Planning to catch a Newport Gulls game this season. Here's what you need to know.
The Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League are chasing their first championship since 2014 and their seventh overall title in their 22nd season after kicking off the year with a game against the Mystic Schooners in Norwich, Connecticut, on June 6.
The franchise popular with its players and with its fans – the Gulls have led the league in attendance the past four seasons and have been near the top in popularity since joining the league in 2001 – played the first of its 24 home games at Cardines Field in downtown Newport on June 7 against the Bristol Blues.
Here's what you need to know about Gulls’ games.
ROSTER
The team is comprised mostly of Division-I college players from universities across the country. The current 38-man roster has 11 players from eight schools that qualified to play in the 64-team, NCAA Division-I Baseball Tournament. Middletown natives Caleb Leys (University of Maine) and Ryan Andrade (University of Rhode Island) are first-year team members.
COACHING STAFF
Frank Holbrook, a Middletown resident, former Newport Gull, current Rhode Island College baseball coach and ex-Wheaton College (Norton, Massachusetts) pitching standout, begins his second season as manager. Former Eckerd College hitting coach Ted Regan also starts his second season in that position with the Gulls.
Locally grown: Coach Frank Holbrook's calling wasn't the courtroom, it was the baseball diamond
SCHEDULE
The Gulls play 24 home games (including two doubleheaders) and 20 away games between June 6 and July 29 barring rainouts. Playoffs start July 31 and end Aug. 12. All of Newport’s home games are played Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Start time for the first games of doubleheaders is 3 p.m.
WHERE IS CARDINES FIELD
The historic field is located at 20 America’s Cup Ave. in Newport. It is bordered by West Marlborough, Thames and Bridge streets.
PARKING
Reduced rate parking ($2 for the night with a game ticket) is available for all Newport Gulls home games at the Newport Gateway Visitors Center, located across America's Cup Avenue from Cardines Field.
Fee-based parking is also available in lots on West Marlborough Street. Metered parking is available throughout downtown.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased at the Cardines Field ticket booth on game day. Prices per game for general admission seating range from $5 for adults, to $2 for seniors, military members and teens and $1 for children 12 or younger.
Tickets also can be purchased online at newportgulls.com. Purchasing tickets online costs $5, regardless of adult, senior, or children prices charged at the park. Season tickets cost $50 and are valid for regular-season games only. Call 401-845-6832 or email operations@newportgulls.com for more info.
CONCESSIONS
Ballpark food can be purchased from the concession stand located down the right field line. Hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries are the main staples with soft-serve ice cream for dessert.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Gulls 2023 season guide: Rosters, tickets, concessions
