Five Gulls to Represent Newport at NECBL All-Star Game
July 13, 2021 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - The Newport Gulls will have five representatives at the NECBL All-Star Game at Cardines Field on July 18. Dawson Brigman, Sam Cochrane, Justin Guerrera, Kellan Tulio, and Grant Umberger were all selected to the Southern Division roster. Newport Head Coach Kevin Winterrowd will manage the team by default thanks to the Gulls' division-best .667 winning percentage after the July 9 cut-off date.
Cochrane, now a two-time NECBL All-Star, was selected as a starter in the outfield for the Southern Division. The selection is well deserved, as the outfielder has amassed the second-most runs (23) and third-most hits (27) in the division. Cochrane is also a proven threat on the basepaths (18-19 in SBA) and in the field with just one error and multiple assists on the season.
Guerrera, a first-time NECBL All-Star, will start at second base for the Southern Division. The Stags slugger has league-best marks in home runs (nine) and runs batted in (26). Guerrera, a potential
MLB-draft prospect, has the second-best slugging percentage (.737) and OPS (1.148) in the league and is tied with Cochrane for second in runs scored.
Tulio and Umberger, reserve selections, will both be making their first-ever NECBL All-Star roster as two of nine pitchers for the Southern Division. Tulio more than earned his selection with a 1.57 ERA on the season, the third-best in the league. The Louisville lefty has been almost unhittable, limiting batters to a
.159 average in 23 innings (two relief appearances / four starts). Umberger has arguably been even more impressive, albeit in a smaller sample size. The relief-ace from Virginia Tech has whiffed 19 batters in 10 innings, allowing just seven baserunners (0.70 WHIP) and two runs (1.80 ERA) over that span.
With each division awarded one Coach's Selection to their respective All-Star roster, Winterrowd took the opportunity to select Brigman, who will be the fourth Gull selected to an NECBL All-Star roster for the first time. A crucial piece of one of the league's best lineups, Brigman has been an all-around hitter as evidenced by his slash line (.293 AVG/.449 OBP/.414 SLG). The Santa Clara product has walked six more times (15) than he has struck out (nine).
Newport could have one more player selected to the roster, as Matt Wood will represent the Gulls in the annual All-Star fan vote. A force on offense and behind the plate, Wood is an especially deserving candidate. The Nittany Lion has been hot as of late, batting .345 and reaching base almost half the time he steps up to the plate (.471 OBP) since returning from injury in late June. Vote for Wood at: .
Gates open at 2 p.m. with the first pitch slated for 5:05. The day's festivities will also include a Home Run Derby competition set to run from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Scouts from all Major League franchises are expected to attend along with numerous NECBL alumni, league officials, and other VIPs. A full itinerary of the day can be found at: .
The All-Star Game along with the Home Run Derby will be broadcasted live on the web via the NECBL's streaming partner, Blue Frame Technology. The game itself will also be carried live on Cox Communication's YurView New England channel starting at 5 p.m.
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- Five Gulls to Represent Newport at NECBL All-Star Game - Newport Gulls
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