Andre Chiefs

(Melrose, MA)- Tyler Ferdinand’s two out single in the top of the seventh inning delivered John Baptista with the winning run when the Chiefs beat the Middlesex Expos 6-5 in their semi-final series opener on Wednesday night at Morelli Field.

The Chiefs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Juan Parra got things started with a single to left, stole second, and went to third when the throw went into centerfield. After Nick Valdario walked, Expos starter Junior Montero was called for a balk sending Parra home with the game’s first run. Teddy Dziuba followed with a shot to the fence in right-center, scoring Valdario, and giving the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. Andrew Caulfield then drew a walk before Montero threw away a Baptista comebacker allowing Dziuba to score the Chiefs’ third run.

Starter Tim Dunphy blanked the Expos over the first two frames and Montero settled in nicely and the game went to the bottom of the third with the Chiefs up 3-0.

The Expos scored all of their runs in the third. Mike Stellato singled to left and Michael Oliveira reached on an infield error. Jose Paulino then moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. Idelson Taveras then followed with a two RBI double to left cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 3-2. A sacrifice fly moved Taveras to third and he scored the tying run when Leon Paulino beat out an infield chopper to short. Dionys Quezada was next and he blasted a two run homer to straight away center to put the Expos up 5-3. For Quezada it was his league best seventh homer of the year.

The Chiefs clawed back and tied the game at 5-5 off reliever Ryan Cloutier in the top of the sixth. Adam Johnson drew a walk and Ferdinand (pictured) reached on an infield single. Parra then delivered a line single to right scoring Johnson and then Ferdinand when the ball skipped all the way to the outfield fence.

It stayed 5-5 until Ferdinand delivered the Chiefs game winner in the top of the seventh.

Paul Frisoli was outstanding in relief of Dunphy. The righthander went 3.1 innings allowing just two hits while striking out six. Frisoli struck out five straight batters including the side in order in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Game two of the series will be played at Maplewood tonight (Thursday) starting at 8:00 PM. If a third game is necessary it will be contested back at Morelli Field on Friday at 8:00 PM.

(Melrose, MA) The Chiefs – Middlesex Expos series will be streamed live starting with tonight’s Game One at Morelli Field at 8:00 PM.

For the Chiefs-Expos series go to:
http://youtube.com/c/LocalSportsProductions

Game Two will be streamed on Thursday at 8:00 PM and if a third game is needed it will be streamed Friday at 8:00 PM back at Morelli Field.

LSP’s Sam Feeley will be handling the play by play..

(Melrose, MA) The Melrose Americans beat the Reading Bulldogs 5-2 in the ICL Regular Season final on Sunday at Morelli Field.

With the Melrose win, the Chiefs and Americans finished with identical 12-12-1 records. The first two tiebreakers, number of wins and head to head (the teams were 2-2-1 against each other in 2022) failed to break the tie.

A coinflip was used and the Chiefs won and received the #3 seed and will face the #2 Middlesex Expos in a best of three series starting on Wednesday at 8:00 PM at Morelli Field in Melrose. Game Two will be played at Maplewood on Thursday at 8:00 PM. If a Game Three is needed, it will be played back at Morelli on Friday starting at 8:00 PM .

The #4 Americans will now host the #5 Bulldogs in a play-in game on Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Morelli Field. The winner of that game will advance to play the #1 Lexington Blue Sox in Lexington on Wednesday at 8:00 PM.

The ICL’s best of five Championship Series will be played next week with all games at Morelli Field starting at 7:45 PM.

(Malden, MA)- Nick Valdario’s single in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Chiefs a 5-4 walk-off win against the Lexington Blue Sox on Friday night at Maplewood. Valdario (pictured) game winner game came with two outs.

The Chiefs overcame a 4-1 deficit and tied the game when they scored three times in the bottom of the sixth.

Andrew Caulfield (double, 2 RBI’s) and Chris Klein each had two hits for the Chiefs.

Tommy Leone (1-1) tossed 2.1 innings of shutout ball to get the win in relief of starter Anthony Del Prete (4.1 innings, 5 K’s) and Jonathan Richard (0.1 inning).

Chris Aufiero had a double and two RBI’s for the Blue Sox.

The Chiefs will now await the result of Sunday’s Reading-Melrose game at Morelli Field. That game will determine who will be the ICL’s third, fourth and fifth seeds.

(Melrose, MA) Gianni Zarilli drove in all three runs with a single and double and Chris Mitchell picked up his league leading sixth win when the Melrose Americans edged the Chiefs 3-2 at Morelli Field on Wednesday night.

Mitchell now 6-1, went six innings allowing just five hits while striking out four. Bobby Tramondozzi struck out two in the seventh to grab the save.

Teddy Dziuba (pictured) drove in both of the Chiefs’ runs when they tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning.

Cal Carroll (1-3) went the first 4.1 innings and took the loss. Paul Frisoli came out of the bullpen and held the Americans scoreless over the last 1.2 frames.

The Chiefs will conclude their regular season schedule on Friday when they host the Lexington Blue Sox in a make-up game at Maplewood starting at 8:00 PM.