Father, son set fan record for tickets

Twelve-year-old Ryan Kamer doesn't duck from a challenge.

Determined to break the Long Island Ducks' fan record for waiting in line to buy tickets, the Moriches seventh-grader and his father, Charlie, pitched a tent outside the baseball team's Central Islip stadium at 11 a.m. last Sunday.

By the time tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Ryan and his dad, taking turns throughout the week, had been at the box office for 143 consecutive hours -- shattering the old record of 77 hours.

"We blew it away," Ryan said, adding he wanted to break the record because, "it seemed like it would be cool."

Ryan and Charlie Kamer, 53, were rewarded Saturday when they participated in a ceremony unveiling the stadium's new name, Bethpage Ballpark. Naming rights for the stadium were awarded last year to Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

The Kamers were among hundreds of Ducks fans who braved chilly breezes yesterday morning for a chance to buy tickets. The Ducks' first home game is May 6.

Ryan and his dad, now six-year veterans of this annual rite of spring, were also the Ducks' "first fans" last year.

They took their place at the head of the line a week ago with two portable heaters, sleeping bags and lots of food. To pass the time, Ryan honed his Xbox skills and played catch with his father.

Ryan said he attended classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Longwood Junior High School. He said the school allowed him to be absent on Thursday and Friday. "I made up all my work with my teachers," he said.

His father also took breaks from the ticket line, but "one of us was here at all times," Ryan said.

No other fans joined them until Friday, Ryan said.

Like the Kamers, other fans lined up Saturday said being among the first to buy Ducks tickets is a tradition.

"We do this every year," said Marc Stander, 47, of Holbrook, who met up before 5 a.m. Saturday with fans George White, 39, of Bay Shore, and Bill Malahias, 47, of Selden. "It becomes like a family reunion," Stander said.