Mariners ITL Champions

The Manchester-Essex Mariners beat the Rowley Rams last night 3 to 2 in game 4 of the Intertown Twilight League Finals. With the victory the Mariners clinch their 5th consecutive ITL championship and 8th title in 9 years.

The Mariners scored in the first inning after John Wilcox hit a double and Mike Cain brought him in on a single. Rowley answered back in the 3rd on a Mariner infield miscue that evened the score at 1.

Caulin Rogers reached to lead off the 5th inning after an error by the Rowley 2nd baseman. Wilcox walked and then Rory Gentile's sacrifice bunt put runners on 2nd & 3rd with 1 out. Up stepped Cain, with the infield in Cain sent a 0-1 fastball to right field that plated both runners.

In the 6th the Rams pulled within 1 run on a Justin Bolla RBI fielder's choice.

In the bottom of the 7th Dimitri Hunt lead off with a laser one hopper down the first base line but Cain made a tremendous diving stop and was able to beat Hunt to first for the out. Rusty Tucker then retired the last 2 Rams to clinch the Series win. Tucker finished with 9 strikeouts and 1 earned run on 4 hits. It was Tucker's second win in the Series.

Bolla had a big series for the Rams, reaching base 8 out of 13 times, with 2 homer runs and 5 runs batted in.

The Mariners finish the 2016 season with a record of 25-5.