Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Former Kansas City Royals farmhand and Franklin Pierce star Vinny Pennell made his ICL debut a memorable one, going 3 for 4 including a two run homer and double, to lead the Chiefs to a 9-5 comeback win over the Testa Corp. Bombers in the season opener at Tufts University on Sunday afternoon.

Pennell led a ten hit Chiefs attack that saw them turn around a 4-2 fifth inning deficit into the win. Righty Rob Machado (Everett, MA, UMass-Amherst) went 5.2 innings to get the win before giving way to southpaw Tim Dunphy (Brandeis, Namur Angels).

Machado set the Bombers down in order in the top of the first. The Chiefs gave the big former Malden Catholic right-hander a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning when they loaded the bases on singles from Jesse Bruinsma (Lynnfield, MA, Curry), Pennell and Justin Crisafulli (Cleveland Indians, Central Missouri). Mike Andre (Medford, MA, Merrimack) gave the Chiefs their first run of the season when he lifted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Bruinsma.

The Bombers erased the Chiefs lead in the top of the second on singles by Alex Farkes and Bob Pease and a Devin Perry double. The visitor’s lead went to 3-1 an inning later courtesy of the Adessa brothers when Mike singled home younger brother Mark who had doubled.

The Chiefs closed to 3-2 in the home half of the third. Bruinsma and Dave Scioli (Somerville, MA, Salem State) both singled to open the frame. Pennell then grounded into a fielder’s choice that forced Scioli at second and moved Bruinsma to third. Crisafulli then popped up and before Andre drew a walk, Bruinsma scored when Bombers starter Glen Misho uncorked a wild pitch.

Testa made it a two run margin once again in the top of the fourth on Perry’s second double of the day and another Pease RBI single.

Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Chiefs rallied for five big runs to a take a 7-4 lead. Brunisma reached base for the third straight time when he drew a walk. After Misho struck out Scioli, Pennell lifted a double to the base of fence in right sending Bruinsma to third. Crisafulli followed and his RBI grounder scored Bruinsma. When Mark Addesa’s throw was low to first, Pennell came around to score and tie the game at four. Andre then drew his second consecutive walk before veteran Matt Boleski (Medford, MA, MassBay) drilled a laser shot double to the fence in straight-away center scoring Crisafulli and Andre giving the Chiefs a 6-4 lead. Misho got catcher Nick Leva (Cambridge, MA, Southern NH) to ground out before Mike DiCato gave the Chiefs a 7-4 lead when he singled to left scoring Boleski.

Machado gave way to Dunphy with two outs and two on in the sixth. Dunphy got Perry on a comebacker to end the Testa threat. Pennell put it out of reach at 9-4 when he drilled a two run homer over the 379’ foot sign in right-center scoring Scioli, who had singled, ahead of him.

A Mark Addesa double and a Farkes RBI groundout gave the Bombers their final run in the top of the seventh and accounted for the 9-5 final.
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Chiefs Notebook….Machado threw 95 pitches over the 5.2 innings that he worked. He struck out five and allowed seven hits.....The Chiefs were without Mike Baillargeon, Tim Dempsey (knee), Matt Anderson (bicep), Paul Yanakopulos and Peter Copa (hamstring)…The team is off until Thursday when they host the Wakefield Merchants at Tufts starting at 6:00 PM as they begin a busy five games in a four day stretch...... On Friday the Chiefs travel to Arlington to meet the Trojans at 7:00 PM, return home on Saturday afternoon to entertain the Mooney Tanners of Woburn at 1:30 PM before heading north to meet the Reading Bulldogs in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader….