Andre Chiefs

Melrose, MA- Lefty Drew Leenhouts held the Chiefs to just four hits to lead the Lexington Blue Sox to a 5-0 win in game two of the best of five series on Monday night at Morelli Field. With the win, the Blue Sox take a two games to none lead in the series to put the Chiefs in a must win situation on Tuesday night.  

The Blue Sox opened up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Chiefs' starter Sam Kasten. Three walks, a Dan Graham single, and a Dorian Rojas sacrifice fly, led to the runs.

The lead went to 3-0 in the bottom of the third on consecutive singles from Graham, Julian Alvarez, and Jeff Vigurs, and a scarifice fly by John Puttress.

The final two runs came in the fifth on Thomas Russo and Vigurs singles and a Puttress double.

Jordan Pallazolla had two of the Chiefs four hits.

Leenhouts struck out three, walked four, and threw 96 pitches over the seven inning route.

Kasten worked 4.2 innings allowing five hits, four earned runs, struck out five, and walked three. Mike DiCato went the final 1.1 innings and gave up one run on three hits and struck out a batter.

Tuesday's game three will begin at 8:00 PM.

Chiefs Chatter....The Chiefs swept the season series from the Blue Sox 4-0. They will need to nearly repeat that to take the series.....Mike DiCato became only the third pitcher in Andre Chiefs history to appear in 100 games. The former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst standout trails only Dave Marsters, who made 204 appearances and Ari Koufos who has 120. DiCato made his mound debut for the Chiefs on June 1, 2006, when he recorded a one inning save against the Mooney Dental Tanners in a 2-1 win at Playstead Park. The Chiefs' winning pitcher in that game was former Merrimack righty Mike Coppinger and Mike Andre went two for two and drove in the winning run in the fifth inning...
Ian Roberts for Intercity League Baseball
Box Score at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com

Melrose, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox used a couple of three run innings, then held off a Chiefs rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, to take the series opener 6-4 on Sunday night at Morelli Field.  

The Blue Sox took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first against Mitchell Clegg. Ross Curley led off with a single, and two outs later Julian Alvarez reached on a chopping bad hop single to Mike Barbati at second that put runners on the corners. Jeff Vigurs and Dorian Rojas then both drew walks that forced in Curley for a 1-0 Lexington lead. Alex Voitik then gave the Blue Sox a 3-0 lead when he dropped a single into right that scored Alvarez and Vigurs.

The Chiefs cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first when Tony Serino and Tony Deshler both singled to put runners on the corners. The Blue Sox traded a run for a couple of outs when Ryan Filipwoicz got Billy Mottram to bounce into 6-4-3 doupleplay with Serino scoring.

After a scoreless second inning, the Chiefs tied the game in the bottom of the third. Serino reached on an one out infield single and went to second on an errant throw. Deshler pushed Serino to third with a fly to right and he scored when Mottram hit a slicing double down the leftfield line. Peter Copa tied the game at 3-3 when he reached on an error by Rojas at first that scored Mottram. Jordan Pallazola was then hit by a Filipwoicz pitch but the game stayed tied when Steve Gamable grounded out on the first pitch he saw.

The game didn't stay tied for long as the Blue Sox reclaimed a three lead in the top of the fourth. Singles from Josh Hassell, Taylor Ferguson, Vigurs, and Rojas, and a double by Curley, put the score at 6-3 heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Five consecutive scoreless half innings followed. Clegg blanked the Blue Sox in the fifth and sixth and Tim Dunphy did the same in the top of the seventh. Rob DiFranco came on for Filipwoicz and held the Chiefs scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.

The Chiefs began to make things interesting after DiFranco got the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Deshler worked a walk and Mottram reached on an error by Curley at short.  Copa then cut the lead to 6-4 when he drilled a single to center that scored Deshler. Jeff Blount came on to relieve DiFranco and Mike DiCato pinch ran for Copa, representing the tying run. Pallazola then went after Blount's first pitch and hit a towering fly to Ferguson in center that retired the side and put the opener into the Lexington column.

Chiefs Chatter.....Game Two is scheduled for Morelli Field on Monday night at 8:00 PM....The Chiefs got some tough news early Sunday when it was announced the slugger Juan Portes was done for the season with a fractured wrist. Portes was hit by a pitch in the first inning of Thursday's Game Five 3-0 win vs. Reading....
Ian Roberts for Intercity League Baseball
Statistics- Bruce Hack & Pointstreak.com
Boxscore at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com

Malden, MA- For what seems to be the 100th time "They Went to Jared" and for the 100th time, he didn't disappoint.

In an absolutely gut check time performance, Jared Freni assured that his Chiefs would make yet another appearance in the ICL Championship Series when he put them squarely on his shoulders and delivered a 3-0 shutout of the tough Reading Bulldogs, in the rubber game of their best of five series, on Thursday night at Maplewood Park.

