Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Veteran right-hander Mike DiCato was immense in Game Two of Saturday’s doubleheader, throwing another no-hitter for the Chiefs pitching staff, in a 9-0 win over the Mooney Dental Tanners. DiCato’s effort followed former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst teammate’s Rob Machado’s gem against Reading on June 30.

DiCato’s gem salvaged an afternoon sweep for the Chiefs, who wasted another outstanding effort from Machado, only to lose the opener 1-0 in gut wrenching fashion.

DiCato, was in control from start to finish, striking out nine and allowing only two base runners, both reaching after being hit by a pitch.

Tanners’ starter Mike Nardelli (0-2) matched DiCato pitch for pitch until the Chiefs finally broke their afternoon’s scoreless frustration, carrying over from Game One, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The Chiefs used a Crisafulli single, a Tony Deshler double, and a Paul Yanakopulos triple to give DiCato the two run lead.

The lead swelled to 8-0 to the fourth as singles by Mike Maguire and Crisafulli, three walks, a balk, and a three run homer by Deshler, accounted for six more Chiefs runs against Tanners relievers Carlos DelDonno and Dave Maestri.

The Chiefs final run came in the sixth when Rick Vail singled, moved to second when Mike Andre drew a base on balls, and scored on Deshler’s single to left. It was the former Brandeis’ star’s fifth RBI of the game.

DiCato faced just 22 batters in the game, one over the limit. He hit Keegan DeNapoli with one out in the second inning. DeNapoli moved to second base on a wild pitch but was erased when Maguire doubled him off the bag after making an outstanding diving catch of Kevin McKenzie’s sinking liner in centerfield. The only other runner to reach base was in the fourth inning when DiCato also hit Tom Burke with a pitch.

Mike Dicato’s No-Hitter Inning by Inning
First Inning: Mullin struck out swinging, Tatkow ground to Andre at 3B, Burke fouled out to DiCato.
Second Inning: D. Dettore struck out looking, DeNapoli HBP and advanced to second on wild pitch, McKenzie lined to Maguire in CF, DeNapoli was doubled off second base.
Third Inning: Wilson struck out swinging, McDonald struck out swinging, Gali grounded to Yanakopulos at SS.
Fourth Inning: Mullen lined to Deshler at 2B, Tatkow grounded to Yanakopulos at SS, Burke was HBP. Burke stole second. D. Dettore grounded to Andre at 3B.
Fifth Inning: DeNapoli grounded back to DiCato P, McKenzie flew to Cavanaugh in RF, Wilson struck out looking.
Sixth Inning: McDonald grounded to Deshler at 2B, Gali struck out looking, A. Ruocco pinch hit for Mullin. A. Ruocco struck out swinging.
Seventh Inning: Tatkow struck out swinging, O’Hare pinch hit for Burke. O’Hare struck out looking. D.Dettore grounded out to Yanakopulos at SS.

Tanners Take Game One, 1-0
The Chiefs wasted a three-hit, fourteen strike-out performance form Machado, to manage to lose the opener 1-0.

The Chiefs offense was thwarted all game long by Derek Lowe (5 innings, 3 hits, 4 K’s) and reliever and winner Dan Blum (2 innings, 0 hits, 2 K’s)

The Tanners got the game’s only run in the top of seventh. After Machado struck out McKenzie for the first out he hit Alex Ruocco with a pitch. Ben Mullin then grounded to Andre at third with Ruocco being forced at second. Joe Gali then drew a walk and Sean O’Hare reached on an infield single to load the bases. With Tatkow at the plate, the first pitch thrown by Machado skipped away, allowing Ruocco to score the game’s only run.

The Chiefs only had six base runners in the game.The Chiefs are right back at it on Sunday when they host the Watertown Reds at Tufts University at 1:30 PM.