On a beautiful night at Goodall Park in the last game before the All-Star break, a late comeback attempt fell just short for the Newport Gulls in an 8-5 loss to the Sanford Mainers.
After neither team scored in the opening frame, Newport struck first in the second against Sanford starter Zach Brassill. Tyler Hare (Wofford) started the inning with a single and Randy Seymour (Michigan State) followed that up with a triple to score the first run. Then, a single from Matt Ossenfort (NC State) sent Seymour home to double the lead.
Sanford had a quick response in the bottom of the inning against Newport’s starting pitcher Kade Shatwell (Oklahoma City). Evin Sullivan led off by reaching first on an error and after a walk put him on second, a deep single from Raymond Velazquez brought Sullivan home to put the Mainers on the board. Ryan Kolben delivered a single and two batters later, Jared Davis notched a single of his own to send Blake Schaaf and Raymond Velazquez home and give Sanford a 3-2 lead.
No runs were scored in the ensuing three innings as the Mainers turned to Beau Brailey in the sixth. The Gulls stuck with Shatwell into the sixth and that’s when Sanford extended its lead. Following back-to-back singles from Evin Sullivan and Blake Schaaf, Raymond Velazquez made it three in a row to score Sullivan. Moments later, a Matt Miceli single drove in Schaaf and Velazquez to make it 6-2.
Shatwell wrapped up the sixth before Michal Kovala (Chipola) entered in the seventh. Newport’s bullpen arm retired the first batter he faced but allowed a single to Jackson Tucker. Then, Devan Bade curled one just inside the right field foul pole for a two-run homer to give the Mainers an 8-2 lead.
Trailing by six, the Gulls needed a spark offensively and got that. With one out, a rally started thanks to a single from Andrew Duncan (Florida State). Niko Brini (Wofford) was then walked before Sanford got the second out. Dixon Williams (East Carolina) extended the inning in a big way with a powerful double to score Duncan and Brini. The Gulls weren’t done there as Tyler Hare placed a hit right along the foul line in right field for a double to send Williams home and cut Sanford’s lead down to three.
Adam Walker pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to give Newport one last chance in the ninth inning. Matt Ossenfort began the final frame with a single before Jake Burley (Wake Forest) flew out. Luke Orbon (St. John’s) was then hit by the first pitch he saw from Brailey, resulting in another call to the bullpen. Kai Leckszas came in for the final two outs and faced some adversity after Andrew Duncan sent a single to right that deflected off the glove of right fielder Caleb Shpur to load the bases. Leckszas bounced back by striking out Niko Brini. Nolan Stevens had a chance to extend the game but a pop out to the third baseman left all three runners stranded and gave Sanford a nail biting 8-5 win.
With the loss, the Gulls head into the All-Star break with a 23-13 record and have a 2.5 game lead for first place in the Coastal Division. Newport returns from the break on Wednesday at home against Martha’s Vineyard. Before that, Manager Mike Coombs and six Gulls players consisting of Aidan Coleman, Nolan Stevens, Niko Brini, Tyler Hare, Dixon Williams and Randy Seymour will take part in the All-Star Game in Bristol, Connecticut on Sunday. Tyler Hare will be Newport’s representative in the Home Run Derby at 2:30 and the All-Star Game will follow at 5:10 and can be seen on ESPN+.
