Andre Chiefs

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!!

(July 6, 2020) The Intercity League has officially announced that its 2020 season has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
The ICL made the announcement on Monday morning after conducting the latest in a long series of remote meetings that was held with the Board of Directors on Sunday evening.

The ICL released the following statement: “After exploring every avenue for months, the ICL has made the extremely difficult decision to cancel the 2020 season. The Intercity League has enjoyed an outstanding and continuous tradition in Massachusetts amateur baseball since 1950 and we look forward to coming back stronger than ever in 2021. We make this decision out of an abundance of caution and after careful consideration of all factors. The safety of our players, their families, managers, coaches, umpires, administrators, and fans, remained paramount in all of our discussions. This was an exceedingly difficult choice, but we felt it was the best decision at this time. Given the ongoing situation and the ever-growing time constraints, we felt the window to conduct a meaningful ICL season this summer has become too narrow.”

Although the ICL season has been cancelled, players that choose to do so, may participate in a memorial tournament that is being organized by the Lexington Blue Sox. The tournament is being named after two former Blue Sox players that have passed away. Known as the PF-3 and DA-41 Tournament, it will honor Pete Frates, who lost a courageous battle with ALS in 2019 and Dave Ahern who died in 2016.

The ICL joins the Cape Cod League and the NECBL in the cancellation of their 2020 campaigns.

Details on the PF-3/DA-41 Tournament, and how players, teams or groups that choose to do so can participate, will be announced this week. Those interested can email Rick DeAngelis at fjdeangelis1@comcast.net.

(June 26, 2020) The Intercity League Board of Directors met again on Thursday, June 25. It was the latest in a long series of meetings to continue our discussions regarding the possibility of conducting a shortened 2020 season.

Massachusetts remains in Phase 2 of the reopening plan, which prohibits any games or scrimmages to be played. Phase 3, which was originally scheduled to begin on June 29, has been pushed back by at least a week. Per Governor Charlie Baker, the earliest that Phase 3 could now begin would be July 6.

As a result of the above, and in order to give teams time to prepare should Phase 3 begin on July 6, the best case scenario would now be an eight game regular season. If this becomes a reality, all of the nine teams would play each other once, followed by a tournament. The earliest start date would now be Monday, July 13.

In addition to the above, we must await Board of Health approval, guidelines and field availability and permits, from each of the cities and towns where ICL games could be played. These cities and towns are also subject to both the timeline and regulations that will be implemented by the Commonwealth.

The ICL’s Board maintains its position that the safety of players, managers, coaches, administrators, umpires, and fans remains our number one priority. Any decision made moving forward will certainly be reflective of this.

All sports at every level across the country are facing uncertainty at this point. The ICL is no different. These are challenging times.

We remain optimistic but are aware that the window for summer baseball may narrow.

We will keep everyone immediately informed as events evolve.

Please stay well.
ICL Board of Directors

North Reading, MA- Over 100 golfers will be teeing off on Friday in the RE/MAX Andrew Realty Services’ Intercity League Golf Tournament at Hillview Country Club.

This year’s tournament will be played in memory of Bertha Brickley who passed away in 2018. Ms. Brickley was an avid supporter of the ICL. Her sons John, George, Quintin, Matt and Andy were all involved in the ICL while her daughters Lila and Raina were fans of the league. Andy is presently the Boston Bruins’ color analyst on NESN. The ICL is thankful to the Brickey Family for their generosity.

The response has been overwhelming for the first annual tournament according to event chairman Orazio Azzarello. The shotgun start will begin at 9:00 AM with lunch and the awards ceremony to follow.

The event has drawn ICL alumni as well as many present players and fans.

RE/MAX Andrew Realty Services, whose connections have long standing ties to the ICL through owner/broker John Veneziano and founder Chuck Andre, both of the Andre Chiefs, is the main sponsor for this year’s tournament. The company has offices in Medford and Stoneham.

Other sponsors include Rick DeAngelis of the Lexington Blue Sox, Mike’s Pastry of Medford and the North End, and On Demand Storage, both thanks to James McConville of the Somerville Royals.

Hole and tee sponsors to date include; Umpire-in-chief Joe Cacciatore, the Melrose Americans, Speakeasy Sports Bar, Luke Begley, Bob Iandoli, Zorian Bat Company, Mike Kalfopoulus, the Somerville Senators, Universal Screening Studio, the Middlesex Reds, St. Pierre, Sammy Greenwood, Evan Green, North Shore Acapella, the Melrose Rams, Bob DeFelice, Frank’s Steakhouse, Crack’d Kitchen & Coffee, Walter Bentsen of the Boston Park League, and Bay State Financial.

Registration begins at the Hillview on Friday at 8:00 AM.