By Bruce Hack 

Lexington, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox became the first team in Intercity League history to win five consecutive championships with a 10-0 win over the Chiefs in Game Five of the ICL's Championship Series.

Drew Brzozowski threw a complete game three hitter for his second win in the finals. In 2009 he won the title game 8-1 for the third straight title for Lexington. He struck out five and walked two and in his two starts in the finals gave up one run in 14 innings.

Jeff Vigurs paced the 10-hit Lexington attack with a 4-for-4 game and three RBI. Justin Wright and Dan Graham each had two hits. Wright, Graham and Steve Gath each scored two runs.

Chiefs' starter Tim Dunphy took the loss going four plus innings. The veteran lefty gave up seven hits, six runs, four earned, three strike outs and walked one. It was his second loss of the finals. Both came against Brzozowski in a matchup of former Brandeis pitchers.

Lexington was the fifth team to have won four straight ICL titles. The Blue Sox joined North Cambridge who won from 1960-63, the Chiefs who won from 1968-71, the Augustine A's who won from 1981-84 and the Melrose Rams winning in 1986-89. North Cambridge had a chance at five straight, but lost the championship to Winchester in 1964 and then won in 1965 over Reading to make six consecutive finals appearances.

Lexington won its ninth overall championship, its seventh in the last eight years and eighth in the last ten years.

By STEPHEN FREKER 

MALDEN, MA— If you told anyone leaving last Friday night’s “thrill-a-minute”Intercity League playoff barnburner win by the Andre Chiefs over the vaunted Lexington Blue Sox that yes, another game could be just as good, they’d have laughed in your face and giggled all the way home. 

We agree. You would have been dead wrong. 

Because last night’s Game Four was BETTER! In a day and age where, bottom line, a dollar has go farther than ever, rest assured every single person in the ballpark got their money’s worth last night.  

And then some.

 In what goes down as not only an “Instant Classic,” but perhaps one of the best games, period, ever played in Intercity League history, the Medford-based Andre Chiefs won Game Four last night, 6-2, to force a winner-take-all Game Five Tuesday at Lexington High School, 8:00 p.m. start. 

For starters, or should we say, “enders,” the game concluded in only the most dramatic and exciting manner possible, a two-out, walkoff homer in the bottom of the 10th inning. 

Oh, we almost forgot, slugger Mike Andre’s roundtripper was a grand slam, a bases-loaded bomb off Lexington ace Matt Karis to end the game with a peaks-and-valleys finish, with celebration on the Chiefs’ side. 

The wild finish was the second in as many tries for the Chiefs, who won the aforementioned walkoff job Friday on a Mike Barbati single, this, also with the Chiefs down to their last out in the bottom of the seventh. 

Chiefs manager Chuck Andre is ecstatic with the way his team has responded to adversity.“I’m proud of my guys and the way we’ve answered the bell each time we’ve faced elimination in this postseason,” Andre told the Medford Daily Mercury and Malden Evening News last night. “We’ve done it four times and we will come to play (Tuesday).” 

Andre’s son, Mike, who delivered the dramatic, game winning blow, was actually matter-of-fact following the game.“I was looking to get a base hit, any kind of hit, and I really went up there with a clear head and I got the pitch I wanted,” Andre said, who got a1-1 count fastball from Karis and boomed it over the right field fence, into the night. “We’ll be ready to go (tonight),” Andre said. 

While Andre’s gamewinning shot was the exclamation point on the night, the foundation was the unprecedented pitching performance of righthander Jared Freni. A solid performance on the hill which catapulted the Chiefs to a deciding Game Five would have been sufficient from the Chiefs big gun. 

Freni did more. 

Carrying them on his back for the entire night, Freni pulled a “Star Trek,”going where he, and no other Chiefs pitcher has ever gone before — he pitched all 10 innings in the 10-inning win. 

“The thought of coming out never crossed my mind,” Freni said last night. “If we had to go another one, I was out there for the next inning, too.”

Freni’s pitch count is under lock-and-key at an undisclosed CPA’s office on Commonwealth Ave. in Brighton, but we know it wasn’t obscene, somewhere in 120s or so, but 10 innings is 10 innings. 

“That was a first for me, but I really think my fastball was getting better as the game went along,” Freni added, who blew Lexington away in the first inning, buzzing them in the low 90s and then hitting the same note in the ninth inning when they threatened again. 

Justin Crisafulli was the veteran star that he is at the plate, driving in the first two Chiefs runs in first and third innings with singles for a 2-0  lead. 

The Sox answered with two runs to tie it in the fourth, on a pair of hits, a physical error and a mental error by the Chiefs. 

Freni and Karis then locked up in a pitcher’s duel for the next six innings,neither giving an inch. Freni finished with a seven-hitter and 11 Ks while Karis allowed nine hits and struck out eight.

Freni started the game percolating on the mound, gassing it up bigtime with a pair of strikeouts with the Sox nary fouling off a pitch. That might have motivated his mates, as the Chiefs got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the inning, an omen, perhaps, since they scored first in their other series win Friday night. After leadoff hitter Jeff Bercume grounded out, Mike Baillergeron, quiet for most of this series, broke out with a single to rightcenter, followed by a bobble, to end up on second. Vinny Pennell grounded out, pushing Baillergeron to third. He scored on veteran Crisafulli's line shot  single to left field. 

In the bottom of the third, after zeroes tossed by Freni in the second and third innings, the Chiefs extended their lead to 2-0. Nick Leva (2-for-4) led off with single and after Bercume took a called third strike from Karis, Baillegeron, singled to put runners at first and second. Pennell then popped up for the second out, but Crisafulli drove in the second of his two RBIs with a bloop single to right field, scoring Leva for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. Andre grounded out back to Karis to end the inning. 

Lexington awoke in the top of the fourth inning and scored a pair of runs to forge a 2-2 tie. Steve Gath reached base on an error by Andre at third base. He stole second, then scored on a double to leftcenter by catcher Jeff Vigurs, the Sox first hit of the game. Matt McEvoy then beat out an infield single to the right side when first base was left uncovered by the Chiefs after Mike DiCato had to vacate the bag to field the grounder. Freni struckout Ross Curley, looking, for the first out of the inning, but Vigurs came across with the tying run on a passed ball for the 2-2 score. Tom Haugh grounded out back to Freni and the Chiefs hurler left runners at second and third with perhaps the biggest strikeout of the night, a swinging by Sox veteran Pete Frates. 

Andre's next best threat was in the bottom of the fourth when DiCato was hitby a pitch, as he emulates Don Baylor with his fifth hit by pitch of the postseason, he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Friday's hero, Barbati, but after a walk to Matt Boleski, was stranded on a flyout to rightfield by Leva and a caught looking strikeout by Bercume. 

From the fifth inning through the end of the regulation seventh, it was "too much Freni" from  Chiefs mound...and "too much Karis" ...when the Sox righty was on the mound. Freni retired the next nine in a row, including a heat-seeking missile of a fastball to whiff Lexington High star slugger/manchild Chris Shaw (6-3, 220) to erase the Sox in the bottom of the seventh.

DiCato singled in the sixth, but was stranded. Karis needed a measly seven pitches to get the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the seventh. 

In the top of the eighth, with neither pitcher budging in "overtime, Lexington made some noise when Justin Wright led off with a single and went to second on a broken bat single up the middle by Lexington veteran slugger Dan Graham. With nobody out, Gath popped out to first on an infield flycall. Freni then bewildered Vigurs with a saw-you-off changeup for a strikeout and McEvoy grounded out to Barbati at second to strand both runners in a strategically pitched inning for Freni. 

Karis bounced the Chiefs, 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth.

 It was Freni's turn for another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, as he K'ed Curley and Haugh and then got pinch hitter Wil Marcal, a recent Lexington High graduate, to ground out to Barbati at second. 

It was three-up and three-down for the Chiefs again in the bottom of the ninth and it was Lexington's turn to threaten again in the top of the 10th, still facing Freni, as the big righthander returned for another go-round, his self-admitted first time ever pitching into the 10th inning. Frates blooped a single to rightcenter to lead off the inning. Wright, Lexington's team-leading hitter then unselfishly laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Frates to second. With first base open, manager Chuck Andre opted to put Graham on intentionally. Freni bore down and got Gath to pop out and Vigurs to ground to Baillergeron at shortstop for the final out, as the Blue Sox stranded two more baserunners. 

The Chiefs got real vocal as the bottom of the 10th began and it paid off in spades for the Medford-based team. Leva lined a single up the middle to start the inning, his second leadoff hit of the night. Malden Catholic three-time All-Scholastic Paul Yanakopulos, who was yanked from the starting lineup due to food poisoning before the game, was called in to pinch run for Leva. Bercume failed at two consecutive sacrifice bunt attempts and then slapped a grounder to shortstop, erasing Yanakopulos at second for the first out. After Baillergeron popped out to Haugh at first base, Pennell stepped up and delivered his biggest hit yet as a Chief, a line shot in the leftcenter gap, pushing Bercume to third. With two out, Sox manager Rick DeAngelis chose to walk Justin Crisafulli to load the bases for Andre. On a 1-1 count, Andre turned and absolutely crushed a 1-1 fastball from Karis over the right field fence. 

A game winning homer and a grand slam no less!  

Chiefs win, 6-2.     

(Coverage and Photos by Mike Mills, Mark Cavanaugh & Patrick Holloway)
Malden, MA- In one of the most dramatic ICL playoff games in decades, the Chiefs somehow picked themselves up off the canvas with a heart fluttering four run seventh inning rally, with Mike Barbati providing the walk-off game winning single, to live another day and take Game Three of the Championship Series 5-4 under the lights before a large crowd at Pine Banks.

Make no mistake about it, the fat lady was most definitely in the building, the pulse was fading away, the family was summoned to the bedside, and the trio was striking up the opening stanza of Londonderry Air on the deck of the Titanic. Any of the above scenarios seemed fitting and proper after the Blue Sox scored three times to break a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh to take a seemingly insurmountable 4-1 lead.

Not so fast. At least not with this band of Chiefs who have gutted out rubber game wins over the Watertown Reds and Wakefield Merchants this playoff season to earn the right to play the four time defending champion Blue Sox.

This was one for the ages. To go along with an old fashioned pitcher’s duel between Lexington’s Steve Bodnar and the Chiefs’ Rob Machado, the game featured some truly outstanding defense, three Houdini like escapes, and 22 strikeouts and 22 hits for good measure.  Both right-handers landed solidly on their feet enough times to somehow keep the game a 1-1 tie into the seventh when the tone of the game changed course and the two teams combined for seven runs.

The night started quietly enough when Machado set the Sox down in order in the top of first inning.

Former Oakland A’s farmhand Jeff Bercume got the Chiefs off to the start they desperately needed, after being dominated in the first two games of the series, when he led off and deposited a Bodnar fastball over the center-field wall for a quick 1-0 lead. After Bodnar struck out Mike Baillargeon and Mike Andre in succession, Justin Crisafulli drilled a long double off the fence in right-center. Blue Sox third baseman Ross Curley then made the first of his two outstanding defensive plays in the game when he saved a run and snagged Mike DiCato’s liner earmarked for the left field corner to end the inning.

A Matt McEvoy two out single was all the Blue Sox could generate against Machado in the top of the second and Curley was at it again defensively in the bottom of the inning to keep it a 1-0 game. Barbati led off with a double down the leftfield line and Matt Boleski sacrificed him to third. With the infield playing halfway, Bodnar got Nick Leva to ground out to Steve Gath at shortstop, with Barbati being forced to hold at third for the second out. Paul Yanakopulos was next and he drilled a Bodnar pitch to the left of Curley who made a diving stop and recovered quickly enough to throw out the speedy Yanakopulos out at first by a half step.

The Blue Sox had a mixed bag in top of the third inning as singles from Tom Haugh and Justin Wright alternated with three Machado strikeouts (Dan Capra, Pete Frates & Dan Graham) as the Chiefs and their big UMass-Amherst righty clung to their 1-0 lead.

Bodnar had his best inning of the night in the third as he struck out the top of the Chiefs order (Bercume, Baillargeon & Andre) in succession. 

The Blue Sox tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. Gath and Vigurs got it started with consecutive singles. McEvoy followed and he sacrificed the runners up to second and third. Curley then lofted a long fly to right-center they appeared to be heading for extra base territory. Enter Boleski who made the Chiefs’s web gem of the night, with a diving grab to rob Curley as Gath tagged from third and scored the tying run. Haugh then drew a walk but Machado struck out Dan Capra on a blistering fastball to end the frame.

Bodnar cruised through a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth and Machado pulled another big escape in the top of the fifth. Frates grounded out to Barbati for the first out before Wright singled. Machado then struck out Graham for the second out and the Chiefs caught a huge break when Gath unloaded a ground rule bomb double to left-center with Wright, who easily would have scored, being sent back to third. Machado came up big once again when he struck out Vigurs with runners on second and third to end the inning.

The Chiefs appeared poised to take the lead and then some in the bottom of the fifth but Bodnar pitched out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam. Boleski and Leva led off with singles and Yanakopulos dropped a perfect bunt to fill the bases with no outs. Bodnar got tough and got Bercume on a grounder to Gath with Boleski being forced at the plate for the first out, struck out Baillargeon, and got Andre to fly to McEvoy in left to end the inning.

McEvoy led off the Lexington sixth with a single and Curley struck out after attempting to bunt a two strike pitch. Machado seemingly got stronger and struck out Haugh and Capra stranding McEvoy.

Bodnar got the Chiefs in order for the third time in four innings in the bottom of the sixth (Crisafulli and DiCato fly outs and Barbati ground out) to send the game to the eventful seventh.

Frates led off the seventh and was hit on the elbow by a Machado pitch. Wright followed with a sharp single to center. Graham then bunted and Machado fielded the ball but threw low to third with Frates being called safe on a very close and disputed call. With the bases loaded and no outs, Gath hit a deep sacrifice fly to the warning track in left-center easily scoring Frates to give Lexington the lead at 2-1. Vigurs then hit a grounder up the middle to Baillargeon at shortstop that forced Graham at second but allowed Wright to score to make it a 3-1 game.  McEvoy then singled sending Vigurs to third and Curley followed with another single, scoring Vigurs, with the McEvoy being thrown out at third on a close play to end the inning.

Trailing 4-1, Boleski gave the Chiefs a ray of hope when he led off and drilled a Bodnar pitch deep over the right-field fence. Leva was next and he cracked a double to right-center. Yanakopulos then put the comeback into a high gear mode when he lined a triple off the fence in right, scoring Leva, to put the Chiefs back in business at 4-3, with the tying run at third and nobody out. Sam Finn was summoned from the bullpen and, with the infield drawn in, got Bercume to ground to Gath at short, with Yanakopulos holding at third. Finn got the second out when Baillargeon hit a check swing grounder to Haugh at first. Andre was next and he worked a walk with Andy Cavanaugh coming on to pinch run for him. Crisafulli came up big and he lined a 2-1 Finn pitch down the left-field line, scoring Yanakopulos, to tie things up at 4-4. Finn then hit DiCato with a pitch to load the bases and set the stage for Barbati. The second baseman took Finn’s first pitch back up the middle, scoring Cavanaugh, to complete the dramatic comeback and propel the Chiefs back into the series.   

Machado went the distance with a Herculean 121 pitch effort. Eleven was his number for the night as he allowed a career high eleven hits but also struck out a career high eleven batters.

Bodnar worked 6+ innings and surrendered nine hits and struck out seven. Finn took the loss in relief going 0.2 innings. 

(MORE PLAYOFF COVERAGE AND PHOTOS SOON)  

See Patrick Holloway's Game 3 Photostream from Medford Patch at:

 http://medford.patch.com/articles/image-gallery-andre-chiefs-come-back-strong#photo-7507425

Lexington, MA- The Blue Sox offense rung out thirteen hits to rough up the Chiefs 8-1 and take a 2-0 series lead in Lexington on Thursday night.

With the win, Lexington is in a position to lock up their unprecedented fifth straight Intercity League Championship on Friday night at Pine Banks in Malden at 7:45 PM.

Lexington’s Drew Brzozowski and Chiefs’ starter Tim Dunphy both cruised through a 1-2-3 first inning.

Justin Crisafulli led off the Chiefs second inning with a single and moved into scoring position on Mike Andre’s groundout and went to third when Mike DiCato grounded to Steve Gath at shortstop. Crisafulli was left at third when Brzozowski struck out Mike Barbati swinging to end the inning.

The Blue Sox struck for four straight two out hits and two runs in the bottom of the second. Matt McEvoy got things started when he beat out an infield single up the middle. Three more singles from Ross Curley, Tom Haugh and Dan Capra accounted for the two runs. The inning ended when Jeff Bercume fired a strike to Andre at third base to get Haugh attempting to go from first to third on Capra’s RBI single.

Brzozowski got the Chiefs in order again in the top of the third.The Blue Sox threatened for more in the home half of the inning on singles by Pete Frates and Gath before Dunphy got out of the jam when Jeff Vigurs flew to Vinny Pennell in left.

The Chiefs cut the lead in half to 2-1 in the top of the fourth. Baillargeon led off with a single. Pennell flew to center for the first out and Brzozowski struck out Crisafulli for out number two. Andre kept things going when he singled to left and DiCato followed with a single up the middle driving in Baillargeon. Brzozowski didn’t let the Chiefs get any closer when he struck out Barbati looking on an inside pitch, stranding Andre and DiCato, to end the inning.

Lexington picked up three runs to take a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. McEvoy singled and Curley sacrificed him to second. Haugh then singled to left scoring McEvoy to make it 3-1. Capra followed with a gap triple that scored Haugh to make it 4-1. Frates then singled over the drawn in Chiefs’ infield to score Capra to jump the lead to 5-1, Frates stole second but Dunphy kept the Chiefs within four runs when he struck out Justin Wright and Dan Graham in succession.

Brzozowski held the Chiefs scoreless in the top of the fifth. Jake Crawford came out of the bullpen to relieve Dunphy with one out in the bottom of the inning and kept the Sox off the board.

The Chiefs last opportunity to get back into the game came in the top of the sixth. Baillargeon singled up the middle before Pennell grounded out. After Crisafulli flew to left for the second out, Andre followed with a ground rule double that skipped off the first base bag and went out of play down the right field line putting runners on second and third. Brzozowski ended the inning when he got DiCato to ground sharply to Curley at third base.

The Blue Sox put it out of reach against Crawford in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three more runs, to take a 8-1 lead. Walks to Haugh, Graham and Gath combined with singles by Frates and Vigurs led to the runs.

Two out singles from Nick Leva and Bercume gave the Chiefs two more baserunners in the top of the seventh but Brzozowski brought the evening to a close when he caught Baillargeon looking at strike three on an inside fastball.

The Chiefs are expected to send right-hander Rob Machado to the mound in the must win Game Three on Friday while the Blue Sox will counter with Steve Bodnar.

Friday’s game is being played at Pine Banks due to the fact that Tufts University does not have lights. Pine Banks is located on the Malden-Melrose line. The GPS address is 1087 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176.

