Rockport @ Hamilton PPD

 Rain postponed the Generals home opener Thurs. night at Patton Park.  Make-up TBD.

Rams 8 Giants 0

 Rams win their home opener 8-0 over the visiting Beverly Giants.

Mariners 9 Chiefs 6

 The Mariners were down 6 to 4 to Ipswich after four innings but stormed back to win 9 to 6. Ryan Marques picked up the win for the mariners who move to 2-0 on the season, EJ Field and Kevin Carter 3-4 with 2 doubles each. Also Michael Quill hbp twice and scored both times.

Rockport Wins Opening Night

 Rockport 17, Hamilton 5

Ralph Bates

 

BATES, Ralph E. Benevolent Philanthropist Ralph E. Bates, age 92, born May 30 1931, died April 29 2024. Ralph was the son of Ralph O. and Leah G. Bates. He was predeceased by his sister, Evelyn E. Dowell (1926-2010) and brother, George K. Bates (1928-1929). He leaves his nephew, Steven Dowell; his nieces, Bailey and Whitney Dowell; and his cousin, Bob Bates and his wife, Janice. He was very grateful for his close friendships with George Eramo and Bob Willing. Ralph was born in Watertown, Massachusetts and grew up in the Boston area. He attended Nichols College and Boston University. He made his living in real estate by purchasing and managing apartment buildings and creating the real estate newspaper Greater Boston House Buyers Guide. Ralph was a benevolent philanthropist and his charitable donations were very important to him. He wanted to help those less fortunate and enjoyed giving back to the community. His generous donations have ensured that his name will be remembered for many years. In his earlier days, he enjoyed athletics such as tennis, basketball and softball. Ralph was unique and had a great sense of humor. He used to enjoy driving around in his Hummer with his large stuffed tiger in the front seat – going to the Century House, Prattys in Gloucester or the Legion in Manchester. In his more recent years, he liked the simple pleasures such as eating Pirate's Booty, ice cream and candy, doing puzzles with a roaring fire and watching the deer in his backyard. He also loved running his indoor trains and cuddling his cats, Lefty and Spooky. Ralph was very grateful for Aberdeen Home Care and the loving care he received from their caregivers until his final day. Funeral Services for Ralph will be held in New Brunswick, Canada. Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, GLOUCESTER. Condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com

2023 Season Recap

 

2023 PLAYOFFS

• FINALS
• (4) M/E vs. (2) Hamilton
• Generals win series 3-1
• SEMI-FINALS
• (4) M/E vs. (1) Rockport
• Mariners win series 2-0
• (3) Rowley vs. (2) Hamilton
• Generals win series 2-1

2023 ITL Standings

• TEAM - W-L-T - POINTS
• Rockport 15-4-1 (31)
• Hamilton 15-4-1 (31)
• Rowley 12-5-2 (26)
• Man./Essex 10-9 (20)
• Beverly 5-15 (10)
• Ipswich 0-20 (0)

Mariners 13 Chiefs 4

 Manchester-Essex opened the season with a 13 to 4 victory over the Ipswich Chiefs. Brett Moore picked up the win with 7 strikeouts, Caulin Rogers was 3-3 with a stand up triple, while Ej Field 2-3  3 rbi and  James McKenna 2-3 3 rbi had big games. Rematch is tonight in Essex.

Cal Grimes

Former ITL president, ITL Hall of Famer, single season HR record holder, longtime umpire, Cal Grimes passed away peacefully this morning at his Florida home.  Thank you Cal for your contributions and support of the ITL, you will be missed.  

 

We will share more information when available.

Gelean "Bud" Campbell

Gelean "Bud" Campbell

Born in Wenham to the late Gelean Goodwill and Margaret (Massie) Campbell, Bud shared many fond memories growing up with his cousins in Wenham. He was raised and spent most of his life in Hamilton. He attended the Hamilton public schools and was elected captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams his senior year at Hamilton High School, graduating with the class of 1949.

He then studied at Boston University, where he played for a short time on the football team. Prior to his senior year, during the Korean War, he served two years in the army with the 716th Military Police Unit. Returning to BU, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1956, with majors in Mathematics, Physical Education, and Biological Science. In 1969, he earned his Master’s degree in Administration from Salem State College.

