Generals Over Mariners 10-7 in Extra Innings

An early pitcher's duel led to late inning fireworks in Essex tonight. Jackson faced off against Stout on the mound and despite great pitching from both, neither figured in the decision when all was said and done. Jackson was able to go 5 2/3 for the Generals while Stout pitched 7 full. Both starters left the game with the score tied at 4.

Reggie Maidment got things rolling for the Generals with a two-out line drive HR in the second. Nate Bertolino (4-4, RBI, 3R, HR) answered in the bottom of the third with a towering HR to tie the score at one apiece. Judd Funchion got the lead back for the Generals with a 2-run HR in the top of the fourth. Neil Simmons scored in the top of the fifth on an error pushing the score to 4-1 Generals. At this point the Generals failed to break open the game as Stout was able to work out of some tough bases-loaded situations.

The Mariners bounced right back with 2 more in the fifth cutting the lead to one. Bettencourt delivered a key hit, while another run scored on a wild pitch. Luke Painchaud relieved Jackson at this point and got out of the inning with no further damage. The Mariners tied the game in the sixth on a Gentile RBI single off Painchaud. Neither team was able to score in the 7th, sending the game into extra innings.

In the eighth, the first two Generals batters were taken care of easily by the new pitcher. With nobody on and 2-outs then Generals started their rally. A HBP and two walks later the bases were loaded for Jim Maloney. Maloney delivered the Grand Slam to deep center which was follwed by a Provost HR, and an Andre Painchaud HR. The back-to-back-to-back HR's put the Generals ahead 10-4 with the sun going down.

The Mariners did not go quietly in the bottom of the 8th inning as they made a comeback bid. With one out the Mariners got the next six men to reach on four straight singles, BB, and HBP. With 3-runs in and the tying run on first, Luke Painchaud was able to keep throwing strikes and get the next 2 batters on fly balls to end the game and earn the victory just before dark. The final score was 10-7. The two teams will meet again Tuesday night in Essex and then again at Patton on Thursday.

Rockport 16 - Topsfield 5

The Townies took game one of a scheduled doubleheader at Evans by a score of 16-5. Brent Currier went 3-3 with 3 home runs with 8 rbis and Nathan Desantis went the distance for the win as the Townies improved to 11-9-1.

Game 2 was called before it even began because of rain. Make up is Monday night at 7pm under the lights at Evans.

Ipswich @ Beverly Rained Out

Beverly led Ipswich 3-1 after one inning....but just as the 2nd inning started, so did the rain, and it didn't let up. The makeup game will be played Saturday at 10AM at Cooney Field.

Mariners 5 Rams 3

Friday night at Eiras Field the Rams carried a 3-2 lead into the 7th inning, but a couple of costly errors and a big RBI double just inside the right field line lifted the Mariners to their league leading 13th victory. In another tightly contested well pitched battle the Rams and Mariners went back in forth all night. Manchester jumped out in the first with one run, Gentile led off with a single to center and advanced to second on a misplay in the outfield, Gentile wasted no time stealing 3rd on the next pitch , Cain picked him up with a sac fly.Rowley came back in the bottom of the first to tie the score on a Shane Johnson single with Johnson advancing to 2nd on an outfield misplay. Johnson would score on an error and Rowley had a chance to add on after Ralph Renzulli doubled to deep left center putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out. Manchester pitcher Gibbon(7IP, 7H, 1BB,1ER, 5K) got out of the jam and was excellent all night. Manchester went right back on top in the 2nd when Buckley doubled avanced to 3rd on a fielders choice and scored on a passed ball. From there Matt Wile (7IP, 5H, 2BB, 2ER, 5K) of the Rams settled in and continued to pitch well. Rowley tied the game in the 4th when Rowley's Ralph Renzulli(2 for 2, 2R, 1 RBI, HR) went deep to left. The game remained tied until the 6th when the Rams went up by one on a Tim Moore single scoring Renzulli who had reached on a walk. Manchester started the 7th with consectutive batters reaching on infield errors, with 2 on and none out Wile struck out the next batter but the runners advanced on a passed ball. With first base open the Rams intentionally walked pinch hitter Bryan Lafata to load the bases, a fielders choice to 2nd tied the game. With 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd Cain delivered the big blow with a double down the right field line. The Rams got a runner on in the 7th but it was not to be as Gibbon struck out the final batter of the night. The Rams are back in action Monday night in Ipswich for the 1st game of a 3 game in 3 night series. Manchester is also back at it Monday as they start a 3 game on 4 night series against Hamilton.

