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Americans Deal Chiefs 4-1 Loss at Maplewood
Mitchell, who bumped his record to 2-0, and Chiefs’ starter Tim Dunphy, matched zeros over the first two innings.
The Americans took a 3-0 lead in the top of third and never looked back. Doubles from Charlie Huegi and Casey Santos Ocampo, an infield error, and a sacrifice fly from Will Shackelford, accounted for the trio of runs.
After a scoreless fourth, Melrose increased their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth off reliever Mike Gedman. The visitors used a couple of walks, a wild pitch, and a single from John Jennings to pick up the run.
The Chiefs got their only run of the night in the bottom of the fifth when Tony Serino, who had two of the Chiefs five hits, drove in Nate Witkowski who had singled.
David Kerns of Bridgewater State made his ICL debut and worked a scoreless sixth. Boston College righty Austin Batchelor tossed a 1-2-3 seventh, with two K’s, for the Chiefs.
Chiefs Chatter…. After a 3-0 start to the season the Chiefs fall to 3-2 with their second consecutive loss…..Jared Freni (2-0) is expected to draw the starting assignment when the Chiefs visit the Royals at Trum Field in Somerville on Tuesday at 8:00 PM….On Wednesday, a rematch with the Americans is on tap, this time at Morelli Field in Melrose at 7:30 PM. Mitchell Clegg (1-1) will get the start…..
Boston College right-hander joins the Chiefs' staff for the 2018 season....Was a four-year starter at Malden Catholic where he was named as a two-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Star selection … Was an Under Armour Preseason All-America Third Team and Northeast Division First Team before start of senior year … Led the Catholic Conference in stolen bases and batting average (.426) in 2015 … Also a four-year starter on the basketball team and a two-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald CCL All-Star selection … Austin was the recipient of the Malden Catholic Sportsman of the Year and a four-time Humanitarian and Compassion Award winner … Was a member of the Peabody Western team that played in the 2009 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., pitching in two of the three games and launching a home run.… One of David and Paula Batchelor’s four sons … has three older brothers, David, Jr., Beau and Bobby … Beau played baseball at Merrimack College and appeared in a game for the Chiefs in 2010....
Clegg Shines, Waltdrip Homers, But Chiefs Lose in Lexington 2-1
Lexington, MA- Nate Wolf’s single to left scored Taylor Ferguson with the winning run when the Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season in walk-off fashion 2-1 on Thursday night.
Chiefs’ lefty Mitchell Clegg (1-1) deserved a better fate but ended up the night being tagged with a loss.
The Blue Sox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Ross Curley drew a one out walk, moved to second when Tony Serino, who was forced to make a rare appearance at second base, misplayed a Richie Burgos grounder. Julian Alvarez was next and he gave Lexington the lead with an RBI single that scored Curley with the unearned run. Clegg and the Chiefs averted further damage when Ferguson grounded into a double play.
The Chiefs threatened in the top of the second. Ben Waldrip led off with a double to straight-away center. Catcher Shane Stane then drew a walk from Sox starter Mike Geanellis. But Mike Burgoyne flew out to center for the first out and Geanellis got Andrew Caulfield to bounce into a doubleplay to end the inning.
Clegg sailed through the Lexington second and the Chiefs once again fell victim to the doubleplay ball, extinguishing another scoring chance, in the top of the third. Jamel Vilmont was hit by a pitch and Serino lined a single to left. But Geanellis got Danny DiMare to ground into a 4-6-3 doubleplay and then Juan Portes on a grounder to Ross Curley at short to keep it a 1-0 game.
Clegg struck out the Lexington side in the bottom of the third and the Chiefs broke into the scoring column and tied things up in the fourth on a Waldrip solo blast to right. The Chiefs put the go ahead run at second with one out when Stande followed with a double into the right-center gap. Once again Geanellis got tough getting Burgoyne on a foul out and then striking out Caulfield to keep the game even at one apiece.
The Chiefs once again couldn’t cash in when DiMare doubled with one away in the top of the fifth against reliever Casey Bussone. The Blue Sox went in order with two more strikeouts against Clegg in the bottom of the inning.
The doubleplay ball bit the Chiefs for the third time in six innings in top of the sixth when Waldrip drew a one out walk but was erased when Stande bounced into another twin killing.
Clegg retired the Lexington side in order in the bottom of the sixth and lower third of the Chiefs order went quietly in the top of the seventh.
