Newport Gulls Hammer Laconia 16-3 Home Opener

The Newport Gulls exploded for seven runs in the top of the first inning off Laconia starter Nevin Wilson on Monday evening, en route to a 16-3 victory in front of 2,096 fans at Cardines Field in the Gulls regular season home opener.

“You really have to challenge yourself to stay focused,” said Gulls reliever Brett Graves. “You have to compete against yourself, and compete pitch by pitch instead of getting too caught up in the score.”

With the victory, the Gulls improve to 2-0 this season, while Laconia falls to 2-2 with the loss.

Tanner Chleborad (1-0) made his Gulls debut as he pitched five strong innings, allowing just three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. Graves tossed three shutout innings in relief, striking out seven and allowing just one hit. David Hoey worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and finish off the Muskrats.

The Gulls offense struck quickly in the bottom of the first inning when the leadoff man Kasey Coffman was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on an error. Designated hitter Alex DeLeon singled to drive in Coffman. First baseman Steve Anderson followed with a single and the ensuing batter, catcher Jeff Melillo, followed with an RBI double to give the Gulls a 2-0 lead. Second baseman Conor Keniry walked to load the bases and third baseman Brett Winger drove in a pair with an RBI double off the wall in right center.

Newport batted around in the bottom of the first inning when the number nine batter in the order, shortstop Blake Butera, walked and Coffman singled home a pair of runs with two out to give the Gulls a 6-0 lead. Outfielder Rob Ort followed with an RBI single to left to drive home Butera and give Newport a commanding 7-0 lead after just one inning.

The Gulls relentless offense tacked on an additional nine runs against five different Laconia pitchers, the majority of the damage done by a trio of home runs. Anderson blasted a solo shot to centerfield in the second inning, while Ort and outfielder Yale Rosen belted two-run homers in the third and eighth innings, respectively. Newport finished the night with 16 runs on a season-high 14 hits.

The Gulls will be back in action at Cardines Field on Wedsnday, June 13 when they take on their Eastern Division rivals, the Mystic Schooners (0-4) at 6:35 p.m.

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