Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Mitchell Clegg and Mike DiCato limited Wakefield to just four hits, and the Chiefs used a big double from Jordan Pallazola and scored eight times in the bottom of the fifth inning, on the way to a 10-2 win at Maplewood on Monday night.

The Chiefs didn't exactly have their hitting shoes on either as they only managed six hits in the game but were the recipients of ten walks and took advantage of three Merchants' errors.

The Merchants took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Clegg hit leadoff man Lou Tarrantino with a pitch, he was sacrificed to second by Scott Searles, and scored on Mike Sorrentino's double to left.

Wakefield starter Joe Westerman and Clegg threw hitless baseball over the next inning and a half until Chiefs got the equalizer in the bottom of the third. Tony Serino doubled into the left-centerfield gap with one out, moved to third on Mike Burgoyne's groundout, and scored when Westerman uncorked a wild pitch with Billy Mottram at the plate.

The Merchants came right back and regained the lead in the top of the fourth on singles from Joe Barry and Paul McGonagle, a couple of walks, and a Jonathan Pierce RBI fielder's choice.

Clegg worked an easy top of the fifth, striking out the last two batters of the inning, and the Chiefs took the lead when they sent a dozen batters to the plate in the home half of the inning. Nate Witkowski drew a leadoff walk, and the Chiefs caught a break and everyone was safe when Serino's sacrifice bunt was bobbled. The Chiefs went the sacrifice bunt route again, this time dropped by Burgoyne, who moved the runners to second and third with one out. Westerman then walked Mottram and Peter Copa in succession to force in Witkowski as the Chiefs pulled even at 2-2. With the bases still loaded, Pallazola quickly unloaded them with a bomb double to left-center, scoring Serino and Mottram, and putting the Chiefs in front 4-2. When Ryan Sonberg followed with a single to center, scoring Copa and Pallazola, the Chiefs jumped their lead to 6-2 and chased Westerman in favor of Drew Johnson. Steve Gambale then reached on an error and Mike Andre grounded out, before another walk to Witkowski and then another free pass to Serino, followed by a two RBI single from Burgoyne, who was out trying to stretch it to a double, accounted for three more runs and a 9-2 Chiefs lead.

Mike DiCato spelled Clegg on this exceptionally humid night in the top of the sixth and got the Wakefield side in order.

The Chiefs made it 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth on two more walks to Motram and Copa, and Wakefield's third error of the game on a botched doubleplay ball off the bat of Pallazola.

DiCato faced just three batters in the top of the seventh when Tarrantino singled, but was erased on a doubleplay, before striking out Sorrentino to end the game.

Clegg, who raised his record to 4-3, worked five innings, gave up three hits, walked four and struck out nine. DiCato allowed one hit and struck out two over the final two frames. Westerman, now 2-3, took the loss.

Chiefs Chatter.....The 16-6-1 Chiefs travel to Morelli Field in Melrose to visit the Americans on Tuesday at 7:30 PM before returning home to Maplewood to host the Somerville Royals on Wednesday at 8:15 PM....Monday's victory was the 10th time this season the Chiefs have rallied from a deficit to win a game....