Andre Chiefs

Melrose, MA – It was the baseball equivalent of Ali vs. Frazier, Hagler vs. Hearns, or Marciano vs. Charles. The Lexington Blue Sox and Andre Chiefs stood toe-to-toe and exchanged blows before the Blue Sox Josue Feliciano delivered the knockout punch in the bottom of the ninth to give the Sox a 16-15 victory and the title.

Both teams appeared to be down and out only to get back up and rally to keep going what will go down as one the greatest playoff games in league history.

Down 15-14 after the Chiefs scored in the top of the ninth, the Blue Sox had one more rally in them finally bringing the season to a close.

Ross Curley led off with a double to center and took third on the overthrow by Chiefs center fielder Tony Serino. With the squeeze play on, Garret Smith bunted down the first line and as Curley crossed the plate with the tying run, Smith was safe when his bunt hit the first base bag and rolled into fair territory. Mike Hart reached on an infield single to put runners on first and second. Dan Graham lifted a fly ball to center and both runners tagged and moved up a base. The Chiefs appealed that Smith had left the base early and the umpire ruled him out for the second out of the inning. The Chiefs intentionally walked Steve Gath and John Puttress worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. All of this coming against the Chiefs ace Jared Freni in his third inning of relief work. This set the stage for Feliciano, who bunted for a single to start the Sox seventh inning rally. After swinging at the first pitch, he then bunted the next pitch down the first base line and as Hart raced home with the winning run, Feliciano slid into first to avoid the tag and give the Sox the championship.

No matter how you measure the game, it will go down as an epic battle. Game Three started on Thursday August 20 at 8:36 p.m. After almost three hours of playing, a 29-minute delay occurred when the outfield sprinklers came on. With no way to turn them off, the game was suspended and would be resumed on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Mother Nature intervened and the game was rained out and postponed until Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Finally, 67 hours and 45 minutes after the game began play started again. The teams played three more innings that took an hour and 16 minutes to play. The game took at total of 4:40 to play including the 29-minute delay. From first pitch to last play was a total of 68 hours and one minute, or almost three days.

Besides being epic in time, the teams combined for 31 runs, 40 hits, five doubles, three home runs, 15 walks, 16 strikeouts and the nine moundsmen threw 450 pitches, 281 for strikes. The Chiefs and Sox left a combined 33 runners on base, including the bases loaded seven times. The third and eighth innings were the only ones in which neither team scored and both teams scored in five of the innings. In the 18 innings played, there was only one 1-2-3 inning, the Chiefs fifth authored by Lexington starter Alsis Herrera.

In the first five innings, the teams combined scored 14 runs with Lexington holding a 9-5 lead. In the final four innings, the teams combined to score 17 runs, which included seven runs by the Chiefs in the sixth inning.

That is where we will start this part of the story. With the Blue Sox leading 9-5 and six outs away from victory, it seemed the Chiefs were down and almost out. Someone forget to tell them that as they put together a rally for the ages with eight straight batters reaching base after the frame started with a strikeout. Juan Portes drove in the first run with his fourth hit of the game. Mike Burgoyne had an RBI fielder’s choice and Mike Barbati followed with an RBI single that knotted the game at 9-9. With the bases loaded, a run scored when pitcher Mike DiCato was hit by a pitch. Three Blue Sox errors also contributed to the Chiefs rally, as all of them directly leading to runs.

The Sox kept battling and worked two walks off of Chiefs ace Freni, the last one to Graham that brought in Adie to cut the lead to 12-10.

The game went to the top of the seventh and Johnny Welch had a 2-2 count on him when the sprinklers came on halting the action and leading to the suspension of the game.

Now we move to late Sunday afternoon and play finally resumes. Only to see the Chiefs have to make another move. Witkowski worked a walk and two pitches later came home on Portes fifth hit of the night, a two-run home run to left that give the Chiefs a 14-10 lead.

Now Lexington appeared to be down and facing one of the best pitchers in the league had to score at least four runs to keep playing. An offense that had scored 192 runs in the regular season was up to the task. Feliciano began with a bunt single and went to third on Kevin Davis’ single to right. Adie followed with a single up the middle to score Feliciano and it was 14-11. A pair of ground outs to the Mike Barbati moved the runners up with the second one driving in Davis for a 14-12 score. On an 0-1 count Hart drove a Freni fastball to left that just cleared the leap of Chiefs left fielder Burgoyne for a 2-run home run that tied the score at 14-14.

The Chiefs loaded the bases in the eighth with one out, but could not capitalize. Witkowski was retired on a foul pop up to third baseman Curley and Portes was set down for the first time in the game on a come-backer to Blue Sox hurler Aidan Freeburg, the ninth pitcher of the game.

