Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Drew Brzozowski threw a complete game four-hitter and the Lexington Blue Sox scored three runs in both the second and sixth innings to beat the Chiefs 6-1 in a winner’s bracket game at Pine Banks.

With the win, the Blue Sox advance to the Intercity League finals. The Chiefs will still have to win one more game to join them, as they must beat the winner of Monday’s Reading Bulldogs-Watertown Reds game. The Bulldogs and Reds will meet at 6:30 PM and the Chiefs will play the survivor at 8:30 PM. Both games will be played on Monday night at Morelli Field in Melrose as part of the ICL’s playoff showcase doubleheader that concludes this year’s double elimination format.

After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Sox got all of the runs that Brzozowski would need in the top of the second.  Five consecutive hits off starter and loser Mitchell Clegg produced three runs. After Jeff Vigurs flew out, Will Marcal and Mike Hart both lined singles to center. Justin Silvestro then drilled an opposite field double into the left-field corner, scoring both Marcal and Hart, to make it 2-0. Tom Haugh then followed with another double, scoring Silvestro, to make a 3-0 game. The Chiefs and Clegg escaped further damage when Ross Curley grounded into an inning ending Mike Barbati (unassisted) to Peter Copa doubleplay.

Mike Gedman reached on an infield single in the bottom of the second but the Chiefs couldn’t capitalize.

It stayed 3-0 as Clegg settled in nicely and set the Blue Sox down in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Brzozowski was cruising as well over the middle innings, as the Chiefs could only muster a third inning single from Paul Yanakopulos and another Gedman single in the fourth.

Lexington came up with their second three spot of the game in the top of the sixth. Steve Gath led off with a triple to right-center. With the infield drawn in, Dave Ahern grounded out to Juan Portes at shortstop for the first out. Consecutive singles from Vigurs, Marcal, and Hart, and a passed ball, upped the lead to 6-0.

Brzozowski got the top of the Chiefs’ order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

Clegg recorded the first out in the top of the seventh on a comebacker to the mound before giving way to Matt DiCato. DiCato got a couple of infield grounders, sandwiched around Gath’s third hit of the night, to the send the game to the bottom of the seventh with the Chiefs chasing six runs.

The Chiefs broke through and averted the shutout in their final at bat. Johnny Welch led off and reached on a two base error when his sky high pop up was dropped. Gedman lined softly to Gath out for the first out before Peter Copa drew a walk. Mike Andre followed and gave his team a moment of life when lined a single to left-center, scoring Welch, to draw the Chiefs to 6-1. Mike Burgoyne came on to pinch run for Andre and both he and Copa moved up to second and third on a wild pitch. Brzozowski finished as strongly as he started when he completed the deal by striking out Barbati swinging and Yanakopulos looking to end the game.

Brzozowski struck out seven and walked just one.

Clegg allowed 11 hits and struck out four in 6.1 innings.

In Sunday’s other games the Bulldogs eliminated the Wakefield Merchants 5-2 and the Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk off for the second straight time over the Melrose Americans, 2-1.

MONDAY’S PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
6:30 PM Reading vs Watertown  (Morelli Field, Melrose MA)- Loser Eliminated
8:30 PM Reading/Watertown Winner vs. Chiefs (Morelli Field, Melrose MA)-Winner to Championship Series

Check www.intercityleaguebaseball.com for boxscores, playoff schedules, and updates.

(Bruce Tillman for www.andrechiefs.com, Boxscore & Stars by Bruce Hack, Photos by Jim Valente)