan Lyons singled home Matt Padgett to cap off the inning and gave the Ducks an 11-0 lead.


Veteran pitcher, Shane Youman, was marvelous...again, in his latest effort against Jeff Nettles; Josh Pressley; and the rest of a very good Somerset Patriots' line-up.  Over his six innings pitched Friday night, he allowed only three hits and no runs.  He walked two batters and struck out six.  Shane improved his record to a stellar 7-1 mark, while sporting a microscopic 0.66 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched this season.


Chris McCoy pitched three superb innings in relief of Shane Youman to complete the shut-out for Long Island and the three game sweep of the Patriots.


The Ducks are headed back to Long Island to start a series against the Lancaster Barnstormers on Saturday.  Mike Loree is the next scheduled starter for the Ducks.

*   *   *   *

In a reversal from earlier in the season, Kraig Binick is clearly hitting better batting lower in the line-up as opposed to leading off.  Before suffering an injury early in the season, he led-off and flourished with an above .400 average.  Upon his return, he regained his stroke batting lower in the line-up.  When moved up to the lead-off slot again, his hitting slipped.  Coach Baez dropped him again and it seems to be where Binick is doing his best work.  Kraig is currently batting .351, which is second in the League.  In Friday's game, he went 2 for 5 batting in the eighth slot.

*   *   *   *

Tonight's game featured what is now, five of the top seven RBI leaders in the League.  Somerset's Jeff Nettles lost his spot as the top dog.  After Friday night, he was over-taken by the new League leaders in RBI.  J.R. House, with his five RBI night, now has 65 on the season.  John Rodriguez; even though he missed a little time with injury this season; now climbs into second place with 64 RBI.   Jeff Nettled dropped down to third with 62 RBI.  Javier Colina ranks fourth in the circuit with 59 RBI.  And Patriots' Josh Pressley ranks sixth with 57 RBI.




Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Enter Break as League's Top Team

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE


LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  ....and that makes Forty Wins for the 1st Half Champs as the League heads into the All*Star Break.


NOTE: This Posting Is In Between Games of a Double-Header vs. Somerset Patriots.


Except for one game scheduled to be played tomorrow, the Atlantic League has hit it's mid-point of the season.  And while already having clinched a first half title, Sunday's win against the Somerset Patriots was the Long Island Ducks' 40th of the season.


Winners of their last three games, they wrap up the first half with an Atlantic League best 40-22 record and are the only team playing above a .600 winning percentage (.645); three games better than the Freedom Division winner; Lancaster Barnstormers.


As they enter the All*Star break, J.R. House is the new League leader in RBI with 47; while he and Ray Navarrete have crept-up on the League leader in home runs with 11 each.


Matt DeSalvo of York is the new League leader in strikeouts, but Long Island's Mike Loree still dominates the Atlantic League mound.  He's leading the League in wins with 10 and is the only pitcher with an ERA below 2.00, claiming a 1.71 mark.


The York Revolution and the Ducks will have the most players representing their teams in the Atlantic League All*Star Game.  They have seven selections each.  Two teams comprised of twenty-two Freedom Division and Liberty Division players square off in the Atlantic League's Mid-Season exhibition.


From the Ducks, pitchers Mike Loree and Mike Parisi will be making well deserved trips to the Game.  John Rodriguez was selected but has been hampered with a thumb injury and is unlikely to play in Wednesday night's game.  The rest of the positional players selected to go to the All-Star Game are Matt Esquivel; Javier Colina; Kraig Binick (second in the League in Batting Avg.); and J.R House.


The season will resume Friday when the reset button starts the divisional races a-new for the second half.  But then, the Ducks don't have to worry about that...., do they?



Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Popping Corks in York

From the desk of:  A QUACK FROM BROOKLYN



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  CLINCH 1st HALF TITLE!

The Ducks' victory over the York Revolution Monday, coupled with South Maryland's loss to Bridgeport means Long Island has clinched first place in the first half Liberty Division race.  In League leading fashion, they assured themselves a spot in this year's post-season while also putting to rest last year's disappointment of not making the playoffs after an Atlantic League record six consecutive appearances from 2004 through 2009.

