DANVERS — The Gloucester Little League all-star team is on quite a roll to start the summer — and they would keep their perfect record in tact on the road Wednesday night in Danvers.
Fishermen standout Max Curcuru was undoubebdtly the star of the game, mashing two home runs while stringing together a sensational outing on the mound to power the visitors to a 4-1 victory over Danvers American at Tapley Park.
All that after Curcuru took a ball off his head and went down in the first inning in what was a scary scene for everyone involved. But after receiving some attention and regrouping, the youngster returned to action and proceeded to string together what may have been the game of his life.
“Max (Curcuru) was outstanding,” said Gloucester manager Mark Ventimiglia, his team now 3-0. “Two home runs, took a throw off the back of the head, then pitched the lights out.”
Curcuru indeed tossed a gem for Gloucester with eight strikeouts in a complete game effort. He sat down three straight batters on Ks in the sixth and final frame to seal the deal.
Danvers American (now 1-1) had no answer at the plate with very limited offensive opportunities, but had a great game in the field overall.
“They fought all game, I thought we played really well defensively,” Danvers American manager Sean Tainsh said. “I thought Cole Oak threw a great game and then, they squeaked one out and got a few walks in, but we limited the damage.”
Offensively, Curcuru was just as impactful with his bat. He drove in four runs in all to go with his two bombs. The last home run was the biggest, as he went yard with a three-run shot in the top of the sixth inning to put his team in front for good. Then, he was able to shut the door all by himself on the mound.
“Their kid hit two home runs, the second one especially hit a good pitch down, so hats off to him and he pitched a great game,” Tainsh said. “We just didn’t do enough with the bats tonight and had that big chance in the fifth inning where we had the bases loaded, one out and just couldn’t get one across.”
Danvers had gotten on the board first for its only run of the game with Camden Caron grounding into a fielder’s choice, scoring Liam Tainish.
Cole Oak was on the mound for Danvers, pitching five-and-a-third solid innings with two strikeouts and three earned runs. Curcuru’s decisive three-run blast late in action came after Oak had already exited the game.
For Gloucester, Cameron Arnold started off the scoring by driving in a run on a single in the second inning.
The Fishermen now remain undefeated in District 15 pool play as they continue to aim towards the ultimate goal day by day.
“We just have to keep going,” Ventimiglia said. ”We’ve had three games, three wins. We have been, as a team the whole time, focused, no one gives up, and everyone’s doing the right thing.”
For Danvers, it is still early in the summer, and on Wednesday they were certainly faced with a tough challenge on a 90 degree day.
“The kids played tough; it was a hot day, they played hard, just didn’t quite have enough … especially at the plate,” Tainsh said.