Monday, August 24, 2020

Bolla, Rowley dethrone Mariners with walk-off homer to win ITL title

Bolla, Rowley dethrone Mariners with walk-off homer to win ITL title

By Nick Curcuru
Aug 22, 2020

ROWLEY — In 2019, the Manchester Mariners won the Intertown Twilight League championship with a walk-off home run against the Rowley Rams. In Saturday's Game 3 of the ITL finals, the Rams returned the favor.

With two down in the bottom of the seventh inning, the best hitter of the series, Rowley's Justin Bolla, stepped to the plate with a runner on first base. Bolla saw a couple of pitches before getting a fastball that he could handle, and he launched it out to left field for a walk-off two-run homer and a 2-0 Rowley win to clinch the league championship and sweep the best-of-five series.

"There was a runner on first so I expected them to go at me," said Bolla, who had been pitched around all game, walking twice. "It was a new pitcher so I was expecting him to come in and throw hard. When I hit it I knew it was enough for at least a double and once I saw it in the air I knew it was going out."

Bolla was the player of the series as he was dialed in at the plate, going 7-for-10 with three home runs and 10 RBI in the series. He drove in four runs in the first two games and then finished off the series by driving in the only two runs in the championship clincher.

The championship was Rowley's first since 2011. The Rams have been knocking on the door for years and were able to finish this year in dominant fashion, outscoring the defending champs, 18-2 in three games.

"I've got no words for it," Bolla said. "We've been fighting every year, competing so close every single year. Finally we just kicked the door down this year and got it done."

Saturday's championship clincher was a pitcher's duel with Rowley's Joe Martin and Manchester Essex's Zach Abbot, who is about to start his senior year in high school, both making big pitches in big spots to quiet two powerful offenses.

Martin picked up the win with a complete game shutout. The crafty left hander scattered five hits and allowed only two baserunners to reach third base all game.

The Mariners' best chance came in the fifth inning, where base knocks from E.J. Field and Caulin Rogers put runners on first and third with one down. Kellen Field then smashed a line drive to third base, but Tim Cashman made a leaping grab to finish off the inning.

Martin followed by getting through the next two innings without much of a threat.

"Joe is such a gamer, anything we need him to do he does it," Bolla said. "He's always competing and keeping teams off balance. We needed a big start out of him today and he gave it to us. "

Abbott was able to match Martin while he was on the mound as he tossed six scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing seven hits.

The Rams nearly opened the scoring in the third inning when a C.J. Ingraham line drive got into the gap in right. But Kellen Field quickly got the ball to second baseman Johnny Willcox, who fired a perfect relay throw to the plate to cut down a runner trying to score from second. The Mariners got out of the jam with a pop up.

Two innings later, Rowley ran into more trouble on the bases as it delivered four hits in the bottom of the fifth, but came away with no runs. Richie Williams doubled into the right center field gap, but a runner was cut down at the plate trying to score from first and Williams was then cut down at third base for a double-play.

Williams went on to score the winning run on Bolla's home run as he delivered a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Rowley takes 2-0 lead over Manchester in ITL Finals

Rowley takes 2-0 lead over Manchester in ITL Finals

By Nick Curcuru
Aug 21, 2020

ESSEX — The Rowley Rams are now just one win away from their first Intertown Twilight Baseball League championship since 2011.

With a dominant, 10-0 win over the defending champion Manchester Mariners on Thursday at Memorial Field, the Rams now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five finals. That means the Rams can clinch the championship with a win in Game 3 on Saturday at Eiras Park in Rowley.

Rowley manager Jeff Wood, however, is cautions that there's more work to do.

"This one doesn't mean anything if we don't finish," Wood said. "It was a good win, we will enjoy it tonight, but we will put it behind us tomorrow and get ready for Saturday. We're in a good spot but we're not done yet."

Jake Baressi picked up the win on the mound for Rowley as he went the distance, allowing just three hits while striking out eight in a shutout win. Baressi worked off his fastball and located the pitch to keep the Mariners lineup at bay. He also made several big pitches with men on base as the Mariners stranded 12 baserunners on the night and had a runner in scoring position every inning.

