Photo & Game Report via Newport Gulls
Needing just two wins entering the week to clinch the Southern Division, the Newport Gulls were confident they’d have home field advantage come August. Instead, the Gulls (26-14) dropped their third game in a row, this one to the Mystic Schooners, 12-6.
The Gulls scored first on a sacrifice fly by Jon Littell, seizing early momentum. However, as would be a theme of the night, Newport’s momentum would not last long.
The Schooners battered starting pitcher Brendan Spagnuolo in the second inning, as he allowed five runs on four hits in the frame.
Newport got back some good feelings with a three-run home run by Quinn Brodeyin the third, but once again the Schooners tacked more runs on the board in the ensuing innings to cruise to a six-run victory.
Despite the slump, the Gulls still control their own destiny in the postseason. A win tomorrow would give Newport the NECBL’s number one overall seed in the postseason for the sixth time in seven seasons.
Pitching coach Kevin Long said that this stretch has been adversity for the team and that all championship teams have to go through something like this to win.
“Morale is fine, we’re dealing with adversity right now,” Long said. “The team that’s going to be the most successful in postseason play is the team that’s the most mentally toughest and the team that lives in the moment and doesn’t get distracted.”
The Gulls wrap up their season Saturday with two road games: a continuation of Thursday’s suspended game against the Ocean State Waves and the regular season finale against the North Adams SteepleCats. Rob Masse will be on the call for both games on the NECBL Broadcast Network.
The Gulls and Waves resume their 7-inning contest at Old Mountain Field in Wakefield, R.I. at 10 a.m. in the top of the 6th inning in a 1-1 game. The nightcap will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field in North Adams, Massachusetts.
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