Andre Chiefs

(High Point,NC) Steve Passatempo, who has been with the Chiefs over the first few weeks of the season, has signed a pro contract with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League.

Passatempo recently graduated from UMass-Lowell where he was the River Hawks’s all-time leader in appearances (207) and starts (206), while being tied for second in program history with 31 home runs. The first baseman is the Division I era leader in runs (127), hits (198), doubles (39), and RBI (138). In the field, the four-year player recorded 1,329 putouts and 76 assists, as well.

The Medford, MA native was named to the 2016 America East All-Rookie Team and earned a spot on the Second Team in 2018, and helped UMass-Lowell to the program’s first two Division I postseason appearances in 2018 and 2019.

In his first appearance with the North Carolina based Rockers on June 11, Passatempo earned a walk in a pinch-hit situation, and he picked up his first hit on June 12.

Passatempo was batting .250 for the Chiefs with 2 RBI’s in three games.

(Story content & photo courtesy of UMass-Lowell Baseball)

The Chiefs will look to improve on their 3-1 record when they return to action on Monday night hosting the Somerville Royals at Maplewood Park in Malden at 8:00 PM. It will the first test of a four game week which includes a three games in a three night stretch.

On Tuesday night the Chiefs visit the Lexington Blue Sox at Lexington High and on Wednesday they return to Maplewood to meet Alibrandis. Both games will begin at 8:00 PM.

The Chiefs conclude the week when they take on the Reading Bulldogs on Saturday at 11:00 AM in the annual Jerie DeAngelis Memorial Day of Baseball at Lexington High. The Chiefs-Bulldogs game will be the first of four ICL games that will be played in Lexington on Saturday. The Melrose Americans and Maddogs Maddogs follow at 1:00 PM and the Wakefield Merchants and Albrandis will battle at 3:00 PM. The Blue Sox will host the Royals in the nightcap at 5:00 PM.

During the Day of Baseball on Saturday the ICL will draw the winner of the annual $10,000 raffle.

Melrose, MA- Thursday’s scheduled game between the Chiefs and Melrose Americans at Morelli Field has been postponed due to heavy rain in the area.

The 3-1 Chiefs are now off until Monday, June 17 when they will host the Somerville Royals at Maplewood/Malden Catholic at 8:00 PM.

Malden, MA-- Zak Levine threw 5.1 innings of one run baseball and Ricky Alexy’s solo homer, along with Jared Beniers two RBI triple, were the big blows when the Malden Maddogs held off the Chiefs 6-4 at Maplewood on Monday night.

Malden took advantage of nine walks issued by Chiefs’ pitching to secure the win.

The Maddogs jumped out to 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning against starter Jack Fargo before Mike Burgoyne’s RBI single, scoring Andrew Caulfield who had doubled, cut the lead to 5-1.

The Maddogs added another run off reliever Harry Welch that increased the margin to 6-1 in the top of the sixth.

A Nate Witkowski (pictured) bases clearing double in the bottom of the seventh cut the Malden lead to 6-4. When Steve Passatempo drew a two out walk, the Chiefs suddenly had the winning run at the plate. The comeback try fell short when Elias Fhagen-Smith secured Malden’s second straight win with a strikeout.

Levine (1-0) surrendered just four hits while striking out five. Fargo threw 71 pitches in just 2.2 innings and was charged with five earned runs. He experienced control issues in his first appearance of the year, walking seven while striking out two and allowing three hits. Michael Nestor worked a hitless 1.1 innings while Harry Welch gave up a hit and a run in his two innings. Ben Waldrip completed the Chiefs’ pitching ledger when he struck out two in a scoreless seventh.

With the loss the Chiefs fall to 3-1 on the season.

Malden, MA- Evan Walsh went six solid innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 10, to lead the Chiefs to a 3-2 comeback win over the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood on Wednesday night. For the Chiefs it was their third win in a row as they open the season at 3-0.

Reading got all of the runs they would get against Walsh in the top of the first inning on singles from Darren Hartwell and Tyler Cedone and a two RBI double by catcher Brendan McDonald.

The Chiefs rung out four hits and tossed up a three-spot in the bottom of the third against Jack Wallace who had faced just six hitters over the first two innings. Singles from Michael Nestor, Tony Serino, Steve Passatempo and Kyle Dembrowski put the Chiefs in front 3-2 and closed the scoring for the night.

Righty David Kerns came on for Walsh in the seventh and picked up his second save of the year. The Bridgewater State closer stranded the tying run at second after Chris Webster doubled with two outs.

Wallace (0-1) took the loss for Reading. He went four innings, allowing three runs on four hits, stuck out seven and walked none. Max Mardany and Alex Mandrus each worked a scoreless inning for the Bulldogs in the fifth and sixth.

Chiefs Chants…..Nestor’s hit in the bottom of the third inning was the first of his ICL career. The rookie is the son of Medford High Head Coach and former ICL standout Mike Nestor…..University of Bridgeport infielder Alex Martinez made his debut at shortstop for the Chiefs….The Chiefs are now off until Monday evening when they will host the Malden Maddogs at Maplewood. Next Wednesday the defending champion Lexington Blue Sox come to town. Both games will start at 8:00 PM……