Thursday, October 1, 2026
Only time will tell if the Long Island Ducks can carry the momentum they built down the stretch of the first half of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball season when a 9-1 finish still left them four games behind the York Revolution in the North Division.
The Ducks, who went 35-28 and saw Ronaldo Flores lead the league in first-half batting with a .362 average, have shown second-year manager Lew Ford they’re more than capable of qualifying for the playoffs and making a push for the franchise’s fifth championship.
“We’re doing a lot of good things and know we have a solid ballclub,” said Ford, the Ducks’ all-time hits leader with 1,036, good enough for third in league history. “Our pitching, hitting and fielding were all first or second in the league. If we keep that going we absolutely can make the playoffs.”
Including Flores, the Ducks had nine players appear in at least 45 of the first half’s 63 games. The 23-year-old catcher, who began the second half on the disabled list, had 59 hits in 163 at-bats with 7 homers and 30 RBIs.
The franchise typically leads the Atlantic League in annual player departures to either Major League Baseball contracts or overseas, but the Ducks entered the second half with as much stability as they’ve had in quite some time.
Another example of how the Atlantic League is an outstanding option for those looking to reach or return to the next level is pitcher Zach Plesac, who made seven starts for the Ducks, winning four with a 2.84 ERA before inking a deal with the St. Louis’ Cardinals organization June 5 and reporting to Triple-A affiliate Memphis. Plesac has six seasons of MLB experience and Ford is now working with a starting rotation consisting of four righthanders (Tim Melville, David Griffin, Ryan Sandberg and Jonah Dipoto) and southpaw Juan Hillman,
“Our pitchers are throwing well and keeping us in every game,” Ford said.
Melville’s tenure with the Ducks dates back to 2017 and he’s currently in his third stint in Central Islip. In between he’s had his contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies. He threw just 26 innings in the first half this season, mostly in relief, and earned three wins with a 4.15 ERA.
“He’s a veteran leader who’s been in the big leagues more than once,” Ford said.
Griffin made 10 starts in the first half, going 5-1 with a 3.90 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 60 innings. “He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning a couple of starts back,” Ford said of Griffin, who joined the Ducks in August of last season.
Sandberg, from Island Park and a 2016 graduate of West Hempstead High School, is in his first season with the Ducks after spending two years with Quebec in the Frontier League. He made six starts in the first half and produced an impressive 3.16 ERA with a record of 3-2. “Ryan’s been doing a great job and has become a big part of the rotation,” Ford said.
With closer Peyton Williams currently on the injured list, Ford is using a committee to seal the deal. “We’re hoping to get him back before the season ends,” Ford said of Williams.
The offense produced six runs per game through the first 63 and was aggressive on the bases with 109 steals. Leadoff hitter and star defensive centerfielder Chris Roller (19) and left fielder River Town (17) are the stolen base leaders, and the latter had a team-best 69 hits in the first half.
“We’ve got a nice core group and closing the first half on a hot streak boosted confidence and showed what we can do,” Town said. “Our pitchers have been lights-out and offensively we’re having fun and playing hard-nosed baseball.”
In the power department, third baseman Troy Viola belted 11 homers and knocked in 44 runs to lead the team in both categories, and outfielder Cody Thomas had 10 dingers and 39 RBIs. Other mainstays in the lineup are outfielders Taylor Kohlwey and JC Encarnacion, shortstop Kole Kaler, and catcher Justin O’Conner.
We’re too good of a team to not build off how we finished the first half,” Town said.