Freni struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth, but did allow a two out single.

In the top of the ninth, the Chiefs retook the lead for the third time. Burgoyne began with a single to right, stole second base, and Barbati sacrificed him to third. He then scored on Serino’s single to center past a drawn-in infield to make it 15-14. Freeburg struck out the last two batters to give his teammates another shot at coming back.

Now back to the beginning of our story.

The Chiefs struck quickly scoring twice in the top of the first scoring on RBI singles by Welch and Portes. Lexington came right back with a lead-off home run by Adie, his second in as many nights and then a two-run double by Jeff Vigurs to take a 3-2 lead. After Mike Gedman’s RBI double in the top of the second tied the game at 3-3, the Sox responded with three more runs on two sacrifice flies and an RBI single by Curley. Portes drove in two more for the Chiefs with a double in the fourth and Lexington came back with another three spot in the fifth courtesy of Hart’s RBI single, a bases-loaded walk to Dorian Rojas, and an error.

This was the fifth straight finals meeting between these two teams and Lexington now hold a 3-2 lead in that run. The teams have won the last nine league championships.

While the 2015 Intercity League season has come to close and the lights are turned off for the final time the fans will have plenty to talk about over the offseason as they remember the great finish to the 2015 season.

For a complete box score and play-by-play please go to http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/scoreboard.html?leagueid=789.

Melrose, MA - Due to late hour and the automatic sprinkler system coming on, Thursday's Game Three of the Intercity League Championship Series was suspended at midnight.

The game was halted in the top of seventh inning with the Andre Chiefs leading the Lexington Blue Sox 12-10. The Chiefs had come back from a 9-5 sixth inning deficit and scored seven runs in the inning to take a 12-9 lead. The Blue Sox scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 12-10.
  
Game Three was supposed to resume on Friday but HAS BEEN RAINED OUT. Johnny Welch was at the plate for the Chiefs in the top of the seventh with no outs and a 2-2 count. 

If the Chiefs win Game Three, it would force a Game Four. The revised finals schedule will be posted as soon as it is available.

Melrose, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox had 14 hits on the way to lopsided 14-2 win over the Chiefs in Game Two of the Intercity League Championship Series on Wednesday night at Morelli Field.

With the win, the Blue Sox take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of five series with Game Three scheduled at Morelli on Thursday at 8:30 PM.

It went from bad to worse over the first three innings for the Chiefs as Lexington opened a 12-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

Kyle Adie gave an indication of things to come when he led off the game with a solo homer to right off Chiefs’ starter Mike DiCato. The Blue Sox took advantage of some shoddy defense as well three walks, and three more hits, to open the lead to 6-0 in the top of the second inning.

Matt DiCato and Evan Walsh both came on in relief in the top of the third and Lexington scored another six times on six more hits. Walsh finally restored some order in the fourth as the lefty allowed just one run over his 3.1 innings of work. Nate Witkowski gave up the final run in the seventh.

The Chiefs lone bright spot was a long two run homer in the bottom of the fourth off Lexington starter and winner Matt Karis. Karis had a no-hitter until that point in the game. The veteran right-hander struck out five in 5.0 innings. The only other hit he allowed was a pinch-hit single to Mike Burgoyne in the fifth inning. Adam Lucey had the other Chiefs’ hit, a line pinch-hit single to left in the bottom of the seventh inning off reliever Borja Jones-Berasaluce.

Along with his homer, Adie finished the night with three hits and three RBI while Jeff Vigurs also had three hits and three RBI. Mike Hart, Steve Gath, and Dan Graham all chipped in with two hits for Lexington.

Thursday’s Game Three will begin at 8:30 PM due to City of Melrose festivities that are scheduled for earlier in the day.
Bruce Tillman, Anthony Greco & Bruce Hack (Pointstreak.com) contributed to the Game Two coverage.

Melrose, MA- Lexington capitalized on their limited opportunities, while the Chiefs didn’t, and that made the difference in Game One of the ICL’s Championship Series, a 4-2 Blue Sox win at steamy Morelli Field on Tuesday evening.

With the win, Lexington takes a 1-0 series lead in the best of five series, with the second game scheduled for Wednesday.

The Blue Sox tallied a couple of runs in both the second and third innings off Chiefs lefty Mitchell Clegg, who certainly kept the defending champions in the game and gave them the chance to come away with an opening game win. It was not to be on this night, as the Chiefs had several solid chances but ended up stranding 10 baserunners, including the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the seventh.

