Andre Chiefs

Melrose, MA- The Framingham State duo of Dillon Corliss and Zack Kirby combined on a five-hitter when the Americans knocked off the Chiefs 4-1 at Morelli Field on Wednesday night. It was the final game for both squads before the ICL's annual Fourth of July break.

Corliss and Chiefs' starter Mitchell Clegg tossed scoreless ball over the first two frames before Mike Burgoyne gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead with a two out solo homer to left in the top of the third.

Both pitchers breezed through the next couple of innings and it stayed 1-0 Chiefs until the Americans took the lead in their half of the fifth. Mike LaRovere led things off with a single. Clegg whiffed Mike Egito for the first out before Isaiah Berg launched a double into the left-centerfield gap. With runners on second and third and the Chiefs' infield drawn in, Clegg got Kevin Kelley to ground to Billy Mottram at third for the second out. Austin Masel was next and he produced the biggest hit of the night when he lined a two out, two RBI single to left, scoring both LaRovere and Berg for a 2-1 Americans' lead. Masel was tagged out trying to advance to second, when the throw home was cut, to end the inning.

Corliss retired the Chiefs' side in order in the top of the sixth.

The Americans opened their margin to 4-1 with two more runs, after two were out, in their half of the sixth. Zeke Berg got things going with a two out single off Peter Copa's glove at first. Berg then stole second and Tom Petry promptly delivered him with a single down the third base line. LaRovere followed with his second single of the game that sent Petry to third. With runners on the corners, Clegg appeared to have LaRovere picked off first but when Copa's throw to try and get him going to second went into leftfield, Petry scampered accross the plate with the fourth run.

Kirby came out of the bullpen in the top of the seventh, and despite a walk to Jordan Pallazola and a one out single by Ryan Sonberg, the former hard throwing Framingham State ace managed to strike out the side and seal the win.

Chiefs Chatter.....Corliss allowed four hits in six innings to get the win and evened up his season record at 1-1-1......Clegg (2-1) was charged with three earned runs, surrendered seven hits, and struck out a half dozen..... The 10-3-1 Chiefs are now off until Wednesday, July 6 when they will travel to Victory Field in Watertown to visit the Reds at 7:45 PM.....The now 5-7-1 Americans also won't return to ICL play until July 6, hosting the Reading Bulldogs at Morelli in a 7:30 PM start.....The updated and corrected ICL and Chiefs' first half statistics are now available online at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com....
Courtesy Jim Valante