The Best in the Business !

An extremely skilled media professional, Mike Basile enters his fourth season as the Gulls Director of Media & Broadcast. Basile’s career has taken him all over the country after graduating from York College of Pennsylvania with a degree in Mass and Visual Communication. He has served in similar positions for Hockey programs in Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Delaware, also taking on roles as Director of Hockey Operations for the Delaware Thunder.  His experience in leadership roles is bolstered by an ability to conduct Play by Play / Color Commentary for many different sports. In addition to the Newport Gulls, Basile is employed by prestigious Division I colleges and universities as on-air talent including but not limited to; Harvard University, The College of the Holy Cross, UMass Lowell, Boston College, Bentley University and University of New Hampshire. Having worked with ESPN prior to joining the Newport Gulls, Basile was able to make the Gulls and NECBL transition to streaming on the ESPN network of services seamless and successful. An avid reader and food connoisseur, Basile can be found enjoying an Islanders game or going on a hike when he is not calling a game or leading the Gulls Media Department.

One of the founders of the Newport Gulls Broadcast Network, Tom is local media and broadcast professional who continues to serve a vital role in bringing top tier coverage of Newport Gulls baseball to viewers around the world. In addition to his work as the executive producer of Newport Gulls Baseball on ESPN+, he serves as the chief engineer for broadcast facilities at Cardines Field and as the television director in the control room for many games. Tom served as Director of Media for many years before his consultant role and his work as a television director for the Gulls has been featured in full length format on Cox Sports, YurView, EBTV, FRTV, and various internet broadcast networks. He has directed seven NECBL All-Star game broadcasts and six NECBL championship series for various networks ranging from PEG access television to ESPN+. 

Gavin Bicho is a rising senior at the University of Miami studying Broadcast Journalism. He is originally from Portsmouth, R.I. Over his years at Miami, he has been involved in UMTV and currently holds the position of sports director for WVUM-FM, the school's student radio station. He is the lead broadcaster this summer for the Newport Gulls and cannot wait for the unbelievable opportunity of following a team for 44+ games and getting to tell the story of this season with these athletes and coaches who pour countless hours into their craft!

Veronica Borrelli is a rising sophomore at Penn State majoring in Communications. She is originally from Cranston, Rhode Island and has spent the past few years gaining experience in sport operations and game play. She is excited to bring her skills to the Newport Gulls and contribute to a smooth and successful 2025 season and to learn as much as she can about the industry. In her free time, Veronica enjoys going to the beach, reading, and yoga.

Matthew Benestad is a rising sophomore at Fairfield University majoring in Sports Media. Matthew is originally from Portsmouth, Rhode Island and is beginning his career in sports media this summer. He is very excited to be part of the Newport Gulls organization and to help bring media content and contribute to this 2025 summer baseball season. In Matthew's free time, he enjoys rowing, running, and following and watching as many baseball games as possible.

Matt Tiernan is a rising junior at Endicott College where he majors in Sports Management. Originally from Bradford, Rhode Island, Matt has spent the last couple years gaining experience in gameday operations and broadcasting within his school's athletic program. He is very excited to contribute to another great season for the Gulls and to pick up lots of new information on the way. In his spare time, Matt likes to play volleyball, go to the gym, and spend time with his friends. He’ll be on our broadcasting relations team this summer.

Joe Dupuis is a transfer student at Rhode Island College entering his Junior Year as a Communications Major. He lives in Cumberland, Rhode Island and has his own private YouTube channel practicing sports broadcasting which he started after spending the 2023 baseball season working with the Tri-City ValleyCats baseball team of the Frontier League. He is excited to be a part of the Newport Gulls broadcast team in the 2025 season as they attempt a three-peat as NECBL Champions. Outside of working with the Gulls, Joe enjoys being creative, including writing and editing, as well as learning about various subjects like sports and sports history.

Originally from Middletown, Connecticut, Kyle Noska is a student at Castleton University majoring in Sports Management, Economics, and Coaching. As a Media Operations Assistant with the Newport Gulls, he helps capture the behind-the-scenes moments and game day excitement that connect fans to the team. He is excited to be part of the organization and looks forward to building meaningful relationships with players, staff, and the community throughout the season.

Matt Clements is a graduating senior from Johnston High School, who will be attending URI in the fall. After starting a media club in high school, he looks forward to enhancing his media skills in all parts of the field. He tends to excel in play-by-play broadcasting and in front of the camera interviews. He has worked with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and the NFHS as a broadcaster during high school. Being a former baseball player, and playing at Cardines Field recently, he hopes to bring his love for the sport to the Gulls media crew!

Amanda Dronzek is a rising junior at Quinnipiac University majoring in journalism and minoring in sociology. She is originally from East Greenwich, Rhode Island and has spent her first two years at Quinnipiac involved in The Quinnipiac Chronicle, the university's student newspaper, and served as the sports editor last year. She looks forward to helping the Newport Gulls' social media presence grow this summer. In her free time, Amanda enjoys running, watching the Red Sox, and being with friends.

Rachel Rafferty is a recent graduate of Framingham State University, where she majored in Marketing and minored in Sport Management. She is originally from Norwood, Massachusetts. Rachel has gained experience in the sports industry through her role as a game day operations intern with the Worcester Railers and by launching her own photography business, RKR Flicks, which specializes in sports photography. This summer, she joins the Newport Gulls as a Photographer and Social Media Intern. Rachel is excited to capture the energy of Gulls baseball and grow her creative skills throughout the 2025 season.

Malak Mohamed is a passionate photographer and a dedicated marketing major. Her journey into the world of photography started at a young age, kept during the beauty of everyday moments through her lens over the years. Malak has honed her skills, turning a hobby into a compelling form of artistic expression.