Bud’s career focused on educating children and serving the town of Hamilton. Hired to teach mathematics at Topsfield High School in 1956, Masconomet Regional High School in 1959, and Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School in 1971, he thoroughly enjoyed every day of his 38 years in the classroom with his students. He is remembered for his enthusiasm, wit, and ability to connect with his students, and for his service as a golf and tennis coach. He also served on several boards for the town of Hamilton, including the recreation department (3 years), finance committee (7 years), and board of assessors (25 years). Bud was also a member of the John T. Heard Masonic Lodge in Ipswich, the Arab Patrol Unit of the Aleppo Shriners in Wilmington, and the A. P. Gardner American Legion Post 194 in Hamilton.

Bud was the devoted husband of Eileen (Hannon) Campbell. He is survived by their three sons Gelean (and his wife, Holly Sinton) of Amesbury, Chris (and his wife, Brenda Doyle) of Hamilton, and Jeff of Bel Air, MD. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cailin of Brooklyn, NY, James, Lindsay, Eileen, Alison, and Gaby, all of Hamilton, and his nieces and nephews.

After his retirement from teaching in 1994, he and Eileen began to travel. He also was at her side throughout her courageous ten-year battle with cancer. He would often comment on how blessed he was to have spent 37 years of marriage with Eileen, whom he met on the dance floor at the Kosciuszko Club in Ipswich. After her passing, he says he was blessed for a second time - this time on a dance floor in North Reading. In 2003, he and Juanita Vreeland married. Through 20 years of marriage, they enjoyed dancing, traveling, visiting with her extended family, and helping to keep each other young.

His funeral service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Wenham at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 10. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly, on Friday, February 9th between 4:00 and 7:00 PM. For those who wish, donations may be made in Bud’s memory to Aleppo Shriners Children’s Transportation Fund, 99 Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA 01887-0578. Information, directions, condolences at www.CampbellFuneral.com.

Game 4 (cont.) - Hamilton repeats at ITL champs after epic 12 inning Saturday clash

Hamilton repeats at ITL champs after epic 12 inning Saturday clash
By Matt Williams

 

For the first time in more than 50 years, Hamilton has won back-to-back championships in the Intertown Twilight League. Beyond that, though, what the Generals and Manchester Mariners did on Saturday might never be duplicated in another 50 years of summer baseball.

An epic 12-inning clash that multiple observers said was the best baseball game they’d ever witnessed was tied 4-4 on Saturday night when it was called due to darkness. Under ITL rules, that Game 4 had to be repeated in its entirety at Gosbee Park on Sunday (rather than picked up beginning with the top of the 13th).

Defending champion Hamilton rallied to win that Game 4, 8-4, to take the best-of-three series 3-1 and claim the ITL title for a second straight summer.

A seven run explosion in the fifth inning broke the game open and delivered the championship for the Generals. A fielder’s choice RBI by Harrison O’Brien gave Hamilton the lead, Paul Horgan followed with a single and Nick Freni was hit by a pitch with the bases full to make it 5-3.

Connor McClintock then delivered the knockout blow with a 3-run double with two outs to produce an 8-3 cushion. Ace Luke McClintock came on for the final three innings to slam the door, allowing no hits and fanning five while conceding one unearned run.

Adam Green picked up the win with four innings of efficient work. Carter Coffey scored a pair of runs, including one in the first inning, and Horgan added two hits.

For the Mariners, Corey McCollum had a 2-run double to yield a 3-1 lead in the third. Kevin Carter scored twice, James McKenna scored once. Jack Shaw threw five solid frames but couldn’t hold the Generals lineup down.

As memorable as winning a second straight title was, Saturday’s would-be Game 4 is the one North Shore fans may talk about for years to come. Needing a win to keep the series going, Manchester turned to ace Rusty Tucker and he delivered one of the most impressive performances of his long and illustrious ITL career.

Tucker threw 10 innings and struck out 17 batters while only walking one on a Herculean 161 pitches. He worked his way around 10 hits, the vast majority of those in the late innings. Hamilton had the potential go ahead run left on base in the seventh, thrown out trying to score in the eighth and left on base in the 11th before finally breaking trough against bullpen are Brett Moore in the 12th.

Tobin Clark-Goldfeld led off with a single and scored on an O’Brien single. Hamilton added an insurance run on a Carter Coffey single to put the Generals three outs away from the title.

Sachem Ramos, however, had other plans. One of Manchester’s heroes clubbed a 2-run homer with no outs to knot the game once more at 4-4 in dramatic fashion.

The Mariners threatened to walk off when McKenna followed with a single, but Coffey bore down to record the next three outs (including Freni throwing out a runner stealing) to end Saturday’s bout in a stalemate.

Coffey wound up throwing eight innings in relief, the first seven of which were scoreless before Ramos’ bomb. He fanned eight and Phil Durgin threw the first four with four strikeouts, but Manchester had a 2-1 lead when he left.

