Andre Chiefs

Reading, MA- The Chiefs fortunately haven't experienced too many "tough to take" losses over the past several years. Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Reading Bulldogs may have go to the top of that list.

In a game where they were issued no less than 10 walks, and two others reached via the hit batsman route, the Chiefs still managed to lose leads of 4-1 and 7-2, helped by some inopportune defense, before finally succumbing to a five run Bulldog rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to come away from Morton Field empty handed.

The teams traded runs in the first inning, the Chiefs' tally coming on a bases loaded walk to Steve Gambale, and the Bulldogs' coming when starter Sam Kasten threw away a pickoff attempt.

It stayed a 1-1 game until the top of the fourth when Peter Copa unloaded on a Tim Woods pitch for a three run homer, scoring Billy Mottram (error) and Tony Serino (walk) in front of him, for a 4-1 Chiefs' lead.

Reading cut a run off the lead and closed to 4-2 in the bottom of inning on singles from Hank Oringer and Kyle Devin and an RBI groundout from Corey DiLoretto.

The Chiefs opened up thier lead to 7-2 with three more runs in the top of the fifth on singles from Gambale, Mike Andre, Mike DiCato, and Ryan Sonberg.

Reading picked up a run to make it 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth on singles by Rosario Missiti and Devin, and a double by Darren Hartwell, before Tim Dunphy replaced Kasten on the mound for the Chiefs and got the final out of the inning.

The Chiefs couldn't capitalize on a Juan Portes leadoff double in the top of the sixth and the Bulldogs came back to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Things started harmlessly enough when Dunphy got Zac Talis to fly to Mike DiCato in right for the first out. Two singles from DiLoretto and Steve Busby followed before Dunphy got Missiti to ground out for the second out. Johnny Hayes then beat out an infield roller to short, scoring DiLoretto to make it 7-4. Two more hits by Mike DeDonato and Hartwell cut the lead to 7-6 and put runners at second and third with two outs. Anthony Sullivan came out of the Chiefs' bullpen and got Oringer to bounce to Portes at third but the throw to first was low and skipped by Copa allowing two runs to score and putting the Bulldogs in front 8-7. Jack Burke kept the Chiefs off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh to record the save.

Dunphy (3-1-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season. He went one inning, gave up five runs (three earned) and five hits. Kasten worked the first 4.2 innings, was charged with two earned runs, allowed six hits, struck out one, and walked two. Sullivan (0.1 innings) got the final out of the sixth. 

Chiefs Chatter.....The 13-6-1 Chiefs host the Arlington Trojans on Monday at Maplewood starting at 8:15 PM.....They are off on Tuesday and return to Maplewood on Wednesday to meet the Lexington Blue Sox.......
Courtesy Jim Valente & Steve Hartwell