Groton — Dennis Long recently heard a revealing fact about his Mystic Schooners, the local entry in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

"Over the last six years, we have the best winning percentage in the league, which I think came as a surprise to everybody in the league, including me," said Long, the pitching coach and co-owner, on Tuesday. "I didn't really realize it. I just knew we had played very well and very consistently.

"Do we necessarily have all the No. 1 draft picks? Maybe not. But we play good baseball and we teach good baseball. What I think the case study is, can you develop chemistry, can you teach a team, can you create a positive atmosphere of winning with a bunch of guys from all over the country? I really think you can, because baseball is a universal language and you just speak it all the time."

The Schooners also are the only NECBL team to qualify for postseason play in each of the last six seasons. They'll begin their quest to extend that streak on Wednesday, visiting the Newport Gulls at Cardines Field for their 2019 season opener. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

While it's been far from smooth sailing for the Schooners, they've learned to navigate the unpredictable and sometimes choppy waters of summer baseball.

"You have to get lucky," manager Phil Orbe said. "Part of it is our ability to make sure the guys stay as long as we can. We do try to develop them throughout the summer, also."

Orbe, the franchise's all-time winningest manager, returns after taking a year off. In his previous stint that covered six seasons, he led Mystic to 136 wins and the franchise's only NECBL championship in 2016.

The Schooners went 22-22 overall and lost their playoff opener in manager Rob Bono's only season in 2018.

It will take time for this season's NECBL title race to develop.

"It's way too early because you don't know what everybody else has," Orbe said. "The way in which we attract players hasn't changed. Typically, we're going after young men that can play here athletically and also can meet the expectations we have for their role in the community.

"Because of that, I think we're going to be okay."

Long and Orbe tapped into some of their regular connections to assemble the roster, drawing players from in-state programs as well as Princeton, Seton Hall, Wagner and Bryant University. Georgia Tech, Maryland and Alabama are some of the other teams that sent players.

And more players will be arriving. There's a chance that two Arizona State pitchers will join the team. Montville's Seamus Barry, who just completed his UConn Avery Point baseball career, will serve as a temporary fill-in until two other catchers show up — Georgia Tech's Jaime Taylor and Seton Hall's Jerome Huntzinger.

Infielder Steve Barmakian (George Washington), pitcher Nash Eppard (Bryant) and outfielder Shane Kelly (Bryant) are returning players.

Former Montville star TT Bowens had an injury-shortened previous stint with the Schooners. He may be back this summer, but it will likely depend on his major league draft status. He's coming off a successful collegiate season at Central Connecticut State University, which won an NCAA Division I postseason game for the first time in program history.

It's a quick transition from college to summer baseball season.

The Schooners held their first team meeting on Sunday, scrimmaged a collection of Eastern Connecticut Major League players on Monday and met for a team lunch at the Bridge Market in Groton on Tuesday before practicing at Fitch High School, their home field.

Fairfield righthander Trey McLoughlin, who went 5-5 with a 5.59 earned run average for the Stags, will start opening night. Mystic plays its home opener on Thursday night at 6:05 against Winnipesaukee.

Orbe is looking forward to being back in the dugout. First, he has a few things to cross off on his to-do list.

"I'm excited," Orbe said. "Now it's at the point where I'm just thinking about all the things we need to do before tomorrow and all the things we have to take care of. I'm a little pre-occupied with that."

g.keefe@theday.com