(Photo courtesy of Jim McKenzie)
(Staten Island, N.Y., July 10, 2025) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Staten Island FerryHawks 8-7 on Thursday night in the rubber game of a three-game series at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park.
Long Island jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning on River Town’s two-run home run to right field and a double play ball that scored Ivan Castillo, who had reached on a walk. Staten Island answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on Mark Contreras’ RBI double and Nicholas Decker’s RBI single. Kole Kaler got the runs back though in the second with a two-run single to right.
Pablo Sandoval closed the gap to 5-3 in the third with an RBI single to left field. Matt Scheffler’s RBI infield single and Sandoval’s two-run double in the fourth gave the FerryHawks a 6-5 lead. Drew Maggi’s leadoff solo homer to left in the fifth pushed the host’s lead to two.
However, Long Island tied the game at seven in the sixth on Justin O’Conner’s RBI double to left-center and Kaler’s RBI single to right. It stayed that way until the ninth inning when a two-out wild pitch allowed Sandoval to scamper home from third with the winning run.
Neither starter factored into the decision. David Griffin pitched three innings of three-run ball for the Ducks, allowing six hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Christian Allegretti lasted five and two-thirds innings for the FerryHawks, giving up seven runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five. Robbie Baker (5-2) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Jacob Asa (3-3) took the loss, conceding the winning run on two hits and a wild pitch in the ninth.
Kaler led the Ducks offense with two hits and three RBIs. Town added two extra-base hits, two RBIs and a run, while O’Conner chipped in with two hits, an RBI and two runs.
The Ducks return home on Friday night to open a three-game set with the Lancaster Stormers. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It will be Irish Heritage Night, and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Koozies, presented by Irish Poet Restaurant Bar. Additionally, the Irish American Baseball Society will posthumously induct Whitey Ford into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons with a special offer to save $15 when spending $50 or more (dine-in) and one (1) free appetizer when spending $30 or more (delivery/pick-up) from The Tap Room to fans as they exit the ballpark. Right-hander Ryan Sandberg (3-2, 3.16) gets the start for the Ducks against Stormers righty Noah Skirrow (8-3, 4.48).
Tickets to the game and all Ducks games are now available and can be purchased by visiting the ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on FloBaseball. Sign up today by CLICKING HERE.
The Long Island Ducks are in their 25th Anniversary season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for four consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 713 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 26-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its 10 state-of-the-art ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Catch every Atlantic League game live at FLOBASEBALL.tv and follow the action at AtlanticLeague.com.
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