Top NECBL Teams of All-Time

The NECBL has been around since 1994, and over 200 different rosters have played under 35 different team names, logos and locations. Some teams have been incredible some years, and other times not as good. NECBL.com has stat archives that date back to the inception of the league, complete with standings, rosters and league leaders. With the division finals approaching tomorrow, and the championship just days away- now would be as good time as any to look back at the top three teams in the 20 years the NECBL has been around that have graced the fields across New England. 

1. 2006 Newport Gulls (32-10), lost in the Southern Division Finals

The Newport Gulls are consistently one of the best teams in the league, but in 2006, despite not winning the Fay Vincent Cup, the Gulls dominated in the regular season, setting the record for wins in a year with 32. The Gulls put together two huge winning streaks, two ten game streaks separated by just six games. Led by league MVP Jim Murphy and Manager of the Year Mike Coombs, the Gulls finished seven games ahead of second place North Adams, easily earning the #1 seed in the playoffs. 

Newport lost the first game against the Manchester Silworms before recovering and taking the next two to advance. They were swept by the Torrington Twisters in the divisional finals, who went on to fall to the Vermont Mountaineers in the championship.

Murphy (right) led the league in average with a .358 mark and in RBIs with 40, while teammates Chris Dominguez hit 11 home runs and Matt Bouchard scored 29 runs, all leading the league. Pitching wise, ace Pat McAney went 7-0 with a 1.74 ERA to lead the team. A little piece of history was also made on July 21st, when three Gulls combined to throw a no-hitter, allowing six walks and no errors, against the SteepleCats. The Gulls are in the record book multiple times for this season, but one mark that could stand for some time is their 2.03 team ERA.

2. 2012 Newport Gulls (31-10), NECBL Champions

Another Newport team takes second, as the 2012 Gulls were ranked the best summer collegiate baseball team all across the United States. "In winning their fifth NECBL title in 12 years, the Gulls fielded arguably the best club in their existence. They broke numerous team and league records, and dominated to such a degree that they were hailed as the No. 1 summer-league team in the country in 2012. Perfect Game USA bestowed that honor on the team in its final weekly ranking of the nation’s top summer clubs." Led by batting champion Jeff Melillo and four players on the All-NECBL First Team, the Gulls flew by any competition and swept the Danbury Westerners to win the NECBL title.

The Gulls earned the #1 seed in the West, finishing six and a half ahead of the New Bedford Bay Sox. The Sanford Mainers were their first test, and in a series that went all three games, the Gulls passed it by winning two straight after dropping Game 1. The second place Bay Sox were the next threat, but the Gulls swept them and then the Westerners for a six game winning streak that earned them their fifth Fay Vincent Cup.

Melillo set the NECBL record for batting average with a .404 mark, as well as leading the league in OBP (.548) and the pitching was anchored by First teamer Daniel Wright and Reliever of the Year Pete Kelich. Kelich earned his award after going 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 12 apperances and 41 innings pitched, while Wright went 6-0 with a 3.94 ERA and started the All-Star game for the East. Outfielder Yale Rosen was also a bright spot, earning the Freshman of the Year award and breaking the Gulls home run record with 12 before injuring his shoulder at the All-Star game.

3. 2003 Torrington Twisters (30-10), lost in the NECBL Championship

The Twisters moved and are currently the New Bedford Bay Sox, but in 2003 they were the best team in the NECBL. The Twisters went 30-10 and made it all the way to the NECBL championship. Torrington sent three players to the All-NECBL First Team, while Jeff Natale also earned the 10th Man of the Year award while leading the league in doubles. The Twisters lost more than one game in a row just twice, and pieced together a nine game winning streak around the middle of the season that pulled them away from competition.

Torrington swept the Middletown Giants in the first round, and followed with another sweep of the two-time defending champions Newport in the divisonal finals. They took on the Keene Swamp Bats in the final round, who had been denied the previous two years of a title. Keene eked out a 2-0 win in Game 1 and followed with a resounding 7-1 victory to clinch the title.

Natale (right with Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre) led the team with a .322 batting average, and Jim Fasano knocked in 22 runs. Not a home run hitting or high scoring team, the Twisters relied on their league best pitching to pave the path to the finals. Matt Torra anchored their starting rotation, going 5-1 with a 1.37 ERA over seven starts. However, it was Randy Newson and the bullpen that played a huge part of the Twisters success. Newson, over 12 appearances had a 0.65 ERA and four saves. John Cronin played the role of closer, earning eight saves.

Also Receiving Consideration

YEAR	TEAM	W-L	OUTCOME
2009	Newport Gulls	31-10	CHAMPIONS
2002	Keene Swamp Bats	31-11	RUNNERS UP
1998	Torrington Twisters	30-12	RUNNERS UP
2005	Keene Swamp Bats	30-13	DIVISION FINALS
2012	Keene Swamp Bats	29-13	DIVISION FINALS