If the Chiefs can force a Game Four, the time and location will be set for either Monday or Tuesday and will be announced after the impact of Hurricane Irene is known.  

Regardless of Friday’s outcome, there will no games played on Saturday or Sunday..  

Lexington, MA- Babson left-hander Mike O’Brien and former Princeton and Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Tim Lahey combined on a three hit shutout to get the Lexington Blue Sox past the Chiefs 3-0 in Game One of the Intercity League Championship Series on Wednesday night.

Game Two of the best of five series is scheduled back in Lexington on Thursday at 8:00 PM.

The Blue Sox added their third run on former Virginia Commonwealth standout Justin Wright’s solo homer to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

O’Brien worked five innings, allowed three hits and struck out five. Lahey came on to pitch the final two frames to pick up the save and did not allow a hit.

Vinny Pennell (double), Jeff Bercume (infield single) and Mike Barbati (single) was all the Chiefs could show in the hit column for the evening.

The Chiefs were not without their scoring chances as they had men on base in every inning but the seventh. Pennell doubled to left with two outs in the first inning but O’Brien struck out Justin

Former KC Royal Vinny Pennell had a double

Crisafulli to end the inning. Barbati’s single came with two outs in the second but O’Brien got Boleski to pop up. In the third, Bercume reached on his infield single and Mike Baillargeon drew a walk. With Pennell at the plate, Bercume tried to steal third but was thrown out by Jeff Vigurs. Pennell eventually drew a walk but Crisafulli grounded out to end the inning. An inning later in the fourth, Mike Andre was hit by a pitch leading off but Mike DiCato grounded into a doubleplay. Nick Leva led off the sixth with a ball earmarked for the left-center field gap that Frates made a diving catch on to rob him of extra bases. Bercume then drew a walk before Matt McEvoy made the second good defensive play of the inning when he ran down Baillargeon’s liner to left. The Chiefs final chance came against Lahey in the sixth when Crisafulli led off and reached on an infield error. Andre then hit a short hop laser to Ross Curley at third who made Lexington’s third outstanding defensive play of the game and started a 5-4-3 doubleplay.

Freni pitched very well despite taking the loss. The former UMass-Amherst righty went six innings, allowed three runs (all earned), six hits, and struck out nine.

Weather permitting, a pair of former Brandeis University pitchers will get the starting assignments in Game Two on Thursday. The Chiefs will send southpaw Tim Dunphy, who is 7-1-1 overall this season and 3-0 in playoffs, to the mound while the Blue Sox will counter with righty Drew Brzozowski, who is 5-0 so far this season.

Game Three of the series will be played on the turf of Pine Banks Park, on the Malden-Melrose line on Friday at 7:45 PM.

League officials will be closely monitoring weather conditions over the next few days. The possibility exists for severe thunderstorms on Thursday and the prospect of Hurricane Irene is looming boldly for the weekend.

Any weather related changes to the schedule will be immediately posted at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com. as well as local media outlets.

(Mike Mills, Dave Galehouse and Mark Cavanaugh Photos)

The schedule for the first three games of the Intercity League’s best of five Championship Series between the Chiefs and Blue Sox has been set.

The first two games of the series will be played at Lexington High on Wednesday and Thursday nights starting at 8:00 PM.

On Friday, the Chiefs will use the turf field at Pine Banks Park, on the Malden/Melrose line, as their home field and play Game Three under the lights there at 7:45 PM.

Due to the late starting date of the Championship Series and early sunsets in the later part of August, the Chiefs are unable to play any weeknight games at their longtime home of Huskins Field, on the campus of Tufts University, because there are no lights.

The schedule is as follows;

GAME 1: Wednesday, August 24- Chiefs at Blue Sox, Lexington High, 8:00 PM
GAME 2: Thursday, August 25- Chiefs at Blue Sox, Lexington High, 8:00 PM
GAME 3: Friday, August 26 – Blue Sox at Chiefs, Pine Banks Park Turf, 7:45 PM
GAME 4: TBA, (if needed)
GAME 5: TBA, (if needed)

Lexington, MA- The Chiefs and Blue Sox will open their best of five Championship Series at Lexington High School on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM. The Blue Sox earned their ticket to the finals by coming from behind to beat the upstart Reading Bulldogs 4-3 on Monday night in Game Five of the their semifinal series. The Chiefs won their Game Five against the Wakefield Merchants on Sunday afternoon, 5-3.

Game Two of the series will be also be played in Lexington on Thursday at 8:00 PM. The Chiefs will host Game Three at Pine Banks Park, on the Malden/Melrose line on Friday at 7:45 PM. The schedule for Games 4 or 5, if needed, will be posted soon.

The Blue Sox and Chiefs are back in familiar territory as championships have been synonymous with both franchises. For the Chiefs, it will be their twenty-fourth trip to a championship series since 1960. The Hosmer-Andre Chiefs franchise has won seventeen previous crowns. Five were won by Manager Lenny Dempsey, eight by Joe O'Donnell, and four by present manager Chuck Andre. Both Dempsey and O'Donnell were inducted as charter members of the ICL's Hall of Fame last November. The Chiefs were named the ICL's "Team of Decade" for the 1970's and 1990's. They also received special recognition for the 1960's, when they won five titles when participating primarily in the then rival Suburban Twi-League.

Surprisingly, the Chiefs and Blue Sox have met only one previous time in the Championship Series. In 2009, the Blue Sox overcame a 1-0 Chiefs lead in the series, to win the title three games to one.

Wakefield, MA- Tim Dunphy won his third game of the 2011 postseason to lead the Chiefs to a 5-3 win over the Merchants in the decisive fifth game of their best of five series on Sunday at Walsh Field.The Chiefs now head to the Intercity League’s Championship Series and await the winner of the Reading-Lexington series which will conclude with their fifth game on Monday.

The Chiefs won the first two games of the series 6-3 and 4-1 on Wednesday and Thursday before the Merchants came back with a 6-2 win on Friday night and a 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon to even the series.

Dunphy was masterful on Sunday, taking a shutout into the seventh inning, before the Merchants refused to go quietly, scoring three unearned runs. The former Brandeis University and Cassell Club standout, who pitched professionally in Europe in 2007, is now a perfect 3-0 in the playoffs and 7-1-1 overall this season.

It stayed 1-0 Chiefs until the top of the sixth inning. After Crisafulli flew to center for the first out, Mike Andre doubled to right. Andre pulled up a bit lame at second and Paul Yanakopulos came on to pinch run for him. Conar Mahon came on in relief of Flight and Mike DiCato greeted him with a long triple to right-center, scoring Yanakopulos, to make it a 2-0 game. Barbati followed with an RBI single to left, scoring DiCato, to run the lead to 3-0.

Dunphy cruised through the bottom of the sixth and the Chiefs made it 5-0 in the top of the seventh. Bercume singled deep into the shortstop hole and when the throw to first was low, he went to second. Baillargeon drew a walk and Pennell reached on an infield error to load the bases. Crisafulli gave the Chiefs some more breathing room when he drilled a single to left, scoring Bercume and Baillargeon, to make it 5-0. Colin Quirk came on for Mahon and kept it a five run game when he got Yanakopulos and DiCato to both fly out, walked Barbati to load the bases, but struck out Boleski to end the inning.

The Merchants made some one out noise in the bottom of the seventh. Dunphy got Crispin to fly to Pennell in left for the first out. Joe Papa, pinch hitting for Bobby Losanno, then hit a long fly to right-center that was dropped for an error. Dom Sorrentino followed and grounded to DiCato at firstbase for the second out of the inning. Brooks Townsend then broke up Dunphy’s shutout bid with a line single to center, scoring Papa, to make it 5-1. Scott Searles then doubled deep to left-center scoring Townsend to cut the lead to 5-2. Things got a little tighter when Mike Sorrentino singled, scoring Searles to make it 5-3. That was as close as the Merchants’ got as Dunphy got Jason Roth to ground to Barbati at second base to end the game and propel the Chiefs to the ICL finals.

Reading knotted up their series at 2-2 with Lexington with a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon in Reading. Game Five of that series will be played on Monday night at 8:00 PM at Lexington High School.

The ICL’s best of five Championship Series is expected to begin on Wednesday.

(More Chiefs & ICL Playoff Coverage Soon is Coming Soon) 

Medford, MA- Stephen Cool threw a one-hit shutout gem to lead the Wakefield Merchants to a 3-0 win over the Chiefs at Tufts University on Saturday afternoon.

With the win the Merchants tie the best of five series at 2-2 with the deciding Game Five to be played at Walsh Field in Wakefield on Sunday at 4:00 PM. Sunday's winner will earn a trip to the Intercity League's Championship Series.

Cool, who allowed just a second inning single to Matt Boleski, struck out three and walked just one.

The Merchants scored twice in the second inning. Dave Orlowitz was hit by a Rob Machado pitch and stole second. After Machado got the next two outs, Brooks Townsend sent a line double off the fence in left scoring Orlowitz. Scott Searles then singled to right scoring Townsend to make it a 2-0 game.

The Merchants picked up another run in the top of the seventh on a Townsend single (his third hit of the day) and a Searles RBI double.

Cool only allowed three baserunners in the game, Boleski's single in the second, a walk to Paul Yanakopulos in the sixth, and Justin Crisafulli, who reached on an infield error with one out in the seventh.

Machado, now 3-6 on the season, went all seven innings for the Chiefs allowing three earned runs on seven hits. He struck out eight, walked none, but hit two batters.

Wakefield, MA- Darren Bisso twirled a complete game five-hitter, surrendering just two unearned runs, to lead the Merchants to a 6-2 win over the Chiefs in Game Three of their best of five semi-final series. With the win, the Merchants narrow the Chiefs lead in the series to 2-1.

Bisso retired the Chiefs in the first and the Merchants struck quickly in the home half of the inning. Brooks Townsend led off with a double down the left field line and Scott Searles reached on an  infield single. Mike Sorrentino then singled to score Townsend for a 1-0 Merchants lead. Loenzo Papa quickly made it a 4-0 game when he drilled a Mike DiCato pitch over the left field fence for a three run homer.

Bisso got the Chiefs in order in the top of the second and DiCato escaped a bases loaded jam in the Merchants half of the inning.

Mike Andre recorded the Chiefs first hit in the top of the third, a two out single.

The Merchants made it 5-0 in the bottom third when former Chicago Cub and ICL veteran Andy Hartung hit a solo homer to left.

The Merchants handed the Chiefs two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Matt Boleski singled with one out but was forced at second on Mike Barbati’s ground out. Paul Yanakopulos then reached on an infield error and Nick Leva drew a walk to load the bases. Jeff Bercume then hit what appeared to be an inning ending fly ball that was dropped in centerfield, allowing both Barbati and Yanakopulos to score to cut the lead to 5-2.

Jake Crawford replaced DiCato on the mound to start the bottom of the fourth inning. After he got the first two outs of the inning, Crawford walked Papa and then gave up a bomb centerfield double to Jason Roth that scored Papa making it 6-2.

Crawford and Bisso threw zeroes the rest of the way.

Bisso, who raised his season mark to 7-2, struck out five and walked three.

Game Four is scheduled for Tufts University in Medford on Saturday at 3:00 PM.

Medford, MA- Jared Freni tossed a neat one-hitter, retiring 19 in a row after allowing a first inning run, and Jeff Bercume hit a two run homer, to lead the Chiefs to a 4-1 win over the Wakefield Merchants at Tufts University on Thursday. With the win, the Chiefs take a 2-0 lead in the best of five semi-final series.

Freni was untouchable after the first inning when the Merchants played some small ball to take a 1-0 lead. Leadoff man Brooks Townsend got the Merchants started when he drew a full count walk. Scott Searles then dropped a sacrifice bunt with Townsend going to second. Catcher Mike Sorrentino then gave the Merchants a quick 1-0 lead when he lined a single to center scoring Townsend and taking second on the throw home. Freni left Sorrentino stranded when he struck out Lorenzo Papa and Jason Roth in succession to end the inning.

The Chiefs threatened but did not score in the bottom of the first when Bercume led off with a single and went to third on Mike Andre’s one out line single to right-center. With runners on the corners Wakefield starter Conar Mahon escaped the jam when he got Justin Crisafulli to bounce into a 6-4-3 doubleplay.

Freni retired the Merchants side in order, with two more K’s, in the top of the second and the Chiefs tied the game at a run each in the bottom of the inning. Mike DiCato led off with a single to center. With Mike Barbati at the plate, Sorrentino attempted to pick DiCato off first but his throw sailed into right field with DiCato going all the way to third on the error. With the infield drawn in, Mahon recorded a big out when he got Barbati swinging at strike three. Matt Boleski followed and he delivered DiCato with a bloop single to right scoring DiCato, to tie the game at 1-1.

Freni breezed in the top of the third and Mahon did the same in the home half of the inning.

Freni’s streak went to eleven in row when he set the Merchants down in order for the third straight inning in the fourth. The Chiefs got two more men aboard in the bottom of the inning when DiCato singled again and Barbati drew a walk. Mahon kept it a tie game when he got Boleski to fly to left and struck out Paul Yanakopulos swinging.

Two more Freni K’s ended the Wakefield fifth, his fourth straight 1-2-3 inning.

Nick Leva came back from a 0-2 count to single to right to begin the Chiefs’ fifth. Bercume then put the Chiefs in front 3-1 when he drilled a Mahon offering over the right field fence. Veteran right-hander Kevin Tidmarsh came on for Mahon and Mike Baillargeon greeted him with an infield single. Baillargeon then stole second before Tidmarsh got Andre swinging for the first out of the inning. Crisafulli followed and he gave the Chiefs a 4-1 lead when he singled to center, scoring Baillargeon.

In the top of the sixth, Bobby Losanno flew to Bercume, Townsend flew deep to right with Boleski making a nice catch before crashing into the wall, and Searles grounded to Baillargeon at short.

Tidmarsh, the former Trinity right-hander, blanked the Chiefs in the sixth.

Freni got Sorrentino to ground to Barbati for the first out of the seventh and Papa to pop to Baillargeon for out number two. Freni’s retired batters in row streak came to end at 19 when he walked Roth on a 3-2 pitch. The former UMass-Amherst and Malden Catholic standout then ended things when he got Andy Hartung to pop to DiCato at first base.

Freni struck out eight and walked two. He threw an even 100 pitches over the seven inning route and raised overall season mark to 8-2.

Game Three of the series will be on Friday evening at Walsh Field in Wakefield with the first pitch scheduled for 5:30 PM. 

Wakefield, MA- Lefty Tim Dunphy went the distance, taking a shutout into the bottom of the seventh, to lead the Chiefs to a 6-3 win in the opening game of their best of five semi-final series against the Wakefield Merchants at Walsh Field.

With the win, Dunphy goes to 6-1-1 on the year and 2-0 in the playoffs.

Dunphy was matched up against Wakefield’s Jarrod Marchesi, the former Bentley University standout.

The Chiefs got two out singles from Mike Andre and Justin Crisafulli in the top of the first inning before Marchesi struck out Matt Boleski swinging to end the threat.

Scott Searles singled with one away in the Merchants first but Dunphy got catcher Mike Sorrentino to hit into a doubleplay started by Chiefs’ shortstop Mike Baillargeon.

Two more Chiefs got aboard in the top of the second. Mike Barbati led off and was hit by a Marchesi pitch. Paul Yanakopulos then flew to centerfielder Jason Roth for the first out. Rookie Jon Byrne then reached on an infield error but Marchesi got another rookie, Andy Cavanaugh, to pop up and Jeff Bercume on a strikeout to end the frame.

Dunphy got his second doubleplay in two innings in the Merchants’ second inning after Lorenzo Papa singled but was erased on 3-6 (Boleski to Baillargeon) twin killing.

Crisafulli gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead with two outs in the third inning when he launched a solo shot to left.

Dunphy recorded two strikeouts in the bottom of the third inning.

Andy Cavanaugh runs down Mike Sorrentino's fly

The Chiefs picked up four runs, sending nine men to the plate, to take a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The inning started quietly enough when Marchesi got Barbati to ground out. Yanakopulos got things going with a single to center and Marchesi surrendered a second single to Byrne. Cavanaugh then reached on a fielder’s choice with Byrne being forced at second for out number two. Bercume then hit a slow roller to first that was misplayed for an error, allowing Yanakopulos to score to make it 2-0. The Chiefs picked up their third run when Baillargeon’s grounder to third was thrown away with Cavanaugh scoring and Bercume going to third and Baillargeon to second. Andre was next and he lined a Marchesi fastball into the right-center field gap scoring Bercume and Baillargeon to open the lead to 5-0.

Dunphy got the Merchants in order again in the bottom of the fourth and Marchesi only allowed a one out Yanakopulos single in the top of the fifth.

Roth singled to lead off the Merchants fifth before Andy Hartung grounded to Andre at third for the first out. Jon Davison then singled to center to put runners on the corners with one out before Dunphy got Dale Crispin to bounce into Wakefield’s third doubleplay of the game to end the inning.

Andre launched a long two out double to center in the top of the sixth and Dunphy set the Merchants down in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Chiefs made it 6-0 in the top of the seventh when Yanakopulos singled with two out, stole second, and scored on Byrne’s opposite field single down the right field line.

The Merchants finally broke through against Dunphy and made things a little interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Consecutive singles by Mike Sorrentino, Papa and Roth loaded the bases with nobody out. Hartung then delivered a long double to left, on which Bryne slipped, allowing Sorrentino and Papa to score to make it 6-2. Davison followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Roth, to cut the lead to 6-3. Dunphy then re-assumed control and ended the game when he got Crsipin on a grounder to Barbati and struck out Dom Sorrentino.

Game Two is scheduled for Tufts University on Thursday at 5:30 PM.  

Wakefield, MA- The Chiefs will travel to Walsh Field in Wakefield for Game One of the ICL's Best of Five Semi-Finals series on Wednesday at 5:30 PM.

Game Two will be played at Tufts University on Thursday at 5:30 PM.

The rest of the schedule will be announced shortly. 

Medford, MA- Mike DiCato’s dramatic ninth inning single scored Nick Leva with the winning run as the Chiefs beat the Watertown Reds 3-2 in the rubber game of their best of three series at Tufts University on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Chiefs move on to the ICL’s final four, meeting the Wakefield Merchants in a best of five semi-final series that is expected to begin early next week.

The Chiefs won the final two games of the series after dropping the opener 4-1 on Thursday. They tied the series up at a game apiece on Friday night as Tim Dunphy pitched them to a 3-2 win at Bentley University.

Watertown lefty Charlie DeFrancesco (Stonehill) and Chiefs starter Jared Freni (UMass-Amherst) were both immense over the first three innings. The only base runner Freni allowed was a one out walk to Steve Panza in the first. DeFrancesco was one better, retiring the Chiefs in order in each of their first three at bats.

