Gulls Back in First Place with 3-2 Win over Danbury
Published on July 10, 2015 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - With first place on the line in the NECBL Southern Division, the Newport Gulls (16-9), on the strength of a solo, go-ahead home run by Quinn Brodey, defeated the Danbury Westerners (5-19) 3-2 at Cardines Field on Friday night.
The Westerners got on the board first by taking advantage of inaccuracy by Newport's starter, Michael Bono. Danbury put two men in scoring position with one out on two walks and a balk in the second, both of whom would later come around to score.
However, the Gulls responded with two of their own in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single by Shea Donlin. From there on, Gulls pitching was dominant, keeping the Westerners off the bases.
Manager Mike Coombs said his pitchers had an "instructional day" on one of their off days and it has paid off for his staff.
Bono, Hunter Schryver and Brad Wegman combined to allow just two Westerner hits - both by Brendan Cox - in the game, keeping hitters guessing all night and keeping the game tied on a night when the Gulls offense cooled off a bit.
With the game closing in on the end, Newport needed a spark to take this one, and that spark came in the form of Brodey.
Brodey, a night after pitching six innings in Newport's win over Ocean State, deposited a 1-2 pitch over the right-field fence to give the Gulls another victory, their third in a row.
Coombs said it's great having a guy like Brodey who can do multiple things for a baseball team.
"The kid is an athlete," Coombs said. "Quinn can play the field and he can pitch, so he's a double threat."
Wegman pitched a perfect ninth inning, giving Newport the win and first place in the South, a spot they hadn't seen since dropping seven of 10 games just a week ago.
The Gulls will travel to New Bedford Saturday to face the fourth place Bay Sox. Rob Masse and Tom Porter will have the call on the NECBL Broadcast Network, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, with the victory, the Gulls not only reclaimed first place from the Mystic Schooners, but also solidified the team's coaching staff as the staff for the NECBL All-Star Game's Southern Division squad, regardless of what happens between now and the game set for Sunday, July 19 at Goodall Park in Sanford, Maine.
Coombs, hitting coach Al Leyva, and pitching coach Kevin Long now have a combined 20 years of experience with the Gulls, with both Leyva and Long also coaching for other organizations in the league prior to coming to Newport in 2011. Coombs, Newport's manager since 2005, has previously managed All-Star teams for the NECBL Southern or Eastern Division in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
The NECBL will announce the 29 selections to each division's all-star squad on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. on the league's official Twitter account @TheNECBL. Starting at midnight on Sunday, for the first time in league history, fans will have the opportunity to vote for one additional player to make the all-star roster by voting at vote15.necbl.com.
After Saturday's road trip to New Bedford, the Gulls will play make-up baseball. On Sunday, Newport travels to Montpelier, Vermont to face the Mountaineers at 6:30 and make up a rainout. Monday, Newport will play a make-up contest at 3 p.m. at Forges Field in Plymouth, Massachusetts against the Pilgrims prior to a regularly scheduled 6:30 contest there. Both games will be seven innings.
While the team is off Tuesday, the Gulls return to action and return home to Cardines Field for Game Five of the Pell Bridge Series on Wednesday night, July 15, at 6:35 p.m. vs. the Ocean State Waves. Newport took the best-of-six, season-long series with a 2-1 victory, their fourth straight against the Waves, on Thursday.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit www.facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 10, 2015
- Gulls Back in First Place with 3-2 Win over Danbury - Newport Gulls
- Mountaineers Top Laconia 8-3 - Vermont Mountaineers
- Gray guides Waves over Schooners, 2-0 - Ocean State Waves
- Mainers Shut Down Keene's Offense - Keene Swamp Bats
- NECBL Announces 2015 All-Star Game Fan Vote, Roster Unveil Details - NECBL
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