Newport Gulls Sweep Mystic Schooners in Doubleheader
July 3, 2012 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, RI - The Newport Gulls swept a day-night doubleheader against the Mystic Schooners at home on Tuesday, July 3 thanks to a pair of clutch performances from outfielder Kasey Coffman and starting pitcher Daniel Wright.
Coffman delivered the go-ahead RBI in the fifth inning of game one, while Wright went the distance in game two, pitching a complete game shutout, improving to 4-0 overall this season helping the Gulls complete the sweep of the Schooners.
Newport defeated Mystic, 2-1, in the first game of the twin billing and shut out the Schooners, 12-0, in game two. With the victories, Newport improved to 14-4 overall this season and remains in first place in the Eastern Division, two and a half games ahead of the New Bedford Bay Sox. Mystic fell to 2-17 overall this season after the pair of losses.
Mystic jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in game one, but the Gulls came back to tie the game on an RBI single up the middle by shortstop Blake Butera, his first RBI of the season, in the third inning. Newport took the lead for good in the fifth inning when outfielder John Norwood led off the inning with a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Coffman, his 15th RBI of the season.
Newport starter Mitch Horacek went five solid innings to pick up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season. Reliever Peter Kelich picked up his team-leading third save of the season, pitching the final two innings giving up just one hit while striking out five and walking one.
Wright was the story in game two, as he dominated the Schooners lineup, scattering four hits and a walk while striking out five in the seven-inning complete game victory. "I tried to do what I do every time, to throw strikes," said Wright. "I just try to get the team as good of a chance to win every time I go out there."
The Gulls offense exploded for six runs in the first inning to give Wright more than enough run support. The first six batters of the game reached base and came around to score in the offensive outburst.
Outfielder Rob Ort led off the inning with a double and Butera was hit by a pitch before first baseman Steve Anderson delivered an RBI double down the right field line. Designated hitter Brett Winger followed with an RBI single and catcher Jeff Melillo delivered an RBI double before outfielder Yale Rosen capped off the offensive explosion by belting a three-run homer, his team-leading sixth home run and 17th RBI of the season, to put Newport ahead 6-0.
"Hitting is just one of those things that I do well," said Rosen. "Every single one of our hitters is a three-hole hitter, nobody should be taken for granted. We have a scary lineup, and it's fun to be around."
The Gulls tacked on five additional runs in the sixth inning and finished the night with 12 runs on 15 hits. Conversely, the Schooners managed just four innings in the loss.
While the offense is the big story, the pitching showed up for the Gulls in the double header.
"Mitch (Horacek) threw very well," said Kelich after game one. "We've been swinging pretty well too...we're fortunate to have such a good offense. Last night we got fifteen runs, and this game we pulled our weight a little bit, so it was good to get a win here today."
Mystic starter Jeremy Soule took the loss in game two, allowing seven runs on eight hits, with one strikeout and one walk over three innings of work. Releiver Max Slade came in for just one inning of relief, allowing no runs on one hit, with one strikeout and zero walks. Closer Alex Fiste ended the night throwing the remaining two innings, allowing five runs on six hits, with one strikeout and a pair of walks.
Right-hander Louis Concato took the loss in game one despite going six full innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Newport will be back in action tomorrow night taking on the Mystic Schooners for the third time in two days. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Adam Ravenelle (0-1, 3.86 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season for Newport squaring off against Alex Gouin (0-3, 8.25 ERA).
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 3, 2012
- Muskrats Beat Out Mainers in Offensive Tug of War - Sanford Mainers
- Newport Gulls Sweep Mystic Schooners in Doubleheader - Newport Gulls
- Swamp Bats Defeat Great Britain 33-0 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Well Rounded Performance Leads to Mountaineers Victory - Vermont Mountaineers
- Pitching Lessons with the Bay Sox - New Bedford Bay Sox
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