Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Rookie Hal Landers had five RBI’s, including a third inning grand slam, and Mike DiCato was nearly flawless for five innings as the Chiefs turned back Mooney Dental of Woburn 12-7 in their home opener at Tufts University’s Huskins Field on Thursday evening. 

DiCato held the Tanners hitless through the first four innings before Sam Perkins led off the top of the fifth with a single. 

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Landers drove a two out RBI single to right scoring Brian Macrina who had walked. 

The lead went to 2-0 in the second when Matt Boleski drilled a solo home run over the 379 foot sign in rightcenter. 

In the third inning, walks to Macrina and Jonathan Pollard and a Peter Copa infield single set the stage for Landers’ grand slam that gave the Chiefs a 6-0 lead. Eddie McDonald’s RBI groundout made it 7-0. 

After a scoreless fourth, the Tanners picked up an unearned run on two hits in the top of the fifth before the Chiefs answered with two in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles from Brendan Pyburn and Macrina to run the score to 9-2. 

Mooney made it a tad interesting when DiCato tired in the sixth. The UMass righty issued three walks and a single and exited with a 9-2 lead but was responsible for the bases being loaded. Lefty Chris Labriola came on and was introduced to the ICL when Rob Wronski unloaded with a bases clearing double off the wall in left that quickly made it a 9-5 affair. Labriola recorded a strikeout before a Matt Ruane single and an Max McKenna sacrifice fly cut the Chiefs lead to 9-6. 

The Chiefs gave themselves some breathing room in the bottom of the inning when singles from Phil Costello, Pyburn and Macrina upped the lead to 12-6. 

Connor Bishop and Chris Foundas worked the seventh for the Chiefs when the Tanners picked up their final run. 

DiCato (1-0)  worked five innings plus, allowing five runs (four earned), walked three, struck out three and allowed just three hits.