The Reds broke the scoring drought in the top of the fourth. After Freni struck out Panza (his seventh K in 3.1 innings) veteran Steve Busby got the Reds going with single to right center, just over the leaping Mike Barbati’s glove. Catcher Sean Callahan followed and he delivered a double to right-center that scored Busby all the way from first to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. With Callahan at second, Freni got Mike Giordano to fly out before Brendan Casey singled to put runners on the corners. The right-hander left both runners stranded when he got Justin Forman to ground out to Barbati to end the inning.

DeFrancesco retired the first two batters in the bottom of the fourth before Mike Andre (pictured left) broke up his consecutive Chiefs retired streak at 14, when he singled to right. The Chiefs couldn’t do anything with their first base runner when Andre was left on base when Justin Crisafulli flew out. ce

Freni retired the Reds in order in the fifth (including his 8th strikeout).

The Chiefs finally got to DeFrancesco in the bottom of the fifth. After the southpaw struck out Matt Boleski to start the inning, he walked Barbati and Paul Yanakopulos (pictured left) in succession. Leva then popped up for the second out. Rookie Jon Byrne, who will be starting his senior year at Arlington Cathoilc in the fall, pinch hit for another rookie, lefty  Andy Cavanaugh. Byrne beat out a slow roller to the right side for a hit, getting to the bag a half step ahead of DeFrancesco. Jeff Bercume followed and blooped a seeing eye single to center, just out of the reach of three Reds, to score Barbati and Yanakopulos to give the Chiefs the lead for the first time in the game at 2-1. DeFrancesco got DiCato to fly to center to end the inning.

Busby and Callahan were at it again in the Reds sixth, when the duo combined to tie the game up at 2-2. After Freni got Panza on a grounder to Barbati for the first out, Busby lined a single to left and went to second when the ball skipped past Byrne. Callahan wasted no time in delivering his second RBI of the game when he singled off the 379’ foot sign in right, scoring Busby to tie the game at 2-2. Giordano then drew a walk before the Chiefs and Freni escaped further trouble when they turned a 4-6-3 doubleplay.

The Chiefs got Boleski to second with two outs in the sixth when the back end of an attempted 4-6-3 doubleplay was thrown into the Chiefs dugout. DeFrancesco got out of it when he got Barbati to fly to Busby in right.

Freni set the Reds down in order in the top of the seventh.

The Chiefs had their second opportunity to win it, in as many innings, in the home half of the seventh. After Yanakopoulos grounded out, Leva doubled into the left field corner. Byrne grounded to Panza at second for out number two, sending Leva to third representing the winning run. Bercume was issued an intentional walk and took second on defensive indifference. DeFrancesco kept the Reds in the series when he got DICato swinging to send the game to extra innings.

Rob Machado came on for Freni to start the eighth inning and retired the Reds in order.

Rob Machado Picked up win

The Chiefs had their third chance to win it in the bottom of the eighth. Andre led off with his second single of the day to right. Crisafulli was next and he hit a high chopper to third baseman Brendan Casey who threw him out at first with Andre taking second on the play. Boleski then drove a long shot to right-center that Chris Burke ran down on the warning track for the second out. DeFrancesco pulled another escape when he struck out Barbati, sending the game to the ninth.

The Reds threatened to take the lead in the top of the ninth. Callahan led off with his third hit of the day, this time a sharp single to left. Giordano then popped up his sacrifice bunt attempt to Leva for the first out before Machado walked Casey. Machado then recorded a huge K, when he got Justin Forman swinging. Chiefs’ fans had a few anxious moments when Machado plunked Steve Tramontozzi with a pitch to load the bases. He pulled an escape of his own when he got Dan Renzella to bounce back to him.

Yanakopulos drew a full count walk to begin the Chiefs ninth. After an unsuccessful bunt attempt, Leva drilled a single to left, sending Yanakopulos to second. Bryne’s attempted sacrifice bunt was just a bit too hard as DeFrancesco pounced off the mound to field the ball and fire a strike to Casey at third to force Yanakopulos for the inning’s first out. Bercume was next and he hit a grounder to Panza forcing Byrne at second but beating the relay to first to put runners on the corners with two away. In a mirror image of the seventh, Bercume took second on another defensive indifference. This time DiCato (shown left) provided a different ending, drilling a single up the middle, scoring Leva with the winning run as the Chiefs dugout emptied out in celebration.

(More Playoff Coverage Soon)  

Waltham, MA- Veteran southpaw Tim Dunphy went the distance, outdueling Reds ace Brian Casey, to lead the Chiefs to a series tying 3-2 win over the Watertown Reds at Bentley University on Friday. The deciding Game Three will be played at Tufts University in Medford on Saturday at 1:00 PM.

The Chiefs scored single runs in each of the first three innings and the Reds tallied a run in their first two at bats as all the scoring was done early in this one. Dunphy and Casey threw zeroes over the last four and one half innings.

Vinny Pennell led off the Chiefs first with a long triple to right-center and Mike Baillargeon promptly delivered him with a sacrifice fly to center to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.

The Reds tied it in the bottom of the first on a Steve Panza single and a Danny Chaisson RBI double.

The Chiefs took the lead back in the top of the second when Mike Andre led off with a single to right-center, was moved to second on a Mike Barbati sacrifice bunt, and scored on Mike DiCato’s RBI single.

The Reds tied it up again in the bottom of the second on singles from Brendan Casey and Sean Callahan and a sacrifice fly from Chris Burke.

Baillargeon led off the top of the third with a long triple to right-center and scored, what proved to be the game-winner, when Jeff Bercume blooped a double into short right-field.

Casey, the ICL's co-Pitcher of the Year in 2010, and Dunphy took charge in innings four through six.

The Chiefs threatened but did not score in the top of the seventh. DiCato led off with a long double to the left-center field gap. Paul Yanakopulos then failed on a sacrifice bunt for the first out and Pennell lined to Steve Busby in right for out number two.  DiCato was left stranded at second when Baillargeon grounded to Luke Begley at shortstop to end the inning.

Callahan got the Reds off to a good start in the bottom of the seventh when he lined a single to left-center and Colby Mattheson pinch ran for him. Burke then attempted to sacrifice Mattheson to second but Andre was charging from third base and gloved the attempted bunt for the first out. Dunphy then struck out pinch-hitter Justin Forman for the second out. With Begley at the plate, Mattheson attempted to steal second and was gunned out by Yanakopulos, with Barbati applying the tag, to end the game.

The Chiefs are expected to send either Jared Freni or Rob Machado to the hill on Saturday while Reds are expected to counter with Charlie DeFrancesco. Game time is 1:00 PM at Tufts University.   

Medford, MA- Karl Alexander tossed a complete game six-hitter, striking out seven, to lead the Watertown Reds to a 4-1 win over the Chiefs at Tufts University on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Reds take a 1-0 series lead and put the Chiefs in a must win situation when the series resumes on Friday at 5:30 PM at Bentley University in Waltham.

Alexander, the Bates College right-hander, has been a Chiefs killer over the last two seasons, owning a perfect 4-0 record against the locals in four starts.

Once again, the Chiefs victimized themselves with the proverbial “one bad inning” that paved the way for the loss.

The Reds appeared poised to open the scoring in the top of the first inning against Chiefs starter Mike DiCato. Luke Begley and Steve Panza both singled to open the frame. DiCato got Sam Sager to fly to Jeff Bercume in center for the first out before hitting Steve Busby with a pitch to load the bases. He worked a big strikeout when he got Danny Chaisson swinging for the second out of inning. Mike Giordano followed and he hit a grounder behind the bag at third that Mike Andre made a diving stop on and scrambled to beat Panza to the bag to end the threat.

Alexander got the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the first inning and DiCato had an easier second frame that included two strikeouts.

The Chiefs scored their only run of the game, to take a 1-0 lead, in the bottom of the second on singles by Justin Crisafulli and Matt Boleski and two walks, one to Paul Yanakopulos and a second to Nick Leva, with the bases loaded, to force in a run.

Things stayed quiet until the Reds scored three times in the top of the fourth to erase the Chiefs lead. Mike Giordano led off with a single and Colby Mattheson pinch ran and stole second. Sean Callahan then reached on an error by Vinny Pennell at first base, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. The Chiefs hit batsman woes of the last few weeks continued when DiCato hit Brendan Casey with a pitch to load the bases, still with no outs. Chris Burke then hit a grounder to Mike Baillargeon at short who flipped to Mike Barbati to force Casey at second but Barbati’s relay to first went into the Chiefs’ dugout, allowing both Mattheson and Callahan to score, putting the Reds in front at 2-1. Burke went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Begley delivered him with a sacrifice fly to Bercume in center. DiCato ended the inning when he caught Panza looking at strike three but the damage had been done.

The Reds added their fourth and final run in the top of the sixth inning. Casey reached on an infield single to the shortstop hole and when Baillargeon’s throw to first was low he went to second. Burke then followed with a bunt single as the Chiefs were late in covering first. Begley then picked up his second RBI of the game with an infield grounder to Barbati that scored Casey from third.

Alexander retired six of the last seven batters he faced to preserve the win.  He got eleven fly ball outs.

DiCato worked six innings, surrendered seven hits, struck out six, walked two and hit three. Rob Machado came on in the seventh and struck out one and hit one, the Chiefs fourth hit batsman of the game.

Lefty Tim Dunphy will be the starter for the Chiefs on Friday while the Reds are expected to send either Brian Casey or Charlie DeFrancesco to the mound.

Medford, MA- The Wakefield Merchants beat the Chiefs 3-2 on Tuesday night at Huskins Field to finish in second place and claim a first round bye in the ICL playoffs.

The third place Chiefs will now play the number six seed Watertown Reds in a best of three series that will open on Wednesday at Tufts at 5:30 PM.

The Merchants scored three times in the top of the fifth inning, without the benefit of a hit, to claim the win. In fact, hits were rare at Huskins on Tuesday, with a total of five by both teams combined. Of the five hits in the game, two were of the infield variety.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, against Wakefield’s Darren Bisso, when Jeff Bercume doubled with one out and then stole third. Mike Baillargeon then plated Bercume with a long sacrifice fly to center.

Chiefs’ starter Jared Freni was cruising along with a 1-0 lead heading into the Merchants’ fifth. He struck out Jason Roth for the first out of the inning. Things started to unravel a bit for the Freni and the Chiefs when the right-hander walked Andy Hartung and Jon Davison in succession. Bob Losanno then hit a grounder to Mike DiCato at first base. DiCato looked toward second briefly but then bobbled the ball just long enough for an error, as Losanno beat Freni to the bag at first to load the bases. Freni then threw a wild pitch, allowing Hartung to score to tie the game at 1-1 before striking out Brooks Townsend for the second out. Scott Searles and Mike Sorrentino then drew two more uncharacteristic walks from Freni, forcing in another run to give the Merchants the lead at 2-1. Rob Machado was summoned from the bullpen and he issued the fifth walk of the inning to Lorenzo Papa to it make it 3-1 game.

The Chiefs got their second run in the bottom sixth when Baillargeon was hit by a Bisso pitch, went to second when Vinny Pennell walked, to third on Justin Crisafulli’s long flyout, and scored on a wild pitch.

Bisso, 6-2, allowed just three hits, (two doubles to Bercume & a Mike Andre infield single), struck out four and walked four.

Freni, 7-2, took the loss while only allowing two hits (a Sorrentino infield single & Townsend third inning single) while working 4.2 innings. He struck out six, walked four, and threw a wild pitch. Machado went the last 2.1, did not allow a hit, struck out two, walked two and hit a batter.

The ICL will need the final two games of the regular season schedule, that were postponed due to rain on Sunday and now re-scheduled for Monday, to determine its final playoff seeding.

In a game that will decide who finishes second and gets a first round bye, the Chiefs will now host the Merchants at Tufts University in Medford on Monday at 5:30 PM. The Merchants enter the game one point ahead of the Chiefs, and a win or a tie will clinch second place for Wakefield. A Chiefs win will vault them past Wakefield and give the Medford based club their third consecutive first round bye.

In the other game now scheduled for Monday, the Reading Bulldogs will need a win or a tie against the Blue Sox in Lexington at 8:00 PM, to clinch the fifth playoff spot. A Reading loss would leave them and the Watertown Reds in a virtual tie, with both teams finishing the regular season with identical records. Because the ICL’s tiebreakers would not (more wins or head to head record) resolve the issue, a coin flip would be required to determine the fifth and sixth spots.

This much is certain regarding the playoffs. The Blue Sox will be the number one seed and have a first round bye. The Chiefs or Merchants will finish second, with the other finishing third. The Bombers are locked into the fourth playoff spot. And depending on Monday’s results, the Bulldogs and Reds will finish either in the fifth or sixth positions.

If the weather cooperates on Monday, the Chiefs or Merchants, as well as the Bombers, will be hosting a first round playoff game with the Bulldogs and Reds as the visiting teams.

Updates regarding weather and playoff schedules will be immediately posted on this website.

Sydney, Australia- Chiefs outfielder Tony Deshler has signed to play professional baseball for the Penrith Panthers of the South Wales Major League in Australia.

Deshler will fly to Sydney on Sunday and report to Penrith on Monday. The former Brandeis University star was hitting .333 for the Chiefs (31-93), with one homer and 18 RBI in 27 games so far this season. He will miss the 2011 Intercity League Playoffs which will begin next week.

Deshler becomes the 113th Chief to sign a professional contract and the third this year. First baseman Peter Copa signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels back in June and Mike Gedman signed with the Worcester Tornadoes earlier this year.

Deshler is expected to return to the United States in time for the start of the 2012 Chiefs ICL season.

Lexington, MA- Mike Morgan drove in Ross Curley, with a two out single in the fourth inning, to provide the winning run as the Blue Sox edged the Chiefs 4-3 in Lexington on Thursday night.

The Chiefs jumped on Lexington starter and winner Matt Karis for four hits in the top of the first inning but could only muster a single run. Jeff Bercume got things started with a single to right and went to second on a wild pitch. Mike Baillargeon beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Karis then got Vinny Pennell to hit into a 4-6-3 doubleplay, with Bercume scoring on the play. Justin Crisafulli followed with a sharp single to left and Mike Andre then hit a long double into the left-center field gap, sending Crisafulli to third. Karis stranded both runners when he caught Tony Deshler looking at strike three to end the inning.

The Blue Sox came right back in the bottom of the first against Chiefs’ starter Tim Dunphy to tie the game at 1-1. Pete Frates beat out an infield single to short and scored when Justin Wright crushed a double to right-center.

Karis set the Chiefs down in order in the top of the second and the Blue Sox scored a couple of more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Ross Curley got things started with a sharp single to right and Dunphy plunked Matt McEvoy with a pitch. Dunphy came off the mound to field Tom Haugh’s attempted sacrifice bunt and fired a strike to Andre at third to force Curley. Mike Morgan then singled to load the bases. Dan Capra was next and he drilled a long two RBI double into the right field corner giving the Sox the lead at 3-1. The Chiefs escaped more damage when they turned an inning ending and unusual 4-3-2 doubleplay off the bat of Frates.

Karis held the Chiefs scoreless in the top of the third. The Chiefs turned their second doubleplay (3-unassisted-6) in as many innings, following Wright’s leadoff single, in the bottom of the inning.

The Chiefs made more noise in the top of the fourth when they knotted the game at 3-3. Andre got things going with a line single to center and Deshler singled sharply to left. Matt Boleski then moved both runners up a base with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Mike Barabti then drew a walk to load the bases for Nick Leva. Leva bounced a one-hopper right back to Karis who threw home to Morgan to force Andre. Bercume then drilled an opposite field double just out of the reach of the diving McEvoy in left to score Deshler and Barbati. McEvoy recovered quickly enough to throw a strike to shortstop Steve Gath who made a perfect relay throw home to get Leva, who was trying to score the go ahead run from first.

The Blue Sox got the winning run in the bottom of the fourth when Morgan’s single drove home Curley.

Karis allowed just a two out fifth inning double to Crisafulli the rest of the way as he retired nine of the last ten batters he faced.

Dan Graham’s two out single in the bottom of the fifth was only hit the Sox had against Dunphy in their last two at bats.

Karis (5-1) avenged his only loss of the season, back on July 5th, to pick up the complete game win. The right-hander allowed ten hits and struck out seven.

Dunphy (4-0-1) suffered his first loss of the year. The southpaw surrendered nine hits, struck out one, walked none, and hit a batter.

The Chiefs and Blue Sox are both off until Sunday when the ICL’s regular season concludes. The Chiefs will host the Wakefield Merchants at Tufts University at 3:30 PM, in a game that will have major playoff implications, while the Blue Sox entertain the Reading Bulldogs in Lexington. 

Reading, MA- The Reading Bulldogs scored three times in the first two innings, then rode the five hit pitching of right-hander Nick Kelley, to hold off the Chiefs 3-2 at Morton Field on Wednesday night.

The Chiefs loss, coupled with the Wakefield Merchants 0-0 tie against the Watertown Reds, and the Testa Corp. Bombers 11-0 win over the Tanners, leaves three teams (Chiefs, Merchants & Bombers) still in the race for second place and an opening round playoff bye.

Kelley retired the Chiefs side in order in the top of the first inning.

The Bulldogs picked up their first run of the night against starter Rob Machado in the bottom of the inning. Brett Flutie flew out, Billy Cataldo reached on an error, stole second, and after Talis was hit by a pitch, Cataldo scored on Alex Fischer’s RBI single to right-center.

The Chiefs went in order again in the second. The Bulldogs upped their lead to 3-0 in the home half of the inning on singles by Andy Gagnon, Cataldo and Trevor Manzi, sandwiched around Machado’s second hit batsman (Flutie).

Kelley made it nine Chiefs up and nine Chiefs down, when he cruised through a 1-2-3 third and Machado settled in nicely and struck out the Reading side in order in the bottom of the inning.

Jeff Bercume broke up Kelley’s streak with a single leading off the fourth and went to second when Manzi bobbled the ball for an error in leftfield. Tony Deshler followed a with a single to left, scoring Bercume, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to 3-1.

Machado got Reading in order for the second straight inning in the bottom of the fourth and the Chiefs chipped another run off the lead, but missed an opportunity to tie the game, in the top of the fifth. Matt Boleski led off with a gap double. Kelley then popped Nick Leva up for the first out. Mike Baillargeon followed with a double, just inside the third base bag, scoring Boleski to cut the lead to 3-2. The Chiefs missed two chances to tie the game when Kelley got Bercume on an infield popup to shortstop and Deshler on a foul out to first.

That was the last scoring threat for either team as Kelley and Machado tossed zeroes the rest of the way.

Kelley (2-1), struck out two batters and walked none. He retired the first nine batters of the game and finished equally as strong, setting down the last eight Chiefs he faced in succession.  

Machado (2-5), gave up six hits, two earned runs, hit two batters and walked none.

The Chiefs travel to Lexington for a make-up game on Thursday at 8:15 PM against the Blue Sox. The final regular season game of the year, against the Wakefield Merchants, is expected to be played either Saturday or Sunday at Tufts University. The day and starting time is expected to be announced sometime tomorrow.  