With the win, the Chiefs advance to the finals for the sixth straight year, the seventh time in the last eight years, and the 31st time in franchise history dating back to 1957. And oh yes, did we mention there would be a familiar dance partner waiting in Rick DeAngelis' Lexington Blue Sox?

But first back to Freni and Thursday's series clinching win.

Coming off two straight wins, the Bulldogs held all the momentum coming into the game. Freni did his part to change that early when he struck out Hank Oringer to open the game and then blanked Reading in the first inning.

The Chiefs came up with what would prove to be the only run Freni would need in their first at bat when Tony Serino singled, went to second on Tony Deshler's fielder's choice, and scored on Peter Copa's RBI single to center.  

Freni allowed a one out infield single to Mike Taylor in the second before striking out Mike DeDonato and then getting the swift Darren Hartwell on an infield bouncer to Mike Barbati at second.

Jack Burke, who hooked up with Freni in the series opener, yielded a two out single to Nate Witkowski in the bottom of the second but Serino lined to left to end the inning.

The Bulldogs had their biggest scoring threat in the top of the third. ICL veteran Johnny Hayes led things off with a line single to right and Oringer drew a walk. E.J. Martinez was next up and squared to bunt. When the pitch was a ball, Hayes ranged off second and catcher Jordan Pallazola's pickoff attempt sailed into centerfield, allowing Hayes to go to third. Freni eventually retired Martinez on a short fly to Serino with no advancement by the runners. Oringer then stole second to give Reading two runners in scoring position with one away. Kyle Devin hit a chopper to Copa at first, who looked Hayes back to third, but got beat to bag by Devin that loaded the bases. Mike Barbati then came up with the defensive jewel of the game when he went to his right to grab Zac Talis' grounder and completed a 4-unassisted double play to end the scoring chance and retire the side. 

Burke retired the first two batters in the bottom of third before Copa stepped to the plate and delivered a moon shot solo homer to straight away left that gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

Freni looked to be picking up his velocity when he struck out the side in the top of the fourth despite giving up a couple of two out singles to DeDonato and Hartwell.

Burke set down the bottom end of the Chiefs' order in the home half of the fourth and Devin came up with a two out opposite field double in the Bulldogs' fifth, but Freni got Talis to fly to Deshler in right to keep the shutout intact.

Veteran righty Steve Hueston, who was a 10th Round pick of the Kansas City Royals back in 1996, came on for Burke to open the fifth and retired the top of the Chiefs' order in a row.

Freni was throwing his hardest in the top of the sixth and struck out the Bulldogs' in order.

The Chiefs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Copa drew a one out walk from Hueston, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on Steve Gambale's RBI single to left-center.

It was then closing time for Freni, who made a nice play on a Hartwell grounder and then struck out Hayes for the first two outs of the seventh. Freni hit Oringer with a pitch and a few words were exchanged before he ended the game and the series by striking out Martinez on a called third strike.

Freni allowed just six hits, two of the infield variety, and struck out 11. He raised his post season career pitching record to an impressive 15-2.

Game One of the Championship Series will be played at Morelli Field in Melrose on Sunday at 8:00 PM. The complete schedule is available at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com.

-Ian Roberts & Brett Toomey for Intercity League Baseball
-Statistics by Anthony Zeolie
-Photography by Steve Hartwell

Melrose, MA- Lefty Tim Woods spun six innings of four hit baseball, and his mates took advantage of some sloppy Chiefs defense, when the Reading Bulldogs took a 6-1 Game Four win at Morelli Field on Wednesday night.

The best of five series is now tied at 2-2 and sets up a winner take all game scheduled at Maplewood Park (Malden Catholic) on Thursday night at 8:00 PM.

The Chiefs received a solid pitching effort from veteran Tim Dunphy, who certainly pitched well enough to get a win.

The Bulldogs picked up an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Hank Oringer drew a leadoff walk and E.J. Martinez and Zac Talis were both retired on outfield fly balls for the first two outs of the game. Kyle Devin then singled, to put runners on the corners, before Dunphy's strikeout of Steve Busby got past catcher Jordan Pallazola and allowed Oringer to score as Busby reached first.

The Chiefs got a leadoff single from Pallazola in the second but Woods struck out Ryan Sonberg and then retired Steve Gambale on liner to center. Mike Burgoyne, in his return to the lineup, then drew a two out walk that sent Pallazola to second. Woods stranded both runners when he struck out Nate Witkowski to end the inning.

Dunphy set the Bulldogs down quietly in the bottom of the third on three ground balls around a one out single by Mike DeDonato.

The Chiefs tied the game up in the top of the third but couldn't pull ahead. Tony Deshler got things underway with a one out single and Juan Portes drew a walk. Peter Copa followed with an RBI single up the middle, to score Deshler, and tie the game at one. Woods kept it that way when he struck out Pallazola and Sonberg in succession.