After a scoreless first inning, Lexington took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Veteran shortstop Steve Gath lined a 1-2 pitch to right for leadoff single. Dorian Rojas followed and hit chopper in no man’s land between the mound and third, to give the Sox two aboard with nobody out. Dave Ahern then sacrifice bunted both runners into scoring position. Catcher Alex Voitik followed and delivered the game’s biggest hit when he doubled over the third base bag, scoring Gath and Rojas, and giving Lexington a two run lead. With Voitik standing at second, Clegg retired both Kyle Adie and Ross Curley on outfield fly balls to end the inning.

The Chiefs got a run back in the top of the third off Blue Sox starter Aidan Freeburg. Tony Serino and Billy Mottram both drew walks to start the inning. Freeburg got Juan Portes on an infield popup for a huge first out. The Blue Sox looked to be getting out of the inning unscathed when Johnny Welch hit a hard grounder right at Curley at third. Curley fired to Garrett Smith at second to force Mottram for the second out, but when Smith’s relay to first to double up Welch skipped away, Serino scampered across the plate with the unearned run.

The Blue Sox answered and pushed two runs across in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 4-1. Smith got things started when he worked a full count walk to open the inning, and when Mike Hart singled to right, the Blue Sox had their first two men on base for the second straight inning. Dan Graham then drilled a single to right, scoring Smith, and sending Hart to third to make it 3-1. Gath was next and plated Hart with a sacrifice fly to right, to open the lead to 4-1.

Clegg and Freeburg both pitched a scoreless fourth inning before the Chiefs cut a run off the lead in the top of the fifth but missed on a big opportunity for more. Nick Leva worked a leadoff walk and was then forced at second on a Serino grounder. Mottram sent Serino to second with a single to right before Freeburg walked Portes with the count full to load the bases. Freeburg then issued his second straight full count walk to Welch, forcing in Serino, to make it a 4-2 game. Freeburg exited in favor of Jeff Blout who got the Blue Sox out of the jam by striking out Gedman swinging and then getting Copa on a grounder to Gath at shortstop.

Clegg retired Lexington in order in the bottom of the fifth.

Mike Andre led off the Chiefs’ sixth with a single up the middle. Blout kept it a two run lead when Barbati flew to center, pinch-hitter Ryan Sonberg struck out, and Serino grounded out.

In the bottom of the sixth, Clegg got Rojas to flyout and struck out Ahern, before Voitik reached on a throwing error by Welch. The game went to the seventh when Clegg struck out Adie swinging.

Closer Chris Law came on to start the seventh for Lexington and retired Mottram on a grounder for the first out. Law then walked Portes on a 3-1 pitch with Welch coming to the plate. Welch put a charge in a Law pitch and drove a liner that Josue Feliciano, who was inserted as defensive replacement to start the inning, ran down on the warning track in straightaway center for the second out. Down to their last out of the night, Gedman followed and came about five feet short of tying things up when he drilled a long double off the fence in center, sending Portes to third. Copa, who had two of the Chiefs’ hits in the game, went to 2-2 on the count before he popped up to Gath in short left to end the game.

Freeburg got the win and allowed four hits, but walked five, in his 4.1 innings of work.

Clegg, who retired seven of the last eight batters he faced, gave up seven hits, struck out five, and walked just one.

Game Two of the series will be played at Morelli Field on Wednesday at 8:00 PM.
Bruce Tillman, Anthony Greco & Bruce Hack (Pointstreak.com) contributed to the Game 1 coverage.

Watertown, MA- One More Time!

For the fifth consecutive season, and the sixth time in the last seven years, the Chiefs and the Lexington Blue Sox will once again meet to decide the Intercity League Championship.

Jared Freni made certain that the Chiefs would get the opportunity to defend their 2014 title with a lights out effort against the Watertown Reds at Victory Field on Monday night.

In a winner advance, loser go home, scenario, Freni put his mates on his back and really never let the issue be out of his control. The end result was a 3-0 Chiefs win in which Freni struck out a dozen batters and allowed just two hits.

Runs didn’t come easy on this night as the Reds countered with Juan Guzman, who earlier this summer was pitching in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

The Chiefs got what proved to be the only run that Freni would need in the top of the first inning. Billy Mottram hit a long gap shot triple to right-center with one out. Guzman walked Juan Portes, then hit Johnny Welch, to load the bases. Mike Gedman then gave the Chiefs the lead with a long sacrifice fly to left, scoring Mottram. Guzamn escaped further scoring when he got Peter Copa on a soft liner to short right.

Freni came out strong and got the Reds’ side in order, including two strikeouts, in the bottom of the first.

