CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - It was a perfect Long Island night to open the Atlantic League season. Both teams full of hope and optimism for the brand new slate. However, the Newark Bears hopes of starting 1-0 were evaporated in the four-run first inning and were handed their first loss of the season by the Long Island Ducks. 4-1 was the final score.

After a quiet top half of the first inning, starting pitcher Michael Bumstead gave up a lead-off single to Jamal Strong, but made two quick outs of Brent Abernathy and P.J. Rose. He was one pitch away from escaping the inning unscathed until Carl Everett reached on a single and Ray Navarrete, Kevin Haverbusch and Damian Rolls all followed with two singles and a double.

“A couple of bad breaks early,” said Bumstead. “I left the ball up and good hitters will get hits that way.”

Bumstead escaped trouble in the second after once again loading up the bases in a two-out rally; however he was able to escape trouble when he caught Navarrete looking to end the threat.

He settled down after that but was lifted by manager Wayne Krenchicki after three innings.

The Bears offense began to awaken in the fourth inning when Keith Reed and Cory Aldridge started the frame with back-to-back singles. However, the rally ended after Brian Burgamy grounded into a double play and Sal Majewski flied out to left.

In the top of the sixth, third-basemen Mike Just led off with a double down the left field line, but two quick outs threatened to shut down their rally once again. But, the Bears finally got a break when Randy Leek dropped a pop-up in fair territory which allowed Just to score. Burgamy then sent a long shot to deep center, but Strong was there to make the play just in front of the wall.

Patrick Stanley came on in the fifth inning and restored order with three very strong innings. He also struck out the first four batters he faced.

“I just came in trying to throw strikes and get as many outs as I could,” said Stanley. “The fastball, curveball, slider were all working really well, I was able mix it up and keep them off-balance.”

The Bears got one more rally going in the top of the ninth after a solid double by Cory Aldridge. Burgamy drew a walk and then Majewski grounded into a fielder’s choice putting Aldridge on third. Randall Simon, the team’s latest signing came to the plate but was unable to keep the inning alive.

Randy Leek earned the win for the Ducks throwing six solid innings giving up just one run and striking out four and Joe Valentine earned the save in the ninth with an inning of work, it is his first save of the season.

The Newark locker room remained positive with the promise of a new day

“It’s a different experience, but I’m real confident about our team,” said Just. Everybody got the jitters out of the way today, so we’ll go out there and get them tomorrow.”

Notes: Everett reached base in all four of his plate appearances with three singles and a walk. Stanley faced the minimum number of batters in his three innings of work. The attendance was 6,165 and the time of the game was two hours and 26 minutes

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