"That was a big performance from Jake, he's been working through some stuff this season and he had a great outing," Wood said. "It all started with his fastball, he was all over the strike zone with that pitch and he made big pitches when he needed them."

Offensively, Justin Bolla continues to be on a tear for the Rams. A night after blasting two RBI doubles in a Game 1 win, he went 3-for-4 with two homers and four runs batted in. His fourth inning solo shot got the scoring started and he gave Rowley some breathing room the very next inning with a two-out, three-run homer to center field to make it 4-0 Rams.

Rowley put the game away with six more runs in the sixth inning. Dimitri Hunt, Richie Williams, C.J. Ingraham and Tim Cashman all had RBI hits in the big inning, which capped the scoring at 10-0.

The teams will be back on Saturday afternoon in Rowley at 4 p.m. If the Mariners fight off elimination, Game 4 will be on Sunday back at Memorial Field (4 p.m.). Game 5 will be on Tuesday in Rowley if necessary.

2020 Re-Cap

2020 Playoffs

  • FINALS
    • (4) M/E vs (2) Rowley
      • Rams Win Series 3-0
  • SEMI-FINALS
    • (4) M/E vs (1) Rockport
      • Mariners Win Series 2-0
    • (3) Hamilton vs (2) Rowley
      • Rams Win Series 2-0
  • PLAY-IN ROUND
    • (3) Hamilton defeats (6) Ipswich
    • (4) M/E defeats (5) Beverly
 
 

2020 ITL Standings

  • TEAM - W-L-T - POINTS
  • Rockport 7-2 (14)
  • Rowley 7-3 (14)
  • Hamilton 6-4 (12)
  • Man./Essex 6-4 (12)
  • Beverly 2-7 (2)**
  • Ipswich/Tops. 1-9 (1)*

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Bolla powers Rowley past Mariners in Game 1 of ITL finals

Bolla powers Rowley past Mariners in Game 1 of ITL finals

By Mac Cerullo Staff Writer

ROWLEY —Justin Bolla didn’t think he’d got enough of it. The Rowley Rams slugger made his way down the line expecting the outfielder to make the routine catch, when suddenly he realized the outfielder was still backpedaling closer and closer to the wall.

“It just kind of kept carrying,” he said.

The ball wound up bouncing off the wall in left center for the first of Bolla’s two consecutive RBI doubles, helping provide the early spark to what turned out to be a decisive 6-2 win for the Rams over the Manchester Essex Mariners Mariners in Game 1 of the Intertown Twilight League finals on Wednesday.

Bolla powered Rowley’s offense in the first and third innings. His first came after a Richie Williams lead-off single and sacrifice bunt by C.J. Ingraham. The second was an opposite field blast that also bounced off the wall in right-center, and Bolla came in to score shortly afterwards on an RBI single by Anthony Conte to make it 3-0.

“He’s really locked in,” said Rowley Rams manager Jeff Wood. “When Bolla starts hitting the ball the other way and driving it the way he did, he’s just a really tough out. He’s put a lot of work into the player he is and it shows, he’s a really great hitter.”

The Rams nearly broke the game open multiple times from there, but the defending champion Mariners proved their mettle by escaping bases loaded, one-out jams in both the fourth and fifth innings with relatively little damage. Mariners pitcher Peter Clark got out of the fourth inning jam unscathed after turning a 1-2-3 double play, but Rowley was able to tack on two more runs in the fifth with RBI singles by Conte and Joe White before the Mariners got out of the inning.

Trailing 5-0, Manchester responded with its best inning of the game in the top of the sixth. Kellen Field and Adam Philpott started the inning with a single and walk, and Mike Cain scored Field on a sacrifice fly to put the Mariners on the board. Caulin Rogers (2 for 3) followed that with an RBI single, but Rowley pitcher Dylan Copeland shut the door from there, escaping the inning without further incident while finishing the complete game win with a scoreless seventh.

“That’s always been the best team in the league, so any time you can come in Game 1 and beat them that’s big to get that advantage,” Bolla said. “We’ve been swinging the bats great, playing defense great so we’re hot right now, we’re just riding the momentum, and one through nine everybody is doing their work.”

