By Michael Heilman

The Long Island Ducks advance to the Atlantic League Finals after winning the Liberty Division Championship Series 3-2 over the High Point Rockers Friday night from Bethpage Park.

Ducks Designated Hitter Lew Ford got things going for the Ducks in the bottom of the first inning when he singled out to left field. The next batter up was Ducks left fielder L.J. Mazzilli, who doubled out to left field to put Ford on third base. Next up was Ducks catcher Hector Sanchez, who singled out to center field to bring both Ford and Mazzilli home to put the Ducks up 2-0.

Rockers second baseman Michael Russell led off with a triple on a line drive to right field to start the top of the fifth inning. The Rockers then cut the Ducks lead 2-1 when Designated Hitter Tyler Ladendorf grounded out to the shortstop to allow Russell to score.

Ducks D’Arby Myers, Rey Fuentes, and Vladimir Frias all hit singles in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Ducks would then add an insurance run when second baseman Steve Lombardozzi hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring home D’Arby Myers to extend the Ducks lead 3-1.

The Rockers would cut the Ducks lead again 3-2 thanks to Rockers Designated Hitter Quincy Latimore’s home run out to left field. Ducks pitcher Cody Mincey would then get Myles Schroder to fly out for out number one, Michael Russell to lineout for out number two, and Tyler Ladendorf to strikeout sending the Ducks to the Atlantic League Finals defeating the High Point Rockers 3-2.

Ducks pitcher Seth Simmons (7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO) was the winning pitcher, and Cody Mincey (1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 SO) got the save.

The Ducks will now await the winner of the Freedom Division between the York Revolution or the Sugar Land Skeeters. Game one of the Atlantic League Finals will be on October 1st with time and location at a later date.