Conference

Smithfield, RI -- Rising senior Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.) struck out 13 batters over seven innings of one-run ball to  lead Newport of the New England Collegiate Baseball League to an 8-1 victory over Danbury and the NECBL championship.

Kelich becomes the second Bulldog to win an NECBL championship in the last two years, joining Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) of the Keene Swamp Bats last summer.

Making his second start of the playoffs, Kelich was dominant, allowing just one run on four hits while issuing just three walks. The 13 strikeouts were a career-high for the right-hander. He struck out the side in order in the second and sixth innings, including fanning five-straight between the second and third innings. After allowing his only run of the game in the seventh, Kelich finished his evening by striking out Monmouth's Jake Gronsky to strand runners on first and second.

In two postseason starts, Kelich went 2-0, allowing just one run over 13 innings. He allowed just seven hits, walked three and struck out 23 batters. Kelich finished his season 4-1 with four saves and a 1.80 ERA over 55 innings. He allowed just 39 hits, struck out 72 and walked a measly 14 batters all summer.