Mike Andre drew a leadoff walk for the Chiefs in the second but it stayed a 1-0 game when Guzman got Mike Barbati on a pop up, struck out Nick Leva swinging, and Tony Serino looking at a nasty breaking ball.

Pete Burgio got the Reds’ first hit of the night with one out in the second inning but Freni struck out Sean Callahan-Montague, and then set down Will Breenan on an infield grounder to retire the side.

Both teams went in order in the third before each threatened in the fourth.

Peter Copa’s one out double in the top of the fourth gave the Chiefs’ a runner in scoring position. Brennan then made a nice play on an Andre grounder up the middle and Guzman got Barbati on a fly to right to end the inning.

Watertown had their best chance to break the shutout in the bottom of the inning. After Freni struck out Steve Rogers, Dan Chaisson lined a double down the right-field line. Matt Bishop then drew a walk before Freni struck out Burgio for the second out. A full count walk to Callahan-Montague loaded the bases but Freni struck out Brennan on three straight pitches to keep the Chiefs’ lead intact.

Guzman and Freni each retired the respective sides in order again in the fifth.

The Chiefs got a big insurance run in the top of the sixth. Guzman started the inning strong and struck out both Portes and Welch to open the frame. Gedman then doubled down the right-field line and Copa drove him home with a sharp single up the middle to bump the lead to 2-0. Andre then flew out to deep left to end the inning.

Two pop-ups and a strikeout by Freni kept the Reds quiet in the bottom of the sixth and the Chiefs picked up their third run of the night in the top of the seventh. Jonathan Bishop started the inning in relief of Guzman and issued a one out walk to Leva. Serino then singled down the left-field line and Bishop walked Portes to load the bases for Welch. Bishop got behind on the count before walking Welch on 3-1 fastball to force in Leva to make it 3-0. Aric Dama came on to face the left-handed hitting Gedman, with the bases still loaded, and got him to groundout to Justin Forman at first to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Freni retired Burgio on a grounder to Barbati, got Callahan-Montague on fly to Mike Burgoyne, who had replaced Gedman in right, and then struck out Brennan to end the game.

With the win, Freni’s post season record since 2010 improved to 13-1.

ICL Playoff Notes….The Chiefs enter the 2015 series as the defending champs, looking for their third title in the last four years. They won the title last season in five games with a 4-0 victory at Morelli Field on August 26 ….The Blue Sox won in 2013, the Chiefs in 2012, and the Blue Sox again in 2011…..The two teams have played the maximum of twenty games in the championship series since 2011, and remarkably, they are both 10-10, while alternating the ICL crown in four straight five game series…..The Chiefs enter this series in search of the 20th championship in the history of the franchise. They won 13 titles while playing as the Hosmer Chiefs, beginning with their first in 1960. Since they were renamed the Andre Chiefs when Hosmer Pontiac closed, they have won six titles since 1990. Interestingly, the Chiefs’ franchise won five consecutive titles in the rival Suburban Twi-League from 1961-1965, when the Chiefs left the ICL for a few years after getting their beginning in the ICL in 1958. The Chiefs returned to the ICL in 1966 and went on to win six of the next eight championships from 1967 thru 1974….The 2015 series will be the 30th time a Chiefs’ team has appeared in a league’s finals and the thirteenth championship series under Manager Chuck Andre….The Blue Sox will be looking for their 11th ICL championship since 1998….The Rick DeAngelis led club will be making their unprecedented ninth straight trip to the ICL’s big dance and the 14th in the history of the franchise……The last team to appear in the ICL finals, other than the Blue Sox or Chiefs, were the Watertown Reds in 2010, who the Blue Sox defeated in three straight games….The Chiefs enter the series with an overall record of 24-10 while the Blue Sox currently stand at 27-5.....Fans who can't get to Morelli Field in Melrose to see the series, can follow the action live at www.pointstreak.com/baseball/scoreboard.html?leagueid=789&seasonid=29791. The games can also be heard live on internet radio at www.localsportsproductions.com/livestream with Sam Feeley behind the microphone.........
Bruce Tillman, Anthony Greco & Bruce Hack (Pointstreak.com) all contributed to this coveage.

INTERCITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE
(Andre Chiefs vs Lexington Blue Sox)
Best of Five
All Games Scheduled at Morelli Field, Melrose MA
(Location & Schedule Subject to change due to weather or field conditions)
Game 1: TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 8:00 PM
Game 2: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 8:00 PM
Game 3: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 8:00 PM
Game 4: FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 (if nec) 8:00 PM
Game 5: SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 (if nec), Time TBA