Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- The Chiefs will begin defense of both their 2014 Intercity League Championship, as well as their regular season pennant, when they open the 2015 campaign tonight at Endicott College in Beverly vs. the Reading Bulldogs at 8:00 PM. Monday's scheduled opener against the Wakefield Merchants was rained out. The club will send ace righty and four time ICL Pitcher of the Year Jared Freni to the hill.

After an overall record of 28-10 last season, which gave the Chiefs their 19th championship in franchise history and the second in three years, the team returns the majority of the squad that has gone an overall 87-28-2 since the start of the 2012 season. During that time they have won two straight pennants and two more Intercity League championships.

All members of last years’ pitching staff return led by Freni who has gone 50-8 over his ICL career. Freni followed up his 2013 MVP season (13-0, 0.54 ERA) with an overall mark of 11-2 last year and chalked up his fourth straight ICL’s Pitcher of the Year award. He also won Playoff MVP honors with a perfect 3-0, 0.00 ERA in the post season. He has pitched the deciding game in both of the 2012 and 2014 championship series. The former UMass-Amherst standout will be again joined by veteran southpaw Tim Dunphy (Brandeis/Namur Angels) who he shared the ICL Pitcher of the Year award with in 2014. Freni and Dunphy (9-2) went an overall 20-4 last season. Former Malden Catholic and UMass star Mike DiCato with 25 career wins, Washington Nationals’ product Mitchell Clegg (4-1 in 2014), and former Framingham State righty Matt DiCato (6-1 in 2013) are back as the pitching mainstays. Lefty Evan Walsh, who returns for his third season, is expected to assume a greater role this year after going 4-3 for Bentley University this past spring. The dark horse of the staff could be hard throwing newcomer Jim Cassidy, who is coming back after undergoing a number of arm surgeries. The former Medway star began his college career at South Florida where he was considered a MLB pitching prospect. He returned to Massachusetts and went 5-1 at UMass in 2007 before suffering a torn labrum.

Three of the four starting infielders will return, led by 2014 ICL MVP Johnny Welch. Welch topped the circuit in home runs (9) and RBI’s (36). He led the Chiefs’ to the championship after returning to his hometown of Medford after spending seven seasons in the pro ranks. Peter Copa, who starred at UMass and had a stint with California Angels, will be at first base for the seventh consecutive season. 2014 ICL batting champion Mike Barbati (Malden Catholic/Endicott) will get the nod at second base. Veteran Nate Witkowski, who started at Bentley, will step in at shortstop for the injured Juan Portes. Portes, who spent a number of seasons with the Minnesota Twins, is currently on the the team's inactive list. Other returnees that will provide infield depth are Malden’s Adam Lucey from Fisher College, Swampscott’s Dan Bonito, who started at UMass-Boston this past spring, Tyler Brinkley, Ceccilo Guante, and the newly acquired Ryan Sonberg from Windsor CT. Sonberg was a former two-time all-NESCAC selection at Bates College before signing professionally with the Taos Blizzard of the Pecos League in New Mexico in 2013.

The outfield stays strong with veterans Tony Serino, Mike Gedman, Billy Mottram and Mike Burgoyne. Serino begins his third year with the Chiefs after completing a standout career at UMass-Amherst. Gedman, who played for the Chiefs in 2010, returned to the ICL last season after spending three years in the professional ranks. He delivered several key hits in the championship run that included a homer in the deciding game of the finals. The former UMass star is also the head coach of Framingham State and is the son of Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman. Mottram, who played at Dowling College, joined the Chiefs at the midway point of last season and immediately had an impact after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2007. The veteran lefty hit 55 homers in his five years as a pro. Burgoyne is a ten year ICL veteran who has stolen 76 bases in his career. Second year player Sam Wishnow of Framingham and rookie Danny DiMare gives the outfield some depth.

Veteran Mike Andre will return as the Chiefs’ designated hitter. The six-time ICL all-star hit .346 last season and was in the league’s top ten in most offensive categories. He is among the team’s all-time career leaders with 280 hits and 169 RBI’s. The former Medford High standout third baseman and Merrimack College captain will begin his tenth ICL season.

Last year’s starter Paul Yankopulos (Medford, MA/UMass) will anchor the deep catching crew that includes eight year veteran Nick Leva (Cambridge MA/Southern New Hampshire) and Chad Conner (Bristow, OK/ Texas Tech/San Francisco Giants). The team has also added former Tampa Bay Rays catcher Dave Wendt to the roster. Wendt spent four years in the Rays' organization with his most recent stop being Double A Montgomery of the Southern League.

Manager Chuck Andre (Boston College) will begin his 25th season in search of his seventh ICL championship and his 600th career win. Paul Crisafulli (NEBI), Steve Calabresi (UMass-Boston), John Veneziano (Westfield State), Anthony Durkee (Salem State), and Justin Crisafulli (Central Missouri State/Cleveland Indians) will fill out the 2015 coaching staff.

On Wednesday night, the Chiefs return to Maplewood (Malden Catholic) to meet the expansion Somerville Thunder at 8:15 PM. - Bruce Tillman (Revised 6/2/15 at 11:45 AM)