Gulls Drop Tough Game to Vermont, 8-3, Play Under Protest
July 26, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I.-Coming off a tough 1-0 loss to the Keene Swamp Bats on Thursday, the Gulls were looking to bounce back against the Vermont Mountaineers, who currently lead the NECBL Northern Division. However, the Gulls caught several tough breaks throughout the game, dropping their second straight to the Mountaineers, 8-3, in front of 2,512 people at Cardines Field.
The Gulls got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first. Ben Roberts blasted a solo home run to right off Mountaineers starter Elliot Ashbeck, which propelled the Gulls to an early 1-0 lead. This was Roberts's second home run of the season, and his first since July 21.
Despite a solid early start, the Gulls ran into trouble in the top of the second. After Gull starterBrett Hanewich evaded a bases-loaded threat in the first, the Mountaineers offense came to life when shortstop Ben Hall drove home Mike Krische on an RBI double, tying the score at one.
In the top of the fourth, the Mountaineers were able to expand their lead courtesy of great offensive contributions. With base hits by Trey Amburgey and Krische to lead off the inning, Hall dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Then, catcher Trey West drove home the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout, while Alex Caruso brought home Krische on an RBI single. Even though Hanewich was able to catch Caruso in a run down, the Mountaineers had taken a 3-1 lead.
Small-ball tactics that were often employed by the Mountaineers throughout the game really came into play in the top of the sixth. Amburgey led off the inning with a single, then (after stealing second) advanced to third after Krische reached on a dropped third strike by Gulls catcher Will Smith. Hall and West drove in runs on RBI singles, effectively ending the outing for Hanewich. With runners on the corners and no outs, the Gulls turned to Armand Rugel to evade the jam. Despite a sacrifice fly to Caruso, Rugel struck out Nick Zolak and caught West stealing third, keeping the deficit intact at 6-1.
Trailing 6-1, the Gulls mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Colby Wright and Shea Donlin started the inning with a single and double, respectively. Roberts continued the rally by driving home Wright on an RBI groundout. In the next at-bat, Blaise Salter flied out to center on a fairly deep shot. However, the charging Donlin was able to beat the throw from Caruso, getting the Gulls closer to an equalizer with a 6-3 score.
However, the biggest controversy of the night came in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Reed Gamache lofted a deep fly ball to center. It was alleged that Caruso made the catch, but ran head-on into a metal pole in center. Gamache continued to run around the bases, thinking that Caruso dropped the ball and that he had an inside-the-park home run. With Caruso lying in pain in the outfield, a plethora of people ran over to check if Caruso was okay, and if he indeed caught the ball. After a minute passed, and after one of his teammates pulled off Caruso's glove and removed the ball from it, home plate umpire Peter Marciano ruled that Caruso caught the ball, effectively calling Gamache out.
Frustrated about the ruling, Gulls manager Mike Coombs argued the call with Marciano and with base umpire John Basso. After minutes of persistent discussion, Coombs threw his hat to the ground, and was ejected by Basso. The Gulls then announced that they were playing the game under protest from that point forward.
With Coombs ejected, Gulls pitching coach Kevin Long assumed the interim managerial duties. After a stellar inning of relief from Marc Huberman in the seventh, the Gulls turned to Mark McCoy for the eighth and ninth innings. In the top of the ninth, McCoy walked new catcher Evan Harasta, who filled in for the injured catcher West while batting in the slot for the injured Caruso.
With Harasta at second, Blake Tiberi laced an RBI double, while Mike Vigliarolo drove home Tiberi on an RBI single. Although McCoy got Ian Sagdal to ground into a double play, the Mountaineers expanded their lead to 8-3.
Reliever Robert Strader pitched effectively for the Mountaineers in the eighth and ninth innings. Despite allowing a single to Wright in the eighth, he retired the other six batter she faced, including a groundout to short off the bat of Ryan Tufts to end the game, securing an 8-3 victory for the Mountaineers.
The Gulls fall to 18-15 on the season, as their record in July plummets to 4-10.
With the Mystic Schooners defeating the Keene Swamp Bats on the road, the Gulls fall behind the Schooners, currently standing in fourth place in the NECBL Southern Division standings. The Mountaineers, who now stand at 23-11, swept the season series against the Gulls, marking the first time the Gulls have been swept by Vermont since the 2010 season.
Meanwhile, the Gulls will go on the road to Fitch High School on Saturday to battle the Mystic Schooners in a pivotal NECBL Southern Division showdown. Jack Patterson (3-2, 2.81 ERA) will make his sixth start of the summer for the Gulls, while the Schooners counter with Nolan Long (0-3, 4.13 ERA).
First pitch is slated for 6:05 pm, as Nick Lima and Alex Teixeira will cover the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 26, 2014
- Sox blank Mountaineers - Vermont Mountaineers
- Keene powers past Danbury 8-7 behind four home runs - Keene Swamp Bats
- Gulls Drop Tough Game to Vermont, 8-3, Play Under Protest - Newport Gulls
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