Gulls Blank Muskrats, Pick up 5th Shutout
June 17, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - Heading into Wednesday's game at Cardines Field, the Newport Gulls anticipated a pitchers' duel, but the team could not have expected the kind of performance their staff gave them. The Gulls (7-2) notched up their fifth shutout of the season, taking down the Laconia Muskrats 6-0.
The Muskrats (5-4) were held to just three hits in the game and stranded eight batters, snapping the team's four-game winning streak.
Newport got all the run support it needed in the first inning on a two-run double by Max Beermann before the Gulls even took the field defensively.
James Karinchak and the pitching staff took it from there, leaving Laconia batters off-balance for five innings, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
Karinchak said his strategy was to keep the ball away from batters - and it worked - to the tune of two hits in five innings.
"We were trying to beat them away all game and come with the curveball late," Karinchak said. "It was working all game, so I really didn't change."
Manager Mike Coombs said that he's loved what his staff has done so far in 2015, posting a 1.77 ERA through nine games.
"Every guy we've run out there pretty much has been able to throw the ball really well, so I'm pleased with what's going on," Coombs said.
One wrench thrown in the operation for Newport was the arrival of Darrell Miller Jr., the catcher from UCLA, who got the start behind the dish.
Coombs said that his pitchers didn't skip a beat with the change at catcher because of how skilled both Miller and Drew Lugbauer are.
"I'm very fortunate to have two really, extremely good catchers that are receivers, not just catching the ball," Coombs said. "They control the game, they're always moving the fielders around... Darrell is a very smart one, just like Drew Lugbauer is."
After Karinchak was pulled after the fifth inning, Michael Bono and Colton Hock got their first action of the season and stepped up to the task. The two new arrivals combined to allow one hit and keep Laconia from crossing the plate.
Late in the game, the Gulls added four insurance runs across the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, extending the lead to six runs.
Despite the large lead, Karinchak said that a pitcher's mentality can't change on the mound; he just has to keep his game plan and stop the opposition.
"I'm just trying to get every batter out," Karinchak said. "It doesn't matter if it's zero-zero or we're up 13-0."
The Gulls will host the Danbury Westerners Wednesday at Cardines Field. Rob Masse and the NECBL broadcast crew will have the call of the game on the NECBL Broadcast Network, with the extended pregame show starting at 6 p.m., and first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 17, 2015
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