News and Announcements
Malden, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox got a first inning two run homer from Richie Burgos, then took advantage of a dozen walks and a hit batsman issued by Chiefs’ pitching, to take a 9-7 win at Maplewood on Monday night.
In marathon game that was delayed by rain until 8:25 PM, then halted in the third inning for 15 minutes as more heavy showers passed through, the Sox survived four Chiefs homers and being outhit 12-6 to take the win.
Burgos gave Lexington a quick 2-0 lead off Chiefs’ starter Evan Walsh (Arlington, MA/Bentley) with a two out shot to left.
The Chiefs tied things up in the bottom of the second on a Ben Waldrip solo homer, a Peter Copa double, and an infield error off starter Drew Leenhouts.
The Blue Sox took the lead for good in the top of the third when they moved in front 4-2. Walsh gave up singles to Aaron Barbosa, Burgos, Justin Silvestro and Andrew Selima and a walk to Gray Goolsby.
Johnny Welch closed the gap to 4-3 with a two out solo shot in the bottom of the third.
Joe Saia took over for Walsh in the top of the fourth. The lefty was uncharacteristicaly wild, issuing five walks (one intentional) as Lexington scored three times in the inning on just one hit, which was allowed by reliever Kyle Musco, to take a 7-3 lead.
The Lexington lead went to 9-3 in the top of the fifth without the benefit of a hit as Musco continued the Chiefs' staff wildness. The righty walked four and hit a batter to force in two runs before rookie David Kerns (Cambridge, MA/Bridgewater St) came out of the bullpen to restore order.
Waldrip hit his second solo homer of the game in the bottom of the fifth to chop a run off the Blue Sox lead at 9-4.
Kerns worked a scoreless sixth and Waldrip came on and set the Sox down in order in the top of the seventh.
The Chiefs made things a bit interesting in the home half of the seventh against lefty Kevin Scanlon. They scored three times on a Tony Serino walk, a Matt Nuzzo double, and a two-run homer from Juan Portes.
Chiefs Chatter…..The Chiefs record fell to 4-4 with the loss while the Blue Sox won their fourth straight to move to 5-2 on the young season….Lefty Josh Desai is expected to get the start when the Chiefs and Malden Maddogs hook up at Maplewood tonight (Tuesday) at 7:45 PM….On Wednesday the Chiefs host the Watertown Reds at Maplewood at 8:00 PM…-Bruce Tillman & Bruce Hack (game coverage)
In marathon game that was delayed by rain until 8:25 PM, then halted in the third inning for 15 minutes as more heavy showers passed through, the Sox survived four Chiefs homers and being outhit 12-6 to take the win.
Burgos gave Lexington a quick 2-0 lead off Chiefs’ starter Evan Walsh (Arlington, MA/Bentley) with a two out shot to left.
The Chiefs tied things up in the bottom of the second on a Ben Waldrip solo homer, a Peter Copa double, and an infield error off starter Drew Leenhouts.
The Blue Sox took the lead for good in the top of the third when they moved in front 4-2. Walsh gave up singles to Aaron Barbosa, Burgos, Justin Silvestro and Andrew Selima and a walk to Gray Goolsby.
Johnny Welch closed the gap to 4-3 with a two out solo shot in the bottom of the third.
Joe Saia took over for Walsh in the top of the fourth. The lefty was uncharacteristicaly wild, issuing five walks (one intentional) as Lexington scored three times in the inning on just one hit, which was allowed by reliever Kyle Musco, to take a 7-3 lead.
The Lexington lead went to 9-3 in the top of the fifth without the benefit of a hit as Musco continued the Chiefs' staff wildness. The righty walked four and hit a batter to force in two runs before rookie David Kerns (Cambridge, MA/Bridgewater St) came out of the bullpen to restore order.
Waldrip hit his second solo homer of the game in the bottom of the fifth to chop a run off the Blue Sox lead at 9-4.
Kerns worked a scoreless sixth and Waldrip came on and set the Sox down in order in the top of the seventh.
The Chiefs made things a bit interesting in the home half of the seventh against lefty Kevin Scanlon. They scored three times on a Tony Serino walk, a Matt Nuzzo double, and a two-run homer from Juan Portes.
