Long Island Ducks Crowned Atlantic League Champs
Friday, 19 October 2012 00:00
Franchise wins second league title, first since 2004
The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 5-4 in waddle-off fashion on Sunday night, Oct. 7, in Game Five of the Atlantic League Championship Series at Bethpage Ballpark. The Ducks won the best-of-five series three games to two and were named the 2012 Atlantic League Champions.
Long Island jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly to center by Ray Navarrete and a RBI single to right by Bryant Nelson off Barnstormers starter Dwayne Pollok. After a Tommy Everidge homer in the second off Ducks starter Bobby Blevins, Long Island added another run in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single to right by Joash Brodin.
Ryan Harvey’s solo homer in the fourth made the score 3-2, but a RBI double by Matt Esquivel in the fifth pushed the Ducks lead back to two. It stayed that way until the ninth, when the Barnstormers rallied for two runs to tie the game at four. Travis Denker’s solo homer and a run-scoring error highlighted the inning.
However, in the bottom of the ninth, Long Island put runners at second and third with two outs for Dan Lyons, who laid down a bunt single to bring home Matt Esquivel from third with the winning run.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Blevins pitched six innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out five, and Pollok yielded four runs (three earned) on 10 hits in five innings. Leo Rosales (1-1) picked up the win despite allowing two runs (one earned) in the ninth inning, and Joe Bateman (0-1) suffered the loss after walking the eventual winning run. Kraig Binick and Brodin each had three hits to lead the Ducks, while Lyons earned Atlantic League Championship Series MVP honors.
With the victory, Long Island earns its second Atlantic League title in franchise history and first since 2004. It is the first time the Ducks have won the Atlantic League Championship at Bethpage Ballpark and the first time they did so without ever leading in the series until the final game.
Duck Tales
With the win, the Ducks improved to 7-6 all-time and 7-3 at home in games when facing elimination. They are also finished 3-0 in the 2012 postseason in such games, winning Game Four of the Atlantic League Championship Series and Game Five in both the Liberty Division Championship Series and Atlantic League Championship Series…Ducks starters led the way during the 2012 playoffs. In 10 postseason games, Ducks starters allowed just 24 earned runs in 59 and one-third innings (3.64 ERA) while striking out 51 batters and walking just 23…Kraig Binick, Joash Brodin and Mitch Canham each hit safely in all five games of the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Ducks collected 28 runs on 48 hits as a team in the last four games after totaling 21 runs on 46 hits in the first six games of the playoffs.
News
Saturday, 18 May 2013 00:00
ZZ Top breaks 9-year recording hiatus with Rick Rubin-produced effort
For most of the ’80s, ZZ Top was an inescapable presence thanks to a plethora of videos, often times containing underdog storylines revolving around gorgeous gals, a 1933 Ford hotrod and the hirsute threesome serving as a Greek chorus of cool to the aggrieved protagonist. But amidst all the bells and whistles, the most impressive feat pulled off by this Texas power trio was using 1983’s Eliminator to adapt its bluesy hard rock boogie sound and modernize it with synthesizers and drum machines sans any kind of artistic compromising.
Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00
John Romandetti saved six people, but he shies away from the title hero.
“I don’t think of myself as a hero,” Romandetti says. “It’s nothing anyone else wouldn’t have done.”
During Hurricane Sandy, Romandetti risked his own life to go out to Howard Beach and get his girlfriend’s family out of their flooding homes. The Bethpage Air Show recently recognized his bravery, naming him the grand prize winner of the Hurricane Sandy Community Heroes contest. Romandetti, along with nine other winners, will receive VIP tickets to the Bethpage Air Show, plus the reception, and GEICO Skytypers Planeside Meet and Greet. As the grand prize winner, Romandetti also gets the chance to fly with the GEICO Skytypers during next week’s airshow.
Sports
Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00
Westbury Okinawan Karate recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary of coming to the Westbury Recreation Center. Since then, the dojo has trained 250 students, ages six and up, in the art of karate with the style of traditional Okinawan ShorinRyu Shidokan.
Founded by sensei John Power, the classes seek to instill the confidence and strength needed to obtain success in everyday life.
“A lot of kids are lacking confidence,” said Power. “We let them practice leadership in the class and this contributes to their confidence.
Friday, 10 May 2013 00:00
Members of the Carle Place Sparc/Interact club recently donated their time and talents at the Alley Pond Environmental Center in Queens. Working together with students from Mineola High School and Holy Cross High School in Queens, the SPARC members planted over 1,000 indigenous trees to help replenish one section of the 600-acre forest park. The group’s efforts were part of the NYC Plant a Million Trees Project in honor of Arbor Day, celebrated on Friday April 26th. The Carle Place planters were: Sarah Megiel, Kelsey Feit, Julia Powell, Sabrina Feit, Monique Slater, Matt Carr, Katie Megiel, Rob Ibos, and Lauren Powell. They are led by faculty advisor Kieran Morris.
Calendar
Johnny Mathis At NYCB Theatre - May 17, 18
Celebrations In Westbury - May 18
"Miles For Melanoma" - May 19
Columns
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
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