Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Jared Freni outdueled Watertown Reds' ace Brian Casey as the Chiefs took Game One of their Best of Five Semi Final series 2-1 at Maplewood Park in Malden on Tuesday night.

Freni allowed just one hit, a fourth inning single to Matt McEvoy, and struck out ten. Casey, allowed just five hits and struck out five.

Freni retired the Reds' side in order in the top of the first and the Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff man Jeff Bercume singled, stole second and third, and scored on Juan Portes' sacrifice fly to right.

The Reds went 1-2-3 again in the second, including two more Freni K's. The Chiefs threatened but could score in the bottom of the second. Mike Andre led off with a single to left. Peter Copa followed with a liner off Reds' shortstop Will Brennan's glove that moved Andre to second. Hal Landers then bunted but Casey was quick off the mound and threw Andre out at third for the inning's first out. Casey, the former Tufts star and two time ICL Pitcher of the Year, got out of the inning unscathed when he struck out Paul Yanakopulos and then got catcher Nick Leva to bounce back to him.

Freni and Casey both retired the side in order in the third inning.

The Reds got their first baserunner with one out in the top of the fourth when McEvoy singled up the middle. McEvoy got into scoring position on a passed ball. Freni left him stranded when he struck out Steve Busby and then got Sean Callahan-Montague to ground out.

Casey crusied through his second 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Chiefs picked up what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Yanakopulos singled, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a Leva grounder, and scored on Bercume's RBI single to right center.

The Reds got their run in the top of the sixth without a hit and threatened for more. Trouble started when pinch-hitter Rich Boyer reached on a one out error by Andre at third. Freni then walked Mac Jacobson. The Reds loaded the bases when Portes mis-played McEvoy's potential double play grounder. Busby then delivered a sacrifice fly down the left field line cutting the lead in half at 2-1. Callahan-Montague drew Freni's second walk of the inning to re-load the bases before he struck out Brendan Casey to keep the Chiefs in the lead.

Casey got the Chiefs in order for the third time in the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the Reds' seventh, Dan Chaisson bounced to Andre at third, Brennan grounded to Portes at shortstop, and Freni struck out Steve Trammontozzi to end the game.

Casey didn't walk a batter and retired ten Chiefs in a row from the second thru the fifth innings when Yanakopulos singled. Freni threw 104 pitches in the game and walked two.

Game Two is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:30 PM at Watertown's Victory Field. Game Three will be played back at Maplewood on Thursday night.