Game 1 briefly went into a lightning delay after a thunderstorm rolled through in the second inning, but the game was able to resume without further incident after approximately 15 minutes. Rowley now leads Manchester 1-0 in the best-of-five championship series, which will resume Thursday night in Essex at 5:30 p.m.



 

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Mariners clinch ITL finals berth, will meet Rowley again

 Mariners clinch ITL finals berth, will meet Rowley again

For the ninth season in a row, the Manchester Essex Mariners will be competing in the Intertown Twilight Baseball League Finals.

With an 8-7 win over the Rockport Townies on Friday night, the Mariners swept the best-of-three semifinals series and will be heading to the finals.

It was a back-and-forth battle on Friday night at Memorial Field in Essex and the Mariners were able to hold off the Townies. 

Rockport jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Mariners took that lead back as a Kellen Field home run gave them a 5-2 lead. The Townies, however, were not going down without a fight as they regained the lead with a Nolan Webb grand slam in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead. But the Mariners responded the next inning as Field again delivered the big hit to put the Mariners back ahead, 8-7.

The Townies again threatened in the seventh with the tying run on second, but a diving catch from Adam Philpott in left field finished off the Mariners 8-7 win.

Manchester Essex jumped out to a lead in the series on Thursday night as Rusty Tucker struck out 15 in a complete game shutout and 6-0 Mariners win.

The 2020 ITL Finals will be a rematch of the 2019 finals as the Mariners will take on the Rowley Rams. Last year, the Mariners edged the Rams in an epic five-game series, coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning and winning on a walk-off homer run from Tucker in the bottom of the ninth.

The Rams clinched their spot in the finals with a crazy win on Friday night, 13-11 over the Hamilton Generals to sweep the best-of-three semifinals. The Generals actually tied the score at 13-13 in the top of the seventh inning, but darkness forced the game to be stopped before the bottom of the inning could be played. That means the score reverted back to what it was after the sixth inning, with Rowley leading 13-11.

The best-of-five ITL Finals begins on Wednesday at Eiras Park in Rowley (5:30 p.m.) with Game 2 on Thursday at Memorial Field (5:30 p.m.). Game 3 is back at Eiras Park on Saturday with Game 4 on Sunday in Essex and Game 5 in Rowley the following Tuesday if necessary.

 

 

Friday, August 14, 2020

Mariners 8 Townies 7

Rockport jumped ahead 2 to 0 in the first inning but Manchester-Essex rallied back over the next 2 innings to take a 5 to 2 lead after a Kellen Field homer. Rockport went ahead 7 to 5 after a grand slam in the 5th. The following inning  Field hit a 2 out 2 run single to put the Mariners ahead 8 to 7. Dylan Wilson went 6 gutsy innings for the home squad and Zach Abbott closed the door. With 2 outs in the top of the 7th Adam Philpott made a diving catch on a deep fly ball by Keady Segel to clinch the victory with the tying run stranded on 2nd. The Mariners move on the the Finals for the 9th straight season and 12th out of 13 years.

Early Lead For Rowley Rams Seals Fate For Hamilton Generals

Early Lead For Rowley Rams Seals Fate For Hamilton Generals


Hamilton Generals fell behind early and couldn't come back in an 8-1 loss to Rowley Rams on Thursday. Rowley Rams took the lead on a double in the first inning. The Hamilton Generals struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Rowley Rams, giving up eight runs. Rowley Rams opened up scoring in the first inning. Rowley Rams scored one run when Justin Bolla doubled.


Dylan Copeland got the win for Rowley Rams. They lasted seven innings, allowing seven hits and one run while striking out five and walking one. Jake Lanciani took the loss for Hamilton Generals. They allowed nine hits and six runs over five and a third innings, striking out one.


Paul Horgan went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Hamilton Generals in hits. Rowley Rams scattered ten hits in the game. Joe Esposito, Bolla, and Tim Cashman each collected multiple hits for Rowley Rams.

Mariners 6 Townies 0 - From the news

 ROCKPORT-- The Rockport Townies and Manchester Essex Mariners renewed their rivalry on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Intertown Twilight Baseball League Semifinals at Evans Field.

