Andre Chiefs

The Chiefs non-league win over the Central New England Baseball Association’s Westford Willows on Sunday was the first time the two teams had ever hooked up. The Chiefs also play an annual game against the CNEBA’s Lunenburg Phillies. This year's game will be held at Lunenburg’s Marshall Park on Sunday (June 21) at 11:00 AM…..The Chiefs first played Lunenberg back in 1994 with Richie Barker on the mound for the Chiefs. With many radar guns popping behind the plate, Barker pitched the Chiefs to a 6-1 win. Following the game Barker signed with Chicago Cubs. Barker’s career spanned seven professional seasons and he made his major league debut for the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 25, 1999, at the age of 26. The former Malden High and Quinsigamond Community College star appeared in 275 games during his time in pro ball posting an overall record of 20-19 with an ERA of 4.25 in 398 professional innings…..Sunday’s win against Westford was the Chiefs 42^nd win against non-league opponents against just 19 losses dating back to 1989….Rookie outfielder Dario Pizzano will miss Tuesday’s game against Wakefield as he has been chosen to appear in the Eastern Massachusetts High School all-star game at Fraser Field in Lynn. The recent Malden Catholic graduate led the state in hitting this past spring for Steve Freker’s Lancers. Pizzano, who had three hits in the Westford game, will be playing for Columbia University next spring. He gained national notoriety in 2003 when he led the Saugus Americans in a dramatic run during the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA……The first Intercity League fundraiser, raffle and social will be held on Friday, June 19 at the Woburn Sons of Italy starting at 7:00 PM. ICL Umpire in Chief Joe Cacciatore will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event which is expected to draw a throng of over 500 people. Those needing information should e-mail the Intercity League at IntercityLeague@aol.com. … Former Chiefs catcher Matt Cooney, who signed with the Red Sox in 2007, has returned to Eastern Connecticut State to complete his degree this summer. Cooney spent the last season and a half in the Sox organization playing for Gulf Coast, Greensboro and the Lowell Spinners. The Arlington product is expected to return to the Chiefs in 2010….UMass-Amherst star Jared Freni, who pitched for the Chiefs in 2006, has been very impressive in first two starts for the North Shore Navigators of the NECBL this season. Freni, another former Malden Catholic star, is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.69. He has struck out 20 batters in just 13 innings of work. If he is not chosen in the 2010 MLB draft next spring he is expected to return to the Chiefs pitching staff. He won his only two Chiefs starts as a rookie in 2006 posting a 3.71 ERA in 11.1 innings of work….Another former Chiefs pitcher Jeff DeCarlo just completed his junior season at the University of Michigan. The former St. John’s Prep standout was also with the Chiefs in 2006 before spending the last two seasons in the Great Lakes Collegiate League and the NECBL. This summer DeCarlo is pitching for the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Baseball League in Virginia. One of DeCarlo’s teammates on the Cardinals is former Cassell Club and present Bentley star James Roche of Arlington. DeCarlo has made two appearances so far for Front Royal with an ERA of 0.00 in five innings of work. DeCarlo is also expected to return to the Chiefs next summer when his collegiate league eligibility expires….Catcher Matt Lawlor, who hit .398 for the Chiefs last season, remains on the disabled list with a herniated disc in his back. The Dracut, MA, native and 2008 ICL all-star selection also had his college season at UMass-Lowell cut short by the injury….. There is some better news on the injury front as Mike Andre grabbed a couple of at bats in Sunday’s non-league game. Andre underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in early May after completing his senior year at Merrimack College. The two-time ICL all-star is expected back into the lineup soon…. Staff ace Keith Forbes continues to throw and is also expected back in the next couple of weeks….Chiefs catcher Nick Leva of Cambridge, MA has committed to attend the University of Southern New Hampshire in the fall….. Make up dates for the Chiefs three home rainouts will be finalized later this week..... Condolences go out to former ICL umpire Jake Falvey on the passing of his father Jeremiah A. Falvey, Jr. on June 11. Jake also served as the Everett High School Baseball Coach until he moved to Oklahoma with his wife Jill a few years ago …..Bruce Tillman