Long Island reaches Atlantic League Championship Series for third consecutive season
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks are Liberty Division Champions yet again, topping the Somerset Patriots in the Liberty Division Championship Series for the third consecutive season. That makes it six Liberty Division titles for the Ducks in the past eight seasons after a 3-2 series win this past week. Long Island will now meet the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Atlantic League Championship Series after the Skeeters also completed a five-game series win over the Lancaster Barnstormers, capped off by an extra-inning walk-off grand slam from Tony Thomas on Sunday.
SERIES SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
| Game One | Tues., September 25 | Ducks at Skeeters | 8:05 p.m. | Constellation Field |
| Game Two | Wed., September 26 | Ducks at Skeeters | 8:05 p.m. | Constellation Field |
| Game Three | Fri., September 28 | Skeeters at Ducks | 6:35 p.m. | Bethpage Ballpark |
| Game Four* | Sat., September 29 | Skeeters at Ducks | 6:35 p.m. | Bethpage Ballpark |
| Game Five* | Sun., September 30 | Skeeters at Ducks | 5:05 p.m. | Bethpage Ballpark |
| * – If Necessary |
HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
2018 marks the second time the Ducks and Skeeters will face off in the Atlantic League postseason. The first and only occurrence came two seasons ago when Sugar Land swept Long Island in three games during the 2016 Atlantic League Championship Series. The league title was the first in Skeeters history, coming in their second-ever Championship Series appearance (2014 was their first). The Skeeters also hosted the first two games of that series, winning both by scores of 7-1 and 2-0. Sugar Land then rallied for a 5-3 win in Game Three on Long Island.
During the regular season, the Ducks and Skeeters have met 137 times, with the Ducks owning 69-68 advantage. The Skeeters have a 41-28 lead in games played at Constellation Field, while the Ducks hold a 41-27 edge at Bethpage Ballpark. Long Island won the 2018 series by a margin of 10-8, taking five of nine games both at home and on the road. The Ducks trailed the season series against the Skeeters 6-3 after the first half but stormed back to earn wins in seven of their nine meetings in the second half. The regular season closed for both teams with a six-game series in Texas, where the Flock won four of six games. Both teams clinched Second Half Division Championships during the series.
ROSTERS
Below are the active Atlantic League Championship Series rosters for the Long Island Ducks and Sugar Land Skeeters (players listed alphabetically by position):
| LONG ISLAND DUCKS | SUGAR LAND SKEETERS | |
| PITCHERS | PITCHERS | |
| Fernando Abad (LHP) | Dallas Beeler (RHP) | |
| Lorenzo Barcelo (RHP) | Jorge De Leon | |
| Jose Cuas (RHP) | Casey Harman (LHP) | |
| Jake Fisher (LHP) | Mark Haynes (RHP) | |
| Taylor Grover (RHP) | Lucas Irvine (RHP) | |
| Matt Larkins (RHP) | Yasutomo Kubo (RHP) | |
| Thomas Nicoll (RHP) | Derrick Loop (LHP) | |
| Dennis O’Grady (RHP) | Jean Machi (RHP) | |
| Chris Pike (RHP) | Michael Mariot (RHP) | |
| Carlos Pimentel (RHP) | Dan Runzler (LHP) | |
| Francisco Rodriguez (RHP) | James Russell (LHP) | |
| Hector Silvestre (LHP) | Konner Wade (RHP) | |
| Ashur Tolliver (LHP) | Matt West (RHP) | |
| Alex Wimmers (RHP) | ||
| CATCHERS | CATCHERS | |
| Ramon Cabrera | Albert Cordero | |
| Dioner Navarro | Derek Norris | |
| INFIELDERS | INFIELDERS | |
| Steve Longo | Javier Betancourt | |
| Dan Lyons | Matt Chavez | |
| Cody Puckett | Luke Dykstra | |
| Jordany Valdespin | Alvaro Rondon | |
| David Washington | Juan Silverio | |
| OUTFIELDERS | OUTFIELDERS | |
| Daniel Fields | Barrett Barnes | |
| Lew Ford | Anthony Giansanti | |
| Robert Garcia | Denis Phipps | |
| Rubi Silva | Tony Thomas | |
| Miles Williams | ||
| COACHES | COACHES | |
| Kevin Baez – Manager | Pete Incaviglia – Manager | |
| John Brownell – Pitching Coach | Lincoln “Juice” Gumbs – Hitting/3rd Base Coach | |
| Lew Ford – Hitting Coach | Cory Domel – Pitching Coach | |
| Bud Harrelson – Coach | Jeff Allen – Bullpen Coach |
PITCHING MATCHUPS
The following are the probable pitching matchups for the Atlantic League Championship Series (statistics provided are 2018 records and ERA in Atlantic League play followed by 2018 postseason records):
GAME ONE
Ducks: LHP Jake Fisher (8-7, 3.92 ERA; 1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Skeeters: LHP James Russell (8-4, 2.36 ERA; 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
GAME TWO
Ducks: RHP Matt Larkins (7-5, 4.56 ERA; 1-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Skeeters: TBA
GAME THREE
Skeeters: TBA vs. Ducks: RHP Lorenzo Barcelo (2-1, 4.20 ERA; 0-1, 7.50 ERA)
GAME FOUR
Skeeters: TBA vs. Ducks: RHP Dennis O’Grady (6-4, 3.82 ERA; 0-0, 3.60 ERA)
GAME FIVE
Skeeters: LHP James Russell (8-4, 2.36 ERA; 1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Ducks: LHP Jake Fisher (8-7, 3.92 ERA, 1-0, 1.29 ERA)
FOLLOW ALONG
Those unable to make it out to the ballpark can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks’ official Facebook page, YouTube channel and at LIDucks.com. Fans can follow a pitch-by-pitch account of each playoff game as well via Pointstreak’s Game Live application by CLICKING HERE.
TICKET LINKS
Game Three of the series at Bethpage Ballpark will feature a giveaway of Ducks Thundersticks to the first 1,000 fans.
Tickets to all Ducks home postseason games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
Those wishing to attend Games One and Two at Constellation Field can purchase tickets by calling (281) 240-4487 or visiting www.sugarlandskeeters.com.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 40 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 70 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
###