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The Tigers erased a 9-6 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and they responded with a three-run eighth inning after Hamilton-Wenham scored two in the top of the eighth. Freshman John Eldridge hit a top-of-the-fence double to score two runs to tie the game and he scored the winner on junior Jack Golesworthy's suicide squeeze bunt.

There is no negating the fact that Bill Pettingell and his Clipper baseball team are in the hunt.

Newburyport's chances were brightened even further when the Ipswich Tigers, a team that presented the Clippers with their first loss in the season opener, prowled into town looking for another easy meal.

The undefeated Chieftains (8-0) scored double-digit runs for the fourth time in eight games and beat Ipswich 19-1 behind sophomore Chris Splinter, who belted a three-run homer and totaled five RBI. Kyle Shepard picked up his third win on the hill with seven strikeouts in five innings of work and Pat Matvichuk helped the offense with a 4 for 5, 4 RBI showing.

The Tigers (2-2) were stymied by North Reading ace Brian O'Neil, who tossed six shutout innings to beat Ipswich 6-0. Greg Doucette nearly equaled him on Ipswich's hill but North Reading scratched across single runs in the thrid, fourth and fifth frames before plating three in the sixth to pull away. Jimmy Cadogan had two of Ipswich's four hits.

Last year's record: 6-12

Coach: Gardy O'Flynn (Sixth year, 55-46)

Key returnees: Jimmy Cadogan Jr., P; Al Lampropoulos Sr., 1B; Greg Doucette Sr., P; Chris Tolios Sr., C; Mark O'Flynn Jr., OF; Nate Conway Sr., P; Mike Puente Jr., P

The rain and cold couldn't stop Ipswich in the first Bert Spofford Memorial Baseball Tournament in Georgetown this weekend. Neither could Newburyport or Georgetown, for that matter, as the Tigers captured the crown with a pair of thrilling victories.

Perhaps a moment of silence wouldn't be long enough to memorialize one of the region's most influential sports figures.

In that sense, it's only fitting that the entire opening weekend on the local baseball scene will be spent paying tribute to Bert Spofford, who died at the age of 90 last July.