Newport — Some people might think Mystic manager Phil Orbe is biased when praising TT Bowens.

After all, Bowens is not only a Schooner, but a former Montville High School standout.

Orbe is okay with that.

Judging from his statistics, there's certainly no denying that Bowens, who attends Central Connecticut State University, is having a monster year.

"He put together one of the most impressive seasons in the 25-year history of the league," said Orbe before Mystic's season ended with a 5-2 loss to Newport the New England Collegiate Baseball League Southern Division wild-card game Saturday at historic Cardines Field. "He's become almost the face of the league. He really has.

"It will be interesting to see what this summer results in for him. Going back to school and what he does in the spring may not be as important as what he did this summer."

Orbe points to Bowens' statistics to support his case.

During the regular season, Bowens, an all-star, set the NECBL single-season record for RBI with 53 and belted a league-best 16 home runs while batting .331.

And Bowens did it playing in just 39 games, joining the Schooners after the NECBL season began due to the fact that CCSU competed in the NCAA tournament.

He got the attention of not his NECBL opponents — pitchers regularly worked around him — but also professional scouts.

"In the eyes of people seeing him up front and personal, there was probably a 10-game stretch where we had at least five to 15 guys there every night," Orbe said. "It's the most we ever had. Other guys like Ben Maycock (UConn) and Jerry Huntzinger (Seton Hall) and Trey McLoughlin (Fairfield) have really opened up eyes, too, because these guys have seen them consistently, too.

"A lot of these guys are benefiting from TT's presence."

Thanks to productive teammates Steve Barmakian (.319) and David Beam (.357) setting the table, the power-hitting Bowens had regular opportunities to drive in runs.

Bowens created quite the buzz during the recent NECBL all-star game home run derby contest, slugging 40 home runs in two rounds, including 24 in the final round. In an impressive display, he belted 16 out of the park in three minutes.

Unfortunately for Mystic, Newport neutralized Bowens, who went 1-for-3 with his 54th RBI of the season. He drove in a first inning run with a sacrifice fly and added an infield single but stranded three runners. Barmakian had two of his team's seven hits while another Montville product, Seamus Barry (UConn Avery Point), drove in the final run with a double in the ninth.

"They never quit," Orbe said. "It's a word that doesn't get used alot — integrity — and I think that's what these guys displayed this summer. We were never out of a out of a game, including tonight."

Newport, the hottest team in the league in the final weeks of the regular season, jumped ahead for good in the first on a two-run home run by Chris Hamilton (Stony Brook), who finished with a team-best three hits. Joseph Bellini (Cincinnati) had solo shot. Starter Sam Jacobsak (Northeastern) pitched six strong innings, allowing one run and five hits, to earn the win.

McLoughlin, an NECBL all-star starter out of Fairfield University, took the loss. On a strict pitch count, he went the first three innings, allowing two runs and five hits while walking two and striking out one. He entered the game with a 4-1 record a 2.57 earned run average.

The Gulls (28-17) advance to play Southern Division leader Martha's Vineyard in a best-of-three divisional championship series, starting Sunday on the road.

Despite the loss, Mystic extended its streak of consecutive seasons qualifying for the playoffs to seven, the longest active streak in the NECBL. The Schooners, who resided in third place behind Newport, finished 22-22 overall.

"It says a lot about the organization," Orbe said of the streak. "Mystic has certainly become a desired destination for upper level collegiate baseball players and programs. It's been a tremendous experience for our guys."

g.keefe@theday.com