Newport Gulls vs. Danbury Westerners

Final Score: Danbury 12, Newport 7

Danbury, CT — Led by a four-hit, three-double performance by Garrett Larsen (Yale), the Danbury Westerners ended the Newport Gulls’ six-game win streak in a high-scoring 12-7 Saturday night affair. 

Despite Larsen doubling to lead off the bottom of the first, Danbury’s first runs came in the second on a Gavin Donohue (Sacred Heart) two-run blast. Larsen added another double later in the inning, scoring Teddy Cashman (Lafayette) and putting the Westerners ahead 3-0.

Newport struck back with two runs in the top of the fifth, as RBIs from Matt Ossenfort (NC State) and Matthew Bolton (Binghamton) cut Danbury’s lead to one. The Westerners were quick to respond, though, as a five-piece in the bottom of the frame extended the lead to six. In the big inning, Peter Link (Sacred Heart) scored on a wild pitch before William Cook (Wright State) and Jack Lutte (Denison) scored on a 2-RBI double from Cashman. Larsen and Kyle Garbowski (Quinnipiac) also each had an RBI single, putting Danbury comfortably in front, 8-2.

The Westerners further extended their lead in the sixth when Lutte doubled, scoring Link. Lutte came around to score on an error later in the inning, bringing the score to 10-2. 

Newport responded right away with a big inning of their own. Chipping away at Danbury’s lead, two consecutive balks plated Ossenfort and AJ Evasco (Kansas St) before Michael Gupton (Samford) scored Bolton on a single. Gupton came around to score himself on a Cade Brown (Georgia) double, cutting the lead to four.

But Danbury wouldn’t let the Gulls back in it for long, as Lutte’s second hit of the game scored Larsen and Garbowski to extend their lead back to six. Newport managed to score one in the top of the ninth, but could not muster another rally as Danbury took this one 12-7 to earn their seventh win of the season.

Following the big win, the Westerners get the day off tomorrow before heading to Holyoke, Massachusetts, on Monday to take on the Valley Blue Sox. The Gulls also have a day off, as they travel to the Upper Valley Nighthawks for a 4:30 pm contest on Monday afternoon.

Box Score

Martha’s Vineyard vs. Valley Blue Sox

Final Score: Valley 6, Martha’s Vineyard 2

Holyoke, MA — The Valley Blue Sox jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks 6-2 on Saturday.

The bottom of the first was a big one for Valley, as Michael Elko (Richmond) got the scoring going by coming home on an error by the Sharks' third basemen. Gavin Schrader (Troy) followed up with an RBI single, scoring Michael O’Conor (Eastern Illinois). Schraeder came home on a Mike Lucarelli (Penn St) double, before Nicholas Spaventa (Penn) scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Blue Sox ahead 4-0 early.

Martha’s Vineyard scored in the top of the fourth on a Jamal George (Texas A&M) RBI, but Valley responded in the bottom of the frame on a two-run shot by O’Conor. The Sharks scored another in the top of the seventh, but ultimately could not catch up to the Blue Sox as they fell 6-2

Eight total pitchers appeared for the Blue Sox, with only Max McCrary (Mount St Mary’s) going two innings. McCrary was credited with the win while Sharks starter Gio Colasante (Harvard) was issued the loss. 

Valley improves to 10-8 and gets the day off tomorrow before hosting the Danbury Westerners on Monday at 6:35 pm. Martha’s Vineyard sees their four-game win streak come to an end as they fall to 12-7, and get the Bristol Blues on the road on Monday at 6:30 pm.

Box Score

The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the New England League started play in 1994 and has sent over 230 alumni to the Major Leagues with nearly 30 alumni taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.