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 Are 2019 Atlantic League Champions

From the desk of: THE WEBBED CHAMPIONS NINE

GONNA NEED A NEW SIGN

ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME FIVE
Ducks      8

Skeeters  4

FINAL

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2004           2012           2013

2019

A dominant season comes to an appropriate end.  The Ducks sweep the Liberty Division standings this season, winning both the first and second half pennants.  They win an all-time Ducks record 86 games during the regular season.  Then go on to defeat the High Point Rockers in the first round of playoffs to capture their fourth straight Liberty Division championship.

After bowing to the Skeeters in the 2016 Atlantic League championship series, then losing again last season to the Skeeters in five games, the Long Island Ducks win their fourth ever Atlantic League championship and their first since winning back-to-back titles during the 2012-2013 seasons.

They split games one and two at Bethpage Ballpark.  Long Island then loses game three at Constellation Field.  In game four on Saturday, the Ducks win their first ever playoff game at Sugar Land.  On Sunday they gain their most glorious of all victories on Texas soil.

• BOXSCORE: Sunday, October 6, 2019 - ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Sugar Land starter Mike Hauschild pitches himself into immediate trouble.  He commits one of the cardinal sins of baseball: walking Vladimir Frias leading off the game.  Frias steals second then advances to third on Steve Lombardozzi's sacrifice bunt.  With one out Hauschild hits Lew Ford with a pitch, then walks L.J. Mazzilli to load the bases.  After a mound visit, Hauschild walks Hector Sanchez forcing in the game's first run.  But the Skeeters escape further damage when Deibinson Romero bounces into an inning ending 5-2-3 double-play.

In the bottom of the second Skeeters designated hitter Denis Phipps homers to left tying the score at one.

With two runners in scoring position and one out in the third, Deibinson Romero redeems himself with a line single to left scoring Lew Ford and L.J. Mazzilli.  In the fifth, runs batted in by Hector Sanchez and Deibinson Romero respectively widen Long Island's lead by four.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Skeeters right fielder Zach Borenstein singles off the leg of Ducks starter Vin Mazzaro.  Mazzaro strikes out the next batter, but manager Backman elects to remove his pitcher anyway.  Joe Iorio closes out the inning but not before Sugar Land reduces their deficit to three.  That is until David Washington manufactures his own run in the top of the eighth with a lead off base hit, a stolen base, then advancing and scoring on sacrifice flies for a 6-2 Ducks lead.

With one out and one on in the bottom half of the eighth, Wally Backman summons Cody Mincey from the bullpen.  Two walks, two stolen bases, a fielder's choice, and one wild pitch later Sugar Land makes it a 6-4 game.  But it's too little too late.  Deibinson Romero punctuates Long Island's triumph in the top of the ninth with a two run home run to deep left/center off Skeeters reliever Matt West.  Cody Mincey adds the finishing touch in the bottom of the frame by striking out the side.

Infielders converge, outfielders come darting in, the rest of the Ducks come busting out of the dugout as the bullpen empties with haste en route to a jubilant celebration taking place just in front of the pitchers mound.

Vin Mazzaro yields two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts through 6.1 innings for his third victory of the playoffs.  The one man gang Deibinson Romero ends the night 2 for 4 with a home run and five runs batted in.  Hector Sanchez goes 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs batted in.  The ageless one Lew Ford goes 2 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored.

The Ducks Exact Their Revenge!

David Washington Powers Long Island Ducks to Game One Victory over Sugar Land Skeeters

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

SUGAR LAND SKEETERS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

FROM

THE POND

Long Island breaks out for five runs in the first inning against Sugar Land starter Mike Hauschild.  Rey Fuentes, Steve Lombardozzi, and Lew Ford, open with consecutive hits for an instant 1-0 lead.  L.J. Mazzilli then grounds into a seemingly inning altering double-play.  But Hauschild walks next batter Hector Sanchez putting two runners on base, then surrenders a three run home run to third baseman Deibinson Romero.  David Washington makes it back to back home runs with a long jolt over the center field wall.

Helped along by catcher Hector Sanchez' errant pick-off attempt at first base Sugar Land scores their first run before achieving their first hit, and close to within 5-3 by the fourth.  That is, until David Washington leads off the bottom half of the frame with his second home run of the game.  Vladimir Frias follows with a double to right, and eventually scores on Steve Lombardozzi's sac-fly to center for a 7-3 Ducks lead.

Starter Vin Mazzaro exits the game on the winning side after allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts through six.  Manager Backman summons Joe Iorio from the bullpen whom yields two runs including a home run from designated hitter Denis Phipps making it a 7-5 game.  But Cody Mincey retires the Skeeters in order in the ninth preserving Long Island's series opening victory at Bethpage Ballpark.  Mazzaro earns the victory, Mincey the save.

