On Thursday night, it looked as if the Rowley Rams’ season was just about over. Trailing the Hamilton Generals 6-5 with two outs and nobody on in the seventh of the decisive Game 3 of the Intertown Twilight League semifinals, Rowley was down to its last out as the Generals looked to punch their ticket to the league finals in front of their home fans.
Finn Graham and Lewi L’Heureux had other ideas, knocking in two quick singles to tie the game and force extra innings, and after darkness descended upon the field, the game was called off. Due to league rules, it was as if the game had never been played, so suddenly the Rams had a new lease on life and a fresh opportunity to carry their momentum into the “real” Game 3.
And who better to give the ball to than Tim Cashman?
“Timmy wasn’t going to let me have anyone else pitch,” said Rowley coach Jeff Wood. “He wanted the ball and the guys always respond to him when he’s out there.”
Cashman, the former Triton Regional High School ace, was electric on Friday night, going the distance to help Rowley beat Hamilton 6-1 and clinch its spot in the ITL finals. Cashman, who also picked up the Game 1 win on Monday, allowed one unearned run in the sixth inning but was otherwise untouchable.
“The story of the night is Timmy Cashman,” Wood said. “He was outstanding again just like on Monday.”
Rowley took the lead in the fourth inning after Justin Bolla smashed a two-run home run, giving the Rams a lead they would never relinquish. Curtis Putnam also had three hits and two RBIs, and defensively the Rams were solid other than two infield errors in the sixth inning.
With the win, Rowley will now face the top-seeded Manchester Mariners in the league’s best-of-five championship series. Game 1 will be played this afternoon at Essex Town Field at 4 p.m., and Game 2 will be at Eiras Park in Rowley on Sunday at 4 p.m. Game 3 will be on Wednesday in Essex, and if necessary, Games 4 and 5 would be in Rowley and Essex respectively next Saturday and Sunday.
The matchup of Manchester and Rowley in the final represents a return to the norm that persisted throughout much of the past decade. Prior to the Rockport Townies winning the last two league titles, Manchester had won eight ITL titles in nine years, with the lone loss coming to Rowley in 2011.