A pop-up just beyond second base was the last out the game and an inning Bubbie Buzachero couldn't help but put his stamp on.  But when the popped-up ball landed softly in SS-Dan Lyon's glove, any anxiety of closing the game was now energy devoted toward celebration.  All the jubilant Ducks  assembled on York's infield grass between second and third base where they exchanged congratulatory five fives; low fives; hugs; and hand shakes.

But this win did not come with out a price.   Starting pitcher Mike Lorre; having a dominant season; was pitching another strong game before he was pulled in the seventh inning with an undetermined injury.  I later heard during the York broadcast he left due to a groin strain and should be fine.  Hmmm; you know how that goes.


Mike Loree allowed a lead-off home run in the seventh inning.  Two pitches later, he must have felt something and Coach Baez wasn't about to take any chances with his ace.  He called upon his bullpen to finish the game for Long Island.  In Mike Loree's six innings and two batters of work, he allowed the lone home run and a total of only two hits.  Mike walked one batter and struck out six.  The Ducks' clincher was Loree's League leading tenth victory of the season.  He remains as the only Atlantic League pitcher with an ERA below 2.00, as he sports a 1.71 mark.


The Ducks clinched the division's first half race with a 37-21 record.  They beat out the South Maryland Blue Crabs by five games as of Monday.  Their 37 wins are tops in the League.  The Freedom Division's top two teams; Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution; have 33 victories each; good for second overall in the Atlantic League thus far.  This week (Friday) marks the end of the first half of the Atlantic League season.


Early season highlights include:


Kraig Binick batted over .400 for a substantial stretch beginning with the start of the season till right before suffering facial injuries that he's since recovered from.  His batting average is still at a lofty .366 this season which ranks him second in the League.


As part of overall solid seasons, Matt Esquivel and Javier Colina presently round out the .300 hitters for Long Island.  Matt is batting .314 and Colina is sporting a .311 average on the season.  Matt Esquivel has seven home runs and twenty-eight RBI to go along with his .300 average.


John Rodriguez has been beset by a some nagging injuries.  He missed a couple games at first with a sore thumb.  He now seems to be battling a barking shoulder and has missed quite a few games lately.  Before being side-tracked with ailments, he was leading the Atlantic League with 42 RBI.  There's a new League leader (46) now, but John is still ranked fourth in the League despite missing time.  JR House is third in the League with 43 and teammate Javier Colina has 41 to place three Ducks among the top seven RBI leaders.


Javier Colina and JR House are also creeping up on the League leaders in home runs.  The Atlantic League leader has twelve.  Colina is right behind with eleven and House has ten of his own.


The Ducks 359 runs scored lead the League.


On the mound, as mentioned, Mike Loree is quite the story this season.  Mike was named Pitcher of the Month for June.  He's the League Leader in wins and ERA and is also one strikeout short of being tied for the League lead in that category.  As great a season he's having, somewhere in the back of Duck Fan's minds, the thought that maybe it's only just a matter of time before an MLB team steps in to purchase his contract has to be creeping into one's thinking.  No?


While that would be very unfortunate in the Ducks' scheme of things, it's not today's reality.  But in that event, the Ducks' pitching is still quite capable.  Mike Parisi has been a fine Number Two guy in the rotation.  He got roughed up a bit in his last outing.  But has been nothing short of solid this season.
He's a League leader in strikeouts, and as I hinted, his ERA was inflated a bit due to his last outing.


After Loree and Parisi, it's fair to say the Ducks are lacking depth in the starting rotation.  Shane Youman may still yet emerge and be effective in the second half.  Joselo Diaz has had his problems on the hill this season. 


But that's where the bullpen has come in so well this season.  Guys like Jason Monti and Bob Zimmermann keep the opposition honest.  But Coach Baez relies on Jeremy Hill; Ehren Wassermann for the stickiest situations.    The Tennessee Thrilla' -  Bubbie Buzachero closes things out for Long Island but not without stomach-churning excitement.  He must be doing something right though, as he has a League leading 11 saves.


The Ducks continue their series tonight against the York Revolution, who are trying to overtake the Lancaster Barnstormers for first place in the Freedom Division before Friday.  York is only 1/2 game behind Lancaster.


Check out the Long Island Ducks celebration picture in the locker room:  LIDucks.com

Check out The Ducks Division Champs banner here:  AtlanticLeague.com





Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Closer To A First Half Divison Clincher

From the desk of:  WADDLING THROUGH BROOKLYN

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:

Off Day; State of the Pond Address.

The Ducks Are Well On Their Way To Wiping Away The Memory Of Missing The Playoffs in 2010.   With Less Than Two Weeks To Go, The Webbed Crusaders Are Zeroing In On a First Half Clinch.


The South Maryland Blue Crabs salvaged the last game of their series against the Long Island Ducks Sunday afternoon to avoid dropping behind Long Island by six games.  For the Ducks, the first half standings are twelve games away from being written in stone.  They lead the Liberty Division by a healthy five games over South Maryland.  Somewhere around July 9, 2011, the Atlantic League's First Half division winners will be decided as the first half comes to an end and the standings get frozen in time.


Winning the division obviously has it's advantages once the playoffs start.  But the Long Island Ducks also sport the League's best record.  And there are playoff advantages to that too.  The Ducks' record of  33-17 is tops so far.  Behind them is the Freedom Division leader; Lancaster Barnstormers; with a
30-19 record.  As division leaders, they are the only two clubs with thirty or more wins.


The Long Island Ducks disappointingly missed the playoffs last season.  This year, they have played with a near-complete balance to their game and are perhaps the most well rounded team in the League today.


Batting for average; timely hitting; and power compliment strong starting pitching, while backed up by shut-down bullpen work.  All have equalled first place and current King of the Hill status for the Webbed Spikes Nine.


Mike Loree; the League's top hurler in nearly all major categories; and his mound-partner; Mike Parisi; a League co-leader in strikeouts, have emerged as the Atlantic League's most lethal starting pitching combination this season.  While there were reasonable expectations for Mike Parisi heading into the season, Mike Loree seized the most of a second opportunity to pitch in the starting rotation. He's anchoring the staff after not earning a spot heading into opening day.  But the departure of Lenny DiNardo presented Loree with another opportunity and he nailed it.  Loree and Parisi; the Mike and Mike Show; are a combined 13-3 this season.  After Loree and Parisi, the Ducks might be considered a little thin in the rotation.  More about that towards the end of this post.


Stocked with firemen like Ehren Wassermann; Jeremy Hill; emerging Bob Zimmermann; and of course, the Bethpage Thrilla' Bubbie Buzachero; the Ducks' bullpen is well armed for long relief if necessary.  Of particular note, the work Eren Wassermann has put in so far should not go under spoken.  He and Buzachero have a combined 14 saves.  There were hopes former Met; Duaner Sanchez could be a big contributor this season.  But in only nine appearances he was largely ineffective and is presently inactive.  However, Shane Youman has come on lately, and in five appearances is yet to allow a run.


On the offensive side of things, the Ducks lead the Atlantic League in runs (308) scored.  Kraig Binick batted over .400 for a substantial time before missing a week with facial fractures.  His .352 batting average is still second overall in the League.  Javier Colina is batting .303; Matt Esquivel is at .321; and John Rodriguez is working on a .298 average.


Javier Colina is second in the League in home runs (10) and sixth in RBI.  John Rodriguez, despite missing five games recently due to a sore thumb, is still tied for the League lead with 42 RBI.  After Colina's ten home runs, there are no shortages for power in the Ducks line-up.  Ray Navarrete and J.R. House are second on the team with eight apiece.  John Rodriguez comes in next with seven.  And Matt Esquivel and Lew Ford have six each. 


John Rodriguez leads all Atlantic Leaguers in RBI, but quite a few Ducks are driving in runs also.  Javier Colina with thirty-six and J.R House with thirty-four, round out the team's top three.


Defensively, I'd only offer maybe Ray Navarrete and Javier Colina need to tighten things up a bit up the middle.  Matt Esquivel has had his moments in right field, but is doing a respectable job.  Otherwise, the Ducks are a fundamentally sound bunch.


