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Hamilton reigns supreme in ITL for 4th straight season

It took them four days to record the final nine outs — and add two much needed runs in the top of the seventh — that they needed to clinch the win.

But the wait was well worth it for the Hamilton Generals.

Scoring twice in the final inning, Hamilton snapped a tie game and claimed its fourth consecutive Intertown Twilight League baseball championship Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field in Essex, finishing off a three-game sweep of Manchester with a 7-5 victory.

It was the second straight season in which the Generals swept the Mariners in the ITL finals and fourth consecutive summer that they beat them overall, winning 3 games to 1 in in both 2022 and 2023.

After finishing second behind Manchester during the regular season, Hamilton (19-6) won all five of their playoff games and outscored Manchester, 16-5, in their three-game brooming.

This decisive game originally began on Wednesday at Memorial Field in Essex, with Hamilton taking a 5-2 lead in the fifth inning. But it was suspended at that point due to lightning. Heavy rains and thunder on Thursday again postponed a conclusion of the game on Thursday, so it was moved to Saturday in Hamilton, where a potential Game 4 had already been scheduled.

Fighting gallantly to keep its season alive once play resumed Saturday, Manchester scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game. Cory Burnham had an RBI single for the Mariners before teammates Caulin Rogers and Cory McCollum both stole home successfully.

But the Generals were determined not to play an ‘if necessary’ contest, and got the runs they needed in the top of the seventh.

Ryan Hutchinson — who earned the win on the mound by coming in relief in the sixth and getting the final six outs — reached on a two-base error to open the frame. Nick Freni promptly delivered an RBI single to left, putting Hamilton ahead, 6-5. Later in the inning, Will Cooke was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home hte Generals’ final run.

Hutchinson, had thrown a complete game shutout in Game 2 of the finals, then locked it down in the bottom of the seventh by inducing two flyouts and a groundout to second base to start his team’s celebration.

Prior to the contest being halted last Wednesday, Hamilton had scored three times in the top of the fifth inning to break a tie game as Gian Gamelli, Hutchinson and Will Jones all had RBI hits. Will Frain added two hits and scored a run.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Generals One Win Away from ITL Title

Thanks to a pair of weekend shutouts, Hamilton is one win victory away from its fourth consecutive Intertown Twilight League baseball championship.

A 5-0 triumph on Saturday, coupled with a 4-0 whitewashing Sunday afternoon, have put the Generals in complete control of their best-of-5 ITL title series against the Manchester Mariners.

Hamilton (now 18-6), which has won all four of its playoff games this summer after finishing second to Manchester by a single game during the regular season, has a clinch the crown once again Wednesday in Game 3 at Memorial Field in Essex (5:30 p.m.). If necessary, Game 4 would be at Patton Park in Hamilton Saturday (4 p.m.), and a potential winner-take-all Game 5 would be held Sunday back in Essex (4 p.m.).

Will Jones was dominant for Hamilton on the mound in Game 1, spinning a complete game three-hitter while striking out eight Mariners. All five runs for the Generals crossed home plate in the second inning thanks to big run-scoring hits from Conor McClintock, Will Frain, Gian Gamelli and Hunter Wilichoski.

Toeing the slab Sunday afternoon at his home ballpark, Ryan Hutchinson also had a stellar performance. He surrendered just two hits and one walk in a complete game effort of his own, also striking out eight. After a one-out double in the first inning by Harry Painter, Hutchinson retired 19 of the final Manchester batters of the afternoon.

Wilichoski’s RBI single in the bottom of the first was all the offense Hamilton would need. Will Cooke added an RBI single to center in the fifth, another run scored on an error, and Giamelli’s triple brought home the final run.

 

 

 

Mariners trail Generals 2-0 in ITL championship series

No room for error

By Nick Giannino

» Sports Editor

The Manchester Essex Mariners are going to have to muster up some magic this week if they want to stay alive in the ITL championship.