With Tucker dealing, it appeared Manchester would win and force the winner-take-all Game 5. Freni had other plans, clobbering a solo homer in the top of the sixth to make it 2-2 and force the extra frames.

Caulin Rogers and Corey Burnham also had hits for Manchester on Saturday. The Gens couldn’t manufacture a lead despite having a 15-7 edge in hits with big knocks from Luke McClintock (3-for-6), O’Brien (3-for-6), Freni (2-for-6) and Connor McClintock (2-for-6).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game 4: Man./Essex Mariners And Hamilton Generals Tie

Man./Essex Mariners And Hamilton Generals Tie

Man./Essex Mariners tied the game on a home run in the twelfth inning as Man./Essex Mariners tied Hamilton Generals 4-4 on Saturday. Man./Essex Mariners tallied one home run on the day. Sachem Ramos had a four bagger in the twelfth inning.

Cory Burnham, Rusty Tucker, Caulin Rogers, James McKenna, Ramos, Alex Ray, and Brett Moore all had one hit to lead Man./Essex Mariners.

Hamilton Generals totaled 15 hits. Luke Mclintock, Harrison O'Brien, Nick Freni, Carter Coffey, Conor Mclintock, and Tobin Clark-Goldfeld each managed multiple hits for Hamilton Generals. Hamilton Generals didn't commit a single error in the field. Freni had the most chances in the field with 14.

Game 4 will be replayed on Sunday, Aug. 20th 4pm in Essex.  

Photos by Dan Ryan

Abbott, Mariners extend ITL finals

Abbott, Mariners extend ITL finals
By Matt Williams | Asst. Sports Editor

Hamilton’s first hit of Wednesday’s Intertown Twilight League championship Game 3 was a loud one — but by the time it came off Will Frain’s bat, Manchester had all but extended the series.

The Mariners jumped out to a five run lead and Zach Abbott held the defending champion Generals hitless over the first 10 outs on their way to a 6-1 victory to stay alive and force Game 4 this Saturday. It’s a best-of-five set so if Manchester extends once again, this summer’s champion would be crowned on Sunday.

Will Frain’s solo homer in the bottom of the fourth erased Abbott’s no-hitter and shutout bid, but the righthander from St. A’s didn’t allow any more damage. The Generals managed three more hits and got two men on in the sixth, but a double play ball ended that threat. In all, Abbott’s line read like a perfect stopper: complete game, four hits, five strikeouts and a mere one walk.

Luke McClintock out of Babson got the ball for Hamilton and threw six innings while conceding seven hits and fanning four. He walked eight, though, which helped the Mariners break the seal with one in the third and add four in the fourth to take command.

James McKenna went 3-for-5 and scored twice for Manchester while Sachem Ramos drove in a pair. Caulin Rogers added two hits, including a double, and a run scored from the leadoff spot and Rusty Tucker and Tommy Elliot both added base knocks.

The Generals, who are looking to repeat as ITL champs after ending a 31-year drought 12 months ago, saw Frain got 2-for-3 with Carter Coffey and Nick Freni getting the other hits. Mark Roselli threw a shutout frame in relief and struck out a pair.

Game 3: Hamilton Generals Fall Short to Man./Essex Mariners, 6-1

Man./Essex Mariners scored four runs in the fourth inning. The big inning for Man./Essex Mariners came thanks to singles by Sachem Ramos and Mike Quill. 

Zack Abbott pitched Man./Essex Mariners to victory. The bulldog allowed four hits and one run over seven innings, striking out five and walking one.  Luke Mclintock took the loss for Hamilton Generals. The pitcher allowed seven hits and six runs over six innings, striking out four. 

Hamilton Generals hit one home run on the day. Will Frain had a dinger in the fourth inning.
Frain went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Hamilton Generals in hits.  Man./Essex Mariners racked up nine hits on the day. James McKenna and Caulin Rogers all collected multiple hits for Man./Essex Mariners. McKenna led Man./Essex Mariners with three hits in five at bats. Man./Essex Mariners didn't commit a single error in the field. Ramos had the most chances in the field with five.

Mariners 6 Generals 1

 Zack Abbott pitched a complete game in Hamilton last night holding a very good Generals line up to just 4 hits and 1 run, while striking out 5.

The Mariners struck first in the 3rd, James McKenna hit a double after a pair of walks. In the 4th Sach Ramos and Mike Quill both had 2RBI singles.