Dunphy retired the Reading side in order in the bottom of the third and Woods did the same to the Chiefs in the top of the fourth.

The Chiefs got another runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth when Portes doubled into the right-centerfield gap with two outs. Woods frustrated the Chiefs once again when he got Copa on a ground ball to DeDonato at second base to retire the side.

Dunphy pitched his way out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth that kept the Chiefs even. Chris Bosco led off with a line single to left and Oringer bunted him to second. Dunphy struck out Martinez for the second out, and with first base open, he gave Talis nothing to hit and walked him on four pitches. The left-handed hitting Devin was next and Dunphy retired him on a chopper to Copa at first that sent game to the sixth inning.

The Chiefs once again got the go ahead run in scoring position but were turned back by Woods for the fourth time in five innings. Pallazola drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Mike Barbati, who pinch hit for Sonberg. The Chiefs came up empty when Gambale popped up and Woods got Burgoyne to ground out.

The Bulldogs capitalized on some charitable defense to score five times and take a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Dunphy got Busby on a grounder for the first out before Mike Taylor reached on an error when Gamable misplayed his flare to the right side. Johnny Hayes followed with a single and the Chiefs missed an opportunity to get out of the inning unscathed when the diving Gambale couldn't come up with a potential doubleplay ball off the bat of DeDonato. Taylor scored on the play to make it 2-1, and when the throw from the outfield went to third, Portes cut it tried to get DeDonato going to second but threw wide of the bag and into rightfield allowing Hayes to score the third run. Three consecutive singles from Bosco, Oringer, and Martinez followed that lifted the lead to five runs. With two runners in scoring position, Dunphy struck out Talis and Devin to finally retire the side.

Closer Steve Hueston gave up a single to Witkowski to begin the seventh but then got Serino to hit into a doubleplay, and then Deshler on a grounder to short, to end the game.

The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the Championship Series on Sunday against Lexington. The #3 Blue Sox eliminated the #2 Watertown Reds with a 8-4 victory in Lexington to take that series 3-1.
Ian Roberts & Anthony Zeolie for Intercity League Baseball
Photography by Steve Hartwell
Boxscore at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com

Malden, MA- Wayne Lundgren went six innings to get the win when the Reading Bulldogs beat the Chiefs 5-2 in Game Three of their best of five semi-final series on Tuesday night at Maplewood Park.

The Chiefs lead the series 2-1 with the fourth game scheduled for Morelli Field in Melrose on Wednesday at 8:00 PM.

The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead off Sam Kasten in the top of the first inning. Darren Hartwell reached on an infield single behind the third base bag and moved to second when the throw to first by Juan Portes skipped out of play. Kasten then walked Zac Talis, and struck out Kyle Devin, before Steve Busby's opposite field single to left scored Hartwell.

Following a scoreless second inning, the Chiefs took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Leadoff man Tony Serino singled and then scored on Portes' 17th career homer, and his second in two nights, to left-center.

The Bulldogs wasted little time and came right back and took the lead for good in the top of the fourth. Busby led off with another single, Mike Taylor drew a walk, and Rosario Missiti moved them both up a base with a sacrifice bunt. With the Chiefs' infield playing halfway, Chris Bosco plated Busby with an RBI infield grounder to Steve Gambale at second. Johnny Hayes was next and he delivered the game winner when he blooped a single to right-center that scored Taylor and put the Bulldogs in front 3-2.  

Tony Deshler gave the Chiefs a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth with a one out double to center. Lundgren stranded him when he retired Portes on deep fly to left-center and then Copa on a comebacker to the mound.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth on singles from Hartwell, Devin, and Busby, before Kasten and the Chiefs kept it a two run game when they turned an inning ending 4-6-3 doubleplay off the bat of Taylor.

A one out single to center by Gambale was all the Chiefs could generate against Lundgren in the bottom of the fifth and Kasten struck out two batters in a scoreless top of the sixth.

The Chiefs made a run at the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't cut into the lead. Jordan Pallazola led off with a single up the middle. Busby, who had an outstanding all around game, then got a good jump on a Ryan Sonberg liner, that was headed for double territory, and ran it down in deep right for the first out. Ditto for Hartwell in center when he tracked down a Gambale shot to left-center for the second out. Billy Motram followed and drilled a Lundgren pitch into the left-centerfield gap. The Reading defense came up big for the third time in the inning when a text book Hartwell to Hank Oringer to Devin relay cut down Pallazola at the plate trying to score from first to end the inning.

The Bulldogs picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh to make it 5-2.

The Chiefs went quietly in the bottom of the seventh when closer Steve Hueston got pinch-hitter Mike Barbati, Serino, and Deshler to all groundout.

Lundgren gave up eight hits and struck out four.

Kasten struck out nine but ended up allowing eleven hits in his seven innings of work.
Courtesy of Ian Roberts, Anthony Zeolie, and Steve Hartwell Photography