The Lancaster Barnstormers are only 5-5 in their last ten games.  Last year's champion; the York Revolution are hot on their trail.  Winners of nine out of their last ten, they are only one game behind first place Lancaster in the Freedom Division.  As a matter of fact, York IS the hottest team in the League right now. 


Then enter the Ducks who are winners of seven out of their last ten games.  Many thought, after losing their top two sluggers, who's contracts were purchased by the Mexican League, the Blue Crabs would fade away in the Liberty Division standings..  But they stuck around and took turns occupying first place with the Ducks before Long Island finally took a firm grip on the division.  Bridgeport started to surge and I thought they'd over-take South Maryland at some point.  But they are mired at .500 and can't seem to stop running in place.  Last place Camden recently visited Long Island and gave them all they could handle with a four game series split.


After an off day Monday, The Ducks play host to the white hot York Revolution for three games.  That should be a very interesting series for the Ducks.  Joselo Diaz, who's struggled this season, and Ruddy Lugo are my guess to start two games during the series.  A third starter is harder to find.  Perhaps Shane Youman gets called to man the hill for a game.  York will escape without having to face Loree and Parisi after they pitched against South Maryland over the weekend.


ATLANTIC LEAGUE NEWS:
During the bottom of the fourth inning in a game between the Lancaster Barnstormers and the Somerset Patriots, Lancaster manager; Butch Hobson; argued over a play at first base with first base umpire; Chris Rick.

A heated Butch Hobson then gestured as if to throw the Umpire out of the game. Well, that bought Hobson an ejection. Coach Hobson then repeated the gesture throwing the Umpire out of the game again. He then removed the first base bag out of the ground and took it with him to the dugout, where he retrieved a Sharpie; signed the bag; and gave it to a young fan in the first row. The home crowd went wild as the game continued without a first base bag.




Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Reaffirming First Place

From the desk of:  WEBBED SPIKES



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Veni; Vidi ; Quack!

Long Island Takes First Game In Series Between Liberty Division's Top Two Teams.


They came; The saw; And they Quacked Mightily.  Game one between the first place Ducks and second place Blue Crabs goes to the team invading South Maryland from Long Island.


The Ducks used the long ball; Mike Loree; and a strong effort by the bullpen to trap them some Maryland Blue Crabs Friday evening.  But they needed a mid-game comeback to do it. 


The Ducks and Mike Loree were trailing 2-0 after three innings.  Then in the fourth inning, Matt Esquivel doubled with one out.  Matt Padgett singled advancing Esquivel to third.  J.R. House grounded into a double play but Esquivel scored on the play.


The Ducks blew the game open in the fifth inning.  Javier Colina hit a two run home run scoring himself and Ray Navarrete who doubled.  John Rodriguez singled and scored on Long Island's second home run of the inning when Matt Esquivel pounded a Brian Slocum pitch over the wall for a 5-2 Ducks' lead.


South Maryland came back with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Ducks took it back in the sixth.  Leading off, J.R. House greeted new Blue Crabs pitcher; Jason Waddell; by crunching his 3-1 pitch for a solo home run and a 6-3 lead.


Another tack-on run in the ninth and South Maryland was officially 5 games back of Long Island in the first half standings.


The bullpen was dynamite in relief of Mike Loree.  Bob Zimmermann was first out of the pen and pitched two innings of no-hit ball and struck out two.  Ehren Wasserman closed out the game for the Ducks with two innings of one-hit ball.  He struck out one and earned his third save this season.


Ehren Wassermann continues to pitch with authority out of the bullpen.  In 30 innings pitched all in relief this season, he has 31 strikeouts while allowing just 24 hits and only two walks!  He's 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA.


Mike Loree won his League leading eighth game versus just one loss.  But he wasn't as sharp as he's been and got smacked around somewhat.  He surrendered eleven hits to the Blue Crabs and allowed them to get out to a 2-0 early lead.  He lasted only five innings Friday evening.  South Maryland scored three times against him but only two runs were earned.  While he was more hittable in this start, Mike Loree was still just as dominant all the same.  He limited himself to one walk allowed and struck out seven Blue Crabs.  His League leading ERA now stands at 1.99 and his League leading strikeout total now stands at sixty-four.



