(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) NEWPORT NEWS: Jack Murphy smacks the ball in action this past spring for the Princeton University baseball team. The 6’4, 230-pound Murphy just finished up a big summer for the Newport (R.I.) Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). Murphy, a rising PU junior, hit .329 to help the Gulls reach the NECBL championship series. The Lakeland, Fla. native also contributed 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .549 slugging percentage.

PU Catcher Murphy Heads North, Produces Big Summer for Newport

Justin Jez

Many collegiate athletes use the summer months to get away from competition.

While some go to the beach to soak up the sun, others get their rays on the field, honing their skills in summer leagues.

With an eye on the upcoming collegiate season and beyond, Jack Murphy, a rising junior catcher for the Princeton University baseball team, worked to refine his game this summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) as a member of the Newport (R.I.) Gulls.

Murphy landed a spot on the Gulls by reaching out to the team. “I ended up in the NECBL by e-mailing the GM of the Newport Gulls and it just happened to work out where they were looking for a catcher,” explained Murphy.

“I like the league a lot because it’s great competition, a well organized league and Newport is an unbelievable place to spend a summer.”

The NECBL is a twelve-team summer collegiate baseball league created to showcase local NCAA players. Based in all six New England states, the league suggests that its players be recommended by their coach or an MLB scout.

With players recruited from all over the U.S. and overseas, the NECBL is viewed as one of the most competitive summer leagues in the nation. Playing in the league has helped many a player on the road to the pros with the Gulls boasting 63 alums currently in professional ball.

In Murphy’s view, the league was a step up from college ball. “The level of play in the NECBL is higher than the Ivy League, although there are quite a few Ivy players in this league and having success,” Murphy remarked.

The 6’4, 230-pound Murphy proved that he could compete at that higher level, ending up third on the team in hitting with a .329 batting average. The Lakeland, Fla. native also contributed 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .549 slugging percentage, good for second best on the team.

In addition to the level of play on the field, Murphy relished the atmosphere surrounding Newport home games.

“The most exciting thing about playing in Newport is that every home game you are playing in front of 2,500 people,” said Murphy.

“The place is loud and the fans are right on top of you. It is amazing the support that this team gets throughout the community and I have just been really privileged to be a part of it.”

The excitement around the team reached a fever pitch as the Gulls went 26-16 to finish first in their division and make a second straight NECBL Finals appearance.

“The playoffs with the Gulls has been an unbelievable experience,” said Murphy.

“The town is really involved with the team and just makes it a very exciting time. Newport is such a great place to spend the summer that you want to keep winning so you can hang around a little longer.”

While Newport ultimately fell 2-0 to the Sanford (Me.) Mariners in the championship series, Murphy has no regrets about his season with the Gulls.

“I think the biggest way that I have developed is learning how important your actions off the field are to your success on the field,” said Murphy, who plans to play professional ball after Princeton.

“This jump for me was about understanding that everything I do, not just on the field, has an impact on my play. I have [learned] to take every opportunity I get and not waste any chances. On a team with as many good players as there are on the Gulls, you learn to value every chance you get.”

With Murphy and eight other Princeton players having participated in a league this summer, the Tigers will be looking to take the opportunity to improve on their 20-22 mark in 2008.

“I have thought that our Princeton Tiger team has had the talent the last few years to win the Ivy League title but a combination of a lot of different factors has put it just out of reach,” said Murphy, a first-team All-Ivy performer last spring after hitting .391 with eight homers and 40 RBIs. “I think this year is where we finally put it all together.”

And with Murphy having grown from his experience this summer with the Gulls, he should help Princeton fly high next spring.

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