Click on http://shartwell.zenfolio.com/p359837115 for Photo Gallery of Chiefs-Reading game.

Reading, MA- Justin Crisafulli had a four for four night, including a double and homer number 90 of his career, to lead the Chiefs to a 6-3 win over the Bulldogs in Reading on Monday evening. Crisafulli’s offensive show backed the complete game effort of Jared Freni who raised his record to 7-1 on the season.

The Chiefs staked Freni to a one run lead in the top of the first. Jeff Bercume led off the inning with an infield single behind the first base bag. Bercume stole second and scored on Vinny Pennell’s RBI single to left. Crisafulli followed with an infield single but Reading starter Sean Boyle got out of the inning when he got Mike Andre to hit into a 6-3 doubleplay.

Freni set the Bulldogs down in the bottom of the first and the Chiefs added a couple of runs in the top of the second to take a 3-0 lead. Tony Deshler and Matt Boleski got things started with consecutive singles and Mike DiCato moved them to second and third with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Nick Leva's slow roller to the right side, with the infield back, allowed Deshler to score and when the grounder was mishandled, Leva reached first. Bercume then drove in Boleski with the Chiefs’ third run with a sacrifice fly to left. Mike Baillargeon followed with a single to right-center sending Leva to third. It stayed 3-0 when Boyle got Pennell to ground out to end the inning.

Freni escaped a minor jam in the Bulldogs’ second when Andy Gagnon singled and Nick Kelley walked.

The Chiefs added their fourth run in the top of the third inning when Crisafulli led off with a long double off the base of the fence in left-center, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Andre’s bad hop infield single.

The Bulldogs stormed back in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three times, on five singles (Brett Flutie, Billy Cataldo, Trevor Manzi, Alex Fischer and Kelley) cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 4-3.

The Chiefs wasted little time in answering the Reading rally, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning when Crisafulli hit a two run homer to left-center, scoring Bercume, who had singled, ahead of him.

Freni retired Reading in order in the bottom of the fourth and the Chiefs went quietly in the top of the fifth.

The Bulldogs’ appeared poised to make their second run of the night at closing a Chiefs’ lead in the bottom of the inning. Manzi led things off with a single. Andre then turned in the defensive play of the night when he snagged Fisher’s one hop bullet that was labeled for the left field corner to start a crisp 5-4-3 doubleplay.

Freni and Reading reliever Mike Nich both tossed zeros the rest of the way accounting for the 6-3 final.

Freni, allowed eight hits, struck out four and walked a batter. Boyle (1-3), who gave up only three earned runs in his five innings, took the loss.

The Bulldogs enjoy a night off on Tuesday while the Chiefs stay on the road and visit the Blue Sox in Lexington at 8:00 PM     

Wakefield, MA- The Chiefs rode the pitching of veterans Mike DiCato and Tim Dunphy, both who turned in complete game efforts, to sweep a doubleheader from the Merchants, 4-0 & 8-2, on the road at Walsh Field on Sunday.

DiCato was immense in the opener, tossing a one-hit shutout. The former Malden Cathoilc and UMass standout allowed a leadoff bloop single to Scott Searles, in the first inning, and was lights out from there on. The right-hander retired the last 16 Merchants in a row. The only other base runner the Merchants’ had was when he walked Andy Hartung with one out in the second inning.

The Chiefs supplied the DiCato (pictured left) all the runs he would need in the top of the first inning. Justin Crisafulli drove home Jeff Bercume, who had reached on an infield error, with a RBI single.

Two more Chiefs’ runs came across in the top of the fifth inning, when they upped their lead to 3-0, on two more Merchants’ errors, a Paul Yanakopulos sacrifice bunt and Matt Bolseki’s opposite field RBI single.

The Chiefs got their final run with a little small ball in the top of the sixth. Mike Barbati drew a leadoff walk, was bunted to second by Boleski, and scored on a Yanakopulos RBI single to center, the last of only three Chiefs’ hits in the game.

DiCato (4-3) struck out five. James Ramsey (3-3) took the loss for Wakefield.

The Chiefs overcame a 1-0 fifth inning deficit, scoring eight times over the final three innings, to take Game Two, 8-2.  Southpaw Tim Dunphy chalked up his fifth decision without a loss, in going the complete game route.

Tim Dunphy is now 4-0-1

The Merchants took a 1-0 first inning lead when Searles reached on Mike Baillargeon’s error at shortstop and eventually scored the unearned run on a Mike Sorrentino infield single

.It stayed 1-0 until the top of the fifth inning as Dunphy and Merchants’ starter Darren Bisso cruised through the middle innings.

The Chiefs finally got to Bisso and took a 2-1 advantage in the fifth. Tony Deshler singled and was sacrificed to second by Boleski. Barbati then lifted a double down the rightfield line, scoring Deshler, to tie the game at 1-1. Catcher Nick Leva then switched places with Barbati when he delivered a long double into the right-centerfield gap, scoring Barbati and putting the Chiefs in front.

The lead went to 6-2 an inning later when Vinny Pennell led things off with a single and Bisso hit both Crisafulli and Mike Andre with pitches to load the bases. Deshler then singled, scoring Pennell and Crisafulli, to up the lead to 4-2. After Boleski popped out and Deshler stole second, Barbati came through again, this time with a two RBI single, scoring Andre and Deshler to run the lead to 6-2.

The Chiefs final two runs came in the top of the seventh when Pennell walked, Crisafulli doubled, and Andre had an RBI single.

Dunphy scattered seven hits, three of the infield variety, and struck out two. Bisso (5-2) took the loss for Wakefield.

The Chiefs are right back on the road on Monday evening when they travel to Reading High School to meet the Bulldogs at 6:00 PM.  

Medford,MA- For the 46^th time in 48 years, the Chiefs will be heading to the post-season.

As club enjoyed a day off on Friday, they quietly clinched a playoff spot by virtue of the Watertown Reds 2-1 win over the Arlington Trojans.

The Chiefs have won 17 playoff crowns, with the first coming in 1961 under the tutelage of legandary player-manager Lenny Dempsey.  Dempsey was posthumously enshrined into the ICL’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Chiefs can still finish the regular season anywhere from second to sixth place, depending on the results over the last six games of the season. The ICL’s first two regular season finishers will receive first round byes. The third place team will meet the sixth place finisher and teams four and five will hook up in the best of three first round series, tentatively scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 7. Both the semi-final and championship series will be best of five.

The Chiefs will begin the last week of the regular season schedule on Sunday when they travel to Walsh Field in Wakefield for a doubleheader that will begin at 3:00 PM. 

Lexington, MA- The Blue Sox broke open a 4-4 fifth inning tie, when they scored five times, to pull away from the second place Chiefs 9-4 under the lights in Lexington. The Wednesday night win was the first for the Blue Sox over the Chiefs this season as the Chiefs had won the previous two meetings 4-0 and 6-4.

Mike Morgan and Justin Wright drove in three runs each for Lexington. Pete Frates, Steve Gath and Wright each scored twice and Frates added three hits.

Matt Karis (4-1) pitched six innings, giving up six hits and four runs, while striking out three. Karis gave way to Tim Lahey who worked a scoreless seventh.

Jared Freni (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season giving up eight runs in four plus innings. He allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out five. Tim Dunphy worked 1.2 innings and Jake Crawford 0.1 innings, with a strikeout, out of the Chiefs’ bullpen.

Matt Boleski had a single in the first inning and Jeff Bercume worked a bases loaded walk in the fourth to pick up RBI’s for the Chiefs. The Chiefs other two runs came when Mike Barbati’s infield grounder was thrown low to first, allowing two unearned runs to score.

Chiefs’ rookie Jon Byrne, from Arlington Catholic, recorded his first career ICL hit with a fourth inning single.

Waltham, MA- Karl Alexander tossed a neat five-hitter, striking out nine, to pitch the Watertown Reds to a 4-2 win over the Chiefs at Bentley University on Tuesday evening.

The Chiefs squandered an early 2-0 advantage and Alexander, who was 5-3 for Bates this past spring with a 2.50 ERA, shut down the offense over the last four innings.A Tony Deshler RBI single, driving in Vinny Pennell, who had doubled, gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Chiefs’ starter Mike DiCato got the Reds in the bottom of the first inning and Alexander retired the side in order in the top of the second.

DiCato and the Chiefs got themselves out of a bases loaded nobody out jam in the Reds’ second. Sean Callahan walked, Ryan Nicholas singled, and Brendan Casey was hit by a pitch to fill the bases. DiCato then served up a tailor-made 1-2-3 doubleplay off the bat of Jim McLaughlin to get two big outs. He completed the escape by getting Steve Tramontozzi to bounce back to the box.

The Chiefs picked up an unearned run in the top of the third inning when Jeff Bercume singled, stole second, and scored when Deshler reached on an infield error.

The Reds answered back and cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Sam Sager led off with a single. Steve Busby then lined another single to center with Bercume trying to throw Sager out at third on the play. Sager was safe and Busby had taken a wide turn at first. Chiefs’ third baseman Mike Andre’s throw was low to first and skipped past Pennell allowing Sager to score.

It stayed a 2-1 game until the Reds took the lead at 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sager walked, Busby struck out and Dan Chaisson walked. With Sager attempting to steal third, Callahan hit an infield chopper between Andre at third and Mike Baillargeon at shortstop. With Andre covering the bag, Baillargeon had to go deep into the hole to make the stop. Sager kept on running and the he slid under Paul Yanakopulos’ tag to tie the game at 2-2. The Reds’ scored what proved to be the game winner a batter later when Chaisson scored the third run on a wild pitch.The Reds added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a Justin Forman two out single and a long RBI double to left-center by Sager.

Alexander, now 4-3, retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced. He was aided by some fine outfield defense as Nicholas ran down a deep Andre shot to center and Tramontozzi made a nice grab of a Boleski drive in left for the last two outs of the sixth. Nicholas was at it again as he made a diving grab of a Bercume liner, with two away in the seventh, to end the game.

DiCato, fell to 3-3 on the season after winning his last three decisions. The former Malden Cathoilc and UMass-Amherst righty worked six innings, allowed three earned runs on eight hits. He struck out four, walked four (one intentionally) and hit two batters.

Bercume, with two singles, tied former longtime Chief Rob Ross at number 20 on the Chiefs' all time career hit list.

The Chiefs, now 15-9-1 on the year, visit the Blue Sox at Lexington High School on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM.

Medford, MA- Veteran southpaw Tim Dunphy turned in a route going performance as the Chiefs turned back the first place Lexington Blue Sox 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at Tufts University.The former Brandeis ace allowed six hits on the way to picking up his third win of the season to go along with a tie.

Dunphy and Blue Sox starter and fellow lefty Mike O’Brien (Babson) dominated the first three innings of the game with base runners being at a premium. The Sox got former Virginia Commonwealth standout Justin Wright on with a one out single in the top of the first but he was erased on an inning ending doubleplay off the bat of Jeff Vigurs. Neither team saw the base paths in the second inning. The Blue Sox got Tommy Haugh aboard with a single leading off the top of the third. Haugh was sacrificed to second and went to third on an infield grounder. Dunphy and the Chiefs got out of the inning when third baseman Mike Andre made a nice play on a Pete Frates chopper and threw the former Boston College standout out by a step at first base.

O’Brien got the Chiefs side in order in the bottom of the third and the Blue Sox broke through to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. After Dunphy struck out Wright for the first out, Vigurs followed with a double to right-center. Steve Gath then singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Matt McEvoy picked up an RBI when he grounded to Mike Barbati at second base with Vigurs scoring and Gath going to second on the play. Former Bentley third baseman Ross Curley gave the Sox a two run lead when he singled to right with McEvoy sliding across the plate just ahead of Vinny Pennell’s throw.

The Chiefs came right back at tied things up at 2-2 in their half of the fourth inning. Leadoff man Jeff Bercume got things started when he drew a walk. Mike Baillargeon then singled to center. Pennell drilled a warning track laser shot to right-center that was nearly tracked down by the quick Frates with Bercume only able to advance as far as third to load the bases. Tony Deshler was hit by an O’Brien pitch, forcing in Bercume to cut the lead to 2-1. Andre was next and he lofted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Baillargeon to tie the game at 2-2. O’Brien and the Sox averted more damage when Barbati hit into a crisp 6-4-3 doubleplay.

Dunphy retired the Lexington side in order for the fourth time in five innings in the top of the fifth and the Chiefs doubled their lead to four runs, taking a 6-2 lead, in the bottom of the frame. Mike DiCato led off the inning with a single and Matt Boleski drew a full count walk. After two unsuccessful bunt attempts, Paul Yanakopulos sent McEvoy back the warning track in left to run down his deep fly for the first out. O’Brien caught Bercume looking at strike three for the second out before Mike Baillargeon gave the Chiefs their first lead of the afternoon with a single to center scoring DiCato. Pennell (pictured left) followed with another single to right scoring Boleski to make it 4-2. Tyler Kendrick replaced O’Brien on the mound for the Sox and Deshler greeted him with a two strike, two RBI single, to right giving the Chiefs a 6-2 advantage.

The Blue Sox came back when they picked up two runs to cut the margin to 6-4 in the top of the sixth courtesy of a walk, a hit batsman, a passed ball and a two RBI single to left from Curley.

Kendrick got the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the sixth. Dunphy did the same to the Blue Sox in the top of the seventh to preserve the Chiefs win.

Dunphy, who had pitched professionally in Europe in 2007, struck out four and walked only one.

The Chiefs enjoy an off day on Monday before heading to Bentley University in Waltham on Tuesday to meet the Reds in 6:00 PM start. On Wednesday, the Chiefs and Blue Sox hook up again, this time in Lexington at 8:00 PM.

  

Woburn, MA- The Chiefs offense came alive on Friday night when they scored 13 runs and had 18 hits in a 13-5 win over the Mooney Dental Tanners at Ferullo Field.

Jared Freni (6-0), won his sixth consecutive start while working six scoreless innings. Freni gave way to Paul Yanakopulos who got roughed up a bit in the seventh in his ICL pitching debut.

Mike Baillargeon led the hit parade with a 4 for 5 night that included a double and two RBI’s. Tony Deshler and Yanakopulos each picked up three hits while Mike Barbati, Nick Leva and Matt Boleski each had two hits. Boleski hit his league leading fourth home run and added a double on the way to a four RBI game.

Freni allowed just one hit in his six innings and struck out eight. Yanakopulos surrendered all five runs on five Tanners’ hits in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Brett Manley took the loss for the Tanners.

The Chiefs-Merchants game scheduled for early Saturday has been postponed.

The Chiefs will now host the Lexington Blue Sox on Sunday afternoon at Tufts University starting at 3:00 PM.

Medford, MA- University of Rochester right-hander Jeff Rowan was masterful, tossing a complete game three-hitter, to get the Testa Corp. Bombers past the Chiefs 5-1 at steamy and gusty Tufts University on Thursday night.

With the win, the Bombers climbed back to the .500 mark and in the process brought the Chiefs’ modest three game winning streak to a halt.

Rookie right-hander Jake Crawford (0-1), making his first ICL start, took the loss for the Chiefs.

Crawford escaped a major league jam unscathed in the top of the first. The Tufts University right-hander from Idaho, loaded the bases on a walk and two hit batsman before getting an inning ending strikeout.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Vinny Pennell drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Pennell then moved to third on a Tony Deshler infield grounder. Mike Andre was next up and he was issued an intentional walk, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Rowan got Justin Crisafulli to fly to short right for the second out. The Chiefs scored an unearned run when Mike DiCato reached on an infield error allowing Pennell to score.

Crawford and Rowan both had quiet second innings before the Bombers scored a couple of times to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Singles by Anthony Serino, Devin Perry and Nate Witkowski, to go along with a walk and another hit batsman, led to the runs.

Rob Machado, who had been experiencing back stiffness, replaced Crawford to start the fourth. The Bombers jumped on him for a couple of more runs to take a 4-1 lead using singles from Serino, Perry and Alex Barber.

Rowan was cruising at this point and retired the Chiefs side in order in the bottom of the fourth and the Bombers picked up their final run in the top of the fifth.

The Chiefs other rookie righty from Tufts University, Alex Cronkite, (San Paolo, CA) looked impressive and retired the only six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Chiefs now head to Ferullo Field in Woburn on Friday night to meet the Tanners in an 8:00 PM start.

Medford, MA- It was one of those games where you just had the feeling that whatever team batted last would win.

Fortunately for the Chiefs the game was played at their Tufts University home and in their last at bat, they did indeed come away with a hard fought 7-6 win over the Reading Bulldogs on Wednesday evening.

The Chiefs’ Mike DiCato (3-2) pitched in and out of trouble all evening, but was just good enough to pick up his third straight win.

The Chiefs jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead when Jesse Bruinsma walked, stole second, and scored on Justin Crisafulii’s RBI single.

They clung to the one run lead until the Reading fourth when DiCato victimized himself. He threw a sure inning ending doubleplay ball into center field, hit a batter with the bases loaded, issued a walk, a bunt single, and two-out, two strike, two RBI single to Doug Dellorfon, that opened the door for the Bulldogs to take a 3-1 lead.

The Chiefs stormed right back to re-take the lead at 4-3,when they scored three times in the bottom of the fourth on Tony Deshler’s RBI double and Mike Barbati’s two RBI single.

The Bulldogs responded again to knot the game at 4-4 in their half of the fifth inning on singles from Billy Cataldo and Trevor Manzi and an Alex Fischer sacrifice fly.

It was the Chiefs turn assume the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Vinny Pennell singled home Bruinsma, giving them a 5-4 lead.

DiCato and Reading starter Sean Boyle tossed zeros in the sixth inning setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

In the top of the seventh, things started quietly enough for DiCato when Billy Cataldo flew out to Deshler in center for the first out. Zac Talis began the Reading rally when he singled sharply up the middle. Trevor Manzi followed and he drilled a long double into the left-center field gap, scoring Talis all the way from first to tie the game at 5-5. Things went from bad to worse for the locals when the throw home to get Talis went to the backstop allowing Manzi to go to third, representing the go ahead run. With the Chiefs’ infield drawn in, Fischer lined a bullet single off the diving Mike Baillargeon’s glove at shortstop, scoring Manzi and giving the Bulldogs the lead once again at 6-5.

Paul Yanakopoulos put the Chiefs immediately back in business when he led off the bottom of seventh with a huge double into the right-centerfield gap. Bruinsma followed and after two failed bunt attempts, he reached on an infield chopper single behind the mound sending Yanakopulos to third. A botched wind aided pop up off the bat of Baillargeon then loaded the bases with nobody out. The Chiefs caught their second break of the inning when Boyle uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Yanakopulos to scamper across the plate with the tying run and sending Baillargeon and Bruinsma to second and third respectively. Pennell completed the comeback when he hit a fly ball to medium right that was just deep enough to allow the rapid Bruinsma to tag and score the winning run.

DiCato went the distance and allowed seven hits and struck out five. Boyle (1-2) surrendered eight hits and struck out six.