The Townies entered as the No. 1 seed, but they could not solve the league's No. 1 pitcher. Mariners ace Rusty Tucker went the distance, striking out 15 while allowing just two hits and only one Townie reached second base and it came with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Behind Tucker's pitching and a big third and fifth inning, the Mariners took control of the best-of-three series with a 6-0 win.

The defending ITL champs can clinch a ninth straight appearance in the finals with a win on Friday night at Memorial Field in Essex. If the Townies win, a winner-take-all Game 3 will be played on Sunday night back at Evans Field.

Tucker had his best stuff going from the start as he fanned six through the first three innings, striking out the side in the second. He also finished strong, getting five of his final six outs via strikeout. His fastball was all over the strike zone and overpowered the Townies' lineup.

The Mariners, who were the No. 4 seed in the playoffs after finishing the abbreviated regular season with a record of 6-4, took the lead for good in a decisive top of the third inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Adam Philpott lined a single to right plating Caulin Rogers, who reached on an error, and Kellen Field (single) to make it 2-0. Make Cain then followed and singled in Philpott from second base for a 3-0 Mariners lead.

The visitors tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Rory Gentile singled in Kellen Field, who doubled for one of his game-high three hits on the night. Two batters later, Cain delivered another RBI single to make it 5-0. 

The Mariners capped off the scoring in the sixth when Johnny Willcox came in to score on a fielding error to extend the Mariners lead to 6-0.

 



 

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Generals Advance

Hamilton Generals Takes The Win Over Ipswich Chiefs

Hamilton Generals wins contest against Ipswich Chiefs on Tuesday, 5-1.  Ipswich Chiefs got on the board in the first inning when an error scored one run for Ipswich Chiefs.

In the bottom of the first inning, Hamilton Generals tied things up at one. Aidan Cann singled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run.

Hamilton Generals pulled away for good with two runs in the third inning. In the third Hunter Willochoski doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run and Larry Saggese singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run.

Paul Horgan was the winning pitcher for Hamilton Generals. They allowed four hits and one run over five innings, striking out six. Mark Roselli and Phil Durgin entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.

Zack Lamkin took the loss for Ipswich Chiefs. They went five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out four.

Hamilton Generals totaled nine hits in the game. Cann and Horgan all managed multiple hits for Hamilton Generals. Cann led Hamilton Generals with three hits in four at bats.

Ipswich Chiefs collected five hits on the day. Lamkin and RJ Libby each collected multiple hits for Ipswich Chiefs. Lamkin went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Ipswich Chiefs in hits. Ipswich Chiefs didn't commit a single error in the field. Steven Solimeno had the most chances in the field with four.

Rockport Wins Toss

 Rockport wins the coin toss to finish the regular season in the top spot.  Rowley is the #2 seed.

Mariners Advance

#4 Manchester-Essex Mariners took down the #5 Beverly Giants last night 5 to 2 in the 2020 Playoff Play-In game. With the win the Mariners move on to play the #1 seeded Rockport Townies.

Peter Clark pitched six scoreless innings to lead the way. Josh Levesque lead the way for the Giants going 5 strong innings.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Coin Toss

 The coin toss to determine the #1 seed for this year's playoffs will take place in Essex tonight at 5:15pm.  The winner of the toss will be the top seed, the other team will default to the #2 position.  There will be two playoff games tonight both begin at 5:30pm.  Hamilton will host Ipswich at Patton Park.  M/E will host Beverly in Essex.

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Playoff Picture

 The 1st round playoff match-ups are set.

HW (3) will host Ipswich (6)

M/E (4) will host Beverly (5)


Tuesday Aug. 11th 5:30pm starts

Sunday's game will determine the final standings for the 1 & 2 seeding.

Mariners 6, Generals 4

Man./Essex Mariners Clings To Victory As Hamilton Generals Nearly Erases 6-Run Deficit

Man./Essex Mariners built a six-run lead in the second inning and then held off Hamilton Generals's charge for a 6-4 victory on Friday. Hamilton Generals scored three runs in the failed comeback. Aidan Cann and Jake Lanciani came through with RBIs to lead the rally.

