Newport Gulls Return with Announcement of 2021 NECBL Schedule
April 15, 2021 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - Newport Gulls baseball is finally back at historic Cardines Field this summer! The New England Collegiate Baseball League officially released a 42-game regular season schedule that is slated to begin June 3rd and wrap up on August 1st. The Gulls home opener will be Friday, June 4th at 6:35p.m. as they take on the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.
In addition to the changes that will be experienced at each individual ballpark and safety precautions taken by players to combat the spread of COVID-19, this year, the NECBL has chosen to a division only regular season to limit travel and contact. Newport will play their fellow Southern Division opponents which includes the Martha's Vineyard Sharks, Danbury Westerners, Ocean State Waves, Mystic Schooners, Valley Blue Sox, and the Bristol Blues. Both the Blue Sox and Blues are new to the Southern Division. Valley had competed in the Northern Division prior to this summer and Bristol was added to the Southern Division after joining the NECBL in 2020 but due to the cancellation will be competing for the first time.
Returning to the NECBL and added to the Northern Division, bringing the NECBL to an even fourteen teams is the North Shore Navigators. North Shore was a charter franchise of the NECBL in 1994 and were formerly known as the Middletown and later Holyoke Giants until 2007. During their time in the NECBL from 1994-2012, the Navigators captured four league championships.
Each divisional team will play each other seven times, with an updated playoff format to be released at a later date as each of the league's fourteen teams strive to capture the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup. As per usual in New England Collegiate Baseball League action, a playoff format would follow the end of the regular season starting August 3rd.
Newport's last season in 2019 came to an end after falling just short of the NECBL Championship Series to the Martha's Vineyard Sharks in the Southern Division Championship Series. The six time league champion Gulls aim to capture their seventh NECBL crown as they open their season on the road at the Valley Blue Sox on Thursday, June 3rd. Newport Gulls General Manager Chuck Paiva is quoted as saying, "Last summer was the first time in fifty years I didn't have baseball in my life so needless to say I'm excited for baseball; we all are."
Stay tuned for updates on attending Gulls games at Cardines this summer. Fan and player safety is the top priority for the Gulls this summer and the entire Gulls family cannot wait to welcome fans back once again.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from April 15, 2021
- Newport Gulls Return with Announcement of 2021 NECBL Schedule - Newport Gulls
- North Shore Navigators Announce 2021 Schedule for NECBL Return - North Shore Navigators
- 2021 NECBL Schedule Unveiled - NECBL
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