FIRST PITCH

FIRST INNING 

Deibinson Romero hits a three run home run

giving the 4-0 Ducks lead.

FIRST INNING

David Washington makes it back to back 

home runs giving the Ducks a 5-0 lead.

FOURTH INNING

David Washington hits his second home run of the game.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

GAME TWO MATCH-UP

(S.L.) Carlos Pimentel  vs.  (L.I.) Darin Downs

L.I. Ducks: 2019 Atlantic League Championship Series Preview

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME ONE

Sugar Land Skeeters

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

THE POND

The much anticipated rematch between Long Island and Sugar Land is on.  This marks the second straight Atlantic League championship series meeting between clubs, and their third confrontation in the last four years.  Sugar Land defeated the Ducks in 2016 to win their first ever league title.  Last season they again defeat Long Island in five games for their second title in three years.  The Skeeters are making their fourth ever championship series appearance in only their eighth year as an Atlantic League member club.  The Long Island Ducks are of course celebrating their 20th anniversary season.  This marks their eighth ever championship series appearance, and fourth in a row.  The bad news is since 2016 they've lost three straight championship series.

• 2016: Sugar Land defeats Long Island
• 2017: York defeats Long Island
• 2018: Sugar Land defeats Long Island

Sugar Land wins the Freedom Division first-half championship with a 35-35 record.  In the second-half they finish second to York with a 37-31 record.  Overall the Skeeters finish with a 72-66 record.  The Skeeters defeat York in the Freedom Division championship series, three game to one.

Long Island sweeps the Liberty Division regular season, winning pennants in both halves with identical 43-27 records.  Their 86-54 overall record sets Long Island's all-time single season record for wins.  They defeat the High Point Rockers in the Liberty Division championship series three games to none.

The Ducks win 14 of 20 regular season games this season against the Sugar Land Skeeters, but only narrowly outscore them by a 91-88 margin.


SCOUTING THE SKEETERS

• RF - Denis Phipps: 448 AB (.261/.350/.458) 21 HR; 81 RBI
• LF - Zach Borenstein: 360 AB (.267/.347/.447) 16 HR; 67 RBI
• 3B - Juan Silverio: 488 AB (.293/.358/.447) 14 HR; 68 RBI

• SP - Troy Scribner: 3.68 ERA in 122.1 INN; 1.32 WHiP; 127 K
• SP - Dallas Beeler: 3.86 ERA in 144.2 INN; 1.52 WHiP; 97 K

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

RUNS:            S.L. #2; L.I. #5
TEAM AVG:    S.L. #3; L.I. #5
OPS:               S.L. #4; L.I. #5
HR:                 S.L. #3; L.I. #4

ERA:               L.I. #2; S.L. #4
WHiP:             L.I. #2; S.L. #4
Strikeouts:      L.I. #1; S.L. #2
Saves:            L.I. #1; S.L. #5


DUCKS STARTERS vs. HIGH POINT ROCKERS

• Darin Downs:  6.1 INN; 2 ER; 3 H; 3 W; 7 K
• Vin Mazzaro:  8 INN: 0 ER; 2 H; 4 W; 10 K
• Seth Simmons:  7 INN; 1 ER; 2 H; 2 W; 9 K

L.I. Ducks Sweep First Two Road Games at High Point

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Ducks lead Rockers; 2-0

I - LID 8; HPR 7

II - LID 8; HPR 1

FRIDAY

High Point Rockers

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

THE POND

DUCKS STARTER VIN MAZZARO TOSSES GEM

Unlike Tuesday's harrowing experience, the Long Island Ducks have an easier time handling the Rockers on Wednesday, rolling to an 8-1 victory and completing a two game road sweep at BB&T Point.  The series now shifts 600 miles away to Bethpage Ballpark on Long Island where the Ducks beginning Friday will have three chances to win one game and punch a fourth straight ticket to the Atlantic League championship series.

A hit by Richie Shaffer leading off the second, a one-out hit by Myles Schroder, and a throwing error by Ducks catcher Hector Sanchez lead to High Point's first (unearned) run of the game.  It would also be High Point's last.  Long Island starter Vin Mazzaro faces 30 batters, throwing 109 pitches with 68 going for strikes.  He allows no earned runs on just two hits and four walks with ten strikeouts in a brilliant eight inning winning performance.  Reliever Brian Matusz pitches a scoreless ninth inning to close out Long Island's second straight victory on the road.

L.J. Mazzilli is 2 for 5 with a home run and two runs batted in.  The ageless Lew Ford goes 3 for 5 with a double and to runs batted in.  Steve Lombardozzi triples in four at-bats, and rounds out a trio of Ducks with two runs batted.  Rey Fuentes and Dan Fields each drive in a run 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.