Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- For what seems to be the 100th time "They Went to Jared" and for the 100th time, he didn't disappoint.

In an absolutely gut check time performance, Jared Freni assured that his Chiefs would make yet another appearance in the ICL Championship Series when he put them squarely on his shoulders and delivered a 3-0 shutout of the tough Reading Bulldogs, in the rubber game of their best of five series, on Thursday night at Maplewood Park.

With the win, the Chiefs advance to the finals for the sixth straight year, the seventh time in the last eight years, and the 31st time in franchise history dating back to 1957. And oh yes, did we mention there would be a familiar dance partner waiting in Rick DeAngelis' Lexington Blue Sox?

But first back to Freni and Thursday's series clinching win.

Coming off two straight wins, the Bulldogs held all the momentum coming into the game. Freni did his part to change that early when he struck out Hank Oringer to open the game and then blanked Reading in the first inning.

The Chiefs came up with what would prove to be the only run Freni would need in their first at bat when Tony Serino singled, went to second on Tony Deshler's fielder's choice, and scored on Peter Copa's RBI single to center.  

Freni allowed a one out infield single to Mike Taylor in the second before striking out Mike DeDonato and then getting the swift Darren Hartwell on an infield bouncer to Mike Barbati at second.

Jack Burke, who hooked up with Freni in the series opener, yielded a two out single to Nate Witkowski in the bottom of the second but Serino lined to left to end the inning.

The Bulldogs had their biggest scoring threat in the top of the third. ICL veteran Johnny Hayes led things off with a line single to right and Oringer drew a walk. E.J. Martinez was next up and squared to bunt. When the pitch was a ball, Hayes ranged off second and catcher Jordan Pallazola's pickoff attempt sailed into centerfield, allowing Hayes to go to third. Freni eventually retired Martinez on a short fly to Serino with no advancement by the runners. Oringer then stole second to give Reading two runners in scoring position with one away. Kyle Devin hit a chopper to Copa at first, who looked Hayes back to third, but got beat to bag by Devin that loaded the bases. Mike Barbati then came up with the defensive jewel of the game when he went to his right to grab Zac Talis' grounder and completed a 4-unassisted double play to end the scoring chance and retire the side. 

Burke retired the first two batters in the bottom of third before Copa stepped to the plate and delivered a moon shot solo homer to straight away left that gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

Freni looked to be picking up his velocity when he struck out the side in the top of the fourth despite giving up a couple of two out singles to DeDonato and Hartwell.

Burke set down the bottom end of the Chiefs' order in the home half of the fourth and Devin came up with a two out opposite field double in the Bulldogs' fifth, but Freni got Talis to fly to Deshler in right to keep the shutout intact.

Veteran righty Steve Hueston, who was a 10th Round pick of the Kansas City Royals back in 1996, came on for Burke to open the fifth and retired the top of the Chiefs' order in a row.

Freni was throwing his hardest in the top of the sixth and struck out the Bulldogs' in order.

The Chiefs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Copa drew a one out walk from Hueston, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on Steve Gambale's RBI single to left-center.

It was then closing time for Freni, who made a nice play on a Hartwell grounder and then struck out Hayes for the first two outs of the seventh. Freni hit Oringer with a pitch and a few words were exchanged before he ended the game and the series by striking out Martinez on a called third strike.

Freni allowed just six hits, two of the infield variety, and struck out 11. He raised his post season career pitching record to an impressive 15-2.

Game One of the Championship Series will be played at Morelli Field in Melrose on Sunday at 8:00 PM. The complete schedule is available at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com.

-Ian Roberts & Brett Toomey for Intercity League Baseball
-Statistics by Anthony Zeolie
-Photography by Steve Hartwell