Kuehl, North Shore roll over Newport, 7-1

Steve DelVecchio, Navigators Sports Information Department

In a battle between two NECBL playoff contenders on Tuesday night at Fraser Field in Lynn, the North Shore Navigators (18-10) managed to knock off the Newport Gulls (15-14) by a score of 7-1. The versatile Matt Costello got the start for the Navs, turning in yet another extremely effective outing.

Costello looked sharp from the game’s opening pitch, retiring the first eleven batters he faced and holding the Gulls hitless through the first four innings, before giving up an infield single to Newport designated hitter Jared Prince in the top of the fifth.

“Two great performances by [Costello] this year,” Navs Coach Jason Falcon said. “He keeps people off balance by throwing a variety of pitches. I think he actually invents pitches while he’s out there, to be honest with you. That’s what most lefties do. I was glad we gave him something to work with there early in the game. I don’t think we’ve knocked a pitcher out of the game this early all year.”

With his fastballs consistently in the mid to upper 80’s, Costello was able to get through seven innings of work giving up only one earned run on four hits to go along with four strikeouts and three walks. He earned his second win of the season in as many starts. He really was forced to battle tonight, in that he was feeling a bit under the weather before the start of the game.

“To be totally honest with you, I didn’t feel too good before the game,” Costello said. “I felt a little tired, and I have a tweaked muscle right in the hip area, so I was trying to work against that, too.”

The Navigators were able to draw first blood in the ballgame, scoring three times in the bottom of the third inning. Taking part in the scoring was Navs newcomer Jesse Bruinsma, who singled to lead off the bottom of the third and later scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Nick Belcher. North Shore was able to take a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning and, with a sharp Costello on the mound, never look back.

Bruinsma, who started in center field, was in the lineup last Thursday for North Shore’s exhibition game against the Dominican Republic All-Star team. However, tonight’s game had a bit of a different feel for the local Lynnfield, MA native and Curry College sophomore.

“I felt good. There were a little bit of nerves at the beginning of the game just being this was the first NECBL game,” Bruinsma said. “The [Dominican Republic All Star] team was a good team, but you know, these are the best teams around. So, yea, I was a little nervous, but I felt good, especially in the beginning of the game. Towards the end of the game, I felt a little run down. Throughout the game, I was comfortable. That is really all I wanted to be. I wanted to be comfortable.”

Continuing to swing the bat well, NECBL Northern Division All-Star and Navigators’ second baseman Tyler Kuehl enjoyed a monster evening, playing a role in six of the seven runs scored by the Navs. Kuehl finished the evening 3-for-3 with an impressive three runs batted in and another three scored to lead the scoring attack for North Shore.

“I just go out every day and just try and get dirty every day,” Kuehl said. [I just try to] keep things simple.”

Coach Jason Falcon turned to his All-Star pitching duo of Jason Markovitz and Chris Prescott to pitch the seventh and eight innings and hold off any potential comeback, sealing a 7-1 victory for North Shore. Markovitz allowed no earned runs in the eight on one hit, and Prescott followed with a perfect ninth.

The Navigators will enjoy two scheduled days off on Wednesday and Thursday before heading to Lowell to take on the All-Americans on Friday, July 18^th. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30PM. Jimmy Lisowski will be on the hill for the Navs.