The Newport Gulls will play their home opener against the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Friday, June 5, at Cardines Field as the team begins its 25th season. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
Opening night is sponsored by University Orthopedics, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free magnet schedule courtesy of Aquidneck Pizza, the team announced.
The Gulls, members of the 13-team New England Collegiate Baseball League, are a nonprofit organization founded as the Rhode Island Gulls in Cranston in 1998 before moving to Newport in 2001. The predominantly volunteer organization recruits and develops top collegiate baseball players and draws about 50,000 fans annually to Cardines Field, according to the team. It said it has contributed more than $1 million to the community since 2001 through summer camps, reading programs, fundraisers, scholarships and charitable donations.
The Gulls are eight-time NECBL champions, the most in league history, and were ranked the No. 1 summer collegiate baseball team in the country by Perfect Game USA in 2012, according to the team. The Gulls said they are pursuing a ninth franchise championship this season.
More information is available at newportgulls.com.
Home Schedule
June
- Fri., June 5 — vs. Upper Valley Nighthawks, 6:35 (Home Opener)
- Mon., June 8 — vs. Bristol Blues, 6:35
- Wed., June 10 — vs. Vermont Mountaineers, 6:35
- Fri., June 12 — vs. Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, 6:35
- Mon., June 15 — vs. North Shore Navigators, 6:35
- Wed., June 17 — vs. Mystic Schooners, 6:35
- Fri., June 19 — vs. Danbury Westerners, 6:35
- Mon., June 22 — vs. North Adams SteepleCats, 6:35
- Wed., June 24 — vs. Valley Blue Sox, 6:35
- Fri., June 26 — vs. Ocean State Waves, 6:35
- Mon., June 29 — vs. Sanford Mainers, 6:35
July
- Wed., July 1 — vs. Danbury Westerners, 6:35
- Fri., July 3 — vs. Ocean State Waves, 6:35
- Mon., July 6 — vs. Danbury Westerners, 6:35
- Wed., July 8 — vs. Valley Blue Sox, 6:35
- Fri., July 10 — vs. Ocean State Waves, 6:35
- Wed., July 15 — vs. Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, 6:35
- Fri., July 17 — vs. Keene Swamp Bats, 6:35
- Mon., July 20 — vs. Bristol Blues, 6:35
- Wed., July 22 — vs. Mystic Schooners, 6:35
- Fri., July 24 — vs. Bristol Blues, 6:35
- Wed., July 29 — vs. Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, 6:35
