Beverly - 8, Rockport - 3

Beverly beat Rockport 8 to 3 Friday night to close within 1/2 game of the fourth and final playoff spot. Rocky Pisa (2-0) earned the victory throwing 6 1/3 innings of 3 run ball.

Beverly jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a Jeff Giannino RBI groundout. Rockport answered with a run in the bottom half when a Brent Currier single plated Tommy Robertson who had doubled into the woods.

The pitchers took over for the next two innings, but in the top of the 4th Beverly brought four runners across the plate. Sean Martin's RBI groundout, Nick Adams' two run double, and Jeff Barricelli's run scoring single contributed to the rally.

Rockport next answered in the bottom of the 5th inning when Brent Currier hit a sacrifice fly to center to cut the Giants lead to 5-2. However, Beverly scored two more runs in the top of the 6th inning on an Adams RBI single, and a Barricelli sac fly. The Giants manufactured another run to bring the score to 8 to 2 in the 7th inning on an error, a walk, a sac bunt, and an RBI groundout by Matt O'Brien.

Pisa tired in the 7th and gave way to Roger Dragani who allowed an RBI infield single to Adam Orlando before striking out a batter and inducing a groundout to end the game.

Ty Watkins was charged with the loss for Rockport. Watkins pitched 6+ innings.

Beverly was led by Jeff Barricelli (3 for 3, 2RBI) and Nick Adams (3 for 4, 3RBI). Rockport's #21 was 3 for 3 with 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored.