20th Anniversary Team Voting – Starting Pitcher (2008-11)

19 seasons of Long Island Ducks baseball have come and gone. Players from all around the world and of all varieties of baseball experience have worn the Ducks uniform since the first pitch on April 28, 2000. In that time, they have played in front of nearly 8 million fans in Central Islip, and millions more around the rest of the country. Those players and coaches have also earned three Atlantic League Championships, seven Division Championships, 13 half-season Division Championships and over 1,300 victories. As the Ducks 20th Anniversary Season, presented by Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, approaches, it is time to determine which members of the Flock have stood above the rest.

A new week brings a new crop of three starting pitcher candidates to choose from. This week, we focus on the 2008-11 era of Ducks baseball, a four-year stretch that saw the Ducks earn three postseason berths and a trip to the Atlantic League Championship Series. It also saw some of the best seasons ever posted by a Ducks starting pitcher. This trio of starting pitcher nominees for the 20th Anniversary Team includes a two-time Atlantic League All-Star, a pitcher that’s accomplished something no other Duck has, and a former Major Leaguer. Here are the nominees:

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Randy Leek

Long Island native Randy Leek is the longest tenured Duck of these three nominees, having spent four seasons with the Flock. The southpaw joined his hometown team first in 2007 and made an impact right away. In 13 appearances (12 starts), Leek posted a 5-1 record with a 2.23 ERA and 62 strikeouts to just 17 walks. That performance was worthy of having his contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays and a stint at Triple-A Syracuse. The Mineola native spent the next three seasons with the Ducks as well, earning two Atlantic League All-Star Game selections (2008, 2010). During the latter, he was selected to start the game for the Liberty Division in his home ballpark and collected the win with two perfect innings. In his four seasons with the Flock, the MacArthur High School alumnus set franchise records for wins (40), games started (91), innings pitched (587.1) and strikeouts (356). Although those marks have since been surpassed by John Brownell, he still holds those franchise records for left-handed pitchers. Leek’s legacy remains as one of the top pitchers Ducks fans have ever had the pleasure of watching.

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Troy Cate

Though our second nominee only spent one season with the Flock, his performance that year was one for the memory books. Troy Cate joined the Ducks in 2009 having spent time in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals (2007) and having previously been drafted in the sixth round by the Seattle Mariners. The southpaw proceeded to turn in one of the best seasons by a Ducks pitcher, posting a spectacular 13-5 record with a 3.28 ERA, two complete games, and 84 strikeouts over 129 innings of work. The 13 wins were tied for the third-most in the Atlantic League that year behind Somerset’s Jim Magrane (15) and Bridgeport’s Dan Reichert (14). His 3.28 ERA was second-best in the league behind Magrane’s (2.70). His performance in 2009 was instrumental to helping the Ducks earn a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season, an Atlantic League record.

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Mike Loree

Prior to the 2011 season, only one pitcher in ALPB history had ever earned the Pitching Triple Crown (leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts). That was the aforementioned Magrane in 2009 with his 15 victories, 2.70 ERA and 134 strikeouts. Mike Loree joined Long Island in 2011 and became the first, and to this day only, Duck to achieve that feat! The right-hander was dominant from start to finish, posting the most wins (14) and strikeouts (131) in a single-season in franchise history while also posting the league’s top ERA at a miniscule 1.98. Even more impressive was the fact that he only walked 28 batters in 122.2 innings of work. After earning the start for the Liberty Division in the Atlantic League All-Star Game at York, the Villanova University alumnus had his contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates in August. After returning to the Flock in September, Loree continued his dominance in the postseason, winning two of his three starts (both in Game Ones) to help the Ducks to the Atlantic League Championship Series. He turned in a 1.10 ERA and struck out 17 batters, including 10 in Game One of the ALCS, while walking just two over 19 innings. Loree made 18 more starts with Long Island in 2012 before his contract was purchased by the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He has spent each season since pitching overseas in Taiwan or Korea.

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The decision will certainly not be easy this week, with three more quality candidates to choose from. However, it’s up to you, the fans, to help us decide who will earn the coveted spot on the 20^th Anniversary Team. Click the button below now, and throughout the next week, to cast your vote for either Leek, Cate or Loree. The winner, along with the remainder of the 20th Anniversary Team, will be unveiled at the beginning of the 2019 season!

Be sure to check back again next week, as we’ll reveal our group of three nominees for the starting pitcher spot representing the 2012-15 era of Ducks history.