Newport Gulls Get Even with Bay Sox
June 9, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEW BEDFORD - The Newport Gulls entered Saturday night's game with the New Bedford Bay Sox seeking to avenge an 8-7 loss to their division rivals on Opening Night at Cardines Field. The Gulls held a 4-2 lead in Thursday's home opener before the Bay Sox took advantage of three errors to plate six runs in the 7th; but tonight, the Gulls returned the favor, plating five runs after sending 11 men to the plate in the 7th inning of New Bedford's home opener, routing the Bay Sox 8-2 and improving to 1-1 on the young season.
The win came on the heels of news that 17 former Gulls - and one 2013 team member - had been selected in the 2013Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The full list, available at www.newportgulls.com, is headlined by first-round, first-overall pick Mark Appel, (RHP, Stanford) who played for Newport in 2010 and was selected Thursday by Houston. Eight Gulls from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 teams were selected in the first 10 rounds, including 2011's Conrad Gregor (Vanderbilt - 4th Round., Houston) and Jack Reinheimer (East Carolina - 5th Round., Mariners).
Playing at Paul Walsh Field in New Bedford in front of a crowd of 475, the Gulls scored eight runs on five hits, and took advantage of several opportunities in a slow-moving matchup that saw plenty of action along the base paths. Despite making two errors in the field, the Gulls garnered strong support from the bullpen. The win followed an off day Friday in which the Gulls first away game vs. the Sanford Mainers was rained out, as was the rest of the league's scheduled action, including New Bedford's original home opener.
The Gulls started off Saturday's game with a renewed approach at the plate. Facing New Bedford starter Johnny Lieske (Illinois State), back for a second season with the Bay Sox after facing the Gulls four times in 2012 (once in the playoffs), the Gulls walked three times to lead off the first. Timmy Robinson (Southern California) drove in Cody Jones (Texas Christian University) with an infield RBI single, putting the Gulls up 1-0, but for the moment the damage would end there.
Getting the start for the Gulls was Northeastern southpaw James Mulry. In 4 2/3 innings pitched, Mulry allowed two runs on two hits, walking five batters and striking out six. Through the first three innings, Mulry accumulated all of his strikeouts, utilizing his fastball and curveball effectively. However, in the third, Mulry walked three batters, and allowed a two-run single to Matt Lopez (San Jose State). At the end of three, New Bedford led the Gulls, 2-1.
With two outs in the fifth, Bryant reliever Kyle Wilcox (1-0) was inserted into the game by Gulls manager Mike Coombs. Wilcox pitched well in his first relief appearance, allowing just two hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched, with one walk and two strikeouts. A notable highlight from Wilcox's outing came in the fifth inning, when he was able to strike out Christian Venditti to escape a jam, and maintain the 2-1 score into the sixth, keeping the Gulls within striking distance.
The turning point of the game came in the sixth. Robinson led off the inning with a single. After returning Gull Steve Anderson (Georgetown) was hit by a pitch, there were two runners on base for catcher Ethan Ferreira (Harvard). Ferreira connected on an offering from Bay Sox reliever Aaron Graef (West Hills College, 0-1), and laced it up the middle. Anderson and Ferreira scored, and the Gulls took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth.
After Wilcox retired the side in the sixth, the Gulls came back up in the top of the seventh. Facing new reliever Adam Fournier (Franklin Pierce), the Gulls loaded the bases through a series of walks. With the bases loaded, Anderson lined a single to center, driving in both Jones and Trace Tam Sing (Washington State) (Tam Sing was drafted in the 26th Round by the Kansas City Royals earlier in the afternoon; a 2010 22nd round pick by the Boston Red Sox, Tam Sing is one of 14 2013 Gulls who have previously been drafted). Eventually, Ben Roberts (Washington State) scored on a wild pitch by Fournier, which was followed by a sacrifice fly from Matt Foley (Rhode Island College). Lastly, Jones walked with the bases loaded, driving in Ferreira. When all was said and done, the Gulls took an 8-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Wilcox had a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the seventh, which set up reliever Mark McCoy (Wake Forest) for the remaining two frames. McCoy went two innings, walking one hitter, and striking out one batter. Despite walking the leadoff hitter in the ninth, McCoy retired the next three batters, securing the victory for the Gulls.
The Gulls walked thirteen times as a team, and also connected on five hits. Robinson led the Gulls offensively, going 2-5 with an RBI. Anderson and Ferreira each contributed 2 RBI, while Jones and Roberts each walked three times. On the mound, the Gulls struck out nine hitters, but walked seven. Going back to last year's Eastern Division Championship Series, the game marked the fourth consecutive game played by the Bay Sox against the Gulls, who go on to play at North Adams Sunday.
With the victory, the Gulls improve to a 1-1 record in NECBL play. The Gulls will face the Wareham Gateman of the Cape Cod Baseball League in an exhibition game on Sunday. Joe Iorio (Barry) will get the start. The game will begin at 6:00 at Wareham's Spillane Field. The game will air on tape delay by the Newport Gulls Broadcast Network and aired later locally on NCTV PA-18 Newport County and other networks.
In what has become an annual exhibition tradition, the Gulls-Wareham matchup this year pits the 2012 NECBL champions and Perfect Game USA's National Champions against the 2012 CCBL champs. Newport was defeated by Wareham last June at Cardines, but won against the Gatemen at Spillane in 2011.
After their exhibition game on Sunday, the Gulls will play their next NECBL game on Monday, June 10, when they host the Mystic Schooners for the first time this season in an NECBL East matchup . The theme of Monday's game is Amazing Race Night, where teams of two will compete in "Amazing Race"-styled events on the field during the game. The promotion for Monday's game is a Season Pass Giveaway (one per inning), courtesy of Newport Gulls Baseball. The gates are open at 5:00 p.m, and first pitch will be at 6:35 p.m. with pregame ceremonies beginning at 6:20.
For more information, visit our website, www.newportgulls.com, and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter @NewportGulls.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 9, 2013
- Blue Sox Earn Shutout Victory over Waves 6-0 - Valley Blue Sox
- 'Cats Topple Bay Sox, Improve to 3-0 on Young Season - North Adams SteepleCats
- Ex- Blue Sock Perez Makes Major League Debut - NECBL
- SteepleCats Draft Class of 2013 Concludes with Chantz Mack's Selection by Seattle - North Adams SteepleCats
- Blue Sox Hit Road for Two-Game Road Trip - Valley Blue Sox
- Newport Gulls Get Even with Bay Sox - Newport Gulls
- Roy Taken by Pirates in MLB First-Year - North Adams SteepleCats
- Sanford Mainers lose 4-1 - Sanford Mainers
- Blue Sox Fall in Extras to SteepleCats, 6-1 - Valley Blue Sox
- Swamp Bats lost 4-3 - Keene Swamp Bats
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