Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Nate Witkowski's one out single to right-center in the bottom of ninth scored pinch-runner Danny DiMare with the game winner when the Chiefs came all the way back from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Melrose Americans 6-5 on Monday night at Maplewood. 

Southpaw Tim Dunphy's sparkling 6.1 innings of relief pitching allowed his mates the time to tie the game in the fifth inning and win it in their last at bat.

The Chiefs took a short lived 1-0 off Melrose starter Shawn Smeglin in the home half of the first on a Mike Burgoyne triple and a Billy Mottram RBI double.

After a scoreless second, the Americans took the lead in the top of the third when Isaiah Berg hit a three run shot to left-center off Chiefs' starter Sam Kasten, scoring Tom Petry (walk) and Nick Herzog (single) ahead of him.

Smeglin kept the hosts off the board in the bottom of the third and the Americans scored a couple of more runs off Dunphy in the top of the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. Singles from Austin Masel, Petry, Herzog, and Christian Rosati, along with a throwing error, accounted for the runs.

The Chiefs answered with three runs off Smeglin and reliever Brendan McDonough in the bottom of the fourth to close within a run. Mike Andre and Witkowski both drew walks and Tony Serino's two out, two RBI double to left-center, along with an Americans' error, made it a 5-4 game.

Dunphy began to assume control in the top of the fifth and the Chiefs tied things up in the bottom of the inning. Singles from Jordan Pallazola and Tony Deshler, another Melrose error, and an RBI fielder's choice from Witkowski, tied the game up at 5-5.

The game remained scoreless over the next three innings until the Chiefs won it in the ninth. Pallazola led off with a single to left and DiMare pinch ran. Deshler then bunted DiMare to second and Sonberg was intentionally walked. Witkowski drilled a 1-1 pitch into the right-centerfield gap to easily score DiMare with the game winner.

Dunphy was lights out after the fourth inning, facing just one batter over the minimum. He got the Americans in order in the fifth and sixth, allowed a one out single to Rosati, who was erased on an inning ending doubleplay, in the seventh, and retired the side in order again in the eighth. In the Melrose ninth, Dunphy walked Anthony Licardello who got caught in a rundown after a missed sacrifice bunt attempt by Masel. After Masel eventually grounded out, Petry singled, before Dunphy got Herzog to flyout.

Smeglin went the first 3.2 innings for the Americans, striking out six, before giving way to McDonough. Rosati took the loss despite allowing just one run and two singles in 3.1 innings. Kasten worked the first 2.2 innings for the Chiefs and gave up three earned runs.

Chiefs Chatter..... The 12-4-1 Chiefs travel to Trum Field in Somerville to meet the Royals on Tuesday at 8:15 PM before returning home on Wednesday to host the Reading Bulldogs...Juan Portes returned to the lineup for the first time this season and had a first inning single....Both Kasten and Dunphy threw two innings for the ICL on Saturday in the EMASS All-Star Classic....
Courtesy Jim Valante