Newport Gulls vs. Danbury Westerners (Game One)

Final Score/8: Newport 7, Danbury 5

Newport, RI – With a playoff spot already in hand, the Newport Gulls came into game one of Monday’s doubleheader against the Danbury Westerners looking to gear up for a third consecutive championship series run. While focusing on not inflicting any injuries, the South Division leaders didn’t anticipate a ferocious five-run resurgence in the seventh. Not only that, a two-run eighth sealed the comeback, handing the Gulls the 7-5 extra innings win to earn their sixth consecutive victory.

Danbury scored in each of the first three innings on RBIs from Aidan Paradine (Siena), Aidan Stern (Trinity), and Teddy Cashman (Lafayette). After a scoreless fourth, the Westerners added another in the fifth on a Paradine homer before a Jack Lutte (Denison) solo-shot in the sixth gave Danbury the 5-0 lead. 

After two home runs and up five, it seems as if Danbury had all the momentum heading into the final inning. But when teams are as hot as Newport, they’ll find ways to win. Matthew Bolton (Binghamton) kicked off the inning with a leadoff walk, while Colby Wallace (East Carolina) followed with a single. Adam Agresti (St. John’s) blasted a double to score both Bolton and Wallace, and Agresti later came home on a Randy Seymour (Michigan St) single. Kyle Branch (Oklahoma) reached on a fielder’s choice, while Andreaus Lewis (Manhattan) also singled to keep the bats hot. After a double steal moved Lewis and Branch to second and third, Matt Ossenfort (Michigan) delivered with a two-RBI single to tie the game at five. The Gulls could not take the lead in the frame, and after a 1-2-3 inning from Newport’s Luke Olson (Penn St), we were headed to extras. 

In the extra frame, the Gulls picked up right where they left off. Wallace scored Ryan Novak (Miami (FL)) on a double, with Petey Craska (North Alabama) also scoring in the inning. Olson once again shut down Danbury 1-2-3 to earn the win and send the Gulls to 27-14. Danbury drops to 19-20, ending a hot streak of its own. 

Box Score

Danbury Westerners vs. Newport Gulls (Game Two)

Final Score/7: Newport 9, Danbury 3

Newport, RI – After earning a five-run comeback victory, Newport added to an already successful day of baseball with nine extra base hits, including three home runs from Michael Gupton (Memphis), en route to a South Division-clinching 9-3 victory over Danbury in game two.

Gupton got the scoring started in the first with his first homer, a two-run shot scoring Matthew Bolton (Binghamton), who doubled to lead off the inning. Adam Agresti (St. John’s) also came around to score on a Petey Craska (North Alabama) single, giving the Gulls an early 3-0 lead. 

Danbury jumped right back to tie the game on an Aidan Cohall (Florida International) three-run blast, but it would prove to be all the Westerners could get today. Three doubles in the third from Craska, Kyle Branch (Oklahoma), and Ryan Novak (Miami (FL)) scored three more runs to make it 6-3, and three home runs (two from Gupton, one from Agresti) solidified the 9-3 win.

With the win, Newport has clinched the No. 1 seed in the South Division. They head to Martha’s Vineyard to take on the Sharks tomorrow at 7:05 pm, looking to build on a seven-game win streak. The Westerners have some work to do, as they sit in fourth place at 19-21 but are neck and neck with the Valley Blue Sox and Mystic Schooners. Their next contest is tomorrow night against the Upper Valley Nighthawks at 6:30 pm.

Box Score

Martha’s Vineyard Sharks vs Valley Blue Sox

Final Score/8: Sharks 5, Blue Sox 2

Oak Bluffs, MA – The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks defeated the Valley Blue Sox at Vineyard Baseball Park on Monday night by a 5-2 score. The game went just eight innings with the Sharks pulling ahead in what was a closely contested matchup.

Martha’s Vineyard jumped out in front first, where it was Brady Krzciok (Central Michigan) who ripped a two-run homer, scoring himself and Will Hampton (Vanderbilt) from first. After two scoreless frames, Valley got one run back in the top of the fourth. 

Tim Ford (Fordham) got things started for Valley with a one-out double. After a strikeout, three consecutive batters for the Blue Sox reached base, good enough to bring a run across. Rees Kozar (Niagara) walked, and Kai Cunningham (Santa Clara) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter, Michael Elko (Richmond), was also hit by a pitch, scoring Ford and making it 2-1.

In the fifth, Valley tied the game up. After doubling to start the inning, Sean Darnell (Troy) was able to score on an error from the Sharks' second baseman and notch the game up at 2-2.

Max Kaufer (South Carolina) gave the Sharks the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when he hit his sixth bomb of the season, a solo shot, which made it 3-2. Martha’s Vineyard added on two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Brayden Martin (Maryland) plating two runs on a fielder’s choice.

Rohan Lettow (Arizona St) took home the victory for the Sharks while Jack Niedringhaus (Xavier) was credited with the loss. Valley will head on the road to face the Mystic Schooners Tuesday evening, while Martha’s Vineyard will host the Newport Gulls in a pivotal divisional matchup.

Box Score