Chiefs Chatter…..The Chiefs record fell to 4-4 with the loss while the Blue Sox won their fourth straight to move to 5-2 on the young season….Lefty Josh Desai is expected to get the start when the Chiefs and Malden Maddogs hook up at Maplewood tonight (Tuesday) at 7:45 PM….On Wednesday the Chiefs host the Watertown Reds at Maplewood at 8:00 PM…-Bruce Tillman & Bruce Hack (game coverage)
Hometown: Medford, MA College: University of Maine
Will serve as a player-coach for the 2018 season....Steve returned to the Chiefs and the Intercity League for the first time in 2016 since the 2003 season......Saw action in only seven games in 2017 due a nagging arm injury...Appeared in 26 games in his comeback season of 2016 and batted an overall .297, including a lofty .385 in 18 regular season games....Previously played with the Chiefs for three seasons from 2001-2003.....Became the youngest starter in team history when he won the starting shortstop position as a 17 year old in the summer of 2001......Was a career .311 hitter for the Chiefs while appearing in 102 games over his three year stint with the club.....Hit a career best .329 in 2003 with 36 hits, including 10 extra base hits......Went on to play college ball at the University of Maine where he became the starting shortstop as a freshman.......Excelled at Medford High where he was a three time Greater Boston League all-star.....Can play all infield and outfield positions and was also known as a fireballing right-hander in his high school days.....34 year old continues to bring a veteran presence to the 2018 squad....Currently is an Assistant Coach at Medford High School......
Will serve as a player-coach for the 2018 season....Steve returned to the Chiefs and the Intercity League for the first time in 2016 since the 2003 season......Saw action in only seven games in 2017 due a nagging arm injury...Appeared in 26 games in his comeback season of 2016 and batted an overall .297, including a lofty .385 in 18 regular season games....Previously played with the Chiefs for three seasons from 2001-2003.....Became the youngest starter in team history when he won the starting shortstop position as a 17 year old in the summer of 2001......Was a career .311 hitter for the Chiefs while appearing in 102 games over his three year stint with the club.....Hit a career best .329 in 2003 with 36 hits, including 10 extra base hits......Went on to play college ball at the University of Maine where he became the starting shortstop as a freshman.......Excelled at Medford High where he was a three time Greater Boston League all-star.....Can play all infield and outfield positions and was also known as a fireballing right-hander in his high school days.....34 year old continues to bring a veteran presence to the 2018 squad....Currently is an Assistant Coach at Medford High School......
Maddogs Beat Chiefs 3-1 at Maplewood
Posted by Chiefs Baseball at Jun 18, 2018 5:00PM PDT
( 0 Comments
)
Malden, MA- The Malden Maddogs took advantage of three first inning walks, then got a bases clearing double from Kennedy Wilson, to hold off the struggling Chiefs 3-1 at Maplewood on Tuesday night. It was the second night in row where walks have led to a Chiefs’ loss.
Following Wilson’s double in the bottom of the first, the Chiefs' pitching combination of Josh Deasi, who went four innings, and Tim Dunphy (two innings) faced the minimum 17 batters over the next 5.2 innings.
The Chiefs had a few chances to draw even but couldn’t capitalize against starter Blaine McLean or reliever Ricky Alexy as they grounded into three inning ending doubleplays.
Desai, in his first appearance of the year, walked three of the first four batters he faced, around a strikeout, before Wilson delivered the game’s biggest hit off the base of the fence in right-center for a 3-0 lead.
Leivi Ventura provided all of the Chiefs’ scoring for the night when he drilled a McLean pitch over the leftfield fence, with one out in the second, for a solo homer cutting the lead to 3-1. Following Ventura’s shot, Nate Witkowski drew a walk, but Shane Stande bounced into a 6-4-3 doubleplay.
The Chiefs turned a 6-3 doubleplay of their own in the bottom of the second after P.J. McDonald reached on an infield single.
Andrew Caulfield led off the Chiefs’ third and legged out an infield single to the right side. McDonald made a diving stop of a Serino shot and recovered in time to force Caulfield at second. Catcher Shane O’Halloran gunned out Serino trying to steal second before McLean struck out Danny DiMare to end the inning.
