Game 2 is tonight in Rockport.
Rockport takes Game 1 over Manchester (From Gloucester Times)
By Nick CurcuruCorrespondent
ESSEX — When playoff time comes around in the Inter-Town Baseball League, there is always one constant - The Rockport Townies are going to make a splash.
Having won three straight league championships, the Townies began their quest for a fourth in their first round match up with Manchester yesterday at Memorial Field in Essex. Rockport could not have asked for a better start to their playoff series ripping 15 hits in a 7-4 win over the Mariners in Game 1 of a best-of-three series.
Adam Orlando picked up the win for Rockport going the distance allowing four runs on seven hits. The hard throwing righty was also a force at the plate going 3 for 4 with two solo home runs and three runs scored. Orlando admitted that the Townies pick up the intensity come playoff time.
"It's the playoffs now so everybody comes to play ball," Orlando said. "We always seem to get into a groove this time of year."
Manchester second baseman Nate Bertolino could only tip his cap to the victors.
"It's tough to win when Adam (Orlando) is pitching the way he did tonight," Bertolino said. "We only had seven hits and he really kept us off balance. We need to hit better if we want to make this a series."
The Mariners opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run by Bertolino down the left field line. Manchester pitcher Steve Stout would keep the Townies bats at bay until the fourth inning, when Rockport was finally able to get on the board when Marc Bouchie (3 for 4) doubled in Orlando, who reached on a single.
Stout held the powerful Rockport lineup to just one run through five innings, drawing praise from Orlando.
"Stout pitched a great game," Orlando said. "He really gave us trouble early on. It was a pitcher's duel for a while."
The Townies offense, however, would wake up in the sixth inning, plating four runs on four hits. Orlando made it 2-1 Rockport when he homered to left-center field. Chris Bouchie (two hits) gave the Townies an insurance run when he beat a throw to home plate on a ground ball in the infield. Matt Ayer (two hits) and Marc Bouchie add two more runs on bases loaded walks to give Rockport a 5-1 lead.
Rockport added two more runs in the seventh to take a 7-2 lead going into the bottom half of the inning. Mariners right fielder Joe Orlando (two hits) cut the Townies lead to three when he homered to right-center, but it was too late as Adam Orlando would get the next batter to fly out to end the game.
With the win the Townies take a 1-0 lead in the series, they will move on to the finals with a win in game two tonight in Rockport (6 p.m, Evans Field). Orlando says his team needs to keep up the focus and momentum to advance.
"We need another performance like tonight's," Orlando said. "We have to keep hitting and playing defense, if we do that we will be alright."
