BURLINGTON, Vt. - Sean Gamble, a rising senior on the Bethany baseball team, has found a knack for finishing games in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. Now in his third summer playing for the Vermont Lake Monsters, Gamble leads the FCBL summer league this season in both saves (10) and strikeout average (1.72 per inning).
 
"I absolutely love it and I feel like it has helped me progress as a player and a teammate," Gamble said. "The biggest challenges I've faced playing are trying to fight burnout and keeping my sword sharp."
 
As a Division II transfer from neighboring Minnesota State-Mankato, Gamble is fresh off his first season at Bethany where he helped the Vikings win both the UMAC regular season and playoff titles with an appearance at the NCAA regional tournament. Gamble was an integral part of the starting rotation, going 7-2 in 14 appearances (10 starts) with a 4.75 ERA. The Denton, Texas native tossed 72 innings with 95 strikeouts.
 
Making the switch from Bethany and the UMAC to Vermont and the FCBL, Gamble also had to make the switch from starting pitcher to closer. The change in roles hasn't affected his impact on the team, which has been a positive one. Just 12 days after wrapping up the season at Bethany, Gamble earned his first save of the summer with the Lake Monsters, striking out the side in the ninth inning of a 1-0 win over New Britain. Over the past two months, Gamble has not allowed an earned run in 12 of his 19 appearances. And in his past four appearances, which were one inning each, Gamble has given up zero runs with just two hits allowed and six strikeouts, earning three saves.
 
"My mindset is to go out there and be better, and make the hitter prove that they belong in the box," Gamble said. "I am not trying to strike anyone out or let them hit the ball, I am just going up there and filling up the zone and letting my pitches do the rest of the work. I just go up there and do my job and finish the game out for the team."
 
With just five games remaining in the regular season, Gamble has helped the Lake Monsters to a 38-19 record, which is good for second place in the league. The opportunity to pitch in the FCBL has helped Gamble improve and has given him a positive outlook on the upcoming season for the Vikings.
 
"I think coming out here and facing some really good Division I, II, and III talent has helped me hone my skills as a pitcher and has helped me learn who I am under different kinds of pressure and in different situations," Gamble said. "I also believe that being out here will help me as a leader and an older pitcher on the staff [at Bethany]."