Andre Chiefs

Lexington, MA- Dylan Ellis spun a neat complete game three-hitter and Peter Copa went three for four in his debut as the Chiefs turned back the Wakefield Merchants 5-1 in the season opener on Saturday evening. The game was the nightcap of an ICL season opening tripleheader which was played as part of the Eleventh Annual Jerie DeAngelis Day of Baseball at Lexington High School. 

Elllis, from Gloucester, MA and Merrimack College, was sharp all game long and set the tone for the day when he got out of a bases loaded nobody out jam cheaply in the second inning when the Merchants picked up their lone run. 

Wakefield starter Kevin Tidmarsh and Ellis both set the sides down in order in the first inning. The Chiefs took advantage of some shoddy Merchant defense to take a 1-0 lead in the second. Paul Koslowski reached on an infield error and Copa delivered a single to left. Hal Landers then lined to second base and the throw to double Copa off first went into the stands allowing Koslowski to score from second base. 

The Merchants tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning and threatened for much more. UMass Lowell’s Taylor Von Kriegenbergh led off with a single and Mike Sorrentino drew a full count walk. Kevin Johnson then dropped a perfect bunt single that loaded the bases with no outs. Former Red Sox draftee Steve Langone then grounded out to shortstop Brendan Pyburn, whose only play was to first, with Von Kriegenbergh scoring and leaving runners at second and third. Ellis averted further damage striking out Sam Choate and getting Matt Russo to ground to Mike Barbati at second base. 

The Chiefs responded with two runs in the top half of the third when Barbati reached on an infield error and Pyburn singled to left. Catcher Bob McCarthy popped up his sacrifice bunt attempt for the inning’s first out but former Merrimack teammate Jeff Bercume got him off the hook when he drove a double to right scoring Barbati. DH Justin Crisafulli then plated Pyburn with a RBI ground out to Johnson at shortstop making it 3-1. 

The lead went to 4-1 in the fifth when Copa singled off the third base bag and Hal Landers dropped a perfect bunt single. Phil Costello moved them both up a base with a sacrifice and Barbati reached on an infield single, with no advance by the runners, which loaded the bases. Pyburn then singled to right scoring Copa. 

It stayed 4-1 until the seventh when the Chiefs picked up another run off former Chicago Cub farmhand Steve Coffey. Crisafulli reached on a fielder’s choice and Jonathan Pollard pinch ran. Koslowski then singled to center and Copa hit a long ground rule double to left that scored Pollard. 

Ellis, who has lost just three times in his last fourteen decisions in Chiefs uniform, struck out four and issued two walks. Along with Von Kriegenbergh’s single and Johnson’s bunt in the second inning, the only other hit the southpaw surrendered was a third inning leadoff hit to Rollins College third baseman Josh Band. 

Chiefs Notebook…..In other games played as part of the Jerie DeAngelis Day, the Lexington Blue Sox shut out the Mooney Dental Tanners 4-0 and the Medford Americans rallied back to tie up the Testa Corp. Bombers 6-6…..Ellis recorded fourteen ground ball outs with Koslowski finishing the day with a like number of putouts at first base....... It was Ellis' 20^th appearance in a Chiefs uniform….The Chiefs start the 2009 season with two all-stars from last season on the disabled list. Catcher Matt Lawlor of UMass Lowell is out indefinitely with a herniated disc in his back and third basemen Mike Andre, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on May 5 following his spring season with Merrimack College, is week to week….Veteran outfielder Brian Macrina is expected to make a return after nearly two years on the DL later this week.....Former San Diego Padre and Chiefs staff ace Keith Forbes is expected to see some mound time in the next ten days…..Justin Crisafulli’s RBI in the third inning was the 362^nd of his illustrious Chiefs career…. Hal Landers is indeed the son of Chiefs legend Hank Landers who was a member of Chiefs championship teams in 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1997. Hank played in the Milwaukee Brewers fram system and is among the leaders in all Chiefs career batting categories including fourth in home runs with 40. Hal had a great year for 30-12 Wheaton College hitting a lofty .340 with two homers and 37 RBI's. He also stole 17 bases.....The Chiefs return to ICL action on Thursday when they host the Mooney Dental Tanners of Woburn at Tufts University's Huskins Field at 6:00 PM...

CHIEFS BOXSCORE 

Sat, 30 May, 6:00PM, at Lexington HS
Andre Chiefs 5, Wakefield Merchants 1

Brendan Pyburn, 2 Hits, RBI