University community invited to Night at the Newport Gulls

Members of the University community are invited to join alumni, parents and friends for Salve Regina’s Night at the Newport Gulls on Monday, July 12. This annual event celebrates the longtime partnership between the University and the Newport Gulls and highlights local students and graduates who learn, lead and make a difference.

Opening ceremonies begin at 6:15 p.m. and the game starts at 6:35 p.m. as the Gulls take on the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks at historic Cardines Field.

Several members of the Salve Regina community will participate in the evening’s festivities. Participating in the first pitch are Lorrie and Tim Burns. Lorrie Burns is a faculty member in the Department of Business and Economics at Salve Regina, and Tim Burns is a Salve Regina trustee. Also included is Mike Melillo, Newport Gulls Hall of Famer and founder of Dockwa. The Burns were among the first host families for the Newport Gulls, and Melillo was their player. Melillo now regularly participates in Lorrie Burn’s internship classes and has shared his experience and expertise with many Salve Regina students.

More people included in the first pitch lineup are Randy ’94 and Alison ’95 Early, who are coming back home to Newport from North Carolina because they’ve been awarded with an Alumni Volunteer Service award this year. It’s the first time this award has even been presented to an alumni couple. Last but not least, Pocasset Elementary School Principal Suzette Wordell ’96, who is the 2021 Rhode Island Principal of the Year, will be joining the first pitch as well.

Father Scott Pontes will be delivering the opening prayer, and children of Salve Regina faculty and staff will appear during the opening ceremonies as baseball buddies. Children ages four through 12 can sign up to be baseball buddies by emailing brooke.newsome@salve.edu.

Proceeds from the evening’s 50/50 raffle will benefit Salve Regina’s scholarships for local students, including the Beatrice B. and Samuel Z. Bazarsky Endowed Scholarship, Florence F. and Mary L. Sullivan Scholarship, Mason D. Rector Scholarship and the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship.

Tickets are complimentary, but members of the Salve Regina community are asked to take only as many as they need for their family to attend the game. Faculty, staff and summer work-study students can pick up tickets in Ochre Court room 312 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday beginning on July 6.

Parking is available in the municipal lot behind the Gateway Center for a reduced rate with a Newport Gulls ticket stub.