Sports Notes

The Mainers fell to the Newport Gulls in the championship series of the NECBL playoffs.

Photo: Madison Giltner Photography

By Sam Bonsey

Mainers Magical Season Ends in Championship Series

The Sanford Mainers fell just short of NECBL glory, losing to the Newport Gulls in a hard-fought best-of-three championship series that went the distance.

The Mainers, who went 11-1 over the final 12 games of the regular season, took the opener of the series, 7-1, on Wednesday, August 7, with Connor Ball pitching seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five.

With a chance to finish the series, Sanford fell behind 7-0 in the fifth inning of Game 2 on Friday, August 9, before the game was suspended due to rain. The action resumed on Saturday, with Newport holding on for a 7-3 win to tie the series.

The series’ finale started a few hours after the completion of Game 2, with the Gulls walking off with an 8-7 win in the bottom of the tenth due to an RBI single from Dixon Williams.

The Mainers trailed 6-4 heading into the eighth inning, but a two-run home run from Calen Shpur tied it. Christopher Willis then gave Sanford a 7-6 lead later in the inning, singling home Jackson Tucker, but Newport tied it in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.

Sanford finished the regular season 26-18, good for second in the North Division and their most successful year since 2016. Manager Nic Lops, who just completed his fourth season, was named New England Collegiate Baseball League 2024 Joel Cooney Manager of the Year for his efforts.