The Newport Gulls home opener was an offensive fight between two of the best teams in the NECBL. In the end, the Gulls were defeated by the Vermont Mountaineers 12-8 in 10 innings. Prior to the game’s start, the Gulls honored members of the 2023 NECBL
championship roster and brought out their 7th Fay Vincent Sr. Cup.
The game started out as a pitching duel through the first 2 1⁄2 innings, before the Gulls struck first, plating two runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Matthew Ossenfort (Vanderbilt) was the Gull who broke through with a 2-run double. Vermont would respond with two runs against Gulls starter Kade Shatwell (Oklahoma City). In the bottom of the 4th, the Gulls would retake the lead on a 2-run single by Randy Seymour (Michigan State).
The top of the 5th would prove to be a difference maker for the Mountaineers, as they plated five runs, chasing Shatwell from the game.
The Gulls were unwilling to go down without a fight, scoring two more in the bottom of the 6th on another 2-run hit from Seymour which cut the deficit to 7-6.
After an unearned run scored for the mountaineers in the top of the 8th, the Gulls entered the bottom of the 9th needing two runs to keep their hopes alive. A furious rally was started with a double by the leadoff man Brody Szako (Austin Peay). This was followed by another double, the second of the game, by Ossefort. Jackson McKenzie ( Miss St.) came within inches of winning
the game, hitting a game-tying double off the wall in center field. Jack Doyle (Northeastern) struck out before Niko Brini (Uconn) was retired, stranding Mackenzie and sending this one to extras.
In extra innings, the Mountaineers scored their automatic runner immediately before Drew Delucia (Franklin Pierce) recorded two quick outs. The Mountaineers then exploded, with singles by Cam Senterre and Max Jensen, before a double by Carlos
Martinez brought in a second run. Shortstop Johnny Knox delivered the killer blow with a 2-run single, plating them both. The Gulls would load the bases in the bottom of the 9th, bringing the tying run in Ossenfort to the plate. On a 3-2 pitch, he hit a
popup that swirled for 10 seconds in the Rhode Island night before being caught, ending a 4 hour marathon of a home opener.
The Gulls racked up 15 hits offensively, including multiple from Garrett Staton (Samford), Seymour, Szako, Ossenfort and the player of the game, Brock Murtha(Navy)(who finished with three, and was the Gulls Player of the Game).
Following a tight loss in its home opener, Newport continues its title defense tomorrow on the road at North Adams. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.
Source: Newport Gulls
