L.I. Ducks: Flock Win Wild Playoff Opener at High Point

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks lead Rockers; 1-0

I - LID 8; HPR 7

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game Two

Long Island Ducks

vs.

High Point Rockers

FROM

A Ballpark 600 Miles Away

NORTH CAROLINA

DUCKS OVERCOME BULLPEN IMPLOSION ON DEIBINSON ROMERO EIGHTH INNING HOME RUN.

• ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Bringing a small measure of irony to the series, John Brownell, Long Island's celebrated all-time pitching leader, makes the start for High Point in their first ever Atlantic League playoff game.  He is opposed by present Ducks ace Darin Downs.

High drama makes an early arrival at the ballpark and settles in for a lively night.  With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first Darin Downs strikes outs right fielder Jared Mitchell ending the Rockers threat.  After hitting into consecutive inning ending double plays, the Ducks break through in the top of the third with four runs on three hits and four walks, highlighted by consecutive triples from David Washington and Vladimir Frias, and a two run scoring Steve Lombardozzi double to deep center.  The Ducks tack on a run in the top of the sixth when L.J. Mazzilli draws a one out walk and eventually scores on Deibinson Romero's sac-fly to left giving Long Island a 5-0 lead.  In the bottom half of the frame Rockers designated hitter Quincy Latimore spoils Darin Downs shutout bid with a long solo home run over the center field fence.

John Brownell's night ends upon surrendering Long Island's sixth and seventh runs of the evening.  All seven runs are earned on six hits and eight walks with only two strikeouts through 6.1 innings pitched.  Dusty Isaacs closes out the frame in relief of Brownell.

With a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh manager Wally Backman turns to his bullpen.  Darin Downs walks off on the winning side of a 7-1 lead.  However, relievers Joe Iorio and Myles Smith join together in yielding five earned runs on three hits and three walks as High Point ties the game at seven before the inning is through.

Undeterred, Deibinson Romero leading off the top of the eighth deposits reliever Sam Runion's fifth offering of the at-bat over the left field wall for an 8-7 Ducks lead.  Manager Wally Backman then hands off to Cody Mincey in the eighth who retires the side in order.  In the top of the ninth, the Ducks hit into their fifth game ending double-play of the game.  Cody Mincey closes out High Point in the ninth for the save.

Darin Downs faces 26 batters, while throwing 104 pitches with 67 (64%) going for strikes, but does not figure in the decision.  Rob Rogers earns the victory for his work in the seventh inning. Steve Lombardozzi, L.J. Mazzilli, and Deibinson Romero all drive in two runs apiece.

Long Island Ducks Set Single Season Win Record; Capture Second Half Flag

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

LIBERTY DIVISION SWEEP
First Half Champion   ~   Second Half Champion

Blown slightly off course by a three game losing streak, the Flock finally gain their franchise record 83rd victory of the season at Southern Maryland on Wednesday.  Their previous single-season record of 82 victories was set twenty years ago during the Ducks inaugural season on Long Island.

Upon Thursday's conclusion of their series with the Blue Crabs, Long Island heads back home to Bethpage Ballpark where they'll host the High Point Rockers in this weekend's final series of the regular season.

Season Finale

HIGH POINT ROCKERS vs. LONG ISLAND DUCKS

FROM

BETHPAGE BALLPARK

The Ducks capture the first half Liberty Division flag with a 43-27 record, one game ahead of the Somerset Patriots.  On Wednesday they clinch the second half title with a 40-26 record, and a 6.5 game lead over the second place New Britain Bees.  Long Island's sweep of the division standings now necessitates a wild card entrant for rounding out the post-season's final field of four.  The High Point Rockers presently lead the wild card race over the Sugar Land Skeeters, followed closely behind by the New Britain Bees.  The upcoming playoffs will also mark the first time in the last five seasons Long Island and Somerset will fail to meet in the Liberty Division championship series.

Long Island has appeared in six of the previous eight Atlantic League championship series.  After bowing to York in 2011 the Ducks storm back in 2012-2013 to win back to back titles.  Then in 2016 they lose the first of three straight championship series against the Skeeters, Revolution, then a second time against the Skeeters.

Speaking of which, Sugar Land Skeeters capture the Freedom Division's first half flag by one game over the York Revolution.  But York turns the tables in the second half clinching the title by 4.5 games over Sugar Land.  The two will square off in the Freedom Division playoffs due to kick off next Tuesday.

Should the Ducks prevail against their first round opponent, an intriguing rematch against either Freedom Division foe lay ahead.

On Thursday the Ducks salvage a four game split against the Blue Crabs at Southern Maryland.  That now gives Long Island 84 victories for the season, and counting.  Hector Sanchez plates Long Island's first run in the top of the first, and Deibinson Romero doubles home the Ducks second run of the game in the fourth.  Starter Vin Mazzaro and Long Island's bullpen take care of the rest.  Mazzaro allows just two hits and three walks with six strikeouts through six scoreless innings for his eleventh victory of the season against only four losses with a 3.61 ERA.  Relievers Felix Carvallo, Rob Rogers, and Myles Smith, join in limiting the Blue Crabs to no runs on just two hits and no walks with two strikeouts over the final three innings to complete Long Island's whitewashing of Southern Maryland.

• Atlantic League
• Long Island Ducks

I still find it rather remarkable that Long Island should endure having the contracts of numerous pitchers selected from their roster (Tim Melville; Tim Adleman; Sean Nolin; Jon Niese; George Kontos; Michael Tonkin; to name a few), yet still enter the final series of the regular season second in all the Atlantic League with a 3.79 team ERA.  Lest we forget on June 4, Darin Downs has his contract selected by Los Acereros del Norte (Mexico).  Thank goodness he resigns with the Ducks ten days later because I'm not sure where they'd be without him.  It would behoove the Ducks to proceed with caution as well, as Downs spent time this month on the injured list.

L.I. Ducks: Flock Wins Eleventh in a Row

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks lead series; 1-0

I - LID 4; YRK 0

York Revolution

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

Bethpage Ballpark

FLOCK CONTINUE TO ROCK

Making his eighth start after being pressed into the starting rotation, Vin Mazzaro pitches the Ducks to an opening game victory over the Revs at Bethpage Ballpark.  Vin faces 22 batters, throwing 95 pitches with 64 going for strikes.  He allows no runs on four hits and no walks with nine strikeouts for his ninth victory of the season against four losses.  York starter Mitch Atkins also pitches well in a losing effort, allowing one earned run on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts through six innings.

Long Island opens the scoring in the first on Lew Ford's RBI single scoring Rey Fuentes from second.  However the Duck inflict most of their damage against reliever Joe Jones in the seventh.  After singles from Lew Ford and Hector Sanchez, third baseman Deibinson Romero clears the bases with his tenth home run of the season.  The surging Lew Ford is 2 for 3 with an RBI, raising his average to .311 for the season.  Ducks relievers Felix Carvallo, Myles Smith, and Ismael Cabrera, join forces in allowing no runs on just two hits and two walks with four strikeouts to complete Monday's 4-0 whitewashing of the Revolution.

The Ducks are coming off series sweeps against the Somerset Patriots, the Barnstormers at Lancaster, and the Skeeters.  Monday's win over the York marks a season high eleventh straight victories.  They are to date undefeated in September and now lead the second-half Liberty Division standing by six games over second place New Britain.  The High Point Rockers have faded of late, dropping down to third place, one game under the .500 mark.

At 79-48 Long Island owns the Atlantic League's best overall record with 13 games left in the regular season.

I still do not know how they're doing it.  This is a remarkable run and a remarkable regular season.