Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Jared Freni went the first five innings to pick up the win when the Chiefs blanked the Somerville Royals 5-0 at Maplewood Park on Monday night.

Freni scattered just three hits and struck out ten batters in the season opener. Lefty Tim Dunphy and right-hander Mike DiCato kept the shutout intact by each throwing a shutout inning in the sixth and seventh respectively.

The Chiefs jumped on Somerville southpaw Kevin Sinatra and took a 4-0 lead in the home half of the second. Rookie catcher Jordan Pallazola got things going when he recorded his first ICL hit and went to second when the Royals' outfield lost the ball in the twilight sky. Shortstop Nate Witkowski followed with a single, scoring Pallazola, to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. The Chiefs' used back to back triples from Mike Barbati and Danny DiMare to jump the lead to 3-0. A Tony Serino infield groundout then plated DiMare for the Chiefs fourth run of the inning.

The Chiefs the final run of the night came in the bottom of the third but they threatened for more. Peter Copa bounced a single up the middle and Mike Andre drew a walk. Pallazola followed and moved Copa and Andre up to second and third with an infield grounder to the right side. Witkowski and Barbati then worked consecutive walks that made it 5-0 and chased Sinatra from the mound in favor of Franklin Pierce righty Ryan Covelle. Covelle kept it a five run game when he got DiMare to bounce into a 6-4-3 doubleplay.

Freni was dominant in his first start of the year and struck out the side both the third and fifth innings before giving way to Dunphy and then DiCato. Dunphy, who had a strikeout of his own in the sixth, surrendered a leadoff single to Jake Cintolo before the Chiefs turned a Copa to Witkowski to Copa 3-6-3 doubleplay. DiCato also looked sharp and struck out two batters in the top of seventh.

Chiefs Notebook....Freni threw a no-hitter in the 2015 season opener against Reading at Endicott College on June 2. With tonight's win, Freni raises his career ICL record to 58-10.....Steve Gambale made his return to Chiefs for the first time since the 2003 season. The former Medford High and University of Maine standout last appeared for the club as their starting shortstop way back in 2003. He has been tuning up this spring by getting some at bats with the Senior League Somerville Senators.....The win was the 599th of Manager Chuck Andre's career.....The Chiefs added some pitching depth today when they picked up former California Angels 19th Round draftee Anthony Sullivan. Sullivan, who had a standout college career at St. John University in the Big East, last pitched for the Worcester Tornadoes in the Can-Am League.....The Chiefs are expected to send former Washington Nationals left-hander Mitchell Clegg to the bump when they host the Reading Bulldogs on Wednesday night at Maplewood at 8:15 PM...... 

Tonight's Box Score at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com
Game Story by Bruce Tillman for the Chiefs & Intercity League Baseball