L.I. Ducks: Flock Flying High After Completing Four Game Sweep Of Blue Crabs

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Flock Off To Go Mess With Texas.

Led by the bats of Cody Puckett and Adam Bailey, the Long Island Ducks completed a four game sweep of the visiting Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  The Ducks rapped 13 hits against their opponents, and only fanned once in gaining an 8-3 victory in Thursday night's series finale.

Puckett was 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, and 3 RBI.  Bailey went 3 for 3, and likewise produced a double and his team leading 5th home run of the season to go along with a pair of RBI.  Lead-off batter Fehlandt Lentini also had a productive night at the plate, going 3 for 4, with a walk, an RBI and 2 runs scored.

Making his third start of the season, Jared Lansford climbed the hill for Long Island, and was opposed by Southern Maryland's Ian Marshall.  Jared pitched 5 innings, allowed 2 runs (but none earned) walked 3 and struck out 3 to earn his first victory of the season.  Ian Marshall was knocked out of the box after just 2.2 innings pitched, and allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits.

The Blue Crabs picked up their third run of the game in the 6th off reliever Steve Garrison.  Otherwise, Josh Lansford continued his scoreless innings streak in the 7th, while Jon Meloan and Jeremy Accardo finished out the bullpen's contribution with 2 scoreless innings of work.

Defensively however, this was not one of Long Island's sharpest games, as they committed 4 errors.

With a 7-3 record over their last 10 games, the surging Ducks have transformed themselves into hottest team in the division, and now boast an overall 14-11 mark.  They remain 2.5 games behind the division leading Somerset Patriots (17-9), whom were Thursday night winners over Camden.

The Flock were forced into a hasty departure from Bethpage Park, as Friday evening they begin a four game Memorial Day Weekend series against Tracy McGrady and the Sugar Land Skeeters in Texas.




Mike.BTB

Long Island Ducks: 2014 Pond Preview

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks

ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2004

2012  2013

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: How Can They Possibly Top Last Year's Improbable, And Astonishing Championship Run?

Last year's Atlantic League playoffs ended with a most improbable conclusion.  The circuit's top team, the Sugar Land Skeeters, ran roughshod over the competition, and posted a league best 95-45 record.  They were undone in sweeping fashion however, in the Freedom Division playoffs by the Somerset Patriots, who finished second to the Skeeters, with a similarly impressive 90-49 record.

The Liberty Division's members weren't nearly as formidable.  Each of the four teams finished below the .500 mark.  The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs ultimately won the overall division standings with a 65-74 record.  In the first round of playoffs, they faced the second place Long Island Ducks

In 2011, the Ducks sported the league's most potent offense, but bowed to the York Revolution in the championship series.  Long Island prevailed in 2012 however, to win their first Atlantic League title in a decade.  The organization captured its first championship back during the 2004 season.

Last year, there was a noticeable limp in the Long Island Ducks waddle.  They struggled throughout, and ended the regular campaign with a less than pedestrian 63-77 overall record.  They finished the first half with a 30-40 record, then managed to gain a playoff berth by capturing the Liberty Division second half flag with a dubious 33-37 mark.

Long Island then proceeded to sweep the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the divisional round in three games to advance to their third straight championship series.  As noted, Somerset treated the Sugar Land Skeeters likewise, setting the stage for a Ducks/Patriots showdown.

The first four games were all decided by one run.  Long Island jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the series.  Somerset then battled back to win a pair of extra-inning games, tying the series at two. Long Island won the decisive Game Five by a 6-4 final, to repeat as Atlantic League champions.

Into The Pond: 2014 Preview

The 15th season of Long Island Ducks baseball will begin shortly.  After three straight appearances in the Atlantic League championship series, and winning back-to-back titles, what can we expect from the club in 2014?

General Manager Michael Pfaff is the lead architect, and his body of work speaks for itself.  But, even he would agree, change is the name of the game at Bethpage Park this season.  Some of the more popular veterans and crowd favorites have either retired, or for other various reasons, will not be returning.

