NEW: Newport Gulls Manager Mike Coombs Retires
Friday, January 08, 2016
Newport Gulls manager Mike Coombs is retiring. Coombs won four championships, his last coming in 2014, since taking over during the 2005 season and retires with a regular season record of 308-153.
“The way people treated me in Newport was wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better second home than Newport. I always loved coming back for that reason. The baseball is great; the players and coaches are great. Being a part of the Newport Gulls family is something special," said Coombs.
Mike Coombs
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCoombs retires as arguably he most successful manager in NECBL history with a regular season winning percentage of .668 and a post season record of 44-17, a .721 winning percentage.
Coombs was named Manager of the Year in both the 2006 season and the 2009 season and recorded at least 25 wins in all 11 seasons that he coached.
Coombs overall record stands at an NECBL best 352-170 in 522 career games.
Coombs coached his division's all-star team a record seven times, as well as coaching the NECBL All-Stars in an exhibition vs. Team USA.
Taking Over
The Gulls have also announced that long time hitting coach Al Leyva will be taking over as the seventh manager in team history.
“After four years as an assistant coach with this well-respected organization, I have enjoyed getting to know the community and fan base, and look forward to a very successful season. As a coach in the NECBL for nine years as both an assistant and manager, I will have the opportunity to bring all of my experience to this 2016 team," said Leyva.
Leyva began his NECBL coaching career as the field manager of the Middletown Giants in 2003, leading them to the playoffs in his first season at he helm.
“Al and Kevin are both outstanding baseball coaches, with vast amounts of knowledge and experience. They will bring home championships to the City-by-the-Sea," said Coombs of Leyva and pitching coach Kevin Long who was brought back for a sixth season.
The Gulls will begin their 16th season in Newport this June.
Newport Gulls
The Newport Gulls are members of the 13-team New England Collegiate Baseball League. The Gulls are six time champions of the NECBL and were ranked as high as the overall number one summer collegiate baseball team in the country in 2012.
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