By Jason Brisbois / Cape Ann Beacon
CAPE ANN - The Townies certainly made a statement in their first game of the Intertown Twilight League’s postseason. And it was a statement that was clear and concise.
Rockport beat Ipswich 4-0 on Tuesday night to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three, first-round playoff series with the Chiefs. A win in game two on Aug. 5 would put the Townies in the ITL finals, pitting them against the winner of the Manchester/Essex vs. Rowley series.
Rockport won the game by dominating in all three phases of the game, with Brent Currier putting in an impressive performance on the mound, throwing a complete-game shutout in the tidy span of one hour and 25 minutes.
“We basically were on in all three phases,” said Rockport player/coach Jeremy Spittle. “We got good pitching with Brent, our defense was great and we had timely hits to score some runs.”
Currier was a key to the victory, according to Spittle.
“He was really efficient and worked quickly,” he said.
The defense turned two double plays and didn’t commit an error. At the plate, Tommy Robertson drove in two key runs in the fourth inning, while Matt Ayer drove in two earlier in the game with a single of his own.
“All we’re thinking about now is getting through tomorrow,” Spittle said after Tuesday’s game. “We’re hoping to close it out if we get the same thing: good defense, good pitching, and if we grind out at-bats. But Ipswich is a good team, and anything can happen.”
