In a make-up game from early in the season, the Mariners defeated the Townies 6-2 at Memorial Park in Essex on Thursday night. The win puts the Mariners in first place for the time being with 28 points (14-8 record) with only 2 games remaining. Both Rockport and Ipswich are at 26 points with 4 games remaining for the Townies & Chiefs (13-7 records).
Mike Cain picked up the victory on the mound for the Mariners, going 6 innings while only allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and striking out 8. Jared Knowlton pitched a scoreless 7th inning to finish the game. Ty Watkins pitched 4 innings on the mound, while surrendering 6 earned runs on 5 hits, 3bb, 1k, and 1hbp. Pat Clark relieved Watkins and threw 2 scoreless innings.
The Mariners were led by Charlie Choate's 3 run homer in the 1st inning, and Nate Bertolino's rbi triple in the 3rd inning. Kyle Hildebrand had 2 hits for the Mariners, while Rory Gentile, Cain, and Whit Graham also hit safely. Bryan Lafata scored 2 of the Mariners runs, and Ian Buckley recorded an rbi. Brent Currier, Marc Bouchie, Justin Paradis, and Tom Robertson all recorded hits on the night for the Townies. Robertson recorded an rbi hit, while Bouchie and Currier scored the Townies runs.
The Mariners wrap their season up with a home game Tuesday vs Hamilton and travel to Hamilton on Thursday August 2nd. The Townies play this Sunday, as they host Topsfield for a doubleheader.
