Newport Raises Banner, Falls to New Bedford in 2013 Opener
Published on June 6, 2013 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, RI - The Newport Gulls kicked off their 13th season in the City by the Sea against their longtime neighboring Eastern Division rivals, the New Bedford Bay Sox.
Before the first pitch was thrown, the ever-present Gulls community - represented by a crowd of over 2,000 fans - began the night in celebration of last year's "Gold Standard" season with the raising of the 2012 Championship banner in center field. Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop read a proclamation to the crowded Cardines Field faithful praising the Gulls for their success on and off the field over the previous 12 seasons in Newport.
Perfect Game USA's Alan Simpson kept the good times rolling in the pre-game ceremonies when he presented the 2012 Perfect Game National Championship trophy to Newport Gulls General Manager Chuck Paiva. The Gulls finished the 2012 season as the No. 1 ranked team in summer collegiate baseball by Perfect Game USA.
Newport jumped out to the early lead thanks to a two-run double from Rhode Island College freshman catcher Matt Foley in the second inning and got a strong start from Michigan State sophomore right-hander Mick VanVossen, who blanked the Bay Sox over the first two frames and allowed just two runs on two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over six solid innings.
New Bedford battled back with a run in the third inning when Chris Travers, who finished the night 2-for-3, singled to shallow center to drive in a run in the third inning. The Bay Sox tied the game at 2-2 before the Gulls jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the 6th.
The Bay Sox took the lead for good in the seventh inning, jumping on Gulls reliever Milan Mantle, a junior right-hander out of the University of Rhode Island, with four consecutive hits after a series of infield errors loaded the bases. The Gulls committed three errors in the frame, allowing the Bay Sox to plate six runs and take an 8-4 lead.
It was not until the bottom of the ninth that, in true Newport Gulls fashion, the home team procured a three-run rally to revive hopes of taking their home opener. David Gibson, right-handed reliever of the Bay Sox, dashed those hopes, halting the rally to just three runs by striking out Foley to end the game.
The Gulls and Bay Sox will meet again on Saturday in New Bedford for a re-match at 6:30 p.m. at Paul Walsh Field.
Since moving to Newport in 2001, the Gulls have captured the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship, the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup, an NECBL-record five times, and in 2012 were named the No. 1 summer collegiate team in the country by Perfect Game USA in Perfect Game's Top 50 final rankings, capping a record-breaking season by Newport and marking the first time ever that an NECBL franchise has been ranked No. 1 nationally.
The Gulls, which attract more than 50,000 fans annually to historic Cardines Field in Newport, recruit players from the top college baseball programs in the country, and to date have sent six alumni to Major League Baseball teams, and over 150 players to professional baseball teams ranging from Independent leagues to Triple-A.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 6, 2013
- Newport Raises Banner, Falls to New Bedford in 2013 Opener - Newport Gulls
- Squier, Severino Lead 'Cats to Rain-Shortened 8-0 Win on Opening Night - North Adams SteepleCats
- Keene Swamp Bats Fall in Season Opener - Keene Swamp Bats
- Blue Sox Edge Mainers on Opening Day - Sanford Mainers
- Blue Sox Open 2013 NECBL Season at Sanford - Valley Blue Sox
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