The most glaring departure is that of all-time Long Island Ducks great, Ray Navarret, who's eight year career with the club ended with his retirement at the conclusion of last season.  Other notable regulars of the last few years, Kraig Binick and Rob Zimmerman will also be absent from this season's roster, as well as last year's team leader in home runs, Bill Hall.  In fact, near half the roster will be comprised of new faces.

Positional players returning to Long Island are Adam Bailey, Ryan Strieby, Joash Brodin, and of course, shortstop Dan Lyons.  Lew Ford is also due back, and is currently listed on the Ducks roster as an outfielder/hitting coach.

On the mound, eight pitchers from last year's staff return.  Bobby Blevins, Matt Way, John Brownell, and Shaun Garceau will likely form part of the starting rotation.  Third year Duck Leo Rosales will be back to close games.  The bullpen will also include Eric Niesen, Jared Lansford, and Josh Lansford.

In recent months Michael Pfaff busied himself traversing the baseball landscape in search of talent. He imported outfielder Jon Myers, and pitcher Casey Barnes from the Frontier League, and pitcher Fernando Hernandez was brought over from Somerset.

• Barnes posted a 7-3 record and 3.68 ERA in 20 games for the River City Rascals last season.

• Michael Pfaff needed to resupply his power, and the hope is Jon Myers, 26, can provide a measure of voltage in the middle of the order.  He batted .283 for the Gateway Grizzlies last season, led the circuit with 25 home runs, and drove in 64 runs in 361 at-bats.  He hit 20 home runs the year prior.

• Fernando Hernandez, 29, last pitched in the major leagues (3 games) in 2008 for Oakland. He spent portions of the 2013 season playing affiliated ball with New Hampshire of the Eastern League, with Laredo of the independent American Association, in Mexico, and lastly with the Somerset Patriots.

Newly acquired backstops Keith Castillo and Brian Peacock, will take over catching duties from last year's tandem of Ramon Castro and Ralph Hernandez.  Castillo, 26, spent the last three seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays system - last year in AA.  Peacock, 29, is an eight year minor league veteran, formerly of the Washington Nationals organization, and most recently of the Cincinnati Reds system.

Pitchers Jeremy Accardo, Steve Garrison, Brett Lorin, and Saul Rivera, outfielder Quincy Latimore, and infielders Cody Puckett and Sergio Miranda have also been added to this year's roster.

• Relief pitcher Jeremy Accardo, 32, is an eight year MLB veteran, who last pitched pitched with the Oakland A's in 2012, before spending 2013 in AAA.  He has 284 innings of MLB experience, with 205 strikeouts.  He owns a career 4.30 ERA with 38 career saves.

• Steve Garrison, 27, and a local New Jersey kid, had his lone moment in the major leagues with the New York Yankees.  In 2011, he pitched 0.2 innings, and that's it.  An eight year minor league vet, he spent 2012 in the Seattle Mariners system.  He played in the Arizona DBacks system, for Mobile in the Southern League last season, and posted a 3.30 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched, with a 10.1 K/9 average, 8.2 H/9, and 2.9 W/9 averages.

• Brett Lorin, 27, also comes to Long Island from the Arizona DBacks system.  At 6'7" and 245 lbs., he is an imposing specimen.  In a split season between Mobile-AA, and Reno-AAA, he posted a combined 5-2 record, with a 2.96 ERA in 51.2 innings pitched, with 38 strikeouts.

• Saul Rivera, 36, spent four full seasons spanning 2006-2009 relieving for the Washington Nationals, and made a quick pit stop in 2010 with Arizona.  Last year, he pitched 28.2 innings for the Sugar Land Skeeters, and posted a 2-0 record, with a 2.20 ERA.  He allowed 20 hits, and fanned 17 batters.

• Outfielder Quincy Latimore, 25, split the 2013 season between AA and the Frontier League.  He batted a combined .231 with 12 home runs, 52 RBI in 446 at-bats.

• Cody Puckett, 27, spent five years in the Reds organization, then the last two in the Chicago White Sox system.  In a combined AA and AAA season, he batted .251, with 17 home runs and 52 RBI, in 367 at-bats.