Deasi, the ICL’s 2017 Outstanding Pitcher, was finding his rhythm and cruised through the Maddogs’ third and McLean retired the heart of the Chiefs’ order in succession in the top of the fourth.
Following Wilson’s leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth, Desai struck out Joe Klingensmith before the Chiefs turned their second doubleplay of the game off the bat of O'Halloran.
McLean got the Chiefs in order in the top of the fifth with two strikeouts. Veteran Tim Dunphy came on to open the bottom of the inning for the Chiefs and he also got the Maddogs in succession.
The Chiefs threatened but came up empty again in the top of the sixth. After Caulfield lined out, singles from Serino and DiMare brought the go ahead run to the plate in Matt Nuzzo. Righty Ricky Alexy came out of the pen to spell McLean and that move paid immediate dividends when Nuzzo grounded into a sharp and inning ending 3-6 (tag at second) doubleplay.
Dunphy was sharp again in the bottom of the sixth and the Chiefs took one more run at the Maddogs in the top of the seventh. Ben Waldrip drew a leadoff walk but Peter Copa fouled out to O’Halloran who made a nice grab in front of the Chiefs’ dugout. Ventura then drilled a single to center before the inning ending doubleplay ball bit the Chiefs for the third time in the game, this time off the bat of Witkowski.
McLean (1-2) picked up his first ICL win while Alexy recorded his first save.
Deasi, who allowed just three hits, suffered the first loss of his ICL career after posting a 7-0 mark last season.
Chiefs Chatter….The Chiefs are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Watertown Reds at Maplewood at 8:00 PM…..For the second game in a row the Chiefs doubled their opponents hit output only to suffer a loss. They outhit the Blue Sox 12-6 last night and the Maddogs 6-3 tonight…..Of the league best 10 homers the Chiefs have hit this season, five have been of the solo variety….Following Wednesday’s game, the Chiefs embark on a four game in four day stretch beginning on Sunday afternoon in Lexington at 1:00 PM…..
Following Wilson’s double in the bottom of the first, the Chiefs' pitching combination of Josh Deasi, who went four innings, and Tim Dunphy (two innings) faced the minimum 17 batters over the next 5.2 innings.
The Chiefs had a few chances to draw even but couldn’t capitalize against starter Blaine McLean or reliever Ricky Alexy as they grounded into three inning ending doubleplays.
Desai, in his first appearance of the year, walked three of the first four batters he faced, around a strikeout, before Wilson delivered the game’s biggest hit off the base of the fence in right-center for a 3-0 lead.
Leivi Ventura provided all of the Chiefs’ scoring for the night when he drilled a McLean pitch over the leftfield fence, with one out in the second, for a solo homer cutting the lead to 3-1. Following Ventura’s shot, Nate Witkowski drew a walk, but Shane Stande bounced into a 6-4-3 doubleplay.
The Chiefs turned a 6-3 doubleplay of their own in the bottom of the second after P.J. McDonald reached on an infield single.
Andrew Caulfield led off the Chiefs’ third and legged out an infield single to the right side. McDonald made a diving stop of a Serino shot and recovered in time to force Caulfield at second. Catcher Shane O’Halloran gunned out Serino trying to steal second before McLean struck out Danny DiMare to end the inning.
Deasi, the ICL’s 2017 Outstanding Pitcher, was finding his rhythm and cruised through the Maddogs’ third and McLean retired the heart of the Chiefs’ order in succession in the top of the fourth.
Following Wilson’s leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth, Desai struck out Joe Klingensmith before the Chiefs turned their second doubleplay of the game off the bat of O'Halloran.
McLean got the Chiefs in order in the top of the fifth with two strikeouts. Veteran Tim Dunphy came on to open the bottom of the inning for the Chiefs and he also got the Maddogs in succession.
The Chiefs threatened but came up empty again in the top of the sixth. After Caulfield lined out, singles from Serino and DiMare brought the go ahead run to the plate in Matt Nuzzo. Righty Ricky Alexy came out of the pen to spell McLean and that move paid immediate dividends when Nuzzo grounded into a sharp and inning ending 3-6 (tag at second) doubleplay.