Will Frain hit a solo home run for Hamilton in the bottom of the 4th. Manchester-Essex answered back with a Kevin Carter sac fly in the top of the 6th.

The Generals threatened in the bottom of the 6th but a double play on a liner in the gap foiled the comeback.

The Mariners played clean defensively not committing any errors and allowing only one walk.

Frain lead the Generals with 2 hits, Carter Coffey and Freni each had 1 hit. Luke McClintock took the loss for Hamilton, pitching 6 innings. Roselli had a scoreless inning out of the pen.

Hamilton leads the series two games to one. Game four is Saturday in Essex at 4:00pm.

GENERALS TAKE COMMAND: Hamilton takes a 2-0 lead in ITL finals with weekend sweep of Mariners

GENERALS TAKE COMMAND: Hamilton takes a 2-0 lead in ITL finals with weekend sweep of Mariners

 
By Nick Curcuru Sports Editor



The Hamilton Generals are now one win away from back-to-back Intertown Twilight Baseball League championships.

The Generals took control of the best-of-five series over the weekend with a pair of wins to open up the ITL finals, 4-1 in Game 1 on Saturday at Patton Park and 11-6 on Sunday over the Manchester Essex Mariners in Game 2 at Gosbee Park.



With the win, Hamilton can clinch the ITL crown on Wednesday with a win in Game 3 at Patton Park (5:30 p.m.).

The Generals found themselves in a tough spot through five innings of Sunday’s Game 2, trailing 5-3. But the bats came alive in the decisive sixth inning, a six run rally that saw Hamilton snatch the lead for good.

After a run came home on a fielding error Harrison O’Brien tied it up at 5-5 with a RBI single scoring Nick Freni, who singled. Will Frain followed by driving in what turned out to be the game winning runs with a single scoring Conor McLintock and Harrison O’Brien for a 7-5 Generals edge. The defending ITL champs were not done their either as Hunter Wilichoski skied a two-run shot to left center, his second homer of the game, for a 9-5 edge.




Freni tacked two runs onto that lead in the seventh with a two run blast and Hamilton closed it out allowing a run in the bottom of the seventh for an 11-6 win.

It was a back-and-forth game early on with Hamilton taking the lead in the top of the first when Wilichoski’s sacrifice fly scored O’Brien. The Mariners, however, had an answer in the bottom of the frame with Caulin Rogers hitting a leadoff homer to tie it up at 1-1.




The Mariners took a 4-1 lead in the third with Rusty Tucker singling in a pair of runs and James McKenna singling in another. The teams traded runs from there on a Wilichoski homer for Hamilton and a fielding error scoring Mike Quill for Manchester Essex to make it 5-3 and set the stage for Hamilton’s big inning.




The Generals jumped out to a 1-0 series lead on Saturday with a big pitching performance from Adam Green and Carter Coffey, who combined for a three hitter. O’Brien knocked in a pair of runs in the Game 1 win with Wilichoski and Larry Saggese also driving in a run

Game 2 - Man./Essex Mariners Drops Game to Hamilton Generals After Late Score

Man./Essex Mariners Drops Game to Hamilton Generals After Late Score

Man./Essex Mariners stayed in it until the end, but Hamilton Generals pulled away late in an 11-6 victory on Sunday. The game was tied at five with Hamilton Generals batting in the top of the sixth when Will Frain doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs.  Man./Essex Mariners collected five hits and Hamilton Generals had 11 in the high-scoring affair. 

Hamilton Generals took an early lead in the second inning. An error scored one run for Hamilton Generals.  After Hamilton Generals scored one run in the top of the fifth, Man./Essex Mariners answered with one of their own. Hamilton Generals scored when Hunter Willochoski hit a solo homer.
Man./Essex Mariners tallied three runs in the third inning. The big inning was thanks to singles by Rusty Tucker and James McKenna. 

Willochoski earned the win for Hamilton Generals. Willochoski lasted three innings, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out four. Carter Coffey threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.  Tucker took the loss for Man./Essex Mariners. Tucker lasted seven innings, allowing 11 hits and 11 runs while striking out five and walking one. 

Phil Durgin started the game for Hamilton Generals. The bulldog allowed four hits and four runs over three innings, striking out one.  Man./Essex Mariners smacked one home run on the day. Caulin Rogers put one out in the first inning. 

Luis Reyes, Brett Moore, Tucker, Rogers, and McKenna each managed one hit to lead Man./Essex Mariners.  Hamilton Generals totaled 11 hits in the game. Paul Horgan, Nick Freni, Willochoski, and Frain all managed multiple hits for Hamilton Generals.