Session 2 Coaches Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Falcone
December 8, 2022 Director of Baseball Operations
401-845-6832// operations@newportgulls.com
Session 2 Coaches Announced
Local Grads & Gulls Alumni Lead Session 2
NEWPORT, R.I.- Session 1 is in the books! Last Sunday, December 4, the Newport Gulls began their three-part youth winter clinics at URI. Local boys and girls took part in the three-hour instructional session which was led by four college coaches and baseball players. Session 2 is coming up on Sunday, December 11 and the Gulls are excited to announce who will be this week’s coaches.
Two Gulls alumni from the 2021 roster will help lead Sunday’s clinic: RHP Bo Brutti and OF Billy Butler. Brutti, a native of South Kingstown, RI, joined the Newport Gulls after his third year at the University of Rhode Island. He has been a workhorse for URI since his arrival on campus in 2019. Starting and relieving games for Head Coach Raphael Cerrato, Brutti threw 31.1 innings this past season, across 17 appearances which were tied for third on the team. During his summer in Newport, Brutti averaged more than one strikeout per inning and allowed no earned runs in six of his nine appearances, including a stellar four strikeout performance on July 15, 2021, against the Danbury Westerners.
Billy Butler homered in the only game he played for URI this past season. Unfortunately, the 6’ 2” slugger suffered a season-ending injury after the first game of the 2022 season. He is set to return as a senior this spring, hoping to continue his successes from a remarkable 2021 campaign. Prior to his injury and summer with Newport, Butler led the Rams in batting average at a mark of .337 and was second on the team in home runs with five. Butler was battling injuries during 2021 and was only able to play in five games for the Gulls before shutting it down for the year.
Gulls fans are familiar with the two previously mentioned instructors because of their time spent playing at Cardines Field. However, the two final coaches who will round out the staff of four might be even more common names as they are both recent graduates of Aquidneck Island high schools.
Ryan Andrade helped lead Middletown High School to its first-ever state championship in 2021 when the Islanders captured the Division II title with a win over Burrillville. Ranked among the Top 500 prospects nationally and No. 5 in the state, Andrade immediately stepped into an important role for URI. Not only did he pitch in some of the first few games of the 2021 season, but the right-hander shined, surrendering just one earned run through his first four appearances and 13 innings total. Over this span, Andrade recorded 14 strikeouts including four against nationally ranked Tennessee. Ultimately, he went 1-1 over 12 appearances and three starts where batters hit only .200 against him which was the third lowest among Rhody pitchers. Andrade has been signed to play for Newport this upcoming summer.
Another Aquidneck Island resident who grew up just minutes from Cardines Field, Gavin Crowley, will be helping guide the youth this Sunday. Crowley is a redshirt freshman at URI and spent this past summer with the Southampton Breakers in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. He pitched in 11 games and finished the summer with a 3.98 ERA and 2-2 record, which included one save and 14 strikeouts.
As this weekend’s session approaches, there are a few open spaces for those still interested. Clinics cost $125.00 per session, but the Gulls are offering the opportunity to attend the final two clinics for a combined rate of $200.00 for an individual session. Participants will receive a Newport Gulls T-Shirt, Hat, and Player Evaluation from the coaching staff. Boys and girls ages 7-12 of all skill levels are welcome to attend. Bill Beck Field is located at 3 Keaney Rd. Kingston, RI 02881.
Registration forms can be accessed on Newportgulls.com and paid for online via Square or check sent to PO Box 777 Newport, RI 02840. Please contact 516-729-3735 or operations@newportgulls.com if you require further information or have questions about attending clinics this fall. The Gulls look forward to hosting future baseball stars!
Link to Register: http://pointstreaksites.com/view/newportgulls/giving-back-to-our-community/winter-clinic
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The Newport Gulls, members of the 13-team New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded as the Rhode Island Gulls in 1998 in Cranston, R.I., before moving to Newport in 2001. In addition to recruiting, fielding, and developing a team of the nation’s top collegiate baseball athletes and attracting 50,000 fans annually to Cardines Field, the predominantly volunteer organization strives to benefit the community of Newport County via summer camps, reading programs, fundraisers, scholarships, and charitable donations – totaling over $1 million since 2001. The Gulls are six-time champions of the NECBL – the winningest franchise in league history – and were ranked as the overall No. 1 summer collegiate baseball team in the country by Perfect Game USA in 2012.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
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