Dunphy was sharp again in the bottom of the sixth and the Chiefs took one more run at the Maddogs in the top of the seventh. Ben Waldrip drew a leadoff walk but Peter Copa fouled out to O’Halloran who made a nice grab in front of the Chiefs’ dugout. Ventura then drilled a single to center before the inning ending doubleplay ball bit the Chiefs for the third time in the game, this time off the bat of Witkowski.
McLean (1-2) picked up his first ICL win while Alexy recorded his first save.
Deasi, who allowed just three hits, suffered the first loss of his ICL career after posting a 7-0 mark last season.
Chiefs Chatter….The Chiefs are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Watertown Reds at Maplewood at 8:00 PM…..For the second game in a row the Chiefs doubled their opponents hit output only to suffer a loss. They outhit the Blue Sox 12-6 last night and the Maddogs 6-3 tonight…..Of the league best 10 homers the Chiefs have hit this season, five have been of the solo variety….Following Wednesday’s game, the Chiefs embark on a four game in four day stretch beginning on Sunday afternoon in Lexington at 1:00 PM…..
Freni 12 K's, 3 Hits Somerville in 2-0 Win
Posted by Chiefs Baseball at Jun 12, 2018 5:00PM PDT
( 0 Comments
)
Somerville, MA- Jared Freni allowed just three early singles, then settled in to strike out 13 batters, leading the Chiefs to 2-0 win over the Somerville Royals at gusty Trum Field on Tuesday night.
Freni got stronger and stronger as the game progressed. The Chiefs’ ace gave up back to back singles to Brady Chant and Jake Cintolo to open the Royals first, and then another two out single to Adam Johnson in the second, before holding Somerville hitless over the final five frames.
Royals’ starter Ryan Covelle (Medford, MA/Franklin Pierce) was just as good over the first three innings. The hard throwing right-hander didn’t allow a hit prior to running into trouble and exiting the game in the top of the fourth. Peter Copa drew a one out walk and Leivi Ventura followed and delivered the Chiefs’ first hit of the night with a liner to right. Covelle issued consecutive walks to Nate Witkowski, and then Shande Stande (RBI), to force in Copa with the game’s first run. Cal Carroll came out of the Royals’ bullpen with the bases loaded and did a nice job of keeping it a one run game. The former Suffolk righty got Mike Burgoyne swinging on a full count breaking ball in the dirt and then retired Tony Serino on an infield grounder to end the inning.
After a scoreless fifth, the Chiefs tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Ventura got things underway with a leadoff single off lefty Jacob Amorello. After Witkowski flew to Seth Coiley in left for the first out, Stande hit a chopper to Cintolo at first who threw past Amorello covering the bag to put Chiefs’ runners on the corners. Burgoyne then dropped a loft liner that fell in short right, scoring Ventura, but forcing Stande at second for an RBI fielder’s choice. With Serino at the plate, catcher John Collette cut down Burgoyne attempting to steal second to end the inning.
Freni issued a couple of one out walks in the bottom of the sixth before striking out Luke Ronchi and then Johnson, sending the game to the seventh with the Chiefs holding on to the two-run lead.
The Chiefs couldn’t capitalize on Juan Portes’ second single of the night in the top of the seventh and it was last call for the Royals in the bottom of the inning. Freni sealed the win getting Rob Caggiano on a high chopper in front of the mound and then by striking out Chant and Cintolo to end the game.
With the win Freni upped his season record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to a miniscule 0.35. He has struck out an ICL best 36 batters in just 20 innings so far this season.
Chiefs Chatter….The Chiefs only could muster four singles, two each from Portes and Ventura, against Royals’ pitching…..Covelle, now 1-1, allowed just one hit and struck out four in his 3.1 innings but walked five and hit a batter….Freni picked up his 71st win for the Chiefs and struck out at least one batter in each inning, including two punchouts in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh, and the side in the second…..The Chiefs are back in action tonight (Wednesday) when they travel to Morelli Field in Melrose to meet the Americans in an earlier than usual 7:30 PM start. Southpaw Mitchell Clegg (1-1) is expected to get the starting nod…..
Freni got stronger and stronger as the game progressed. The Chiefs’ ace gave up back to back singles to Brady Chant and Jake Cintolo to open the Royals first, and then another two out single to Adam Johnson in the second, before holding Somerville hitless over the final five frames.