Going into the playoffs as the top seed, Manchester made quick work of the Rowley Rams to kick things off, earning a two-game series sweep to advance to the finals for a remarkable 14th consecutive time.

But the going has gotten tough from there, as Hamilton has proven to be a worthy adversary and has now jumped out to a swift 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 title series.

Behind a complete game gem from Will Jones in Saturday’s championship opener, the Generals secured a 5-0 victory for the early series lead. Ryan Hutchinson then came through with an equally effective outing on the mound on Sunday afternoon to help his team to another shutout win, this time a 4-0 decision at Patton Park.

In Game 1, Manchester managed just three hits

off Jones — those coming from Luke Leavitt, James McKenna and Troy Flood — while striking out eight times. Hamilton, meanwhile, plated all five of its runs in a big second inning thanks to RBI hits from Conor McClintock, Will Frain, Gian Gamelli and Hunter Willochoski.

On Sunday, Manchester had just two hits: a double from Harry Painter and a single from leadoff man Lukas Albano. Hutchinson fanned eight batters as well while walking just one in his seven innings of work.

Zach Abbott (5 IP, 8 hits, 4 ER) was solid on the bump for Manchester, but it wasn’t enough.

Now, the Mariners will have to win on Wednesday at home at Memorial Park (5:30 p.m. start) to keep their season alive, and will need three straight wins overall to capture the title.

 

 

 

 

2025 Playoffs in the News

Thank you Townies fans

 Townies season ends with a 3-0 playoff loss to Hamilton at Evans Field on Tuesday 8/5. We appreciate the support of our loyal fans all season long, and will see you in May! ⚾️

Mariners sweep Rams

 

Game 1 Sunday night Mariners win 4-2

Jake Barressi CG 8 ks for Rowley 

Kellen Heney starting pitcher for Mariners who pitched the first 4 innings surrendering rowleys 2 runs in the 3rd inning. 5 k 

Brett Moore would pitch the final 3 innings completely shutting down every chance that Rowley had 3 ip 6 k allowing only 1 hit 

Offense: Rowley would get its only two runs in the 3rd inning from 2 consecutive hits from James wood and Adam Gracie

They would threaten two more times in the 4th loading the bases with no outs and then again in the 5th runners on second and third no outs and Brett Moore would masterfully get out of both innings without allowing a run

Offense for Mariners: 

Mike quill lead off the bottom of the third by getting hit by pitch then tom Connor’s would reach on a throwing error that ended up scoring Mike quill. Next batter Lukas Albano gets up next for a big base hit and would steal the next pitch to put runners on 2nd and 3rd and cas Ostrowski would get up and drive in both of them to make it 3-2 Mariners after 3 innings. Mariners would get another one in the 6th for some insurance on an rbi single from James McKenna that started with Caulin Roger’s reaching on an error. 

2 hits on the night for James McKenna 

Game over 4-2 Mariners game one

Game 2 Mariners 2 Rowley rams 1

Winning pitcher Zach Abbott CG 6 k 5 hits allowed finished the game by striking out the last two batters of the game with a runner on third (tying run with 1 out) . Mariners defense backed up Zach Abbott all night with big plays all around most notably two big diving catches from tom Connor’s and Mike quill. 

Zach Gilmore the losing pitcher pitched a hell of a game for Rowley throwing the entire game as well but the Mariners played just a little more opportunistic baseball then Rowley to secure the 2-1 win in Rowley and to end the rams season and will meet Hamilton in the finals who also swept rockport townies who didn’t score a run in 2 games. 

Mariners got 1 run in the 3rd starting with Caulin rogers reaching with a base hit eventually being driven in by Troy flood. In the top 4 Brett Moore would lead off with a single and after stealing two bases was driven in by Mike quill. 