Topsfield Tories circa 1946

This picture is of the ITL Topsfield Tories team around 1946. I don't have much information about the picture except for the approximate year and that the player in the top row, second from the left is ITL Hall of Famer ELDRIDGE "GILLY" GILFORD (the original owner of Gil's Grocery in Topsfield). "Gil's Grocery" is one of the few remaining "Mom & Pop" grocery stores left in the country. James Gilford ("Gilly") has taken over the store from his Dad (pictured) and now runs not only the store but also one of the most unique Athletic Clubs in the country. I believe the original picture still hangs in the store somewhere. You can read an article about the GAC here: http://www.gaconline.net/kevin.html.

If anyone has anymore information about this picture please send it along to itlbaseball@gmail.com

Topsfield @ Hamilton Makeup Game

Topfield will visit Hamilton next Saturday, August 2nd to complete the regular season. The game will be played starting at 10am in order to be done in time the the league wide HR derby that will kick off at 1pm at Patton Park.

Generals Top Tories 12-5

Jeff Jensen surrendered only 3 runs (1 ER) in six innings of work against the Tories Friday night to earn the victory. The slumping Hamilton offense broke out of its funk contributing 19 hits on the day. Rogers went the distance for the Tories but was charged with the loss.

Jered Stewart led the way for the Generals offensively going 4-5 on the day with 5 RBI's and a HR. Chris Shuka delivered a 3-RBI bases clearing double in the seventh to put the game away for the Generals. Andre Painchaud (2-RBI), Vitale, and Judd Funchion also contributed run scoring hits earlier on the day.

Ben Hathaway had an RBI single, and Doug Hittinger had a two run monster HR as the offensive standouts for the home team.

Topsfield @ Hamilton

Tonight's game is canceled due to an unplayable field. The teams are in talks for a possible makeup date.

Manchester @ Rowley Postponed

Tonight's Manchester @ Rowley game was postponed due to weather. Makeup is scheduled for this Friday 7/25 @ Eiras Field 5:45PM

Rockport at Beverly Postponed

This game will be made up on Tuesday, July 29th at 5:45PM at Cooney Field.

Chiefs Knock Off Townies

The Ipswich Chiefs continued their play-off push by spliting the series with Rockport last night in Ipswich 7-2.

Dave Shoreman pitched for the Tribe notching another win under his belt. Dylan Durning continued to swing a hot piece of metal with his second homerun in two games. This gives Durning a team leading 5 homeruns.

The Chiefs travel to Essex on Thursday for a make-up game with Manchester/Essex.

Rowley 1, Mariners 3

On Tuesday night the Mariners recorded their 12^th win to hold on to their slim lead of 1^st place. The Rams came out swinging by scoring one run in the first inning, but were held at bay for the remainder of the game by Mariners starter Ryan Marques who went the first 6 innings, followed up by Steve Stout who recorded the save with a scoreless 7^th inning. Matt Warden was the hard luck losing pitcher for the Rams while only surrendering 5 hits to the Mariners.

The Mariners we led by a 2 run Joe Orlando home run, and added an insurance run late in the game on doubles by Bryan Lafata and Mike MacFarland. Kobe Thibault (3-3) and Tomasz (2 hits) had strong nights at the plate, as they recorded 5 of the 7 Rams hits.

