Andre Chiefs

Medford- There is no doubt Mike Coppinger can pitch.

Did you know that Mike DiCato can play shortstop?

Or that Jimmy Buldini can play secondbase?

The afirmative answer to the two questions above and a completely revamped Chiefs lineup, forced by a host of injuries, led to a 5-0 win at Playstead Park on Tuesday night.

With no less than three starters out of the lineup (SS-Rich Montecalvo, 2B-Doug Heald and CF-Brian Macrina) the Chiefs put together their best overall game in weeks led by Coppinger's complete game four hitter.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the second off of Woburn starter and former Arlington High star Joe Curran. He hit his former AHS batterymate Sean O'Brien with a pitch but O'B was forced at second on an attemped sacrifice from Buldini. Matt Boleski struck out swinging but Buldini advanced to second on a wild pitch. DH Ryan Sheehan (Assumption, Lynnfield, MA) then delivered Buldini with a line single to right.

Coppinger (Merrimack, Medway, MA) stranded Woburn runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings before his mates gave him a little breathing room in the bottom of the fifth.

DiCato flew to deep center for the first out. Phil Costello then walked and Mike Andre followed with a line single to center. Woburn manager Bob DiNapoli then chose to lift Curran in favor of southpaw Matt Boylan. Cleanup man Justin Crisafulli greeted Boylan with a sharp single to left to load the bases with one out. Boylan then caught Jeff DeCarlo striking out looking for out number two. He looked like he was going to escape the jam when he got O'Brien to hit what looked like a routine pop up to the right side. The pop up got hung up in a pretty stiff wind and was misplayed by the Tanner right side allowing both Costello and Andre to score to make it 3-0. Buldini followed with a bloop single to right that scored Crisafulli to give the Chiefs a 4-0 lead.

Woburn put two runners in scoring position in the sixth before Coppinger got Keith Morris to fly to Costello in right.

The Chiefs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when DiCato and Costello both walked and Andre moved them to second and third. Righty Bobby Whalen replaced Boylan on the mound and issued an intentional walk to Crisafulli to load the bases. DeCarlo then lofted a sacrifice fly to center that scored DiCato with the Chiefs fifth run.

Coppinger (2-2) retired Woburn in order in the seventh to pick up the complete game , five strikeout, 108 pitch, win.

Chiefs Notebook...The Chiefs are right back in action on Wednesday night when they make their first visit of the year to Walsh Field in Wakefield for a 6:00 PM date with the Merchants....Lefty Jeff DeCarlo, who will heading to the University of Michigan in September, is expected to get the first start of his Chiefs career....On the heels of the Rich Montecalvo injury, second baseman Doug Heald has come up with a back injury that has the Chiefs middle infield looking for some help....Coppinger lowered his ERA to 2.37 with Tuesday's shutout....