Gulls Roll Past Waves, 11-6
Published on June 27, 2014 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - After losing for the first time at Cardines Field in 2014 to the North Adams SteepleCats, 7-1, the Gulls were looking to avenge that loss with great offense and pitching contributions. In front of 2,611 fans at Cardines Field, the Gulls offense combined for 14 hits and scored seven runs in the third inning en route to a 11-6 victory over the Ocean State Waves on Friday.
The Waves were able to get to Gulls starter Brett Hanewich early in the first inning. Ryan Blanton and Tim Caputo led off the inning with singles, and Jordan Mountford reached on a fielding error by Gulls third baseman Reed Gamache. With the bases loaded, Drew Ferguson was retired on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Anthony Lyons, enabling Blanton to score the Waves' first run. However, Hanewich was able to escape the jam, causing Robby Rinn to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. When the dust settled, the Waves took an early 1-0 lead.
Facing Waves starter Lucas Fernandes, the Gulls bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first. Two singles by Tommy Edman and Ben Roberts set the stage for the rally, which ultimately culminated in a two-run double by Blaise Salter. After a single by P.J. Jones, outfielder Jose Vizcaino Jr. continued the hit parade with an RBI single to left. The Gulls eventually loaded the bases after Lyons walked on five pitches, bringing Gamache to the plate. Even though Jones was retired on a force-out at the plate, Gamache was able to drive in Vizcaino Jr. when Waves catcher (and former Gull) Ethan Ferreira made an errant throw past Rinn at first base. Even though Shea Donlin grounded out to the end the inning, the damage was done, as the Gulls emerged with a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the third, the Waves offense continued to give Hanewich trouble. Despite two quick outs, a single by Caputo and a walk to Mountford set things up for Ferguson, who got the Waves back on the board with an RBI single to left. Hanewich was able to strike out Rinn to end the inning, but the Gulls still led 4-2.
Despite trouble in the first and third innings, Hanewich pitched well in his second outing of the summer. The sophomore from Stanford went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five batters.
Hanewich was assisted by great offensive contributions by the Gulls, especially in the third inning. After Jones singled and Vizcaino Jr. reached on an error by third baseman A.J. Ramirez, Fernandes loaded the bases after issuing a walk to Lyons.
Eventually, Brad Applin entered the game for the Waves, inheriting a bases-loaded jam with no outs and Gamache up to bat. Gamache continued the offensive rally, lining a two-run single to left. Donlin made his own contribution to the offensive equation, driving home Lyons on an RBI single to left-center. After the Waves got two outs on a double play, Nick Zammarelli drove in his 17th and 18th runs of the year, blasting a two run double to left-center. In the next at-bat, Salter skied a two-run home run (his third of the summer) into the playground in left field, giving the Gulls a comfortable 11-2 advantage over the Waves.
After Hanewich ended his outing after six stellar innings of work, Mason Richardson came into the game, making his fourth appearance of the summer. Richardson allowed a single to Alec Diamond then walked Ferreira on five pitches. A wild pitch by Richardson placed both runners in scoring position, setting up for TJ Lynch as he drove home Diamond on an RBI groundout to second. After Richardson walked three batters and allowed one run, manager Mike Coombs went to the bullpen, bringing in southpaw Marc Huberman. In his eighth appearance of the summer, Huberman allowed two hit while striking out one batter. Huberman allowed an RBI single by Brandon Bingel, issued a bases-loaded walk to Rinn, and allowed Steve Wilgus to reach on an infield single. Huberman then struck out Diamond to end the jam, with the lead still intact at 11-6.
Johnathon Tripp made his second consecutive appearance in the top of the eighth, coming in for Huberman. Ferreira led off the inning with a scorching double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a groundout by Lynch. Tripp demonstrated great flexibility on the next at-bat, stretching to throw out Blanton on a groundout. Caputo then grounded out to short, as Tripp kept the Gulls lead intact at 11-6.
Tripp returned to the mound for the top of the ninth. With one out, Tripp allowed an infield single to Bingel, then allowed a wall-ball double to Rinn. Despite the threat, Tripp struck out Diamond and Wilgus to end the game, giving the Gulls a 11-6 victory over the Waves.
With the win, the Gulls improve their record to 12-5, maintaining their place at second place in the NECBL Southern Division. With the Plymouth Pilgrims winning both games of a doubleheader against the Danbury Westerners, the Gulls now trail the Pilgrims by 1 ý games in the NECBL South.
The Gulls return to action tomorrow afternoon, when they travel to Rogers Park to take on the Danbury Westerners at 6:30 pm. Jack Patterson (1-1, 4.15 ERA) will get the start for the Gulls, while the Westerners counter with defending NECBL Pitcher of the Week Max Knutson (1-1, 1.72 ERA). Tune into the action as Tim Scott (filling in for Nick Lima) and Maggie O'Keeffe will bring you the call on the NECBL Broadcast Network. The Gulls return home on Monday, when they host the Mystic Schooners at Cardines Field.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 27, 2014
- Swamp Bats Drop Pitcher's Duel to North Adams, 1-0 - Keene Swamp Bats
- McDade rules against the Mainers - Sanford Mainers
- Gulls Roll Past Waves, 11-6 - Newport Gulls
- Mountaineers defeat Sanford - Vermont Mountaineers
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