Tonight’s matchup between the Sanford Mainers and the Newport Gulls was expected to be a pitcher’s duel. Instead, it ended up being an offensive show with a combined 18 hits. In the end, the Gulls would walk away with a 8-6 victory in a game that was
the definition of a offensive showdown.
Gulls Starter Adam Maher(UMass Dartmouth) started off well, striking out two in the top of the 1st, adding to his league-leading 26. He would have another scoreless inning in the second, encapsulated by a diving catch from Nolan Steven(Miss. State) which would be the play of the game. Mainers starter Ryan Minckler brought his 95 MPH fastball to Cardines, along with an impressive array of secondary pitches. He would respond to Maher by recording two strikeouts in the 1st as well, before recording two more in his scoreless 2nd inning. Unfortunately, Maher’s night would be ended early due to injury after 3.0 innings, while Minckler would also be pulled after 3 for strategic reasons, but not before being charged with the loss.
The Gulls scored first, with a familiar face getting the offense going. Brody Szako(Austin Peay) sent one out past the 375 mark for the third time this summer, tying him for the NECBL lead with 5 homers overall, as the Gulls would lead 1-0 after one. Greg Bozzo(Northeastern) recorded his 1st hit as a Gull in the bottom of the 2nd, with a hard-hit double caroming off the right field fence. Sanford would get on the board in the 3rd inning with a 2-out rally. Two walks would spark the Mainers’ offense, before a 2-run double from CJ Willis put the Mainers in front. Another double by Colin Barczi would cap off the inning, putting Samford up 3-1.
The Newport response would be instant. After Niko Brini(Wofford)reached on an error, Andrew Duncan(Florida St.) would walk to bring up Nolan Stevens who continued his great game with an RBI single, Brody Szako was walked to load the bases for Randy Seymour(Michigan St.). Seymour was hit by a pitch, tying the game. Dixon Williams(East Carolina) did his job by lofting a ball to left field to bring home Stevens, restoring the Newport lead at 4-3.
In the 5th, the Gulls would add to their lead. A double from Duncan put him on third with one out, where he would then score on a wild pitch. Later on in the 5th, a sacrifice fly from Luke Orbon(St. John’s) would plate Szako, giving the Gulls a 6-3 lead. Dixon
Williams would reestablish the 3-run advantage in the 7th, with a no-doubter sent deep into the Rhode Island night. Tyler Hare(Wofford) would do the same in the 8th, with an RBI double driving in Bozzo.
Ty Starke(Louisville) answered the call to the pen following Maher’s departure. He would produce a highlight reel strikeout, dropping Blake Schaaf to his knees on a fastball upstairs, before escaping the 4th without allowing any runs. It only got better from there, as he would go three scoreless, recording a season-high six strikeouts. Those three innings would be good enough for him to record his second victory of the summer.
After his three scoreless innings, Cole Cheatham(Mississippi St.) would take over, having last thrown two innings in the suspended game vs. North Shore Friday night. He would give up one in the top of the 7th, on another RBI double from Colin Barczi. In the top of the 8th, Cheatham gave up another, as a single from Matt Travisano gave the Mainers life by driving home another run. Despite two more in scoring position with only one out, Cheatham responded with back to back Ks to end the inning with a 2-run lead. In the 9th, Manager Mike Coombs turned to Colby Holcombe (Mississippi St.), who continued his dominant season with a solid ninth inning, allowing only one run to score despite some difficulty getting the final out.
With this win, the Gulls improve to 10-5, becoming the second NECBL team to reach ten wins, while the Mainers fall to 9-7. The Gulls resume play at 6:30 tomorrow evening in their 1st trip ofthe season to Danbury to square off with the Westerners . The Gulls next home game is Wednesday evening at 6:35 PM vs. the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.
