James Sauro Named Gulls Hitting Coach for 2019
May 29, 2019 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - The Gulls are proud to announce its final member of this year's coaching staff, James Sauro.
Sauro joins the Newport Gulls as the team's Hitting Coach in 2019 after having spent the past six seasons with in-state rival Ocean State Waves. Sauro brings a wealth of knowledge with him to an already experienced staff of Field Manager Kevin Winterrowd and Pitching Coach Greg Zackrison. All three individuals have served as Field Managers in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
"Anytime you can get a Coach who is committed to the game of baseball and understands his craft well and can teach that craft to aspiring professional athletes, it is a win for everyone", said Newport Gulls President & General Manager Chuck Paiva.
Sauro has been the Head Coach of South Kingstown High School (South Kingstown, RI) since 1997, leading the Rebels to a Rhode Island State Championship victory in 2018- the school's first since 2002. In addition to his familiarity with the NECBL, he is also no stranger to championships as those same South Kingstown Rebels reached McCoy Stadium for the 2016 and 2017 State Championship games before taking home the title last spring. Additionally, he captured back-to-back NECBL Southern Division Titles as the Ocean State Waves Field Manager in 2017 and 2018. During this span Sauro amassed a 56-32 record- a .636 winning percentage. The Waves were ranked as Summer Collegiate Baseball's No. 1 Overall Team during the 2017 Season under Sauro's leadership. He first joined the Ocean State Waves as an Assistant Coach six years ago.
Sauro has left a footprint on Rhode Island baseball as a coach as well as a player. He played collegiately for the University of Rhode Island and still remains in the top five all-time in career batting average.
Sauro on coaching in the NECBL: "It is always very exciting to get to coach some of the best baseball players in the country!"
With Opening Day just one week away, the addition of a veteran leader like James Sauro to an already well-seasoned Coaching Staff puts the Gulls in a great position to capture their seventh Fay Vincent St. Cup.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from May 29, 2019
- James Sauro Named Gulls Hitting Coach for 2019 - Newport Gulls
- Gulls in Search of Volunteers - Newport Gulls
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