We’re just about ready to head down the home stretch of the Intertown Twilight League (ITL) summer season, and the Manchester Essex Mariners continue to establish themselves as the team to beat.
Most recently, manager Cory Burnham’s bunch took to the field for a rare three-game series with rival Rockport — with one of those games serving as a make-up for an early season rainout — and they were able to steal two of three.
Both of the Mariners’ wins came convincingly, too. In the series opener on Sunday afternoon, Brett Moore tossed a gem on the mound, going the distance while allowing just one earned run in an 11-1, five-inning, mercy-rule triumph. Caulin Rogers sparked the offense in that one, mashing a home run.
Rockport bounced back to snag a 5-2 victory in Game 2 on the road Wednesday thanks to a strong outing from pitcher Sam MacDowell. But the Mariners officially took the series with another dominant, 12-2 decision in six innings on Thursday night at Evans Field.
Zach Abbott got the win on the bump in Thursday’s victory, allowing just one hit: a solo homer by Townies’ standout Jack Sperry.
Manchester’s offense, meanwhile, piled up seven hits, with Lukas Albano, Theo Massella (2 hits), EJ Field and Burnham all smashing doubles.
The game was knotted at 2-2 after two innings before Manchester found its groove, scoring three in the third, two in the fourth and four in the sixth to win via the mercy rule.
All said, the Mariners outscored the Townies by a 25-8 margin in the three games.
Now 10-3 on the year, Manchester remains in the driver’s seat at the top of the ITL standings. Rowley (7-3 heading into Thursday’s game at Hamilton) is right on their heels, while the four-time defending champion Generals have surprisingly yet to reach the .500 mark on the year.
The league’s regular season will run through July before playoffs begin shortly thereafter. Manchester will take on last place Beverly (1-11) next on Sunday and Tuesday before two-game slates against Rowley and Hamilton to wrap up the month.
Rockport, meanwhile, is still very much in the mix. They have a busy month remaining with tilts against Rowley, Ipswich, Hamilton and Beverly still to come.