• Infielder Sergio Miranda, 27, was not active last year.  He played sparingly in 2012 during a very brief stay in the Atlanta Braves system.

The Long Island Ducks open their season April 25th, on the road in Somerset, where the Patriots will no doubt be looking to exact a measure of revenge.  Long Island's Opening Day will take place on May 2nd, against the York Revolution.




Mike.BTB

Long Island Ducks: Ninth Inning Rally Wins Game Two

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

ATLANTIC LEAGUE - CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

 

Series Tied 1-1

I - Lancaster 5; Long Island 1

II - Long Island 9; Lancaster 4

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Webbed Nine Storm Back In Ninth Inning To Seize Game Two.  Series Shifts Back To The Pond For Game Three.

GAME TWO RECAP a/o OCTOBER 4, 2012:

 

With no pun intended, Game Two in Lancaster was a genuine barn buster.  The home team was  three outs away from taking a two games to none lead over Long Island.  But the Ducks transformed the ninth inning of Thursday night's game into a twister and blew the doors to Clipper Magazine Stadium wide open on their way back to The Pond for Friday night's Game Three.

 

 

Game Two's pitching match-up featured Matt May for the Ducks, against John Halama for Lancaster. Both pitchers struggled and battled, and battled and struggled.  That not bad grammar... that's how each starter mirrored the other.  Matt May pitched 5.2 innings.  He allowed seven hits and four earned runs.  While May struck out five batters, he helped Lancaster along by issuing five walks.  Two Barnstormers took him deep.  Matt May left the game on the losing side of a 4-3 affair.  John Halama was only one run better.  He lasted 5.1 innings.  Halama allowed six hits and three earned runs.  But he too struggled with control and also walked five batters before exiting on the positive side of the game.

 

 

It was actually the Ducks who jumped out to an early lead with an RBI single by Brandon Sing in the first.  But Lancaster roughed up Matt May in the fourth.  With two outs and one on, Ryan Harvey  connected on his third home run of the playoffs.  The next batter, Travis Denker, then connected on his third home run of the playoffs as well to give the Barnstormers a 3-1 lead.

 

 

Long Island got a run back in the fifth.  Matt Esquivel scored when Dan Lyons grounded into a fielder's choice.  In the top of the sixth, the Ducks tied the game at three.  Dan Lyons' RBI single sent Bryant Nelson home from third base for the Ducks third run.  But in the bottom of the frame, Lancaster went ahead again by a 4-3 score.

 

 

The battle of the bullpens began.  Through the eighth inning, Long Island employed three pitchers.  Chris Hayes and Eric Niesen helped Matt May complete the sixth inning.  Jared Lansford took care of the seventh and eighth innings, pitching scoreless ball.  He allowed no hits, no runs, issued no walks, and struck out two.  Lancaster called upon four relievers to get them through the eighth.

 

 

With no changes in the score, into the ninth inning they went.  Lancaster's fifth reliever of the evening, Tim Hamulack, was charged with facing the Ducks.  After consecutive singles to open the inning by Joash Brodin and Ray Navarrete, Brandon Sing delivered yet another clutch hit in these playoffs.  His RBI single tied the game at four.  The Ducks had the bases loaded when Dan Lyons stepped in.  He proceeded to collect his third hit of the game, a double, which cleared the bases, and gave the Ducks a 7-4 lead.  Mitch Canham and Kraig Binick each kicked in RBI singles for good  measure.

 

 

With a 9-4 lead, Leo Rosales was charged with pitching the bottom of the ninth in relief of Jared Lansford.  Leo ended the game with a strikeout, and just like that, the series was tied at a game apiece.  At the very least, Long Island accomplished the task of gaining at least a split on the road.

 

 

Dan Lyons had four runs batted in.  And as mentioned, Brandon Sing continues to deliver big hits.  he had two RBI in Game Two.

 

 

For his two innings of scoreless work, Jared Lansford gets credit for the win.

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB



Long Island Ducks: Blue Crabs Invade Pond - Win Game Three

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

 

2012

Divisional Semi Final Series

 

Ducks Lead Series 2-1

I - Ducks 4; Blue Crabs 3

II - Ducks 3; Blue Crabs 1

III - Blue Crabs 7; Ducks 5

IV - TONIGHT

 

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: It's A Series Now.