Ferguson set the Sox up for the win when he tripled off Burgoyne’s glove in deep center to open the seventh. The Chiefs intentionally walked the bases loaded before Wolf delivered the game winner when he dropped a soft liner in front of Vilmont in left.
Chiefs Chatter….Clegg allowed just four hits and struck out eight…..With the loss the Chiefs fall to 3-1 on the season while the Blue Sox even their record at 1-1….The Chiefs are now off until Monday when they will host the Melrose Americans at Maplewood at 8:00 PM….
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Serino Inside the Park HR, Freni 11 K's, Key 4-2 Comeback Win Over Reading
Malden, MA- Tony Serino’s two run inside the park homer keyed a four run fifth inning uprising, to lead the Chiefs to a 4-2 come from behind win over the Reading Bulldogs on Wednesday night at Maplewood Park.
Jared Freni was once again strong on the mound for the Chiefs, striking out 11 and picking up his second win of the year in as many starts.
It was all Reading over the first four and a half innings as lefty starter Cam Lanzilli of Eckerd College kept the Chiefs’ bats quiet.
The Bulldogs threatened to take an early advantage when they loaded the bases in the top of the first inning with one out. Freni and the Chiefs escaped and kept them off the board when they turned a 6-4-3 (Nate Witkowski to Matt Nuzzo to Peter Copa) inning ending doubleplay.
The Chiefs weren’t as fortunate in the top of the third when the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead. Darren Hartwell walked and combined with Tyler Cedeno on a perfectly executed hit and run to put runners on the corners with one out. Cedeno stole second, and when catcher Shane Stande’s throw sailed into centerfield, Hartwell scored the game’s first run.
The Reading lead went to 2-0 an inning later when Luke Hall drew a one out walk, went to third on Hartwell’s single to right, and scored on Cedeno’s infield hit to third.
Witkowski finally got the Chiefs underway with a leadoff gap shot double, then went to third on a throwing error, to open the home half of the fifth. Stande cut the lead in half to 2-1 when he delivered him with a line single to left. After Lanzilli struck out Mike Burgoyne for the first out, Serino drilled a shot down the leftfield line that bounced around in the corner, scoring Stande in front of him, for a two-run homer and a 3-2 Chiefs lead. 2017 ICL Rookie of the Year Pitcher Alex Mandrus came on for Lanzilli and was greeted with consecutive singles form Danny DiMare and Matt Nuzzo to put runners on the corners with one out. Copa then gave the Chiefs an insurance run, and a 4-2 lead, with an RBI grounder to short.
It was Freni’s show from there as the big righty slammed the door over the final two frames striking out four of the last six batters he faced.
Chiefs Chatter….With the win, the Chiefs go to 3-0 on the young season….They will send Mitchell Clegg (1-0) to the bump when they travel to Lexington to meet the Blue Sox tonight at 8:00 PM….Former Colorado Rockies 10th round pick Ben Waldrip made his Chiefs’ debut in the designated hitter role…..13 year veteran Mike Andre made his first appearnce of the season in a 6th inning pinch hitting role....Freni recorded his 70th career win in a Chiefs’ uniform…Serino’s inside the park homer was the first round tripper of his Chiefs’ career…..Following Thursday's game in Lexington the Chiefs are off for the weekend and return to Maplewood to host the Melrose Americans on Monday at 8:00 PM....
Ben starts his Chiefs' career in 2018......Was a 10th round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2012.....Starred at Medford High before heading to Cypress Junior College in Irvine,CA.....Played a season at St. Anselm's where he was an all-Region selection hitting a school record .394....Moved on to D-1 Jacksonville State for two years where he batted .337 with 28 homers and 107 RBI's and was named as an all-Ohio Valley Conference first team selection.....Hit 18 homers for Jacksonville in 2012 which was fourth best in all of D-1 ....Played five seasons as a professional appearing in 357 games and hitting 47 homers and had 206 RBI's....Spent the summer of 2011 in the Cape Cod League with the Orleans Firebirds and was named to the CCL's all-star team after finishing second in the loop with six homers.....Played for two seasons in the NECBL where he led the league in many offensive categories and was a teammate of Chiefs' pitcher Jared Freni with the North Shore Navigators....Was also drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and the Kansas Royals in 2009 but opted for college before signing with the Rockies after graduating....Was the Greater Boston League MVP and also excelled in football while at Medford High...