EXTRA INNING:
Kennard Jones went 0 for 5 which just might precipitate a switching of Kraig Binick from the nine-spot in the line-up, back to the lead-off spot; which is where he batted before suffering a facial injury.



LIBERTY DIVISION STANDINGS:
1st - Long Island Ducks................32-17    .653
2nd - S. Maryland Blue Crabs.....27-22    .551    5 Games Back

TODAY

GAME TWO

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

South Maryland Blue Crabs

From parts south of New York

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Mike Loree Emerges As Atlantic League's Best Hurler

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks:  Mike Loree Continues His Domination of the Atlantic League.  Ducks Add A Full Game To Their First Place Lead.



In Lancaster, Ducks' hurler Mike Loree added another sparkling start to his 2011 resume as Long Island won the first game of a three game series against the Barnstormers by a final score of 5-3.


J.R. House homered for Long Island in the 5th inning for the first run of the game.  Kennard Jones and Ray Navarrete starting things off for the Ducks in the 6th with back-to-back lead-off singles.  Javier Colina and John Rodriguez drove them in with another pair of consecutive singles to put Long Island ahead 3-0 after six full innings.


Tying his longest start of the season, Mike Loree came out to pitch the seventh and faced three batters.  After a lead-off single and a fly out to center field, Mike Loree hit the next batter.  That prompted a visit from Coach Baez who made a move to the bullpen calling on Jeremy Hill for relief.  The Barnstormers loaded the bases against Hill, and brought a run home with a sac fly to break the shut-out.  That run was charged to Loree.  Jeremy Hill kept the Ducks out of further trouble by striking out the next batter for out number three.


Long Island picked up two insurance runs in the top of the eighth with a two out rally.  John Rodriguez drew a walk.  He scored on Matt Esquivel's double.  The next Ducks' batter, Matt Padget drove Esquivel home with a single upping Long Island's lead; 5-1.



Jeremy Hill pitched himself into trouble in the bottom of the eighth inning by allowing the first two batters to reach base with no outs.  After getting one out, Jeremy surrendered a single allowing Lancaster to plate their second run.  Lancaster's park helped the Ducks when it held a Terry Tiffee (DH-Lancaster) blast from leaving the park.  The Barnstormers were held to one run scoring on that blast off the wall but the spread on the scoreboard was closing.


Coach Baez made his way to the mound again and gave Jeremy Hill the hook with the score at 5-3.
Ehren Wasserman was called in by Coach to get the Ducks out of this jam.  Wasserman got the second out of the inning by striking out his first batter.  Wasserman completed the job by inducing the next batter into a ground out to short.


Ducks' closer, Bubbie Buzachero, was called upon to close the ninth inning.


Give the bullpen credit tonight even though they made things very interesting.  Jeremy Hill pitched the Ducks out of Mike Loree's jam in the seventh.  Ehren Wasserman got them out of Jeremy Hill's jam in the eighth.  And Buzachero made things most interesting of all.  After getting the first two outs, he allowed the next two batters to get on base.  That brought the potential winning run to the plate.  Javier Colina had trouble handling a blast to short, but composed himself to record the last out of the game and preserving a well pitched game by Mike Loree.  Mr. Excitement; Bubbie Buzachero; managed his 8th save of the season.



MIKE LOREE's LINE:
6.1 ~ innings pitched
3 ~ hits.
1 ~ run.
2 ~ walks.
9 ~ strikeouts.

SEASON RECORD: 
6 wins;  1 loss



Tonight's effort by Mike Loree now ties him for the CanAm League lead in wins with six while also lowering his already League leading ERA from 2.25 down to 2.18.  After nine strikeouts tonight, he now has 48 for the season which also now places him first in the Atlantic League.  A tremendous start to a season for a guy cashing in on a second chance continues.


Long Island and South Maryland started Tuesday evening with the Ducks in front by a mere half game.  Tonight's win coupled with the South Maryland Blue Crabs' loss to Camden increases Long Island's first place lead in the Liberty Division to 1.5 games. 



This was Long Island's third consecutive win.  They are 8-2 in their last ten games.



Bridgeport fell to 4 games back in the standings and are losing a rain delayed game 4-2 to the Road Warriors in the sixth inning as of this post time.







Mike.BTB