Andre Chiefs

Wakefield, MA- In a season that has seen an unusual number of games ending in a tie, the Chiefs managed to turn the trick for the fifth time in just eighteen games, playing the Wakefield Merchants to a 4-4 standoff at Walsh Field on Sunday. The most ties the Chiefs have ever had in a season was back in 1990 when they finished with an overall record of 28-17-6 and won the ICL championship with a grueling playoff run.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 fourth inning lead when red hot Justin Crisafulli (.365) doubled to left center with two outs. Mike Andre then delivered him with a line single to right for the game’s first run. Matt Anderson followed Andre with another single to left and when Matt Lawlor singled to center scoring Andre the Chiefs had a 2-0 lead.

The Merchants got one back off Chiefs starter Keith Forbes in the bottom of the fourth on walks to Steve Langone and Jon Davison, singles by Dana D’Agostino and Mike Sorrentino, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Matt Russo.

The Chiefs increased their lead to 4-1 in the fifth off Merchants starter Kevin Tidmarsh. Rookie Mike Barbati led off with a single and after Brendan Pyburn flew out Nate Leva clubbed a long double into the left field corner that scored Barbati from first base. Paul Koslowski then drew his 15^th walk of the year and Crisafulli reached on an infield single to load the bases for Andre, who worked the count full before drawing another walk from Tidmarsh, forcing in Leva to give the Chiefs a 4-1 cushion. Former Double A righty Pete Fisher came on for Tidmarsh in the inning and held the Chiefs scoreless the rest of the way.

The Merchants came back in the bottom of the sixth and cut the lead to 4-3 on a two out double from rookie Josh Band.

Wakefield forged the tie in the seventh off closer Chris Foundas on three walks and a two out game tying single from Kevin Johnson before he escaped the bases loaded jam to preserve the 4-4 final. Chiefs pitching issued a season high nine walks and out hit the Merchants eleven to five.