The 13-7-1 Chiefs are right back in action on Thursday evening at Tufts University when they host the Testa Corp. Bombers at 6:00 PM.     

Medford, MA- Veteran Matt Boleski had one of the most productive games of his six year Chiefs’ career, knocking in five runs with a three run homer and a two run double, to lead his team to an 8-2 win over the Medford Americans on Monday evening at Tufts University.

Boleski’s offensive show backed another outstanding outing from Jared Freni, who went the distance to improve his record to 5-0 on the season. The former UMass-Amherst captain and Malden Catholic star allowed five hits and struck out eleven.

The Chiefs gave Freni more than he would need when they scored six times in their first bat against Americans’ starter Ryan McNiff. McNiff hit leadoff man Mike Maguire with a pitch and the former Suffolk University star stole second. Mike Baillargeon drilled the first pitch he saw off the fence in right for a double scoring Maguire and giving the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. Mike Andre moved Baillargeon to third with an infield grounder to the right side and Justin Criasfulli promptly plated him with a line single to center to make it 2-0. The Chiefs took advantage of two Americans’ errors as Tony Deshler and Mike DiCato both reached on infield miscues with Crisafulli scoring the third run. Mike Barbati followed with a single to center but DiCato was thrown out on the play after rounding second as Deshler was held at third. Enter Boleski, (pictured left) who drilled a McNiff offering over the scoreboard in right-field, scoring Deshler and Barbati ahead of him, jumping the Chiefs lead to 6-0.

Freni allowed a two out single to veteran Mike Kalfopoulos in the top of the second and McNiff settled in and retired the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Americans got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. Mike Burgoyne got things started when he beat out an infield single to shortstop as Baillargeon’s throw sailed high of first but Burgoyne was unable to advance to second. Danny Gunn then drew Freni’s only walk of the night. Freni struck out Joe Nixon and Jose Polanco in succession before Franklin Pierce bound rookie Dan Gilchrist lined a single to left, scoring Burgoyne.

Deshler’s one out single was all the Chiefs could come up with against McNiff in the bottom of the third and Freni rebounded nicely, striking out the Americans’ side in order in the top of the fourth inning.

McNiff, appearing to get stronger, retired the Chiefs in order again in the bottom of the fourth and the Americans inched a little bit closer when they picked up their second run of the night in the top of the fifth inning. Burgoyne got things started once again, this time with a line single to right. Gunn then fouled out to catcher Nick Leva for the first out and Burgoyne stole second.  Nixon then singled to put runners on the corners. Burgoyne and Nixon then executed a double steal to account for the Americans’ second run of the night. Nixon was stranded in scoring position when Freni got Gilchrist to ground to Andre at third base.

McNiff held the Chiefs scoreless for the fourth straight time in the bottom of the fifth and Freni got the Medford side in order in the top of the sixth.

The Chiefs got their six run lead back in the bottom of the sixth. Deshler led off with a single and DiCato was hit by a McNiff pitch. Pinch hitter Dave Scioli then drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Boleski was next and he drilled a double into the right-center field gap, scoring Deshler and DiCato, with the game’s final runs.

Freni retired the side in order for the fourth time in the game in the seventh, including two strikeouts, to give the Chiefs their third win in a row.

For Freni, it was his eleventh career victory. In the process, the hard throwing righty passed Jay Dillon and moved into seventh place on the Chiefs’ all-time strikeout list. Freni now has 146 career K’s in just 116 innings.

The Chiefs, now 12-7-1, are off on Tuesday. They begin a grueling seven games in an eight day stretch on Wednesday when they host the Reading Bulldogs at Tufts University starting at 6:00 PM. 

Medford, MA- Third baseman Mike Andre went three for four, including his third homer of the season, to lead the Chiefs to an 8-5 win over the Americans at Playstead Park on Saturday afternoon. It was the Chiefs second win in eighteen hours as they knocked off the Trojans in Arlington on Friday night.

The Chiefs staked veteran right-hander Mike DiCato to a three run lead in the top of the first inning. After Americans’ starter Joe Sheehan caught Mike Maguire looking for the first out, the Chiefs caught a break when Tony Deshler reached on an infield error. Vinny Pennell drew a walk and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Justin Crisafulli then doubled to the fence in left-center with Deshler scoring and Pennell, having to wait to see if the ball was going to be caught, stopping at third. Andre (pictured left) then lined a single to left-center, scoring Pennell and sending Crisafulli to third, giving the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. Dave Scioli then legged out the back end of an attempted 4-6-3 doubleplay grounder, allowing Crisafulli to come across the plate with the inning’s third run. The Chiefs threatened for more when Mike Barbati reached on an error and  Paul Yanakopulos singled to load the bases. Sheehan escaped more trouble when he got Matt Boleski to fly to veteran Steve Napier in left.

DiCato recorded two K’s in the home half of the first inning and the Chiefs upped their lead to 4-0 in the top of the second. Maguire got things started with a single to right-center and promptly stole second. After Deshler flew to center for the first out, Pennell delivered Maguire with a RBI single to left-center. Crisafulli flew out before Andre singled again, sending Pennell to second. The inning ended with Scioli at the plate when Pennell was thrown out at third on a delayed steal attempt.

The Americans climbed right back into the game at 4-2, picking up a couple of runs, in the bottom of the second. The hosts took advantage of two errors by Deshler at first base, a walk, a hit-batsman and a two-out, two RBI single to left by Joe Nixon.

Scioli started the Chiefs third with a single but was erased when Barbati bounced into a crisp 4-6-3 before Sheehan struck out Yanakopulos to retire the side.

The Americans went in order in their half of the third and the Chiefs opened the lead to 8-2 in the top of the fourth. Matt Boleski led off the inning with a solo homer to right, his second of the year to make it a 5-2 game. Maguire followed with his second single of the day and Deshler chased him to third with a long double to center. Sheehan then got Pennell swinging for the first out before Crisafulli lofted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Maguire. Andre followed and drilled a two-run homer to right center, scoring Deshler ahead of him, while chalking up his league leading 17th and 18th RBI of the season.

It stayed 8-2 until the Americans climbed back into the game for the second time, when they picked up three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Nixon and Mike Burgoyne got the Americans going with consecutive singles. Steve Napier’s RBI grounder to Scioli at shortstop scored Nixon making it 8-3. James McConnville then drew a walk but DiCato recorded a big strikeout when he got Mike Kalfopulous swinging for the second out. With Jake Ohanesian at the plate, Burgoyne took off from third and stole home to make it 8-4. Ohanesian drilled DiCato’s next pitch into left for an RBI single scoring McConnville to make it 8-5, but he was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play by Yanakopulous to end the inning.

Neither Sheehan or DiCato allowed a hit over the last two innings, accounting for the 8-5 final.

DiCato, who evened his season mark at 2-2, allowed just five hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. It was his second win in a row after a throwing his first career no-hitter last Saturday against the Tanners.

The Chiefs enjoy Sunday off while the Americans travel to Wakefield at 5:30 PM to meet the Merchants at Walsh Field. The Chiefs and Americans hook up again on Monday at Tufts University in 6:00 PM start.   

Arlington, MA- There is no doubt that Tim Dunphy earned a few more feathers for his Chiefs headdress this week.

In an ironman like performance, the veteran southpaw pitched a dozen innings in a little less than two days, personally getting the Chiefs three points with a tie on Wednesday and complete game 5-3 win on Friday against the Arlington Trojans.

Dunphy, was pressed into the emergency start in Arlington when righty Jared Freni was a late scratch.

Things started a bit on the ominous side for Dunphy and the Chiefs. The Trojans looked poised to put some up big numbers in bottom of the first inning. After Arlington starter Mike Griffin set the Chiefs down in the top of the first, the Trojans started quick but had to settle for 2-0 lead. Alex Lidonni and Morgan Brown led off the frame with singles and Pete Creamer moved them both up a base with a sacrifice bunt. The Trojans loaded the bases when Don Walter drew a four pitch walk. Greg Wilson was next and he hit a grounder earmarked for the left field corner. Third baseman Mike Andre made a nice diving stop and from his knees threw home to catcher Paul Yanakopulos. Yanakopulos made an outstanding scoop of the low throw to force Lidonni at the plate for the second out. The count went full to Danny Binz before the Trojan third baseman drilled a single up the middle, scoring Brown and Walter, to give Arlington a 2-0 lead. Dunphy averted futher damage when he got Kevin Hart to line to Mike Baillargeon at shortstop.

The Chiefs went quietly in the top of the second and Dunphy settled in nicely in the bottom of the inning, keeping the Tanners from increasing their lead.

The Chiefs turned the game around in the top of the third inning. Yanakopulos led off with a line single to right. Jesse Bruinsma then avoided Griifin’s tag on an infield single, and when the throw to get him sailed high of first, Bruinsma took second with Yanakopulous going to third on the play. Vinny Pennell then singled to right scoring both runners and tying the game up at 2-2. It didn’t stay tied for long. Justin Crisafulli followed with a double off the fence in left-center sending Pennell to third. For Crisafulli, it was hit number 539 of his Chiefs career, vaulting him past Mike Langston as the all-time leader. Mike Andre then played a little fence tune of his own, unloading a double off the fence in right-center, scoring Pennell and Crisafulli to give the Chiefs a 4-2 lead.

After Dunphy struck out Creamer to begin the bottom of the fourth, Walter reached on a tough hop error by Baillargeon. Wilson then bounced back to Dunphy with Walter taking second. Binz followed with a line single to right. The Chiefs came up with the second big defensive play of the game when Pennell hosed Walter out at the plate to end the inning.

The Chiefs picked up their fifth run in the top of the fourth. Mike Barbati singled and advanced to second on Yanakopulos’ sacrifice bunt. After Yanakopulous was thrown out at first, Barbati continued on to third but the throw to get him was high, allowing him to score.

Dunphy retired the side in order in the Trojans’ fourth and the Chiefs wasted a big time threat in the top of the fifth when they came up empty after loading the bases (Crisafulli walk, Andre & Deshler singles) with nobody out.

It a was a seven pitch 1-2-3 inning for Dunphy in the bottom of the fifth and Griffin pitched out of another jam in the top of the sixth to keep the Trojans within striking distance at 5-2.

Things looked promising for the Trojans in the bottom of the sixth when Walter and Wilson had consecutive singles. The Chiefs then came up with their third huge defensive play of the night with a Barbati to Baillargeon to Rick Vail (4-6-3) doubleplay. The fourth gem came a batter later when Baillargeon gloved a Hart laser to short, with Walter at third, to end the inning and send the game to the seventh.  

Things got a little interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Paul O’Neil led things off and drew a four pitch walk. Catcher Eddie McDonald then blooped a single to right that Pennell lost in the lights. Big defensive play number five came when O’Neil rounded the bag at second and an alert Baillargeon tagged him out. But the Trojans were not done yet as McDonald went to second on a wild pitch and came around to score when Brown singled to right-center. Dunphy finally ended the evening’s proceedings when he got Creamer to groundout to Baillargeon.

The Chiefs have little time to enjoy the win as they travel to Playstead Park in Medford on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM to face the Americans.  

Medford, MA- ICL veteran and former Chicago Cub slugger Andy Hartung hit a long one-out triple in the seventh inning, to key Wakefield’s three run rally, as the red hot Merchants came from behind to defeat the Chiefs 3-1 at Tufts University on Thursday.

Chiefs’ starter Rob Machado was cruising along and clinging to a 1-0 lead entering the seventh inning. The inning started well enough when catcher Chad Conner made an outstanding catch, leaning into the stands, to grab Mike Sorrentino’s foul pop up for the first out. Trouble began to brew when Machado walked clean-up man Steve Langone on a high 3-2 fastball. The plot thickened a bit when Lorenzo Papa followed with a sharp single to left. Mike DiCato was summoned  to replace Machado and face Hartung, who had had scorched a double in the fifth inning. Hartung turned on a 3-1 pitch and sent it deep into the left field corner, scoring Langone and Papa, giving the Merchants a 2-1 lead. Dale Crispin followed and lined a single to right scoring Hartung to make it a 3-1 game.

Merchants’ starter and winner Kevin Flight got the Chiefs in order in bottom of the seventh inning (Conner fly out, Mike Barbati groundout and Matt Boleski on a deep fly to right) to preserve the Merchants’ thirteenth win of the season against just four losses. (Watch the last out of the game by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TYQWGGb6XA. )

Flight kept the Chiefs’ bats silenced and off balance for the majority of the evening, scattering just three hits and surrendering just one unearned run.

The Chiefs took their 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Barbati led off and reached when Langone bobbled his grounder at second base. Boleski followed and sacrificed Barbati to second. Flight then got Jesse Bruinsma on a sharp grounder to Langone for the second out with Barbati moving to third on the play. Tony Deshler was next and he delivered Barbati with a long RBI double to left-center.

Flight, (1-0) struck out four, walked just one, and allowed only five Chiefs to reach base. Machado (2-4) suffered his second straight tough loss. The righty lost a 1-0 seventh inning decision to the Mooney Dental Tanners last Saturday. He worked 6.1 innings and also struck out four as the Merchants out-hit the Chiefs in the game eight to three.

The Chiefs will look to rebound on Friday night when they travel to Summer Street Field in Arlington to meet the Trojans in a 7:00 PM start.

Chiefs Notebook....Justin Crisafulli will look to become the all time leader in career hits on Friday. The veteran slugger tied former Chiefs first baseman Mike Langston atop the Chiefs list when he recorded a first inning single on Thursday. Both Crisafulli and Langston each have an amazing 538 career hits in a Chiefs uniform....

Malden, MA- Tim Dunphy of the Chiefs and Lamarre Rey of the Bombers both came out of the bullpen to throw nothing but blanks as the two clubs battled to a 5-5 tie on the slick Maplewood field turf on Wednesday night.

Dunphy was once again superb for the Chiefs, this time hurling scoreless two hit baseball over the last five innings. Ditto for Rey, who worked three scoreless frames for the Bombers.

The Bombers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second against Chiefs starter Keith Forbes on a Devin Perry triple followed by a Stan DeMartinis RBI infield grounder.

The Chiefs stormed back in the top of the third inning against Anthony Del Prete when they took a 4-1 lead. Torrid Mike Barbati led off with a single and Matt Boleski sacrificed him to second. Paul Yanakopulos followed with a long drive to deep right. Perry slipped on the wet turf and the ball went off his foot into the right field corner, allowing Barbati to score as Yanakopulos came all the way around on the four-base error. Vinny Pennell followed with a double to left-center but Del Prete got Tony Deshler on a grounder to third. Mike Andre then gave the Chiefs a 4-1 lead when he hit his second homer of the season to right. For Andre, who has a team leading 13 runs batted in, it was RBI's 99 and 100 of his Chiefs career.

The Bombers chopped a run off the lead (4-2) in the bottom of the third on a Dan Gad sacrifice fly. They came all the way back to re-take the lead at 5-4 against Forbes in the fourth, using singles from DeMartinis and Anthony Serino, an Alex Barber double, and a Vin Eruzione triple.

The Chiefs scored the last run of the game in the top of the fifth inning when Mike Baillargeon launched a one out solo homer to right-center, his first of the season and seventh of his Chiefs career, knotting the game at 5-5.

The Chiefs are right back in action on Thursday when they host the Wakefield Merchants at Tufts University starting at 6:00 PM.

   

Medford, MA- The Chiefs concluded their five game homestand with a 3-1 win over the Watertown Reds on Sunday afternoon at Tufts University.

Jared Freni (4-0) went the distance to pick up his fourth consecutive win.

Freni retired the Reds in order in the top off the first inning and the Chiefs went right to work against Watertown starter Charlie DeFrancesco in the bottom of the inning. Tony Deshler reached on a one out infield error and Vinny Pennell drew a walk. DeFrancesco got Justin Crisafulli on pop up for the second out before Mike Andre gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead with a RBI single to right scoring Deshler. Former Curry star Rick Vail followed and drilled a single to center scoring Pennell to make it 2-0.

The Reds got their run and cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the second inning. After Freni got veteran Steve Busby to fly to Pennell in center to open the inning, Dan Chaisson followed and launched his first home run of the season, a solo shot to straight away left.

The Chiefs picked up the game’s final run in the bottom of the second inning. Matt Boleski led off with a single to right. Catcher Nick Leva followed and dropped a sacrifice bunt. The throw to get Leva sailed wide of first, allowing Leva to reach and sending Boleski to third. Leadoff man Jesse Bruinsma then beat out an infield single scoring Boleski to make it a 3-1 game. DeFrancesco got tough from there getting Deshler to fly to center, Pennell to pop to third, and Crisafulli on a grounder to short. 

DeFrancesco and Freni took complete control, throwing blanks in innings four, five and six.

After the Chiefs went in order in the bottom of the sixth, Chaisson gave the Reds some hope when he led off the top of the seventh with a line double to right. Freni left Chaisson at second base when he got Jay Olson and Jim McLauglin both on outfield flies before retiring Steve Tramontozzi on a grounder to Vail at first to end the game.

Freni allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked just one. DeFrancesco (0-2) was almost as good, surrendering just six hits, striking out four and walking a couple.

Medford, MA- Veteran right-hander Mike DiCato was immense in Game Two of Saturday’s doubleheader, throwing another no-hitter for the Chiefs pitching staff, in a 9-0 win over the Mooney Dental Tanners. DiCato’s effort followed former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst teammate’s Rob Machado’s gem against Reading on June 30.

DiCato’s gem salvaged an afternoon sweep for the Chiefs, who wasted another outstanding effort from Machado, only to lose the opener 1-0 in gut wrenching fashion.

DiCato, was in control from start to finish, striking out nine and allowing only two base runners, both reaching after being hit by a pitch.

Tanners’ starter Mike Nardelli (0-2) matched DiCato pitch for pitch until the Chiefs finally broke their afternoon’s scoreless frustration, carrying over from Game One, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The Chiefs used a Crisafulli single, a Tony Deshler double, and a Paul Yanakopulos triple to give DiCato the two run lead.

The lead swelled to 8-0 to the fourth as singles by Mike Maguire and Crisafulli, three walks, a balk, and a three run homer by Deshler, accounted for six more Chiefs runs against Tanners relievers Carlos DelDonno and Dave Maestri.

The Chiefs final run came in the sixth when Rick Vail singled, moved to second when Mike Andre drew a base on balls, and scored on Deshler’s single to left. It was the former Brandeis’ star’s fifth RBI of the game.

DiCato faced just 22 batters in the game, one over the limit. He hit Keegan DeNapoli with one out in the second inning. DeNapoli moved to second base on a wild pitch but was erased when Maguire doubled him off the bag after making an outstanding diving catch of Kevin McKenzie’s sinking liner in centerfield. The only other runner to reach base was in the fourth inning when DiCato also hit Tom Burke with a pitch.

