Long Island 14, California Dogecoin 2
(Central Islip, N.Y., April 19, 2025) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the California Dogecoin 14-2 on Saturday afternoon in the second game of spring training at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
The game was one of many highlights at the team’s annual Fan Fest at the ballpark. Those in attendance were introduced to the 2025 Ducks roster prior to the game along the first base line. Additionally, fans were able to enjoy numerous pregame activities, including a team autograph session, inflatables at the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Ducks Fun Zone, video games from Party Mags, face painting by Dina’s Dynamics and much more.
The Ducks erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first inning. RBI singles from River Town, Justin O’Conner and Troy Viola, an RBI double by Taylor Kohlwey and a two-run double by Kole Kaler gave the Ducks the early lead. O’Conner’s second RBI single of the day made it 7-0 Long Island in the second. Viola scored on a wild pitch, and Seth Beer added an RBI double in the third to bump the lead to nine.
Chris Roller drove in the Ducks 10th run with an RBI single in the fifth. A four-run sixth, highlighted by Chad Pike’s two-run single and Town’s RBI double, make it a 14-0 ballgame. The Dogecoin plated their only two runs in the seventh inning.
Zach Plesac got the start for the Ducks and tossed three scoreless innings, conceding just one hit while striking out four. Juan Hillman also threw three scoreless innings, yielding two hits with five strikeouts. Tim Melville and Mark Washington each added a scoreless inning in relief.
Town led the Ducks offense with three hits, two RBIs, two runs and two walks. Kohlwey added two hits, an RBI, a run and two walks, while O’Connor chipped in with two hits, two RBIs and a run.
The Ducks continue their exhibition slate on Monday afternoon against the Long Island Black Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 12:30 a.m. as part of Fan Fest. Admission to the game will be free for Ducks full season ticket holders, while a $5 donation to the QuackerJack Foundation will apply for all other fans. Tickets must be purchased at the Fairfield Properties Ballpark on the day of the game.
The Ducks open the 2025 regular season, presented by Catholic Health, on Friday, April 25, against the Lancaster Stormers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). Tickets for all Ducks games are now available and can be purchased by visiting the ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or going online to LIDucks.com.
The Long Island Ducks are entering 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).
Lancaster defeats Hagerstown
Lancaster’s pitching was nearly flawless for a second straight afternoon as the Stormers downed the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars in the annual Fan Fest exhibition game Saturday afternoon at Penn Medicine Park.
Alex Garbrick and a quartet of relievers limited Hagerstown to three hits on the afternoon. Jesus Lujano took Garbrick’s first pitch of the day into left center field for a single, and Patrick Chung reached on a scratch hit in the second.
Hagerstown’s only run came on Errol Robinson’s leadoff homer to right center off Ryley Gilliam in the top of the fourth. The staff faced the minimum of 15 batters after that with the only baserunner being Ossie Abreu on a leadoff walk from Mason Ronan in the seventh. That was quickly erased when Lujano rolled into a 4-6-3 double play.
Ronan threw two hitless innings of relief while Kyle Johnson and AJ Alexy threw a perfect inning apiece.
Kelly Dugan and Joseph Carpenter spurred the Lancaster offense with a pair of hits and a walk apiece.
Dugan led off the second against David Richardson with a double to the gap in left center, the Stormers’ only extra base hit of the day. Carpenter rolled a single up the middle to score Dugan with the game’s first run.
Sam Plash opened the following inning with a sharp line drive single into left field. One out later, Nick Lucky drew a walk to add a second baserunner. Following Mason Martin’s fly out to center, Alex Isola roped a base hit into left center to score Plash. Dugan pulled a single into right for a 3-0 lead, and Carpenter capped the Lancaster scoring with a second single to center.
The Stormers finished the afternoon with eight hits.
Lancaster will be idle on the Easter holiday before hosting Southern Maryland in a 1:00 exhibition game on Monday and a game against the Black Sox on Tuesday. Neither game will be open to the public.
The club will head onto the road on Friday morning to visit the Long Island Ducks in the season-opening three-game series beginning Friday at 6:35. One week later, the home schedule will get underway with a 6:45 contest against the Gastonia Ghost Peppers.
All games again in 2025 will be available through Flo Baseball.
Gastonia 3, High Point 3
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers and the Gastonia Ghost Peppers played to a 3-3 tie on Saturday night at Truist Point.
The Rockers tallied a pair of runs in the first inning when Luis Gonzalez doubled and scored on Ben Aklinski’s two-run homer. High Point added a run in the second on an Aidan Brewer single and Gonzalez’s RBI single.
Gastonia plated a solo run in the third on a sac fly from Dalton Guthrie. The Peppers added a pair of runs in the third on an RBI single from Eric De La Rosa and a sac fly off the bat of Gavin Stupienski.
The Rockers used six pitchers on the night. Starter Brandon Backman went three innings and Sonny Fauci tossed the fourth and fifth innings. Each recorded three strikeouts. Akeel Morris, Cole Roland and Jared Henry each threw one inning while Jeff Heinrich closed out the game in the ninth. Heinrich allowed a lead-off double but then struck out the side.
“We saw exactly what we thought we’d see, two good teams going at it,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “Our pitching was good and we had some young guys out there really battling. The next three days will be crucial (leading up to cut down day). We have some really tough decisions ahead of us.”
High Point pitchers walked just two while striking out 13.
The Rockers will continue to practice at Truist Point during the coming week before heading to Southern Maryland for the season opener on Friday, April 25. The Rockers open at home on Friday, May 2 against the Lexington Legends.