Newport Gulls advance to NECBL Championship Series

The Newport Gulls explosive offense set the tone early, striking for five runs in the top of the first inning off New Bedford starter Donald Murray, to power the Gulls to a 6–3 victory in Game Two and complete a sweep of the Bay Sox in the New England Collegiate Baseball League Eastern Division Championship Series at Paul Walsh Field on Tuesday, August 7. 

Newport advances to the NECBL Championship series for first time since 2009 and for the eighth time in franchise history. The Gulls have now won eight division championships. The Gulls will face the winner of the Western Division Championship Series, either top-seeded Keene or second-seeded Danbury when their three game series ends. Danbury upset Keene 9-8 in Game One at Alumni Field on Tuesday, August 7. The Westerners can complete a sweep of the three-game series and advance to play the Gulls in the championship with a win in Game Two at home on Wednesday, August 8.

If the Westerners complete the sweep on Wednesday, the Gulls will begin the NECBL Championship Series at Cardines Field on Thursday, August 9. If Keene forces a Game Three with a win in Game Two, the NECBL Championship will begin at Cardines Field on Friday, August 10. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Newport will send their ace Daniel Wright (6-0, 3.94 ERA) to the mound for Game One of the NECBL Championship Series. Wright, a junior from Arkansas State, went seven innings to pick up the win in Game One of the Gulls first-round playoff series against the Sanford Mainers on August 3.

Newport outfielder Charlie White led off the game with a walk, stole second and came around to score the first run of the game on an RBI single to right by first baseman Steve Anderson. Designated hitter Matt Pare singled to load the bases with one out before New Bedford shortstop Peyton Hart’s third error in two games on a groundball hit back up the middle by shortstop Joel McKeithan with the bases loaded allowed another run to score.

Second baseman Conor Keniry followed with a bases clearing double to the gap in left centerfield to give Newport a 5-0 lead after half an inning on the road.

Staked to a five run lead, Newport starter Adam Ravenelle ran into trouble early in his first start of the post-season. Ravenelle allowed just one run, an RBI single by New Bedford first baseman Alex Baldock, but threw 35 pitches, laboring through a marathon first inning. Ravenelle lasted just two innings, departing after throwing 72 pitches. Ravenelle gave up two hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.

Left-hander Ryan Pennell was masterful over four shutout innings of work in relief of Ravenelle. Pennell allowed just one hit with three walks and five strikeouts before giving way to right-hander Brett Graves. 

Newport tacked on an insurance run with a bases loaded groundout by outfielder White to take a 6-1 lead. 

The Bay Sox mounted a late rally in the eighth inning off Graves when Baldock tripled to deep right to bring home a run on his second RBI of the contest. Designated hitter Zach Stone was hit by a pitch before catcher Andy Lalli delivered a sacrifice fly to deep center to cut the Gulls lead in half, 6-3.

Newport field manager Mike Coombs called upon closer Caleb Kellogg for the four out save. Kellogg put out the fire in the eighth inning by striking out pinch hitter Brendan O’Brien on four pitches. Needing three outs to punch their ticket to the NECBL Championship series, Kellogg closed out the Bay Sox in the ninth inning.