Mike Dicato’s No-Hitter Inning by Inning
First Inning: Mullin struck out swinging, Tatkow ground to Andre at 3B, Burke fouled out to DiCato.
Second Inning: D. Dettore struck out looking, DeNapoli HBP and advanced to second on wild pitch, McKenzie lined to Maguire in CF, DeNapoli was doubled off second base.
Third Inning: Wilson struck out swinging, McDonald struck out swinging, Gali grounded to Yanakopulos at SS.
Fourth Inning: Mullen lined to Deshler at 2B, Tatkow grounded to Yanakopulos at SS, Burke was HBP. Burke stole second. D. Dettore grounded to Andre at 3B.
Fifth Inning: DeNapoli grounded back to DiCato P, McKenzie flew to Cavanaugh in RF, Wilson struck out looking.
Sixth Inning: McDonald grounded to Deshler at 2B, Gali struck out looking, A. Ruocco pinch hit for Mullin. A. Ruocco struck out swinging.
Seventh Inning: Tatkow struck out swinging, O’Hare pinch hit for Burke. O’Hare struck out looking. D.Dettore grounded out to Yanakopulos at SS.

Tanners Take Game One, 1-0
The Chiefs wasted a three-hit, fourteen strike-out performance form Machado, to manage to lose the opener 1-0.

The Chiefs offense was thwarted all game long by Derek Lowe (5 innings, 3 hits, 4 K’s) and reliever and winner Dan Blum (2 innings, 0 hits, 2 K’s)

The Tanners got the game’s only run in the top of seventh. After Machado struck out McKenzie for the first out he hit Alex Ruocco with a pitch. Ben Mullin then grounded to Andre at third with Ruocco being forced at second. Joe Gali then drew a walk and Sean O’Hare reached on an infield single to load the bases. With Tatkow at the plate, the first pitch thrown by Machado skipped away, allowing Ruocco to score the game’s only run.

The Chiefs only had six base runners in the game.The Chiefs are right back at it on Sunday when they host the Watertown Reds at Tufts University at 1:30 PM.   

Medford, MA- Arlington right-hander Mike Griffin went 6.2 innings to get the win as the Trojans held on to beat the Chiefs 5-4 at Tufts University on Thursday night. It was the third straight time this season that the Trojans have beaten the Chiefs.

The Trojans jumped out to a quick 2-0 first inning lead against Chiefs veteran starter Keith Forbes. Former Harvard and Can-Am League standout Morgan Brown got things underway when he drew a leadoff walk. Forbes struck out Danny Binz for the first out but Pete Creamer and Don Walter hit back to back doubles giving the Trojans the two run lead.

It stayed a 2-0 game until the top of the fourth inning as Griffin wiggled out of trouble in the first (Vinny Pennell single), the second (Mike Andre double, Mike Barbati infield single, Rick Vail inning ending doubleplay), and the third (Tony Deshler two out triple).

The Arlington fourth inning started quietly enough as Forbes struck out Walter swinging leading off the inning. Trouble began to brew when Sam Perkins singled to right. Nick Napoli followed and delivered a two run shot over the 367’ sign in left-center, doubling the Trojans lead to 4-0. Arlington wasn’t done yet as Kevin Hart then singled and went to second when Forbes’ pickoff attempt went astray. Hart moved to third when Eddie McDonald beat out an infield chopper to second base and scored what proved to be the game winner when Forbes uncorked a wild pitch making it 5-0.

Tim Dunphy, in relief of Forbes, held the Trojans scoreless in the top of the fifth and the Chiefs chipped two runs off the lead in the bottom of the inning. Nick Leva walked and went to third on a Deshler one out double to right-center. Griffin returned the wild pitch favor, throwing one of his own, allowing Leva to score the Chiefs first run and sending Deshler to third. A Pennell RBI infield grounder plated Deshler as the Chiefs closed the gap to 5-2 before Justin Crisafulli singled and Andre flew to center to end the inning.

Dunphy was sharp again in the sixth, retiring the Trojans in order.

The Chiefs let yet another scoring opportunity pass in the bottom of the inning when Mike DiCato led off with a bloop single to right center and stole second. That was as far as he got as Griffin retired Barbati on a flyout, Boleski on a popup and Leva on a groundout.

Dunphy retired the left-handed hitting Wilson to start the seventh before giving way to Tufts right-hander Jake Crawford.

The Chiefs made some two out noise in the bottom of the seventh. Griffin got Jesse Bruinsma on a groundout to Binz at second base and Deshler on a liner to Wilson in center for the first two outs. When Pennell (pictured left) drew a walk, Arlington Manager Joe Hart summoned Chris DiCecca out of the Trojan's bullpen. Crisafulli greeted him with a two run bomb, the 89th of his Chiefs career, to straight-away left field to make it a one run game. DiCecca ended the evening and the Chiefs comeback hopes when he got Andre to groundout unassisted to Hart at first base. 

The Chiefs out hit the Trojans 9-7. Forbes (1-1, 2.80 ERA) suffered his first loss of the year while surrendering five runs (four earned), six hits and struck out five in his four innings of work. He uncharacteristically hurt his own cause with two errant pickoff attempts and a wild pitch. Dunphy was once again solid out of the bullpen, working 2.1 scoreless innings and allowing one hit.

The Chiefs are off on Friday before a busy weekend awaits them. On Saturday, they host the Mooney Dental Tanners in an afternoon doubleheader at Tufts University with the first game scheduled for 1:30 PM. 

On Sunday, the Chiefs homestand continues when the Watertown Reds visit Tufts for a single game at 1:30 PM

Medford, MA- Right-hander Jared Freni spun a complete game three-hitter and third baseman Mike Andre hit a three run homer as the Chiefs shutout the Lexington Blue Sox 4-0 at Tufts University on Tuesday night. It was the Chiefs sixth win in their last seven games.

With the Chiefs win, one of the most remarkable streaks in the 61 year history of the Intercity League came to an end. Blue Sox righty Matt Karis suffered his first career ICL loss in an amazing 23 decisions. Karis has been nothing short of spectacular since 2009, posting a remarkable 21-0-1 record entering Tuesday’s contest. Along the way, the Southboro native has been named the ICL’s Outstanding Pitcher twice (2009 & 2010) as well as being tabbed Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 2009.

Freni and Karis showed why they are considered two of the ICL’s best hurlers as they both faced the minimum number of batters over the first three innings. The only base-runner allowed by either pitcher over the first three frames was when the Chiefs Tony Deshler led off the bottom of the first with an infield single. Deshler was promptly erased when Karis got Vinny Pennell to bounce into a double play.

The Blue Sox got their first base runner of the evening when reigning league MVP Pete Frates led off the top of the fourth with a single. Freni got the red hot Justin Wright to pop to Andre for the first out before Frates stole second. Frates was stranded there after Graham struck out and Steve Gath grounded to Deshler at short.

The Chiefs finally broke through against Karis in the bottom of the fourth inning. Karis struck out Deshler swinging leading off the inning. Pennell then got things going when he lined a one out double off the base of the fence in right. Justin Crisafulli followed and drew a walk. Mike Andre was next and he delivered a three run homer to right-center giving Freni and the Chiefs a 3-0 lead.

The Blue Sox got another runner to second base with one out the top of the fifth when Matt McEvoy reached on a Deshler throwing error that skipped by Chiefs first baseman Rick Vail. That’s as far as McEvoy got as Freni reached back and struck out Tom Haugh and Chaz Agrillo in succession to end the inning.

The Chiefs made it 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Mike Barbati doubled into the left field corner and came around to score on Jesse Bruinsma’s RBI single to center. For Bruinsma, it was his first action in almost three weeks as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Wright’s one out line single to left-center is all the Blue Sox could gather against Freni in the top of the sixth.

Lexington’s Jimmy Borden came on in relief of Karis to start the sixth and looked impressive, striking out the Chiefs side in order.

In the seventh, Freni got Gath to foul out to Vail at first base, before catcher Jeff Vigurs singled up the middle. After McEvoy struck out swinging, Freni got Haugh to pop out to Andre to end the game.

With the win Freni goes to 3-0 on the season while Karis falls to 2-1.

The Blue Sox and Chiefs have Wednesday off and both return to action on Thursday. The Sox and Reds hook up in Lexington at 8:00 PM while the Chiefs host the Arlington Trojans at Tufts University at 6:00 PM.    

By Justin McAllister
Malden Evening News & Medford Daily Mercury 

Malden, MA- Talk about a change of scenery.

Yesterday morning recently graduated UMass-Amherst slugger Peter Copa was showing soon to be Malden Catholic baseball prospects the intricacies of fielding and hitting at the second week of the Lancer baseball camp at O’Donnell Field in the shadow of his former high school.

Today? Sometime around 11 o’clock this morning Copa will be getting off a plane in Phoenix, Arizona, on his way to the first day of his life as a professional baseball player.

Copa, a lifelong Malden resident and 2007 Malden Cathoilc graduate, who until today was in the midst of his fourth season with the Andre Chiefs of Medford in the local Intercity League, yesterday agreed to a professional baseball contract with Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and will officially sign as a free agent today.

Copa will embark on his new career as a member of the Angels rookie team in Arizona.

It all came quickly for Copa, who went undrafted in the recent MLB entry draft in June and had attended several professional baseball tryout camps since the end of his senior season at UMass.

But any timing was good timing if professional baseball was in the cards, Copa told the Malden Evening News and Medford Daily Mercury.

“When (Angels scout) Nick Gorneau called, all I wanted to know was what time my plane left and how I got to the Angels training facility when I landed in Arizona,” Copa said.” I was thrilled to hear the news. Who wouldn’t be? This is my dream and the dream of probably everyone I ever played with through the years at Malden Cathoilc.”

When he signs his contract, Copa will be the first Malden resident to sign professionally in baseball in over 15 years, since pitcher Keith Forbes inked a pact with the San Diego Padres after being selected in the the 1996 MLB draft.

Copa’s signing with the Angels came as no surprise to his former high school coach Steve Freker of Malden Cathoilc.

"He’s one of the most driven players I’ve ever coached,” Coach Freker said of Copa last night. He’s always put on a ton of time into getting better ever since I’ve known him and like all the other players I’ve coached who signed pro contracts, he’s gotten better at each level."

"I think he’ll continue to get better, that’s the type of player he is,” added Coach Freker, who’s now seen nine of his former players either sign or be drafted professionally, four from his Malden Catholic teams and five from the teams he guided as a former Malden High Baseball coach from 1985-1999.

Medford, MA- Chiefs right-hander Rob Machado threw a no-hitter on Thursday evening as the Chiefs blanked the Reading Bulldogs 4-0 at Tufts University.

Machado used an overpowering fastball combined with sharp slider to strike out nine Bulldogs, including the side in order in both the fifth and seventh innings. The former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst standout threw 103 pitches over the seven inning route.

The Chiefs were forced to go with a patchwork lineup and it paid dividends on this night. No less than four starters from Wednesday’s game, Nick Leva, Mike Baillargeon, Vinny Pennell & Justin Crisafulli, were out of the starting line-up.

Machado retired the Reading side in order in the top of the first and the Chiefs gave him all the runs he would need in their first at bat. Tony Deshler was hit by a Colin McGinn pitch and he went to second on Dave Scioli’s fielder’s choice. Peter Copa then singled up the middle scoring Deshler to give the Chiefs a quick 1-0 lead.

It stayed a one run game until catcher Chad Conner (pictuerd right) drilled a bomb shot solo homer to left leading off the bottom of the fourth inning. Conner was making his first appearance for the Chiefs since 2007 replacing the injured Leva behind the plate.

Machado stayed dominant and his mates finally gave him some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth when they opened the lead to 4-0. Conner, who was 2 for 3 in his return, got things started with a double to center. Mike DiCato drove Conner home and switched places with him at second when he drilled a double of his own into the left field corner. Torrid Mike Barbati, who is 7 for his last 10 and has raised his average to .367, then singled sending DiCato to third. McGinn then got Matt Bolseki swinging for the inning’s first out before Crisafulli, nursing a hamstring injury, came off the bench to pinch hit for Paul Yanakopulos and brought DiCato home with a sacrifice fly to center.

In impressive fashion, Machado was to leave no doubts, striking out the side swinging in the seventh to finalize the no-hitter.

Thursday’s gem was not the first time has Machado flirted in no-hit territory. He was one strike away from the accomplishment back on August 9, 2009. Machado’s bid went by the boards when Lexington rookie pinch-hitter Chris Shaw broke it up on a two out, two strike, opposite field single to left in a 3-0 Chiefs win.

It was the Chiefs first no-hitter since Keith Forbes turned the trick against the Wakefield Merchants at Walsh Field on June 13, 2007. Prior to Forbes, the last Chiefs masterpiece was provided by former Boston Red Sox hurler Mike Carista in a July 14, 1995, win over the Cremone A’s at Morelli Field in Melrose.

In an interesting footnote, Machado’s no-hitter was the first ever for a Chiefs pitcher at Tufts University’s Huskins Field. The team moved there from Playstead Park in 1989. The team’s last two no-hitters were pitched on the road.

Rob Machado’s No-Hitter Inning by Inning
First Inning: Cataldo struck out swinging, B. Flutie popped up, Manzi struck out swinging.
Second Inning: Fischer was HBP, Buitkus grounded to Andre at 3B, Gagnon grounded to Andre at 3B, Hartwell flew to Deshler in CF.
Third Inning: Hasley walked, Russo grounded to Andre at 3B, Cataldo struck out swinging, B. Flutie walked, Manzi grounded out to Scioli at SS.
Fourth Inning: Fischer grounded to Scioli at SS, Buitkus grounded to Andre at 3B, Gagnon flew to Deshler in CF
Fifth Inning: Hartwell struck out swinging, Halsey struck out swinging, Russo struck out swinging.
Sixth Inning: Cataldo grounded to Barbati at 2B, B. Flutie walked, Manzi flew to Deshler in CF, Fischer walked, Buitkus grounded back to Machado
Seventh Inning: Gagnon struck out swinging, Hartwell struck out swinging, Halsey struck out swinging.

Medford, MA- Some major league escapes by Kevin Hayes, along with some marginal Chiefs fielding and base running, added up to a 4-3 loss to the Americans on Wednesday night at Tufts University.

Hayes, the former Worcester State all-star, pitched out of some big time trouble despite allowing eleven hits. The side winding righty-was tough when he had to be, stranding seven Chiefs base runners and striking out eight.

Chiefs veteran Mike DiCato deserved a better fate, allowing just two earned runs on five hits while striking out six.

The Americans jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning when Joe Nixon singled, stole second, and came around to score on a two out outfield error.

The Chiefs tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a Mike Barbati single and a Vinny Pennell RBI double.

The Americans took the lead right back in the lead in the top of the fourth. Medford used singles from Dan Gilchrist and James McConnville, a stolen base, another outfield error, and a wild pitch, to pick up two runs and take a 3-1 lead.

The Chiefs came up with a couple of runs to tie the game up in the home half of the fourth.  Hayes came up with some big time pitching to keep it tied, as the Chiefs threatened for much more. Singles by Copa, Crisafulli, Deshler and Barbati (RBI) and a hit batsman (Nick Leva) drew the Chiefs even at three. With the bases loaded and one out, Hayes got out of the jam when he got Pennell swinging and Mike Baillargeon on an infield grounder.

Bryant University’s Mike DelPonte’s long fifth inning RBI double gave the Americans the lead back at 4-3 in the top of the fifth.

The Chiefs had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. Hayes got two quick outs (Pennell & Baillargeon on fly-outs) before Mike Andre singled to left. Paul Yanakopulos came on to pinch run and went to second on wild pitch. Hayes came up big one more time when he got the red hot Copa to flyout to Dave Ahern down the right field to end the game.

After the Chiefs tied the game in the fourth, Hayes retired eleven of the last thirteen batters he faced, allowing only two singles to Mike Andre.

The Chiefs are right back in action on Thursday when they host the Reading Bulldogs at Tufts at 6:00 PM. The Americans are off until next Wednesday when they host the Watertown Reds.

Lexington, MA- Keith Forbes threw four innings of one-hit ball and his mates unleashed a 16 hit attack as the Chiefs won their fourth straight, 14-1 over the Watertown Reds in Lexington on Monday night.

For Forbes, the former San Diego Padres right-hander, it was his first win in a Chiefs uniform since August 9, 2008. The right-hander served as the Chiefs ace in both 2007 & 2008 before missing all of the last two seasons.

The Chiefs staked Forbes to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Vinny Pennell drew a walk and Mike Baillargeon singled. Mike Andre then flew out to the warning track in center allowing Pennell to tag and go to third. Peter Copa’s double found the left-center field gap scoring both Pennell and Baillargeon for a 2-0 lead. Justin Crisafulli’s single plated Copa and the Chiefs went up 3-zip.

Forbes set the Reds down in order in the bottom of the first which included a nice running catch by Pennell in left on a Sam Sager sinking liner.

A one out walk to Nick Leva and a Pennell double put two runners in scoring position in the Chiefs second inning. They came up empty against Reds starter Mike Antonellis when Leva was thrown out at the plate, attempting to score on Baillargeon’s fly out to right, for an inning ending double play.

A Justin Forman two out single was all the Reds could muster against Forbes in the bottom of the second and Antonellis stranded two Chiefs runners (Copa walk, Crisafulli double) to keep it a 3-0 game heading into the home half of the third.

It stayed that way until the Chiefs added three more runs in the fourth on a Mike Barbati double, walks to Pennell and Andre, an infield error, and sacrifice flies from Baillargeon and Crisafulli.

Forbes struck out a couple in the bottom of the fourth and the Chiefs made it 7-0 in the top of the fifth on a Barbati single, a Leva double, and a sacrifice fly from Pennell.

Veteran southpaw Tim Dunphy came on in relief of Forbes to start the fifth. The Reds got their only run of the night and cut the lead to 7-1 on singles from Jay Olson and Steve Panza sandwiched around a fielder’s choice.

The Chiefs added three more runs in the sixth on singles from Andre and Barbati and doubles by Tony Deshler, Matt Boleski and Leva.

Dunphy worked a scoreless sixth and the Chiefs picked up a four spot in the top of the seventh on Baillargeon, Copa and Deshler singles, a walk to rookie Andy Cavanaugh, and a Barbati sacrifice fly to right.

Tufts University right-hander Jake Crawford spelled Dunphy to begin the seventh and kept the Reds off the scoreboard after allowing a leadoff single to Olson.

The Chiefs are off on Tuesday and begin a two game homestand on Wednesday when they host the Americans at Tufts University starting at 6:00 PM

Medford, MA- Jared Freni tossed a complete game one-hitter and his former UMass-Amherst and Malden Catholic teammate Peter Copa had three singles and a first inning RBI to lead the Chiefs to a 2-0 win over the Watertown Reds at Huskins Field, on the campus of Tufts University, on Sunday afternoon.

For Freni, it was his second quality start and second win in the last six days. Last Monday, he picked up the victory for the Chiefs, going five innings, in a 6-1 win over the Testa Corp. Bombers.

Freni and Reds ace Brian Casey, who was the co-ICL Pitcher of the Year in 2010 with 9-2 record, dueled from the outset.