Royals’ starter Ryan Covelle (Medford, MA/Franklin Pierce) was just as good over the first three innings. The hard throwing right-hander didn’t allow a hit prior to running into trouble and exiting the game in the top of the fourth. Peter Copa drew a one out walk and Leivi Ventura followed and delivered the Chiefs’ first hit of the night with a liner to right. Covelle issued consecutive walks to Nate Witkowski, and then Shande Stande (RBI), to force in Copa with the game’s first run. Cal Carroll came out of the Royals’ bullpen with the bases loaded and did a nice job of keeping it a one run game. The former Suffolk righty got Mike Burgoyne swinging on a full count breaking ball in the dirt and then retired Tony Serino on an infield grounder to end the inning.
After a scoreless fifth, the Chiefs tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Ventura got things underway with a leadoff single off lefty Jacob Amorello. After Witkowski flew to Seth Coiley in left for the first out, Stande hit a chopper to Cintolo at first who threw past Amorello covering the bag to put Chiefs’ runners on the corners. Burgoyne then dropped a loft liner that fell in short right, scoring Ventura, but forcing Stande at second for an RBI fielder’s choice. With Serino at the plate, catcher John Collette cut down Burgoyne attempting to steal second to end the inning.
Freni issued a couple of one out walks in the bottom of the sixth before striking out Luke Ronchi and then Johnson, sending the game to the seventh with the Chiefs holding on to the two-run lead.
The Chiefs couldn’t capitalize on Juan Portes’ second single of the night in the top of the seventh and it was last call for the Royals in the bottom of the inning. Freni sealed the win getting Rob Caggiano on a high chopper in front of the mound and then by striking out Chant and Cintolo to end the game.
With the win Freni upped his season record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to a miniscule 0.35. He has struck out an ICL best 36 batters in just 20 innings so far this season.
Chiefs Chatter….The Chiefs only could muster four singles, two each from Portes and Ventura, against Royals’ pitching…..Covelle, now 1-1, allowed just one hit and struck out four in his 3.1 innings but walked five and hit a batter….Freni picked up his 71st win for the Chiefs and struck out at least one batter in each inning, including two punchouts in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh, and the side in the second…..The Chiefs are back in action tonight (Wednesday) when they travel to Morelli Field in Melrose to meet the Americans in an earlier than usual 7:30 PM start. Southpaw Mitchell Clegg (1-1) is expected to get the starting nod…..
Americans Pull Away from Chiefs 12-6 at Morelli
Posted by Chiefs Baseball at Jun 12, 2018 5:00PM PDT
( 0 Comments
)
Melrose,MA- The Melrose Americans erased leads of 3-0 and 6-2, then scored 10 unanswered runs, on the way to a 12-6 win over the Chiefs on Wednesday night. For the Americans it was their second win over the Chiefs in three nights.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead on a Peter Copa three-run homer to left.
The Americans answered back and cut the lead to 3-1 in their first at bat against Mitchell Clegg on three consecutive hits.
Melrose closed the gap to 3-2 in the second when they scored an unearned run.
The Chiefs came back in the top of the third to open a 6-2 lead. Singles from Danny DiMare and Ben Watdrip, and then a Copa RBI fielder's choice, upped the lead to 4-2. Leivi Ventura quickly made it a 6-2 game when he drilled a two run homer to center.
The Amercans began their comeback in the bottom of the third when Chris Hopkins drilled a Clegg pitch to right for a solo homer to make it 6-3.
After a scoreless fourth the Americans came all the way back, and then some, in the bottom of the fifth when they sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven runs against Clegg and releiver Austin Batchelor. The key hits in the uprising were a Hopkins double and a Dave Center two-run homer.
The Americans added two more runs that were charged to Batchelor in the home half of the sixth to account for the 12-6 final. The Chiefs were outhit in the game 11-5 and committed four errors.
Chiefs Chatter- The now 4-3 Chiefs are off until Monday when they will host the Lexington Blue Sox at Maplewood at 8:00 PM....Clegg 1-2 suffered the loss......Ventura's homer was the first of his ICL career. The former New York Met product hit 83 dingers in his professional career...
