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Sunday, July 6, 2008

FOUR LONG ISLAND DUCKS SELECTED TO 2008 ALL-STAR GAME


(Central Islip, N.Y., July 6, 2008) – Long Island Ducks team officials today announced that four members of the team have been selected to participate in the 2008 Atlantic League All-Star Game. Pitchers Randy Leek and Joe Valentine will be joined by outfielder Ray Navarrete and catcher Jamie Pogue on the Liberty Division squad.

“We’re proud of what these players have been able to accomplish in the first half of the year,” says Ducks general manager Michael Pfaff. “Each has been a key contributor to our club and is deserving of this honor.”

Navarrete has followed a career season with even higher offensive numbers this year, batting .326 in 58 games. He is tied for the league lead with 15 home runs and 19 doubles, which, along with one triple, put him atop the league in extra-base hits with 35. The New Jersey native owns a .609 slugging percentage and has driven in 51 runs. He is second in the league with 53 runs scored. Pogue is hitting a career-best .288 with five homers and 24 RBI. The catcher has committed only three errors in 45 games this year, and is widely regarded as one of the best game-callers in the Atlantic League.

Leek anchors the Ducks starting rotation with a 5-2 record and a 4.18 ERA in 15 starts this season. He has struck out 46 batters while walking just 19, and has pitched a team-high 90.1 innings. Former big leaguer Valentine leads the club with eight saves, and owns a 3-2 record with a 3.13 ERA. The Ducks closer has struck out 20 hitters in 19 appearances, and the league is batting just .202 against him.

Navarrete, Pogue, Leek and Valentine will represent the Ducks on the Liberty Division squad at the 2008 All-Star Game, which takes place July 16 at Commerce Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots, in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Ducks manager Dave LaPoint will manage the squad, which takes on the Freedom Division team for league bragging rights. All-Star selections were the results of fan, media and front office polling, which took place throughout the league and individual team Web sites.

The Long Island Ducks play their home games at Citibank Park and are in their ninth season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. For further information, visit http://www.liducks.com/, or call (631) 940-3825.