The Chiefs got what proved to the game winner in the home half of the first inning. Leadoff man Mike Maguire drew the only walk that Casey would allow and stole second. After Casey got both Tony Deshler and Mike Andre to fly out, Copa delivered Maguire from second with a ground single to left.

Casey and Freni took charge from there as both teams went in order until the top of the fourth inning. Sam Sager led off for the Reds and reached on an infield error. Steve Panza followed and delivered a clean sinking single to left to give the Reds their biggest threat of the day with two on and nobody out. Freni escaped the jam when he struck out Ryan Nicholas and catcher Dan Chaisson in succession and then got veteran Steve Busby on an infield grounder to Mike Barbati, who had five assists, to end the inning.

The Chiefs responded and doubled their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth. After Andre flew out, Copa reached on an infield single between the mound and shortstop. Justin Crisafulli then lofted a fly to short left, just out of the reach of the diving Jay Olson, that went for a single and sent Copa to second. Matt Boleski then went the opposite field route and lofted a single just inside the left-field line scoring Copa. Casey escaped further damage when he got Paul Yanakopulos on a ground out and Barbati swinging to keep it a 2-0 game.

Freni set down the Reds in order in the fifth and sixth innings, courtesy of some nice infield defense and two K’s.

The Chiefs threatened again, but could not score, in the sixth on singles by Copa and Crisafulli. Casey stranded them both by getting Boleski to ground out and Yanakopulos to fly to center.

Freni finished strong and got the Reds in order for the third straight time in the top of the seventh (Nicholas pop-up, Chaisson strikeout, Busby groundout) to preserve the shutout and pick up the Chiefs third win in a row.

Freni struck out nine and did not issue a walk. Casey, now 2-2,  scattered six hits and struck out a couple.

The Reds and Chiefs will do battle again on Monday night at Lexington High School starting at 8:00 PM. The game is being played in Lexington while the Reds normal home field in Watertown (Victory Field) is undergoing a facelift.

In a fitting end to a soggy week in the ICL, Saturday's Testa Corp. Bombers at Andre Chiefs game scheduled for noon at Tufts University has been rained out.

Already wet field conditions coupled with heavy rain that hit the Medford area around 8:00 AM this morning rendered Huskins Field unplayable for Saturday.

The recent wet weather has caused havoc with the ICL schedule as no games have been played league-wide since Tuesday. Saturday's rainout represents the 18th postponement in the league since June 4th. The Chiefs alone have now had seven games postponed.

Hopefully the weather will improve on Sunday as six ICL games are on tap; starting with the Chiefs hosting the Reds at Tufts at 1:30 PM, the Blue Sox and Bulldogs in a doubleheader at Reading at 2:30 PM, the Tanners and Trojans in a Ferullo Field twinbill at 3:00 PM and the Bombers hosting the Americans at Maplewood in a 5:00 PM start.

Lexington, MA- Afternoon showers coupled with the forecast of additional rain this evening has caused the postponement of Wednesday's Chiefs at Lexington Blue Sox game that was scheduled in Lexington at 8:00 PM.

The postponement is the sixth for the Chiefs in the last eighteen days as the rainy June weather has put a damper on the ICL schedule so far.

The Chiefs do not return to action until Saturday when they host the Testa Corp. Bombers at Tufts University in an earlier than usual 12:00 noon start. On Sunday, the Chiefs stay at home to meet the Watertown Reds at 1:30 PM. The Chiefs then head to Lexington High on Monday night at 8:00 PM to face the Watertown Reds in a neutral field contest starting at 8:00 PM.

Malden, MA- Jared Freni and Keith Forbes combined on a two-hitter, striking out 14 batters, as the Chiefs knocked off the Testa Corp. Bombers 6-1 at Maplewood Park on Monday night.

Freni, the former UMass-Amherst ace, was dominant in his first start of the season. The hard throwing righty allowed only two hits and struck out ten Bombers in his five innings of work.

Freni gave way to Keith Forbes to start the sixth inning. Forbes, who was making his first appearance for the Chiefs since August 17, 2008, did not disappoint.  He was the ace of the Chiefs staff in 2007 & 2008, when he posted some mighty gaudy numbers like a 9-2 record with 184 strikeouts in just 116 innings, seemed to pick up right where he had left off. The former San Diego Padre worked two hitless and scoreless innings while striking out four of the six batters he faced.

After wasting a Mike Andre double in the top of the first inning, the Chiefs helped out their strike-out minded right-handed duo by picking up single runs in the second, third and fourth innings.

In the second, Nicky Leva’s two out single to right scored Mike Barbati, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.

Singles in the third inning from former Assumption all-American Mike Baillargeon, back from the Can-Am League, and Andre put runners on the corners with no outs. Peter Copa bounced into 6-4-3 doubleplay scoring Baillargeon.

The Chiefs lead went to 3-0 in the fourth. Justin Crisafulli got things going with a single and Bombers starter Jeff Rowan hit Mike Barbati with a pitch. Paul Yanakopulos then moved the runners up a base with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Leva delivered again when he drilled a RBI single to left that scored Crisafulli.

The Chiefs added a couple of runs and took a 5-0 in the fifth. Baillargeon led off with a double into the left-center field gap. Andre drew a walk and Copa brought Baillargeon home with a crisp single to left. After Matt Boleski fouled out, Crisafulli doubled into the right field corner scoring Andre.

The Bombers got to Freni for their only run of the night and cut the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Bob Pease and walks to Lemarre Rey, Mark O’Flynn and Anthony Serino (RBI).

Forbes came on to start the bottom of the sixth inning and retired the side in order, striking out the first two batters he faced.

The Chiefs picked up their final run in the top of the seventh on a Copa single and walks to Boleski, Barbati and Yanakopulos that forced in Copa to make it 6-1.

Forbes got the Bombers in order again in the seventh with two strikeouts sandwiched around an infield pop-up.

The Chiefs are off on Tuesday and return to ICL action on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM when thye travel to meet the Blue Sox at Lexington High School.

Medford, MA- Veteran Southpaw Tim Dunphy gave the Chiefs a much needed six solid innings on the mound and his mates backed him with a 16 hit attack as the Chiefs broke a three game losing skid with a 13-2 win over the Americans at Playstead Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Chiefs got just what the doctor ordered when they staked Dunphy to a four run lead in the top of the first inning. Mike Maguire led off and reached on an error and Paul Yanakopoulos followed with a double to right. Mike Andre plated them both with a two RBI single and the Chiefs were off to a quick 2-0 lead. Justin Crisafulli drew a walk and Matt Boleski moved both runners up a base with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Dave Scioli then drilled a single to left scoring Andre to make it 3-0. Mike DiCato followed suit with another line single and the Chiefs were up 4-zip.

Starter Steve Albano (Babson, Andover, MA) settled down and got the Chiefs in order in the second. The Americans responded by cutting the lead in half (4-2) using singles from Danny Gunn, Jake Ohanesian and Dan Gilchrist sandwiched around a walk to Mike Burgoyne and a hit batsman.

The Chiefs opened up the lead to 10-2 when they picked up a six spot in the top of the third. Crisafulli and Boleski opened the frame up with singles and Scioli reached on an error to load the bases. DiCato picked up his second RBI of the game with another single, scoring Crisafulli, to make it 5-2. Mike Barbati then delivered a double into the right field corner that scored Boleski and Scioli. After Nick Leva grounded out, Maguire followed with a single and Yanakopoulos reached on an infield error. Andre picked up his third and fourth RBI of the afternoon when he followed with a long double off the fence in right, scoring both Maguire and Yanakopoulos, to jump the Chiefs lead to 10-2.

It stayed that way until the top of the seventh as Dunphy and Americans reliever Orazio Azzarello both settled down.

The Chiefs added three more runs in the top of the seventh. Yanakopoulos got things going with a single and Andre drew a base on balls. Crisafulli followed with a single to left that scored Yanakopoulos as Andre was thrown out on the play trying to advance to third. Boleski then singled sharply to right before Azzarello caught Scioli looking for the inning's second out. DiCato then delivered a long double to left-center scoring pinch runner Andy Cavanaugh. Barbati then picked up his second hit and third RBI of the afternoon with a single to left scoring Boleski to make it a 13-2 game.

Dunphy, the former Brandeis star, yielded eight hits and struck out four before giving way to Jared Freni who worked a 1-2-3 seventh with a strikeout.

The Chiefs are off on Sunday and return to action on Monday night when they travel to Maplewood Park, on the campus of Malden Catholic, to meet the Testa Corp. Bombers in an 8:00 PM start.
FOR GAME BOX SCORE CLICK ON: www.IntercityLeagueBaseball.com

Woburn, MA- Tufts University rookie right-hander Jake Crawford looked good in his first meaningful ICL appearnce. Veteran third baseman Mike Andre was 2 for 3 with a couple of runs scored, two RBI and reached base four times. Justin Crisafulli had two hits. Brandeis star Tony Deshler returned to the lineup and had a hit.That was it for the Chiefs in the good news department. Period.

Now the bad news and there was plenty. The already depleted and injured riddled line-up got a bit thinner. Standout first baseman Peter Copa suffered a lower leg injury and was forced to leave the game in the third inning. Crisafulli injured a hamstring in fourth inning. And, to add insult to injury, the locals dropped their third straight outing, once again coming apart at the seams defensively, as the Mooney Dental Tanners furnished some big time clutch hitting and took advantage of some ring-master like second inning Chiefs defense to score nine times before holding on to an 11-9 win at Ferullo Field.

The Chiefs actually took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on doubles by Crisafulli and Andre and closed a 9-2 Tanner lead to 11-9 in the seventh.

Crawford worked three innings plus in relief of starter and loser Rob Machado (1-2). The Idaho native surrrendered five hits, struck out two and didn't walk a batter. Jared Freni worked the final 1.1 innings for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs will look get back on track on Saturday afternoon when they play the Medford Americans at Playstead Park starting at 1:30 PM.

Medford, MA- Colby Sawyer lefty Brendan Harding tossed a neat one-hitter, striking out two, as the Arlington Trojans beat the Chiefs for the second time in five days, this time 2-0 at Tufts University on Wednesday night.

Chiefs veteran righty Mike DiCato was almost as good but was touched up for three straight hits and a couple of runs, all with two away in the first inning. 

With two in the book in the first, Pete Creamer singled and former Bentley star Jim Roche delivered him with a long double to the left-centerfield gap. Don Walter followed with another single, just out of the reach of the diving Chiefs right-fielder Andy Cavanaugh, that plated Roche and concluded the evening's scoring early.

Dave Scioli's clean one out single in the second was all the offense the Chiefs could muster against Harding, who need just 80 pitches to get his second win of the season. His earlier win was against the Wakefield Merchants on June 8.

DiCato (0-1), allowed just three more hits after the first inning, two of the infield variety. The former UMass-Amherst standout threw just 73 pitches and did not allow a walk over the seven inning route.

The Chiefs are right back in action on Thursday night when they travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn to meet the Mooney Dental Tanners in an earlier than usual 6:00 PM start.

The Chiefs are expected to send right-hander Rob Machado to the mound.

Arlington, MA- The Arlington Trojans took advantage of five Chiefs errors and scored eight uneraned runs to take an 8-5 win at Summer Street Field on Friday night.

Rob Machado suffered the loss, working five innings and giving up eight hits. Tim Dunphy (0.1 innings) and Tufts rookie Jake Crawford (0.2 innings) worked the sixth.

The Chiefs battled back from a five run first inning hole to tie the game at 5-5 only to see it slip away in the sixth.

The Chiefs began to peck away at the Trojan lead in the top of the second. Mike Andre led things off with a single and went to third when Bernie Driscoll's grounder was thrown high to first. Mike DiCato followed with a two RBI single to left that scored Andre and Driscoll.

Matt Boleski drilled a solo homer to right in the top of the third that cut the Arlington lead to 5-3.

The Chiefs came all the way back and tied the game at 5-5 when veteran Justin Crisafulli drove in Anthony Weiner and Boleski, who had both singled, with a double to left-center.

Two more Chiefs miscues, a passed ball, a single up the middle by Morgan Brown and an infield bunt single by Jim Roche accounted for the three Trojan runs in the home half of the sixth inning.

The Tanners at Chiefs game scheduled for Saturday was rained out.

Weather permitting, the Chiefs will play a doubleheader at Morton Field in Reading on Sunday starting at 1:30 PM. Watch this website for any weather updates.

Medford, MA- Former Kansas City Royals farmhand and Franklin Pierce star Vinny Pennell made his ICL debut a memorable one, going 3 for 4 including a two run homer and double, to lead the Chiefs to a 9-5 comeback win over the Testa Corp. Bombers in the season opener at Tufts University on Sunday afternoon.

Pennell led a ten hit Chiefs attack that saw them turn around a 4-2 fifth inning deficit into the win. Righty Rob Machado (Everett, MA, UMass-Amherst) went 5.2 innings to get the win before giving way to southpaw Tim Dunphy (Brandeis, Namur Angels).

Machado set the Bombers down in order in the top of the first. The Chiefs gave the big former Malden Catholic right-hander a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning when they loaded the bases on singles from Jesse Bruinsma (Lynnfield, MA, Curry), Pennell and Justin Crisafulli (Cleveland Indians, Central Missouri). Mike Andre (Medford, MA, Merrimack) gave the Chiefs their first run of the season when he lifted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Bruinsma.

The Bombers erased the Chiefs lead in the top of the second on singles by Alex Farkes and Bob Pease and a Devin Perry double. The visitor’s lead went to 3-1 an inning later courtesy of the Adessa brothers when Mike singled home younger brother Mark who had doubled.

The Chiefs closed to 3-2 in the home half of the third. Bruinsma and Dave Scioli (Somerville, MA, Salem State) both singled to open the frame. Pennell then grounded into a fielder’s choice that forced Scioli at second and moved Bruinsma to third. Crisafulli then popped up and before Andre drew a walk, Bruinsma scored when Bombers starter Glen Misho uncorked a wild pitch.

Testa made it a two run margin once again in the top of the fourth on Perry’s second double of the day and another Pease RBI single.

Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Chiefs rallied for five big runs to a take a 7-4 lead. Brunisma reached base for the third straight time when he drew a walk. After Misho struck out Scioli, Pennell lifted a double to the base of fence in right sending Bruinsma to third. Crisafulli followed and his RBI grounder scored Bruinsma. When Mark Addesa’s throw was low to first, Pennell came around to score and tie the game at four. Andre then drew his second consecutive walk before veteran Matt Boleski (Medford, MA, MassBay) drilled a laser shot double to the fence in straight-away center scoring Crisafulli and Andre giving the Chiefs a 6-4 lead. Misho got catcher Nick Leva (Cambridge, MA, Southern NH) to ground out before Mike DiCato gave the Chiefs a 7-4 lead when he singled to left scoring Boleski.

Machado gave way to Dunphy with two outs and two on in the sixth. Dunphy got Perry on a comebacker to end the Testa threat. Pennell put it out of reach at 9-4 when he drilled a two run homer over the 379’ foot sign in right-center scoring Scioli, who had singled, ahead of him.

A Mark Addesa double and a Farkes RBI groundout gave the Bombers their final run in the top of the seventh and accounted for the 9-5 final.
Go to www.intercityleaguebaseball.com for BOXSCORE

Chiefs Notebook….Machado threw 95 pitches over the 5.2 innings that he worked. He struck out five and allowed seven hits.....The Chiefs were without Mike Baillargeon, Tim Dempsey (knee), Matt Anderson (bicep), Paul Yanakopulos and Peter Copa (hamstring)…The team is off until Thursday when they host the Wakefield Merchants at Tufts starting at 6:00 PM as they begin a busy five games in a four day stretch...... On Friday the Chiefs travel to Arlington to meet the Trojans at 7:00 PM, return home on Saturday afternoon to entertain the Mooney Tanners of Woburn at 1:30 PM before heading north to meet the Reading Bulldogs in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader….

The Chiefs and outstanding baseball tradition have been synonymous in Medford, Massachusetts since 1957. Carrying the Hosmer Chiefs name from 1958 to the 1984 and the Andre Chiefs banner from 1989 to the present, the Chiefs have exemplified a consistent winning baseball atmosphere. Last season marked the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the Chiefs.
The Championships
Through the years the Chiefs have brought 17 baseball championships to the City of Medford, Massachusetts. They have won 21 Suburban Twilight League or Intercity League pennants. Remarkably, the Chiefs have recorded a winning record and have made the playoffs in 45 of their 47 summers of playing baseball.
The Franchise
The Chiefs franchise carries a winning percentage of almost .700 over the 2,200 games they have played over seven decades. In 1966, the Chiefs were named as the top semi-professional team in America. Since 1957 they have had only five managers, Ernie Ardolino (1957-1960), Lenny Dempsey (1961-1967), Joe O’Donnell (1968-1981), Bob DeFelice (1982-1984) and current manager Chuck Andre 1989-present.
The 2011 Coaching Staff
Chuck Andre-Manager (Boston College) completed his 20^th year at the helm in 2010. He recorded his 400^th career win in 2007 and played for the Chiefs from 1974-1980. Andre, who now has a career managerial record of 462-267-65, has piloted the club to 18 playoff appearances, seven regular season pennants and four Intercity League Championships. A former right handed pitcher, he has missed the ICL postseason just twice as a player or manager in 26 seasons. He was inducted into the Medford High School Hall of Fame in 1995. 
Paul Crisafulli-Assistant Manager (NEBI, 13th Season). Coach Crisafulli first came aboard with the Chiefs in 1997 and has served as a member of the coaching staff since 2001.
Steve Calabresi-Coach Longtime Arlington Catholic Coach re-joins the Chiefs staff in 2011. Calabresi was with the organization from 1989 to 1995.
The Tradition
The Chiefs baseball tradition runs deep, as sons have followed their fathers and grandfathers in wearing the uniform. Over the years playing for the Chiefs became a sandlot baseball fantasy place where batboys became managers and players, ball boys became major league pitchers and many became baseball legends. As former manager O’Donnell (1968-1981) said at a Chiefs reunion banquet, “once a Chief, always a Chief.” Still today, Chiefs players from decades gone by return to watch their team play. There always seems to be an old Chiefs player or two in the crowd.
Alumni
Through the years, Chiefs mystique, championships and professionalism always remained constant. Almost 600 semi-professional ballplayers at one time or another wore the Chiefs uniform. It is estimated that over 110 of those players at some point signed a professional baseball contract. Two former Chiefs have even appeared in the World Series, Mike Pagliarulo with the Minnesota Twins in 1991 and Kevin McGlinchy with the Atlanta Braves in 1999.
Huskins Field at Tufts University Located in Medford, Massachusetts
The Chiefs play their home games at beautiful Huskins Field which is located on College Avenue on the campus of Tufts University, considered to be one of the finest natural grass surfaces in the Northeast.
Record Book
In the record book department, the Chiefs have bragging rights to the two all time winning pitchers in ICL history, Fred Knox (1957-1973) and Dave Marsters (1989-2008) both who have recorded over 110 career victories. Former Cleveland Indian outfielder Justin Crisafulli, who is the Chiefs team captain and career home run leader with 86 and RBI leader with 380, will return for his 15th season.
Complete Chiefs History
For a complete franchise history click on "Chiefs History" in left column.