Rowley got its only run of the night on a homerun from Adam Gracie on a pitch Abbott left a little high

2025 Playoffs Set

2025 ITL Standings

• TEAM - W-L-T - POINTS
• Man./Essex 15-5 (30)
• Hamilton 14-6 (27)*
• Rockport 13-6-1 (27)
• Rowley 9-10-1 (19)
• Beverly 5-15 (10)
• Ipswich 3-17 (6)

 

2025 PLAYOFFS

• SEMI-FINALS
• (4) Rowley vs. (1) M/E
• Series tied (0-0)
• (3) Rockport vs. (2) Hamilton
• Series tied (0-0)

 

Beverly Recs Upend Ipswich Chiefs for 1972 Title

The Beverly Recs defeat the Ipswich Chiefs to win the 1972 ITL title.  The Chiefs beat out the Essex Shipbuilders in the semis to square off against the Recs.  Ipswich Chronicle articles (below) helped fill in some of the details.  Dates are included in the articles below.

 

 

 

 

Rams 9, Chiefs 0

 The Rowley Rams concluded their regular season with a 9-0 victory over the Ipswich Chiefs.  Kyle Greenler was in control all night for the Rams, allowing just one infield hit while striking out 11 to earn the complete game victory.

Shipbuilders Take 1973 ITL Crown

Our long term goal is to fill in all the missing League champions in our league dating back to 1929.  Based on research, we are able to fill in our first missing date.  The 1973 ITL Championship belongs to the Essex Shipbuilders who defeated the Ipswich Chiefs in Aug. 1973.  Below is an except from the Ipswich Chronicle from Aug. 22, 1973 (page 22).  "Daley's Doubles" makes reference to the series that completed the weekend before.

  

Townies 15 Giants 1

 Rockport beats Beverly 15-1 Sunday 7/27 at Cooney Field. First game of the scheduled double header banged due to rain has been forfeited by Beverly. Townies finish the regular season at 13-6-1 giving up the fewest runs in the league. Playoffs start Sunday August 3rd. Opponent will be the Hamilton Generals. Seeding to be determined following the Generals-Mariners two game set this week. 

Rams 4, Mariners 1

 The Rowley Rams evened the series against Manchester with a 4-1 win last night at Eiras Park.  Zach Gilmore pitched a complete game to pick up the win for Rowley.

Mariners 12 Rams 5

From the GDT:

 After having their 12-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Rowley Rams last week, the Manchester Essex Mariners got back to their winning ways on the diamond on Tuesday.

In a rematch of that disappointing setback, Manchester struck early and often, earning a convincing 12-5 decision to push their ITL-best record to 15-2. The Mariners scored six times in the second to break things open and added four insurance runs in the sixth to seal the deal.

Lukas Albano (2 runs, RBI), Caz Ostrowski (2 runs), Troy Flood (3 runs, 2 RBI) and Theo Ostrowski (1 run, 1 RBI) led the charge at the plate with two hits apiece. Caz Ostrowski, Flood and Albano all had doubles. Caulin Rogers also drove in a pair, as did Brendan Chauret.

Defensively, Zack Abbott drew the start on the mound and grabbed the win, going five innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out six. Jack Shaw slammed the door with two strong innings of relief, including four Ks.

Justin Bolla had a 2 run home run for the Rams.

Manchester is right back at it on Wednesday to take on the same Rams squad in a rubber match heading down the regular season stretch.

Townies 12 Chiefs 0

 Rockport wins 12-0 at Ipswich Monday 7/21 to move to 11-6-1. Townies wrap up the regular season Sunday 7/27 with a double header @ Beverly. First game starts at 4p. 

Rockport sweeps DH vs Ipswich

 Townies swept Ipswich in the double header at Evans Field Sunday 7/20 winning first game 4-3 and second 11-0. Townies move to 10-6-1 on the season and are back at it on the road vs Ipswich at Bialek Park on Momday 7/21 at 5:45p.

Rams 11 Mariners 0

 Gilmore pitched a shut out leading the Rams to victory.