The teams meet again tonight (Wed 7/23) at Eiras Park in Rowley for a 5:45 tilt.

100 Inning Game

The 5th annual 100 Innings of Baseball game is accepting registrations. This is the longest baseball game ever played and has raised $373,000 for Curt's Pitch for ALS to help strike out Lou Gehrig's disease since its inception. In 2008, the game will fund the newly established Walter Bentson ALS Scholarship Fund, in honor of umpire chief, Walter Bentson. Learn more at www.100innings.com.

This year, you can benefit personally too, as there are fundraising incentives -- including a rebate for league fees! Read on.

WHEN?

Saturday August 30th through Sunday August 31st (Labor Day Weekend) - game lasts about 30 straight hours, starting Saturday morning and concluding Sunday at late afternoon. Play all day or all night, just a few hours or the entire game. We need you!

WHERE?

Adams Field in Quincy, MA

WHAT?

We start a ballgame at 9AM on Saturday morning and don't stop until 100 Innings are in the books. We play all day and all night and don't take any breaks!

HOW DO I PLAY?

Players can play as much or as little as they like! Many guys come and go throughout the course of the event. You will be able to let us know what times you want to play when you register. We divvy everyone up into two squads and use a continuous line-up and free defensive substitutions so everyone plays!

WHERE DO I REGISTER?

Registration is open at www.100innings.com. You can sign up as an individual or register your whole team together! Once registered you can manage all of your fundraising directly through the site.

HOW DOES FUNDRAISING WORK?

The aim of the 100 Inning game is to support the mission of the Curt's Pitch for ALS Program. With your help, we can get closer to striking out Lou Gehrig's Disease. All participants are asked to do their best to fundraise from friends, family, co-workers, etc. in support of their participation, just like you might do in a Walk or Race.

All fundraising can be managed online and all players will be able to accept credit card, check, and cash donations once they register.

ARE THERE FUNDRAISING INCENTIVES?

The biggest incentive in 2008 are Player Rebates. For every $1 you raise (up to $1,000) you are eligible to receive 20% back to go toward your baseball related costs for 2008, or whatever you please. So if you raise $1,000 you will earn a $200 rebate. This is to help boost fundraising efforts while simultaneously giving everyone an outlet to help subsidize their costs for playing ball. A win-win!

You can also win autographed memorabilia, invitations to Curt Schilling's end of the year reception, and more! See the full list online at www.100innings.com.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Check out www.100innings.com and get yourself signed up. If your team wishes to participate together make sure your manager or team captain registers first.

Beverly - 3, Hamilton - 2

Luke Deschamps and Judd Funchion locked horns in an ITL pitcher's duel Tuesday night at Patton Park. The Beverly Giants beat the Hamilton Generals 3 to 2 in a well played game. Deschamps pitched 6 innings allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6. Roger Dragani pitched the 7th for the save. Funchion was charged with the loss despite allowing just 3 runs (2 earned) over 7 innings while striking out 4.

Beverly opened the scoring in the top of the first. Kevin Harutunian was hit by a pitch, stole second, and moved to third on an overthrow. He scored on a Derek Scialdone groundout. Hamilton took the lead in the bottom of the third when Andre Painchaud delivered a 2 run single with two out and the bases loaded.

The Giants tied the score in the 4th on a Pat Doyle solo homer and then took the 3 to 2 lead on a Derek Scialdone solo shot in the 6th.

Hamilton threatened in the bottom of the 7th. After an out was recorded two batters were hit by pitches before Dragani got the final two batters to fly out.

Doyle finished the night 3 for 3 while Brian Chirco added two hits for Beverly.

Rockport @ Ipswich Rained Out

Last night's game was rained out. No make up has been scheduled yet.

Rowley @ Beverly from 7/20 Rescheduled

This game has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 31st at Cooney Field at 5:45PM.

Still waiting on official confirmation from Paul Caron, but we don't think that will be a problem, and the field has been scheduled with the city.