Left-hander earns Atlantic League honor

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 15, 2013) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball has announced that Long Island Ducks left-handed pitcher James Houser has been named the league’s Pitcher of the Month for June. He is the first Duck this year to win the league’s monthly honor.

“James was phenomenal on the mound throughout the entire month,” says Ducks president and general manager Michael Pfaff. “We are extremely proud of him for receiving this well-deserved honor.”

Houser posted a perfect 5-0 record in five starts during the month of June. In that time, he allowed just three runs over 28 and one-third innings pitched, good for a miniscule 0.95 ERA. In addition, the southpaw yielded just 14 hits and eight walks during those five starts while striking out 30 batters.

Since moving into the starting rotation on May 31, Houser has yielded just one run or less in seven of his eight starts. He struck out a season-high nine Bridgeport Bluefish batters on June 27 at Bethpage Ballpark and has twice flirted with a no-hitter. The Florida native took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on June 22 against the Sugar Land Skeeters before pitching five and one-third hitless innings on July 7 against the Bluefish. Overall this season, he boasts a 7-0 record with a 2.44 ERA in 24 games (eight starts).

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.

###