Southern Maryland Claws Back For Game Three Win.

The Ducks seemed on to something.  The benefit to clinching a first half division title is having the option whether to start the opening round of the playoffs on the road or at home.  Long Island chose to play the first two games of their series against the Blue Crabs in Waldorf, Maryland.  Wednesday evening, that started to pay off.  Long Island took Game One behind a strong pitching effort by Randy Kiesler.  In Game Two, Long Island topped Southern Maryland again, this time behind a brilliant effort by Ducks starter Matt May, who pitched eight innings and struck out ten Blue Crabs.


Having swept the two games in Southern Maryland, the Ducks returned to The Pond Friday evening  for the first of three chances to clinch the series at home.  One more victory in this best three of five series punches Long Island's ticket back to their second consecutive championship round appearance.


On the mound Friday evening for the Ducks was the reliable Bob Zimmermann.  Opposing him was Southern Maryland's Gabriel Hernandez.


In Game Three, the home team struck first.  Making his first appearance of the series, Ducks left fielder Matt Esquivel connected on an absolute bomb to left, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead.  The score remained 1-0 through four innings.  Both pitchers allowed only two hits apiece to that point.  Both hurlers struggled with control however, issuing four base on balls each.


In the top of the fifth inning, the Blue Crabs had Bob Zimmermann in major trouble.  Two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs.  Very thick and moist air left over from earlier rain storms  which rolled through the area, perhaps prevented Jesse Gutierrez blast from sailing over the wall for a grand slam.  Instead, the Blue Crabs first baseman settled for a game tying sac-fly.  Bob Zimmermann reached back and struck out the following batter.  Then a stellar scoop by Brandon Sin at first base finished of the Blue Crabs rally, and kept damage limited to a single run.


In the home fifth, Long Island went ahead again on Ray Navarrete's rbi double.  When Brandon Sing followed with a single, Ray Navarrete was nailed at the plate trying to score.  Southern Maryland likewise limited Long Island's threat to just a single run scored.  But the Ducks were up a again in a 2-1 game after five.


After five laborious innings, a not so sharp Bob Zimmermann gave way to the bullpen.  Chris Hayes pitched a scoreless sixth inning.  But in the top of the seventh inning, the Blue Crabs had their way with Eric Niesen and Jared Lansford.  Five hits, two hit batters, a walk, and four runs later, Southern Maryland held a 5-2 lead.  A series of Brandon Sing errors helped the Blue Crabs along as well.


In the eighth inning, the Blue Claws piled on with another pair of runs to make it a 7-2 game.  But in the bottom half of the frame, the Ducks decided not to go quietly.  Timo Perez singled, driving in two runs, making the game a 7-4 affair.


Into the ninth they went.  Coach Baez called upon his seventh pitcher of the evening; Connor Graham; who retired the side in order.  In the Ducks last licks, they managed to score one run on a wild pitch, but nothing more.  The Ducks fell by a 7-5 score in Game Three.  And so..., the Ducks first opportunity to clinch this series at home is lost.  They have two more opportunities to win one game.


The last time the Long Island Ducks clinched a playoff series at home came back in 2004; their Atlantic League championship winning season.  They lost in last season's Finals to the York Revolution who went on to win their second consecutive title.  The Lancaster Barnstormers currently own a 2-0 lead over York in the Freedom Division semi final series.





Mike.BTB

Long Island Ducks: Defeat Blue Crabs; Take 1-0 Series Lead

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE ~ DIVISION SERIES

 

 

 

Playoff Preview

 

Long Island Lead Series 1-0

I - Ducks 4; Blue Crabs 3

 

II - TONIGHT

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Eighth Inning Rally Just Enough To Defeat Blue Crabs In Game One.

There's nothing like a little late inning drama to start the playoffs, huh?  In several respects however - mission accomplished.  The idea is to split games on the road, and win at home, right?  Down in the park at Waldorf last night, the Long Island Ducks took a 1-0 lead in their semi final series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.


