Long Island Ducks baseball 2008 season Brian Bohl Citibank Park Ray Navarete Carl Everett- SuffolkJournal.com

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Ray Navarrete ranged to his right, completing a backhand scoop. He raced to his left the next at-bat, snagging another grounder during the Ducks’ open workout Thursday afternoon.

For Navarrete (pictured at left), the infield practice presented an opportunity to play in familiar surroundings. The former Mets’ prospect batted .308 for the Ducks in 2007, instantly becoming comfortable with the confines of Citibank Park.

He is also one of 11 players returning from last year. Navarrete attributed the high retention rate to Dave LaPoint, who guided the Ducks to a 72-54 overall record in his first season as Long Island’s manager.

“I would think most people would agree that we had a pretty good core last year,” Navarrete said. “[Dave] is the best manager I ever played for. He’s a big believer that if you have a good clubhouse, you’ll have a good product on the field. It seemed to work last year. It has a lot to do with him.

Highlighting the returning class is former Major League Baseball All-Star Carl Everett, who said during media day that 2008 will be his last season if he does not receive an offer from a big league franchise. Pete Rose Jr., Damien Rolls, Estee Harris, Kevin Haverbusch and catcher Jamie Pogue also were members of last season’s unit that captured the second half division championship.

Everett, a veteran of 14 major league seasons, batted .312 and registered 97 RBIs in just 104 games for the Ducks. LaPoint will be able to pencil in Everett behind Rose Jr. in the middle of the order again. Everett’s experience -- 1,405 games in the majors -- also makes him a leader, allowing him to mentor young players like the 23-year-old Harris.

“No doubt,” Everett said when asked if he could still play at the highest level. “I’m only 36. I proved that last year. There’s been a lot of exaggeration, but I can play.”

(At left, Everett takes a big swing.)

Fellow holdover Joe Valentine was one of the Atlantic League’s best set-up men, filling the eighth inning position before giving way to closer Danny Graves. With Graves now playing for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, Valentine will be entrusted with the closer’s role for the expanded 140-game schedule.

“There could be three closers in any given game. It doesn’t matter what inning you’re in as a reliever,” said Valentine, who struck out 37 batters and posted a 1.54 ERA in 35 innings last year. “You always have to put up zeros.”

Graves logged a league-high 33 saves last season. Valentine owns one of the AL’s best fastballs and said the experience gleaned from playing in the league last season can be beneficial in his new role.

“Anytime you have experience at any level, it always helps out,” the 28-year-old said. “Knowing some of the guys in the league, it’s going to help. But there are still a lot of new faces.”

Ben Grezlovski is another familiar face who will be entrusted out of the bullpen. Staff ace Randy Leek also signed on for another season, getting the Opening Day assignment against the Newark Bears in a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff matchup.

Former Rockies’ left-hander Tom Martin headlines the new acquisitions, giving LaPoint the ability to make the southpaw a set-up man or middle reliever. Leek’s 2.23 ERA would have led the league if he pitched enough innings to qualify, while Martin saw time with Colorado in 2007.

LaPoint’s roster tinkering didn’t even stop on Opening Night. Ronkonkoma native Dominick Ambrosini (pictured at right), who played for Ducks in 2006, signed with the club hours before the first game. Former Minnesota Twin Brent Abernathy, a veteran of 232 big league games, was brought in as a middle infielder. LaPoint also said ex-Mariners outfielder Jamal Strong will be the Ducks’ centerfielder and leadoff hitter.

Of course, the Opening Day roster can quickly be raided by affiliated teams. LaPoint, who managed the Bridgeport Bluefish before coming back to Suffolk County last year, said he has contingency plans in place.

“We have names and I would say right now that as long as I’ve been here, we are the most prepared if we do lose somebody,” LaPoint said.