By MICHAEL RADANO
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

They very well could have given up.

But if nothing else, the Camden Riversharks have proven they won't go into the offseason without a fight.

Dan Held hit a two-out single that hopped off the left- field wall to score John Dorman from second base Wednesday night and give the Sharks a 4-3 win over Long Island in 11 innings.

With its 3-1 win over Atlantic City, Somerset lowered its magic number to one for the second-half title. A loss by the Sharks in any one of their next 14 games or a win by the Patriots in one of their next 13 games will clinch the South Division title for the fifth consecutive half.

"We're going to have some fun and win some games," said Held, who entered the game mired in a 3-for-28 slump. "I'm just glad I could contribute at a big moment. I've been horse (crap) the last couple weeks."

With one out, Guillermo Garcia singled. He then left the game for pinch-runner John Dorman. Dorman stole second as Raul Rodarte struck out. Held then hit a 1-0 pitch to left.

"He (losing pitcher Hut Smith) left a fastball up," Held said. "I just tried to hit the ball."

Long Island (57-56 overall, 22-28 half) tied the game in the sixth with three runs off starter Derek Root.

Root wasn't as sharp as he had been over his last three starts, but the Ducks still failed to break through for much of the game.

Of course, the Sharks have all but owned Long Island this season. Long Island is one of only two teams, the other being Lehigh Valley, that Camden has a winning record against. With one game left in the season series, Camden holds an 11-6 advantage over the Ducks.

Doug Jennings led off the Long Island sixth with a single. Francisco Morales then doubled to put runners at second and third.

Jose Gonzalez singled home the first run of the night for the Ducks. Gonzalez stole second and a pair of sacrifice flies by Bo Durkac and Kevin Robles tied the game at 3.

"It was important to show something and come back in the seventh and not allow a run," said Root.

"It was upsetting to give up three runs. They came out more aggressive that inning. But we got a win and that's all that matters."

The Sharks (43-69, 19-30) jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

Haddon Township graduate Brad Strauss opened the inning with a walk. Jesus Azuaje singled, and Garcia came up with runners on first and second.

He drove a ball into the left-center field gap that Ducks center fielder Justin Davies just missed. Strauss and Martinez scored, but the fleet-footed Garcia was held to a single.

That Garcia failed to reach second hurt when Rodarte hit into a double play, but the Sharks were up 2-0.

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