The North Division pennant is up for grabs, and it is clearly down to a two team race. The next two weeks will determine whether the Long Island Ducks or their cross-sound rivals, the Bridgeport Bluefish, claim the first-half title and the automatic playoff berth that goes along with it.

This is the beauty of the Atl a n t i c League's t w o h a l f system, as it creates two exciting playoff races, one in the middle of the season and another one at the end. When the allstar break commences after the next dozen games, the Ducks will face one of two possible situations. The good: have the satisfaction of already clinching the playoffs with half the season still remaining, or the bad: be forced to fight for the next two-and-a-half months and qualify for the postseason by winning the division in the second half, as they did last season.

Last week's series between the Ducks and Bluefish in Bridgeport gave each team the opportunity to build a lead in the standings. Instead, the four games between division frontrunners failed to decide anything, as Long Island won the first two games and Bridgeport responded by winning the next two. "When you go on the road to play a four game series you usually hope to split," Ducks manager Don McCormack said last week, "but I think the more important thing is that we come out of there healthy because this is probably not going to be decided until the final week anyway." Juan Gonzalez hit his first home run in a Ducks jersey during the Bridgeport trip as he, along with Erick Almonte, returned to the lineup after missing a few games. Henry Rodriguez still remains out for now but McCormack says he is getting close and could be back sometime this week.

The split in Bridgeport meant that the Ducks came back to Long Island last Friday night in the same position they had left earlier in the week, a half game behind the Bluefish. This made the game against Atlantic City that night even more critical and what a weird and wild evening it turned out to be. T h e D u c k s started strong in the first four inn i n g s , building a 4-0 lead with some help from Atlantic City, as one of the runs was scored on a basesloaded walk and another on a wild pitch.

Ducks starting pitcher Pat Ahearne gave yet another great performance but was unable to improve his record to 7-0 because of some poor defense by his teammates. Two Ducks fielding errors in the top of the eighth inning resulted in Atlantic City scoring four runs to tie the ball game. Ahearne finished with a no-decision after pitching seven and two-thirds innings allowing eight hits, four unearned runs, no walks, and striking out a season-high nine batters. "The way Pat was pitching we thought he was going to finish, but unfortunately in that one inning we couldn't put the fire out for him," McCormack said, "It's tough that he didn't get the win, but he is going really well for us right now and we always know what to expect when he is out there."

The Ducks had the chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth as Elvis Pena came to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out. With everybody on base in motion, including pinch runner Kevin Haverbusch at third, manager Don McCormack asked Pena to drop a suicide squeeze bunt. Pena did so but popped the ball up slightly, and lucky for the Ducks Atlantic City pitcher, Ben Grezlovski, slipped on the wet grass allowing Haverbusch to come home for the winning run. Haverbusch, who is from Massapequa and will be the feature of a special profile in next week's column, said after the game, "It was a tough situation to come in like that after sitting on the bench for three and a half hours but I was happy to make it home on that play and fortunately for us we won the game."

However, after a rainout on Saturday and back-to-back losses on Sunday and Monday, the Ducks still find themselves a half game behind Bridgeport entering play on Tuesday. Who will take the division title? The next two weeks will decide. VOTE FOR YOUR DUCKS ALL-STARS

The Atlantic League All-Star Game is only two weeks away and there are just a few days left for Long Island fans to vote their favorite Ducks on to this season's North Division squad. The All-Star game is being held this year in Bridgeport's Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Wednesday night, July 12th. Ducks fans who would like to attend the game can purchase tickets on the website www.bridgeportbluefish.com.

The following Ducks players are on the all-star ballot: First Baseman Bucky Jacobsen, Second Baseman Carlos Hernandez, Third Baseman Erick Almonte, Shortstop Tony Schrager, Catcher Brad King, Designated Hitter Henry Rodriguez, and Outfielders Mel Stocker, Juan Gonzalez and Dominick Ambrosini. To vote for any or all of these players, Ducks fans should log on to the following website: www.atlanticleague.com/vote.

EXTRA INNINGS:

The Ducks are currently in the middle of a six game-six day road trip through New Jersey (three in Newark, then three in Somerset). Following an off day next Monday, Long Island will close out the season's first half with seven consecutive home games beginning Tuesday night at Citibank Park against Newark. Immediately after this game, fans in attendance will be treated to a fireworks show celebrating the Fourth of July.

 The recent bad weather on Long Island means that the Ducks will finish their first half one day later than originally scheduled. Team officials announced that last Saturday's

rainout will be made up on Monday, July 10th at 7:05 p.m. Any fans who are holding tickets for the postponed game will be able to use them on the rescheduled date only.

 Mel Stocker's hitting streak finally came to a halt during the series in Bridgeport last week. It was the first time in 25 games that the centerfielder did not register at least one hit. Stocker's streak, already a Ducks franchise record, ended two games shy of tying the Atlantic League record of 27 games.

As this streak ends, another one might have begun. Going into Tuesday's game, another Ducks outfielder, Dominick Ambrosini, has put together ten consecutive games with a hit. Ambrosini is currently one of the hottest hitters in the league, batting over .500 during the past week.

The Ducks further bolstered their pitching staff this week by signing former major leaguer Tony Fiore to a contract for the remainder of the season. "This is a great addition to our pitching staff in our push for the first half North Division championship," says Ducks general manager Michael Hirsch. "Tony has a wealth of experience and success. We anticipate him bringing that same level of play to Long Island."

 The 34-year-old Fiore, a Chicago native, has appeared in 87 games at the major league level with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Minnesota Twins and comes to Long Island after beginning this season with the Detroit Tigers' Triple-A affiliate in Toledo.