Adam Philpott led Man./Essex Mariners to victory by driving in four runs. They went 3-for-4 at the plate. Philpott drove in runs on a double in the first and a double in the second.

Man./Essex Mariners fired up the offense in the first inning, when Philpott doubled on a 2-1 count, scoring two runs.

Rusty Tucker pitched Man./Essex Mariners to victory. They surrendered one run on two hits over five innings, striking out nine and walking one. Philpott threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Lanciani took the loss for Hamilton Generals. They lasted two innings, allowing eight hits and six runs while striking out one and walking one.

Man./Essex Mariners had 11 hits in the game. Kellen Field, Philpott, and Tucker each racked up multiple hits for Man./Essex Mariners. Philpott and Field each collected three hits to lead Man./Essex Mariners.
Hamilton Generals didn't commit a single error in the field. Chris Huggett had the most chances in the field with six.

Generals clinch the 3 seed, M/E is in the 4th position based on "combined scores against each other" (11-6).

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Generals 7, Mariners 0

Pitching By Luke Painchaud Shuts Out Man./Essex Mariners, Hamilton Generals Takes The Win

Luke Painchaud didn't allow a single run as Hamilton Generals defeated Man./Essex Mariners 7-0 on Thursday. Painchaud allowed just five hits.

Hamilton Generals secured the victory thanks to five runs in the sixth inning. Cam Vatour, Will Frain, Will Jones, and Hunter Willochoski all contributed in the big inning with RBIs.

Hamilton Generals got things started in the first inning. Hamilton Generals scored one run when Aidan Cann doubled.

Hamilton Generals scored five runs in the sixth inning. Hamilton Generals batters contributing to the big inning included Vatour, Frain, Jones, and Willochoski, all driving in runs in the frame.

One bright spot for Man./Essex Mariners was a double by Rory Gentile in the first inning.

Painchaud led the Hamilton Generals to victory on the pitcher's mound. They lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and zero runs while striking out ten and walking zero.

Dylan Wilson took the loss for Man./Essex Mariners. They went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out one.

Hamilton Generals racked up 11 hits on the day. Jones and Cann all managed multiple hits for Hamilton Generals. Cann and Jones each collected two hits to lead Hamilton Generals.

Man./Essex Mariners tallied five hits. Gentile and Paul Crehan each racked up multiple hits for Man./Essex Mariners. Man./Essex Mariners was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Caulin Rogers made the most plays with five.

Rams -4, Chiefs -0

Rowley won 4-0 at home Wednesday night to wrap up their regular season at 7-3. 

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Rainout - Generals @ Mariners postponed till Friday

Rain out last night in Essex. The two teams play Thursday in Hamilton followed by the makeup on Friday in Essex.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Monday, August 3, 2020

Hamilton 13, Giants 0

Hamilton Generals Runs Away With Early Lead in Victory

Beverly Giants watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 13-0 loss to Hamilton Generals on Sunday. Hamilton Generals scored on a walk by Hunter Willochoski and a single by Larry Saggese in the first inning.

The Beverly Giants struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing Hamilton Generals, giving up 13 runs.

Hamilton Generals fired up the offense in the first inning, when Willochoski drew a walk, scoring one run.

One bright spot for Beverly Giants was a single by Bradley Surette in the fifth inning.
Paul Horgan pitched Hamilton Generals to victory. They lasted four innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out four and walking one. Aidan Cann threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Brady McGrath took the loss for Beverly Giants. They surrendered ten runs on nine hits over three and two-thirds innings, striking out four.

Surette led Beverly Giants with one hit in two at bats. Beverly Giants didn't commit a single error in the field. Andy Brown had the most chances in the field with five.

Hamilton Generals tallied 13 hits. Willochoski, Cann, Horgan, and Saggese each racked up multiple hits for Hamilton Generals. Hamilton Generals was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Saggese made the most plays with four.

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Townies 12 Chiefs 0

Kenzie Quinn, Frew Rowen and Nolan Webb combine for the shutout as Rockport moves to 6-2 on the season with a 12-0 win over the Ipswich Chiefs on Sunday nite 8/2/20 at Evans Field.