Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Jordan Pallazola, with two doubles and three RBI's, and Mike Andre, both delivered clutch two out hits when the Chiefs edged the upstart Somerville Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night at Maplewood.

For the Chiefs, it was their fifth straight win and their seventh in the last eight games. The victory allowed them to move into sole posssesion of first place in the torrid ICL pennant chase.

The Chiefs were outhit 9-4 in then game but made the most of their opportunities on this night.

The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning before veteran Tim Dunphy recovered in time to record two key strikeouts with Royals runners at second at third. After former Chief Rob Caggiano grounded out, singles from Jake Cintolo and John Collette, and an RBI double by Wagner Gomez, gave the Royals the lead and set them up with two runners in scoring position with one out. Dunphy came up large and limited the damage to just one run by striking out both Drew Carter and Luke Ronchi in succession to end the inning.

Somerville starter Mike Masulli had a rocky beginning and walked Tony Serino to open the home half of the first but picked him off attempting to steal second. Masulli then walked Tony Deshler and he moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. The Chiefs came away empty handed when Billy Mottram popped up and Peter Copa grounded out to Gomez at third to end the inning.

Dunphy settled in nicely in the top of the second and retired the side in order, with two strikeouts.

Pallazola led off the bottom of the second and reached on a two base throwing error by Gomez. Masulli retired Ryan Sonberg on a warning track flyout that was run down by Ronchi in right-center with Pallazola tagging and easily moving to third. Steve Gambale then lined out to Caggiano at short before veteran Mike Andre delivered the first of the Chiefs' three clutch two out hits in the game when he lined single to right that scored Pallazola and tied the game at 1-1.

Dunphy retired Caggiano on an grounder to Witkowski and then struck out Cintolo for the first two outs of the Royals' third. Consecutive singles to left from Collette and Gomez gave the visitors two men on base before Dunphy pitched out of it by retiring Carter on a fly to Serino in center.

Serino led off the bottom of the third with a single. Deshler worked his second straight walk and when both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch the Chiefs had two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Masulii then got Mottram on a pop up and Copa on an infield grounder before Pallazola delivered the second of the Chiefs' key two out hits in the game with a laser double to left-center that scored Serino and Deshler for a 3-1 lead. Sonberg hit the ball hard again but Ronchi ran down his drive to center that stranded Pallazola to retire the side.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Royals tied things up in the top of the fifth. A Cintolo one out single, followed by a long RBI double by Collette, put runners on second and third. With the Chiefs infield playing back, Gomez grounded out to Steve Gambale at second base, scoring Cintolo, to cut the lead to 3-2. Carter was next and he pulled the Royals even with a sharp single to left that plated Collette.

Deshler grounded out to short to begin the Chiefs' fifth and Mottram drew Masulli's fourth walk of the night. Mottram moved into scoring position by stealing second prior to Copa flying out to center for the second out. It was Pallazola's turn again with two away and he came up big once more with another double, and the third of the Chiefs' clutch two out hits, when he drove home Mottram with what proved to be the game winning run. Sonberg was frustrated for the third straight time when he lined a seed right at Gomez, that left Pallazola at standing at second, to end the inning.

Righty Mike DiCato replaced Dunphy and made quick work of the Royals in the top of the sixth on two infield grounders and a fly ball.

Paul Pollano got the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the sixth but was aided by some fine outfield defense when Ronchi made a nice grab of a Gamable liner to left-center and and then Carter who ran down an Andre liner deep down the rightfield line.

It was six up and six down for DiCato when he got Jonathan Richard and Caggiano to bounce out before striking out Cintolo swinging to end the game.

Dunphy raised his season mark to 4-1-1. He allowed three earned runs, nine hits, and struck out five in his five innings of work. DiCato, who was making his team leading ninth appearance of the year, picked up his first save.

Chiefs Chatter....The team received what appears to be encouraging news on the injury front. Outfielder Mike Burgoyne's x-rays proved to be negative when he was diagnosed with a sprained ankle. He is expected to return in time for the ICL playoffs. Pitcher Matt DiCato was not as fortunate with a fractured bone near his eye, but he is also expected to return in time for the post-season.....The 18-6-1 Chiefs are now off until Sunday when they travel to Walsh Field at Wakefield High School to meet the Merchants in an early 4:00 PM start..... 
Ian Roberts and Steve Hartwell Photography for ICL Baseball