NEWPORT, R.I. — The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks completed a stunning semifinal comeback Tuesday night, defeating the defending champion Newport Gulls 6-3 in a decisive Game 3 at Cardines Field to advance to the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship series.
The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for the Sharks, who faced elimination after dropping the series opener 14-7 before rallying to force the winner-take-all finale with a 14-5 victory in Game 2.
Christian Martinez earned the win for Martha’s Vineyard, pitching three scoreless innings in relief of starter Andrew Wilkie. Zachery Broderick picked up the save with 1⅓ innings of one-hit relief to close out the victory before an announced crowd of 3,205.
The loss ended Newport’s bid for a third consecutive NECBL championship and marked the first time the Gulls failed to reach the championship series since 2022.
Drew DeLucia took the loss for Newport after surrendering four runs in two innings of relief. The right-hander entered in the fourth inning with the game tied 1-1 but allowed the decisive runs that put the Sharks in control.
Newport struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Andreaus Lewis of Manhattan drove in the game’s opening run. The Gulls held that 1-0 advantage until the fourth inning, when Martha’s Vineyard broke through against the Newport bullpen.
The Sharks scored twice in the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead, then added two more runs in the fifth to build a 4-1 advantage. Max Kaufer provided the big blow with a solo home run, his second of the series, while Brady Krzciok and Blake Binderup also drove in runs during the decisive stretch.
Martha’s Vineyard added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to push their lead to 6-1, effectively putting the game out of reach despite Newport’s late rally.
The Gulls scored twice in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Kyle Branch of Oklahoma, cutting the deficit to 6-3, but couldn’t complete the comeback against Broderick’s closing effort.
Colby Wallace of East Carolina led Newport’s offense with two doubles, while Adam Agresti of St. John’s also had a double for the Gulls. However, the defending champions managed just five hits and left 11 runners on base in the crucial contest.
For Martha’s Vineyard, Brayden Martin and Gio Colasante each had doubles in the victory. Martin, Krzciok, Binderup and Kaufer each drove in runs for the Sharks, who outhit Newport 8-5 in the decisive game.
The Sharks will now face the Keene Swampbats in the NECBL championship series. Game details for the championship series have not yet been announced.
The defeat marked the end of an era for Newport, which had reached three consecutive championship series and won titles in 2023 and 2024. The Gulls finish their season with a 3-3 playoff record after dominating much of the regular season.
Following the loss, the Gulls posted on social media thanking their supporters for their dedication throughout the season. “Thank you fans for all you have done for us this season. We aren’t the Gulls without you,” the team wrote. “We can’t wait to see the Nest packed next season! See you in 2026!!”