Andre Chiefs

By BruceTillman
Malden, MA- Righthander Mike Richardson tossed a neat three-hitter and the Melrose Americans capitalized on some Chiefs’ defensive lapses to take a 5-1 win in their season opener at Maplewood on Monday night. With the loss, the Chiefs record evens at 1-1 on the year.

The Americans grabbed a two out run in the top of the first when Greg Wilson’s fly ball was lost in the lights and fell for a single, scoring veteran Mike Addesa who had walked.

In the Chiefs’ first, Tony Serino drew a walk but was erased when Mike Burgoyne bounced into a 6-4-3 doubleplay. Juan Portes then singled to right-center before Johnny Welch grounded out to end the inning.

The Americans made it a 3-0 game in the second when they scored a couple of unearned runs, again with two outs, against starter Matt DiCato. DiCato got both Vinny Scifo and Cam O’Neill on infield popups before Devin Perry got things going with a single. Chiefs’ shortstop Juan Portes then bobbled Mac Singleton’s grounder before singles from Addesa and John Jennings gave Melrose a 3-0 lead.

The Chiefs picked up their only run of the night in the bottom of the second when Nate Witkowski tripled into the right field corner and scored on Chad Connor’s RBI grounder.

The Americans added two more runs to close out the scoring in the top of the third. DiCato issued two consecutive walks, got the next two batters, before surrendering singles to Wilson and Mark Fusco. Lefty Mitchell Clegg came out of the bullpen and struck out Singleton to end the inning.

The Chiefs appeared poised to make some noise in the bottom of the third when Mike Barbati led off with a single and Serino drew a walk before Burgoyne hit into another 6-4-3 doubleplay. Richardson got Portes to pop up to end the inning.

Clegg appeared to experience some discomfort in his back when coming out for the fourth inning. Tim Dunphy came on for the Chiefs and provided one of the few bright spots of the evening when he threw shutout ball over the next three innings, allowing two singles and striking out five.

Richardson finished strong, retiring the last seven Chiefs he faced in succession. The Salem State righty struck out six in his complete game effort.

The Chiefs are off on Tuesday and begin a two game road trip on Wednesday in Woburn at 8:00 PM. On Thursday, they travel to Lexington to meet the Blue Sox.

The Americans will look to make it two in a row when they travel to Endicott College in Beverly on Tuesday at 8:00 PM to meet the Reading Bulldogs.

Chiefs Chatter….Peter Copa, Paul Yanakopoulos, Matt Nuzzo and Mike Gedman were all out of the lineup for Monday’s game…..Clegg struck out the only batter he faced before leaving the game prior to the start of the fourth inning…..Scifo had six assists for the Americans at shortstop.....In the milestone department, Barbati recorded his 100th career hit when he led off the third inning with a single....For Dunphy, it was his 50th pitching apperance in a Chiefs' uniform......