Andre Chiefs

Wakefield, MA- In a season that has seen an unusual number of games ending in a tie, the Chiefs managed to turn the trick for the fifth time in just eighteen games, playing the Wakefield Merchants to a 4-4 standoff at Walsh Field on Sunday. The most ties the Chiefs have ever had in a season was back in 1990 when they finished with an overall record of 28-17-6 and won the ICL championship with a grueling playoff run.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 fourth inning lead when red hot Justin Crisafulli (.365) doubled to left center with two outs. Mike Andre then delivered him with a line single to right for the game’s first run. Matt Anderson followed Andre with another single to left and when Matt Lawlor singled to center scoring Andre the Chiefs had a 2-0 lead.

The Merchants got one back off Chiefs starter Keith Forbes in the bottom of the fourth on walks to Steve Langone and Jon Davison, singles by Dana D’Agostino and Mike Sorrentino, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Matt Russo.

The Chiefs increased their lead to 4-1 in the fifth off Merchants starter Kevin Tidmarsh. Rookie Mike Barbati led off with a single and after Brendan Pyburn flew out Nate Leva clubbed a long double into the left field corner that scored Barbati from first base. Paul Koslowski then drew his 15^th walk of the year and Crisafulli reached on an infield single to load the bases for Andre, who worked the count full before drawing another walk from Tidmarsh, forcing in Leva to give the Chiefs a 4-1 cushion. Former Double A righty Pete Fisher came on for Tidmarsh in the inning and held the Chiefs scoreless the rest of the way.

The Merchants came back in the bottom of the sixth and cut the lead to 4-3 on a two out double from rookie Josh Band.

Wakefield forged the tie in the seventh off closer Chris Foundas on three walks and a two out game tying single from Kevin Johnson before he escaped the bases loaded jam to preserve the 4-4 final. Chiefs pitching issued a season high nine walks and out hit the Merchants eleven to five.

Lexington, MA- Damage to the field in Lexington has caused the postponement of tonight's (Tuesday) Chiefs at Blue Sox game that was scheduled for 8:00 PM.
The Town of Lexington held their annual Fourth of July carnival and fireworks display over the holiday weekend, and despite the best efforts of the Lexington Recreation Department and Blue Sox management, the field will not be ready for tonight's game. It has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, August 5.

The Chiefs return to action on Wednesday at 7:30 PM when they travel to Trum Field in Somerville to take on the first place Cassell Club.

Medford, MA- Former Princeton star Andrew Hanson drilled a two out seventh inning home run and Merrimack lefty Dylan Ellis settled down to toss six scoreless innings as the Chiefs rallied back from a 4-0 hole to tie up the first place Cassell Cub at Tufts University on Wednesday night. It was the second straight tie between Cassell and the Chiefs as the two teams played to a 0-0 tie last week with Tim Dunphy and Keith Forbes each throwing a shutout.

Cassell jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on singles by Teddy O'Reilly, Josh Mackey, Jeff Paquette and Matt Rogers to go along with a sacrifice fly and a hit batsman.

The Chiefs got a run back in the bottom of the inning off Cassell ace Mike Parissi on singles from Nate Leva and Justin Crisafulli, a Matt Lawlor HBP and a walk to Mike Andre.

The Chiefs closed the gap to 4-3 in the third on rookie Mike Barbati's first ICL hit which scored Crisafulli and Lawlor who had both singled and setting the stage for Hanson's dramatics in the seventh.

Ellis allowed six hits, four in the first and two in the second inning, then proceeded to retire 16 of the last 18 batters he faced, surrendering two walks while striking out four.

Parissi gave up ten hits, including three to Crisafulli, while striking out two and walking three.

The Chiefs resume play on Sunday at 5:30 PM when they meet the Wakefield Merchants at Walsh Field at 5:30 PM. On Tuesday the Chiefs travel to Lexington to meet the Blue Sox at 8:00 PM.

Medford, MA- The Testa Corp. Bombers remained red hot and raised their record to 10-3-1, moving into sole possession of second place, with a 4-0 shutout win over the Chiefs at Tufts University on Monday night. It was the second time in as many nights that the Bombers have beaten the Chiefs and the third consecutive time this season. With the loss the Chiefs fall to 7-6-3.

It was obvious early on that Chiefs ace Keith Forbes was not feeling his physical best and the Bombers took advantage. Forbes went just three innings, which was his shortest stint of the season.

The Chiefs offense remained ice cold despite the warm weather, and could not capitalize on eight walks issued by Bombers pitching. The duo of lefty James Palmer (Franklin Pierce) and righty Danny Gomez (Western Oklahoma) surrendered just two hits, a third inning Justin Crisafulli double and a sixth inning Matt Lawlor single.

Starters Palmer and Forbes matched zeros for the first two innings before the Bombers broke through with three third inning runs. Eric Pelletier led off with a walk and Jay Defillipo reached on an infield single that Forbes deflected and was unabled to be handled by shortstop Nate Leva. Forbes then struck out Pete John and got Bob Barrett to fly to left to leave two runners on with two outs. Lefty Jonathan Pollard then drilled a long double to left scoring both Pelletier and Defillipo for a 2-0 Bombers lead. Mike Navarro followed with a line single to center that scored Pollard and increased the lead to 3-0. Forbes averted further trouble when he got Mark Adessa to fly out.

Paul Koslowski replaced Forbes to start the fourth and recorded two strikeouts in the inning. The Bombers reached Koslowski for a run, and a 4-0 lead in the fifth, when John walked, Barrett was hit by a pitch, a double steal and a sacrifice fly from Navarro.

Connor Bishop, making his 16th career appearance for the Chiefs and his first this season, worked a scoreless sixth and Joe Martini did the same for the club in seventh.

The Chiefs had runners on base in every inning but the third, but could not score. The biggest threat came in the bottom of the seventh when Gomez, who came on for Palmer in the sixth, issued three walks to load the bases with two away. He kept the shutout intact when he struck out Leva swinging to end the game.

It does not get any easier for the Chiefs tonight (Tuesday) when the first place Cassell Club (11-1-1) pay a visit to Tufts University at 6:00 PM. The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie last Thursday night. Southpaw Dylan Ellis (Gloucester, MA/Merrimack) is the expected starter for the Chiefs.

Following Tuesday's game, the Chiefs will enjoy the traditional ICL Fourth of July mid season break. They will return to action next Sunday (July 6) when they travel to Walsh Field in Wakefield to meet the Merchants at 5:30 PM.