Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox broke open a 2-1 game by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth and then added four more in the seventh to pull away from the Chiefs 8-1 at Maplewood on Wednesday evening.

Lexington took a 2-0 lead off Chiefs starter Evan Walsh in the second when Ryan Cervone drew a walk, Alex Voitik doubled, and Jose Feliciano singled.

The Chiefs cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth off lefty Ryan O’Rourke on a Mitch Schroeder triple to right and a Blase Cormier RBI single.

Lexington touched up reliver Tommy Leone for a couple of runs and a 4-1 lead in the fifth on a pair of walks and a Julian Alvarez two RBI single.

Borja Jones-Berasaluce and Manny Delcarmen held the Chiefs scoreless over the last two innings and the Blue Sox put the game away with four runs and four hits off Leone in the seventh.

O’ Rourke (1-0) got the win allowing two hits and striking out eight in five innings of work. Walsh (0-1) took the loss despite giving up just three hits and striking out nine over his four innings.

Both teams are now 3-1 on the season.

The Chiefs are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Trum Field to meet the Middlesex Expos at 8:30 PM.

Somerville, MA- Graham Seed and Luke Gustavson combined on a neat four-hitter, striking out eleven, and the Chiefs erupted for eight first inning runs on the way to an 11-3 win over the Malden Maddogs on Sunday night at Trum Field in Somerville.

Mitch Schroeder led the Chiefs dozen hit attack going a perfect four for four that included a double and two RBI. Key contributors included Kyle DeRoma with a double, single, and two RBI, Nick Valdario (2 hits, 2 runs, RBI )and Gino DeSimone, Andrew Caulfield and Tommy Leone each with RBI doubles.

Seed (2-0), worked the first four innings striking out seven and allowing just one hit. Gustavson came out of the bullpen to begin the fifth and gave up two earned runs, three hits, and struck out four.

The now 3-0 Chiefs are off until Wednesday when they host the Lexington Blue Sox at Maplewood at 8:15 PM.

Lexington, MA- Leadoff man Nick Valdario had two hits and scored two runs to lead the Chiefs to a 3-2 win over the Blue Sox in Lexington on Thursday Night.

The Chiefs grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in top of the first inning against former Merrimack College star and Minnesota Twins lefty Ryan O’Rourke. Valdario started things off with a single to right, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored an unearned run on an infield error off the bat of A.J. Johnson. John Collette gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead when he singled home Andrew Caulfield who had walked.

It stayed a 2-0 Chiefs lead until the Blue Sox knotted things up after two were out in the bottom of the third off starter Tim Dunphy. Catcher Luke Hall singled and came around to score on an Alex Krylov triple to right field. When Krylov came across to score on a passed ball, the game was tied heading for the top of the fourth inning.

Silas Reed came on came on for Dunphy and struck out the side in the top of the fourth.

The Chiefs pushed across what proved to be the winning run in the top of the fifth against reliever Mark Maestri. Valdario singled up the middle with one out, moved to third on a Brendan Albert single, and scored on a wild pitch.

Reed and Lexington reliever Jake Vesling kept it a 3-2 game heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Tommy Leone struck out the first two Blue Sox batters in the bottom of the seventh before Hall walked and Krylov singled. Leone secured the win when he got Drew Michaud to fly to Valdario in center to end the game.

Chiefs Chatter…. The now 2-0 Chiefs are off until Sunday evening when they play the Malden Maddogs at Trum Field in Somerville at 8:30 PM…..

Malden, MA- R.J. Libby’s walk off solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Chiefs a 3-2 opening night win over the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood.

It was the first Chiefs’ win for new manager Jim McConville.

Chiefs’ pitching was dominant on the night as four hurlers combined to strike out 18 batters and scatter just three hits.

Lefty Evan Walsh got the starting nod and things started out a little shaky in the top of the first. The Bulldogs used a walk, an infield error, and a RBI double from Tyler Cedeno to take a 1-0 lead before an out was recorded. Walsh settled in and struck out the next three batters to leave Cedeno stranded and end the inning.

Walsh struck two more batters in the top of the second before Jonathan Richard came on in the third and worked two scoreless innings. The Reading lead went to 2-0 in the sixth when Richard surrendered an unearned run on an outfield error and a Cedeno RBI single.

Tommy Leone spelled Richard in the top of the sixth and promptly struck out the Reading side.

The Chiefs took advantage of Bulldogs’ wildness and evened things up at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Walks to Nate Witkowski, Andrew Caulfield, A.J. Johnson, John Collette and Brendan Albert, sandwiched around a Ryan Noone fielder’s choice, accounted for the two runs.

Graham Seed (1-0) took the mound in the top of the seventh and was lights out. The big right-hander struck out eight batters and didn’t allow a hit, setting the stage for Libby’s two out heroics in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Chiefs Chatter…. The Chiefs are back in action on Thursday evening when they travel to Lexington to meet the Blue Sox at 8:00 PM. Veteran southpaw Tim Dunphy is expected to get the start…..The 18 strikeouts: Walsh (5 K’s, Richard 2 K’s, Leone 3 K’s and Seed 8 K’s) are the most a Chiefs’ staff has had in game since Walsh’s record setting 20 strikeout performance on June 22, 2019…..New Pitching Coach and ICL Hall of Famer Dave Caiazzo certainly had to be pleased with performance of his staff in his Chiefs’ debut….

After taking the 2020 season off due to Covid-19 concerns, the Chiefs and the ICL will be back in full action starting June 2.

The Chiefs will open their campaign and host the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood Park on Wednesday at 8:15 PM. On Thursday, the Chiefs travel to Lexington to meet the Blue Sox at Lexington High in an 8:00 PM start.

The ICL Board of Directors and each of its teams are eagerly looking forward to the 2021 season. Last season’s interruption was the first time since 1950 that the ICL did not conduct a season.

The league will play an slightly abbreviated 24 game regular schedule with a full slate of playoffs to follow. The 24 game campaign will allow for some flexibility in the schedule as well as accommodate the later than usual local high school baseball season which the ICL shares some fields with.

Let’s play ball!!