After just the first three batters of the game, the Ducks were in possession of a two run lead.  Kraig Binick led off the game with a double.  Batting second, Joash Brodin also doubled, scoring Binick.  Ray Navarrete then singled to drive in Brodin.


Ducks starter, Randy Keisler, kept the Blue Crabs scoreless through the first four innings.  He struck out out the side in the bottom of the first inning, with a walk interspersed.  An inning ending  double play got Randy out of the second.  In the third inning, Randy Keisler struck out the side in order.  He pitched himself into big trouble in the fourth, when with one out, he walked two batters and hit a third batter to load the bases.  But he managed to induce a foul pop-up, and a force out to escape the inning.


He wasn't as lucky in the fifth inning.  Southern Maryland struck for two runs on three hits to knot the game at two apiece.


Randy Keisler pitched six innings in all.  He allowed the two runs, and limited the Blue Crabs to four hits.  He had troubles with control as he walked four batters.  But he was also strong with nine strikeouts.


Coach Biaz went to his bullpen in the seventh.  Jared Lansford was first and struck out the side.


In the top of the eighth, Long Island broke the deadlock.  Three doubles led to two more runs.  Dan Lyons led off with the first double.  Joash Brodin followed with another to drive in Lyons.  The Brandon Sing delivered a clutch two out double to drive in Brodin for a 4-2 Ducks lead.


Coach Biaz turned to Eric Niesen for the eighth.  After retiring the lead off batter, Coach Biaz played match-ups and summoned Jeremy Hill.  But a solo home run by Jesse Gutierrez almost thwarted that strategy.  Jeremy Hill was able to complete the inning without further damage.


Leo Rosales pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve Long Island's victory, and earned himself the save.  Jared Lansford gets credit for the win.  A fine effort by Randy Keisler ended up in a no decision.


Brandon Sing drove in what wound up being the game winning RBI.

TONIGHT

 

GAME TWO

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

(SP - Matt Way)

vs.

South Maryland Blue Crabs

(SP - Matthew Vasquez)

 

FROM

The Baseball Grounds at Waldorf

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Barnstormers End Ducks' Home Win Streak

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Lancaster Barnstormers Put An End To Nine Game Win Streak At The Pond.

Friday night's series opener against the Somerset Patriots required an eighth inning three run comeback.  Saturday's game turned into a 15-3 drubbing of the Patriots.  And Sunday's victory came in dramatic 9th inning walk-off fashion.  In sweeping the Somerset Patriots over the weekend, the Long Island Ducks extended their home winning streak beginning the season to nine consecutive games.

The series sweep upped the Ducks' record to 15-7, which gave them a 2.5 game lead over the Bridgeport Bluefish for first place in the Liberty Division.  On the other side of the ledger, in getting swept, the Patriots dropped out of their tie with Lancaster, and are now a full game behind the Freedom Division first place Barnstormers.

Slugger Brandon Sing finally returned to the line-up after being absent since May 12th due to a neck injury.  The Ducks also signed some bullpen help.  Jared Lansford, the son of Carney Lansford, is a twenty-five year old right-hander who comes to the Ducks after spending the 2011 season in the Oakland A's organization.

The Lancaster Barnstormers came to Bethpage Ballpark Monday night, and ruined everything.  Long Island's streak stops at nine.  After a scoreless first inning, the Barnstormers scored a run in each of the next six innings against the very reliable Bob Zimmermann, who seemed to be battle himself more than anything.  Lancaster peppered him for eleven hits over his 6.1 innings pitched.  Bob walked two and struck out three before giving way to Eric Niesen.

Wynn Pelzer was next out of the Ducks' bullpen, and allowed Lancaster two more runs in the top of the eighth.

The lone Ducks' run came in the home sixth, on an RBI single by Ray Navarrete, who by the way, just recently celebrated his 34th birthday over the weekend.  Ray was 3 for 4 in the game.  But an error by Navarrete at second base allowed a run to score off Bob Zimmermann.

The Bridgeport Bluefish were 8-4 losers to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  The Ducks lose no ground in the standings.




Mike.BTB