Newport and Bristol to Battle for 2023 NECBL Championship

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The #1 seed Newport Gulls and the #6 seed Bristol Blues will play for the 2023 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) Championship as the road to the Fay Vincent, Sr. Cup reaches its final stretch. The NECBL Championship Series begins on Sunday, August 6 at 6:35 p.m., and all games will be streamed live on the NECBL Broadcast Network. 

As the higher seed, the Gulls will have home field advantage in this best-of-three round. Games one and three (if necessary) will be played at Cardines Field in Newport, Rhode Island, while game two will be played at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut on Monday evening. 

NECBL Championship Schedule

The Newport Gulls (31-11-1, Coastal Division Winner) will host the Bristol Blues (21-18-4, Third Wild Card) in game one of the Championship Series at Cardines Field on Sunday, August 6 at 6:35 p.m. Game two will be Monday night in Bristol at 6:30 p.m., and if necessary, a winner-take-all game three will be played in Newport on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

The Matchup - Newport vs Bristol

Newport won the regular season series 1-0-1, defeating the Blues 3-1 in their home opener on June 7 led by Ryan Andrade’s (URI) five scoreless innings and a six-out save by William Gibbs (Mississippi State). The second matchup between Bristol and Newport ended in a scoreless tie after the game was called in the fifth inning due to a stadium lights malfunction. Newport starter David Horn (Vanderbilt) put together a quality start with seven strikeouts across four scoreless no-hit innings. Bristol starter Peter Ostensen (Fairfield) was equally as impressive, allowing just two hits and two walks across four scoreless innings. 

How They Got Here

Newport had the league’s best record for most of the regular season, clinching the Coastal Division with a six-game lead over the second place Mystic Schooners. The Gulls began the season with a 9-1 start and never looked back, posting a 20-4 record by the midway point of the season. Their longest win streak was eight games. Newport finished the season just one win shy of the 2006 Newport Gulls and the 2022 Bristol Blues and Vermont Mountaineers for the regular season wins record.

Newport advanced to the second round of the playoffs after a thrilling Opening Round Series against their in-state rival No. 8 seed Ocean State Waves. Facing elimination following a ninth inning defeat at Cardines Field in game one, Newport responded with an 11-4 victory at Old Mountain Field to force a deciding game three back at home. Michael Anderson (URI) led the way with two home runs and four RBIs, while David Horn (Vanderbilt) threw eight strikeouts across five scoreless innings out of the bullpen to seal the victory in game two. Newport closed out the series with a 7-1 victory at Cardines Field, highlighted by Billy Butler’s (URI) three-run blast in the third inning. Gulls starter Jake Hunter (Eastern Carolina) pitched a gem with 11 strikeouts across seven innings, helping the Gulls clinch the series at home.

The Gulls advanced to the Championship Series with a Final Four sweep of the Danbury Westerners, marking their fourth straight victory overall. In game one of the series, Michael Anderson (URI) hit a two-run homer to cap a five-run second inning while Grant Umberger (Virginia Tech) pitched five scoreless innings out of the bullpen to seal an 11-6 victory. A 10-run fourth inning in game two propelled the Gulls to a series sweep, highlighted by Kolby Branch’s (Baylor) grand slam. Branch went 3-for-5 on the night with three hits, four RBIs and four runs scored in an eventual 16-6 victory in game two. He was one of five Gulls to record multi-hit performances, helping Newport outscore Danbury 27-12 in the series.

Bristol was in contention for the West Division championship until the final day of the season, but instead settled for the third Wild Card and sixth overall playoff seed. The Blues went 11-8 in the division and led the league with four ties on the season.

Bristol advanced through the Opening Round of the playoffs after defeating the Valley Blue Sox in three games, highlighted by a 5-0 shutout victory in game two. All-star starter Jagger Duquette (Wagner) led the way with seven strikeouts in a complete game shutout. The Blues continued their momentum with a dominant 10-3 victory on the road in game three. Luke Benneche (Northwestern) allowed just two hits along with six strikeouts across five scoreless innings to help Bristol advance to the Final Four Series.

The Blues continued their run to the Championship Series with a 2-0 Final Four series sweep of the Sanford Mainers. Tyler Fote (Central Connecticut State) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored while Griffin Arnone (Northwestern) hit a three-run homer to cap a seven-run eighth inning in a 12-7 game one victory. Gavin Noriega went 3-for-4 with singles in the first, third and seventh innings to lead all hitters in game two. Cal Parrillo (Rhode Island College) brought home the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the seventh inning and Brent Francisco (East Stroudsburg) retired the side in a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to seal a 4-2 victory and series sweep for the Blues.

Championship History

Newport’s last trip to the Championship Series came back in 2014 when it won the Fay Vincent Cup. The Gulls currently lead all teams with six total championships, the most recent in 2014.

This marks Bristol’s first trip to the NECBL Championship Series since joining the league in 2020. Bristol was the No. 2 seed last year after tying the regular season wins record (32), but was knocked out by eventual 2022 champion Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.

Past NECBL Champions

2022 - Martha’s Vineyard Sharks

2021 - Danbury Westerners

2020 - Season Canceled Due to Covid

2019 - Keene SwampBats

2018 - Valley Blue Sox

2017 - Valley Blue Sox

2016 - Mystic Schooners

2015 - Vermont Mountaineers

2014 - Newport Gulls

2013 - Keene SwampBats

2012 - Newport Gulls

2011 - Keene SwampBats

2010 - North Shore Navigators

2009 - Newport Gulls

2008 - Sanford Mainers

2007 - Vermont Mountaineers

2006 - Vermont Mountaineers

2005 - Newport Gulls

2004 - Sanford Mainers

2003 - Keene SwampBats

2002 - Newport Gulls

2001 - Newport Gulls

2000 - Keene SwampBats

1999 - Middletown Giants (Now North Shore Navigators)

1998 - Middletown Giants

1997 - Middletown Giants

1996 - Central Mass Collegians (Defunct)

1995 - Central Mass Collegians

1994 - Eastern Tides (Now Mystic Schooners)