2010 Archive

After sixty years of continuous operation, the Intercity League has announced its inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees. The Intercity League has provided the Greater Boston area with some of the finest amateur baseball talent since 1950.

The first class of Hall of Famers was selected from the estimated 5,000 players, managers, officials, umpires and others that have participated in the league since its inception. In addition, an ICL “Franchise of the Decade” for each the six decades the league has been in existence will also be honored.

The league will also recognize its 2010 award winners at the event including the champion Lexington Blue Sox.

The induction ceremony will be the focus of the ICL’s “Hall of Fame, Awards & Reunion Dinner” that will take place on Friday evening, November 12, 2010, at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham, MA.
Contact Event Coordinator Orazio Azzarello at (617) 839-1488 or e-mail ICLHallofFame@yahoo.com for ticket information and other details.

Tickets are priced at $50 per person or $500 for table of ten. More Soon.

Franchise of the Decade
1950-1959 North Cambridge Club
1960-1969 North Cambridge Club (Special recognition to the Hosmer Chiefs)
1970-1979 Hosmer Chiefs
1980-1989 Augustine’s A’s & Melrose Rams (tie)
1990-1999 Andre Chiefs
2000-2010 Lexington Blue Sox

Intercity League Baseball- Charter Hall of Fame Inductees
Harry “Red” Butland ICL Founder (North Cambridge)
Fred Campatelli Player (Augustine's A’s)
Tom Cassell Player-Manager-Official (Cassell Club)
Dave Clivio Player (Chiefs & Mustangs)
Jim Curley Player (Merchants)
Bob DeFelice Player-Manager (Chiefs & Typos)
Dick DeFeo Player (Merchants)
Lenny Dempsey Player-Manager (Chiefs)
Les DeMarco Player-Manager-Official (Merchants)
Eddie DiGiacomo Player-Manager (Mustangs)
Joe DiSarcina Player-Manager (Augustine's A’s)
Steve Freker Media (Medford Mercury/Malden Evening News)
Bob Gibbs Manager-Official (Arlex)
John Hosmer Sponsor (Chiefs)
Fred Knox Player (Chiefs)
Bernie Murphy Umpire
Joe O’Donnell Player-Manager-Official (Chiefs)
Jimmy Quinn Player-Manager (North Cambridge)
Dick Rigazio Player-Manager (North Cambridge)

Watertown, MA- The Reds took Game Three 5-4 to sweep thier semi-final series against the Chiefs on Friday night at Victory Field.

Brendan Casey went the distance to get the win strking out ten and allowing eleven hits. The Reds winning runs came in the fifth inning on singles from Josh Chasse and Sean Callahan-Montague and a double from Steve Busby off Chiefs starter Rob Machado.

Chasse, Callahan-Montague, Luke Begley and Dan Chaisson each had two hits for the Reds while Tim Dempsey, Mike Andre and Matt Anderson had a couple each for the Chiefs.

The Reds move on to the ICL's Championship Series which begins on Monday.

Full coverage of the Intercity League Playoffs is provided by Bruce Hack at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com.

Medford, MA- The Watertown Reds broke a scoreless tie in the top of the eleventh inning, on hits from Josh Chasse, Bryan Evans and Sam Sager, to beat the Chiefs 1-0 in one of the longest ICL playoff games ever played.

In Game Two, Brian Casey, who came on in the 10th inning to get the win in Game One, went the distance and picked up his second win of the night in the 5-2 victory. Casey went the distance and allowed five hits while striking out seven. Steve Busby and Sean Callahan-Montague each had two RBI's for the Reds. Dylan Ellis got the loss. Tim Dempsey, Mike Andre and Mike Gedman had doubles for the Chiefs.

Both games were played at Tufts University's Huskins Field.

The Chiefs face a do or die date with the Reds at Victory Field in Game Three on Friday at 7:00 PM.

Full coverage of the Intercity League Playoffs is provided by Bruce Hack at www.intercityleaguebaseball.com.

Woburn, MA- Jared Freni turned in the most dominating performance of his ICL career, striking out 17 batters, to lead the Chiefs to a 3-0 win over the Mooney Dental Tanners at Ferullo Field on Friday night. With the win, the Chiefs clinch a first round playoff bye for the second consecutive season.

Freni broke the Chiefs record for strikeouts in a game that was previously held by former San Diego Padres right-hander Keith Forbes, who struck out 16 batters against the Americans on July 1, 2007.

Tanner righty Phil Recco made certain that this important Chiefs win was not going to come in easy fashion. He retired the first eleven batters he faced in a row until Mike Andre broke the string with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.

The Chiefs went in order in the top of the first inning (Paul Yanakopulos groundout, Bob McCarthy popup, Andre lineout) and Freni retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, recording his first two strikeouts.

Recco got the Chiefs 1-2-3 in the top of the second (Justin Crisafulli grounder, Matt Anderson flyout and Tony Deshler groundout). The Tanners got the first baserunner of the night, albeit briefly, in the bottom of the inning when Mark Nardelli led off with a line single to center. Freni caught Nardelli leaning the wrong way and promptly picked him off first. He ended the inning by striking out Keegan DeNapoli and Tim Mullin.

Recco stayed tough and set the Chiefs down quickly in the top of the third. (Brian Macrina groundout, Matt Boleski flyout to right, Mike Barbati groundout).The Tanners appeared poised to take the lead in the bottom of the nning when they loaded the bases with one out. Cote singled to right and Joe Harvey popped a bunt single over the charging Andre at third. Freni struck out Stokik for the first out before Watkins delivered the third single of the frame to center with Cote being held up at third. Freni dominated the next two hitters striking out Carlton Lentini and Joe Smith in succession to end the Tanner threat.

The Chiefs got their first baserunner and broke through for a huge unearned run in the top of the fourth. After Recco got Yanakopulos on strikes and McCarthy on a sharp grounder to short, Andre drilled a liner to right which Harvey dove at and it got by him and carried all the way to the wall for a triple. The Chiefs caught a break when Crisafulli’s grounder was juggled by Cote at second base allowing Andre to score. 

With the 1-0 lead, Freni was untouchable in both the fourth and fifth innings as he struck out six consecutive batters.

Chiefs Third Baseman Mike Andre

The Chiefs finally gave their hard throwing right-hander some breathing room when they picked up a couple of huge insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Mike Barbati led off the inning with a sinking line single to right. Harvey went into a dive and missed the ball allowing Barbati to come all the way around to score on a play that was officially scored as a single and a three base error. Recco struck out Yanakopulos for the first out before McCarthy lined a single to center and stole second. Andre then plated McCarthy with a line RBI single to right giving Freni a 3-0 lead. Crisafulli followed with bloop single to right but Recco escaped further damage when he K’d Anderson and got Deshler on groundout.

The Tanners had their second scoring threat of the night in the bottom of the sixth when Watkins and Lentini both singled with no outs. Freni kept the shutout intact when he struck out Smith and Nardelli and got DeNapoli on a hard hit liner to Bolseki in center.

Recco stranded a Chiefs runner at third in the top of the seventh. Macrina led off and reached on an infield error and rookie Sean Glabicky pinch ran for him. Recco then got Boleski on an outfield fly for the first out and Barbati moved Glabicky to second with a fielder’s choice. The Malden Catholic rookie went to third on a passed ball but was left there when Recco got Yanakopulos on a groundout.

Freni worked a quick seventh, registering K's 16 and 17 of the night.With the win, Freni goes to 4-2 on the season and lowered his ERA to 0.72. The former UMass-Amherst captain and Malden Catholic all-scholastic has struck out 68 batters in just 48.1 innings so far this season.

The Chiefs regular season final against the Americans has been cancelled.

Reading, MA- Rob Machado spun a complete game five-hitter and the Chiefs backed him with five early runs to win their second game in Reading in as many nights, 5-1 at Morton Field on Wednesday.

Machado was in control from start to finish, striking out nine, in his first start of the season. The righty, from UMass-Amherst via Malden Catholic, had made seven previous mound appearances out of the bullpen this year.

The Chiefs jumped on Bulldog starter Brian Millea (1-1) for three runs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff man Paul Yanakopulos flew out and Bob McCarthy drew a full count walk. Tim Dempsey then flew to the warning track in right for the second out of the inning. Justin Crisafulli drew a walk and Mike Andre (photo left) followed and gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead when he doubled to left-center scoring McCarthy and sending Crisafulli to third. With Tony Deshler at the plate, Millea uncorked a wild pitch allowing Crisafulli to score, making it 2-0. Deshler singled on the next pitch scoring Andre, staking Machado to a 3-0 lead.

Machado recorded two strikeouts in each of the first two innings and the Chiefs lead increased to 5-0 in the top of the third when they scored two unearned runs. Andre drew a two out walk and Deshler sent him to third with a double off the base of the fence in left-center. The Chiefs caught a break when rookie Sean Glabicky struck out on a pitch in the dirt and the throw to get him at first sailed into rightfield allowing both Andre and Deshler to score.

Machado was in cruise control until the Bulldogs picked up their only run of the night in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Steve Buitkus, a catcher’s interference with John Halsey at the plate, and a RBI single from T.J. Murphy.

In the sixth, Machado allowed a two out single to Mike Russo, who was promptly thrown out trying to steal second by McCarthy.

Machado got the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the seventh, which included a fine defensive play by second baseman Mike Barbati for the first out.

Deshler (pictured left) and Andre each reached base three times for the Chiefs.

With the win, Machado lowered his ERA to 2.00 and has now struck out 15 batters in 14 innings in his eight mound appearances.

The Chiefs are off on Thursday and will travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn for an 8:00 PM Friday date with the Mooney Dental Tanners.

Jared Freni (3-2) is expected to get the start for the Chiefs.

Reading, MA- Lefty Kevin Gilchrist won his third straight decision and his Tufts University teammate Pat O’Donnell retired the last six batters of the game, to record the save, as the Chiefs beat the Bulldogs 5-3 at Reading’s Morton Field.

The Chiefs staked Gilchrist to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Tim Dempsey singled with two outs, stole second, and scored on Justin Crisafulli’s RBI single.

The lead went to 4-0 in the top of the second inning. Tony Deshler drew a walk from Bulldog starter Andrew Bishop. Mike Barbati reached on a slow roller to shortstop that was scored an error. Malden Catholic Rookie Sean Glabicky, in his first ICL at bat, moved the runners up to second and third with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Tim Dunphy followed and was hit by a Bishop pitch to load the bases. Another Malden Catholic rookie, Paul Yanakopulos then hit a long sacrifice fly to right scoring Deshler and giving the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. With runners at first and third, Bishop balked home Barbati with the third run. Yet another Malden Catholic rookie, Justin Sencabaugh, then delivered Dunphy with a line single to left-center to make it 4-0.

The Bulldogs closed the gap to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Steve Panza’s RBI double.

It became a one run game in the bottom of the fifth when Reading came up with two unearned runs on an outfield error and singles from T.J. Murphy, Dave Dellorfon and Bishop.

O’Donnell came on to start the sixth for Gilchrist and retired the side in order on two fly balls and an infield popup.

The Chiefs added an insurance run in top of the seventh inning. Glabicky led things off with a walk and Matt Anderson singled. Yanakopulos then dropped a bunt single that loaded the bases. Matt Boleski, then pinch hit for Senacabaugh (see Chiefs Notes below) and struck out. Dempsey followed with a sacrifice fly to left scoring Glabicky to make it 5-3.

O’Donnell preserved the win when he got the side in order in the bottom of the seventh on a strikeout, a fly to Boleski in right, and a grounder to Yanakopulos at shortstop.

Gilchrist (3-0), worked five innings, allowed just one earned run, surrendered five hits and struck out three.

The Chiefs and Bulldogs are right back at it on Wednesday night in Reading at 6:00 PM.

Wakefield, MA- Former Bentley standout Jarrod Marchesi (5-1) went the distance, allowing ten hits, to get the Merchants past the Chiefs 4-3 at Walsh Field.

Marchesi pitched out of trouble all evening long, including a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning. The right-hander was aided by some fine Merchant glove work as the hosts turned in three doubleplays.

Dave Orlowitz, John Zageria, Scott Searles and Mike Sorrentino all had hits in the bottom of the second inning when the Merchants scored all of their runs of Chiefs starter Dylan Ellis (6-2), who allowed six hits and struck out four.

The Chiefs made it game when they scored three runs in the fifth on singles from Matt Anderson, Paul Yanokopulos and Tony Deshler to go along with an infield error by the Merchants.

Mike Gedman reached base four times for the Chiefs with three singles and a walk.

The Chiefs travel to Morton Field in Reading to meet the Bulldogs on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.

Medford, MA- With all due respect to Reds righty Karl Alexander, who threw a tidy five hit shutout gem, the Chiefs turned in another anemic offensive performance that led to a 2-0 defeat at Huskins Field on Saturday afternoon. It was the third time the locals were shutout in their last five games as they have only scored three times over that same five game time frame.

The lineup shuffling continued as the once potent Chiefs attack struggles to find some offensive support for its still powerful pitching staff. They are minus no less than six starters from the opening day lineup and no less than eight regulars from last season’s championship finalists.

Currently out of the lineup are Mike Baillargeon, who signed professionally with the Can-Am League, Jeff Bercume who signed with the Oakland A’s, Dario Pizzano who signed with the North Shore Shore Navigators, Hal Landers who signed with Front Royal Cardinals, Brendan Pyburn who has been out with injuries for six weeks, Peter Copa who is done for the season after undergoing surgery last Monday and Brain Macrina who is still out with a nagging hamstring problem. Although still strong, the pitching staff has not avoided the injury bug or the defection scenario with Dan Lozeau (elbow), Mike DiCato (shoulder) and Isaac Oakley (hamstring) out with injuries to go along with Eric Perrault (signed with North Adams Steeplecats) and Ryan O’Rourke (signed with the Minnesota Twins) gone from the opening day roster.

Overcoming two, three, four or even five injuries or defections certainly seemed possible with the depth and talent of this edition of the Chiefs over the first half of the 2010 season. But when the numbers start to approach the ten, eleven and twelve level, the odds of overcoming that scenario becomes increasingly insurmountable.

It was the same old story on Saturday, just as every other game over the last two weeks, when the Chiefs got another outstanding pitching performance, this time from Jared Freni, but just could not muster any offensive support. Alexander (2-3) allowed just five hits and cruised to a complete game shutout win. The Reds won the game in the top of the seventh when pinch-hitter Brain Casey led off with a single. Leadoff man Sam Sager followed with another single to left. Veteran Luke Begley then attempted a sacrifice bunt which first baseman Matt Anderson fielded and threw Casey out at third. Lefty Tim Dunphy then replaced Freni, who had thrown 102 pitches, he and got Chris Burke to pop out. Begley stole second and with the count 2-2, Sean Callahan delivered a check swing single to left, scoring both Sager and Begley, giving the Reds the win.

Alexander (2-3) from Bates College, struck out five and did not issue a walk. Freni (3-2), allowed six hits and struck out seven in his 6.1 innings of work.

"Obviously we are struggling to find some consisent offense", said Chiefs manager Chuck Andre. "Despite the injuries and the signings, which by the way, we are pleased because its shows the caliber of player this franchise attracts, we still have some serious veteran bats in this lineup that we need to step up and carry us into the playoffs", he added.

The Chiefs will attempt to rebound on Sunday when they send staff ace Dylan Ellis (6-1) to the hill against the Merchants at Walsh Field in Wakefield in a 5:30 PM start. -B.Tilman

East Boston, MA- Southpaw Kevin Gilchrist of Tufts University turned in a lights out, four inning, one hit relief performance as the undermanned Chiefs shutout the Testa Corp. Bombers 2-0 at East Boston Stadium on Tuesday night.

Gilchrist came on to begin the fourth inning for Chiefs starter Jared Freni with the game tied at 0-0 and came up huge, allowing only an infield single, as he retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced.  

Freni and Bombers hard luck loser Glen Misho traded zeros over the first three frames. Freni struck out six batters but was not at his sharpest as he walked two, allowed four singles and hit two batters.

The Chiefs threatened to score in the top of the first inning. After Misho struck out Bob McCarthy and got Paul Yanakopulos to ground out, Tim Dempsey reached on an infield error and stole second. Rookie Justin Sencabaugh then hit an infield single to deep shortstop to put runners on the corners with two out. With Mike Andre at the plate, Misho uncorked a wild pitch and Dempsey tried to score but was tagged out on a nice recovery by catcher Derek Sturkel.

Freni struck out Mark O’Flynn and Pete John to open the bottom of the first before allowing consecutive singles to Josh Klimkiewicz and the red hot Mike Addesa. The count went full on Stan DeMartinis and, with the runners in motion a tad early, Freni stepped off the rubber and caught Klimkiewicz going to third with Andre applying the tag.

Misho got the Chiefs 1-2-3 in the second (Andre flyout, Anderson and Boleski groundouts).

The Bombers missed a huge scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second inning when Freni pitched out of a bases loaded, nobody out fix. DeMartinis got things started when he led off the inning with a single. Freni hit Anthony Serino with a pitch and walked Lamarre Rey to fill the bases. Freni reached back and came up big, striking out Chris Smart and Sturkel for the first two outs, before escaping the jam when he got O’Flynn to fly to Sencabaugh in shallow left.

Misho stayed tough in the top of the third, striking out Eric Rosenberg and getting Mike Barbati on a groundout to Klimkiewicz at first, before walking McCarthy. The game moved to the bottom of the third when Misho got Yanakopulos to ground sharply to Addesa at third.

The Bombers kept the pressure on in the bottom of the third but Freni again denied them, pitching out of another bases loaded predicament. Freni hit John with a fastball and Klimkiewicz followed with a single. He then recorded another huge strikeout, getting the dangerous Addesa swinging. DeMartinis followed and drew a base on balls to load the bases with one out. Freni got the second large strikeout of the inning, and his sixth of the night, when he K’d Serino. Still not out of the inning, he kept it a scoreless game when he got Rey to ground to Barbati at second.

Misho again got the Chiefs in order in the fourth when Dempsey grounded out, Sencabaugh struck out and Andre flew out.

Gilchrist came out of the bullpen to start the bottom of the fourth and immediately seized control of the game retiring the Bombers in order, including a strikeout of Sturkel.

The Chiefs took advantage of a little Misho wildness and played some small ball to score the game’s only runs in the top of the fifth. Anderson drew a full count walk and Boleski was hit by a pitch while attempting to sacrifice, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Rosenberg then laid down a text book sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with one away. Barbati followed and hit a sharp grounder to the drawn in Klimkiewicz at first for the second out with the runners forced to hold. McCarthy was next and he just beat out an infield single on a bang-bang play at first, allowing Anderson to score the game’s first run. Yanakopulos followed with a line RBI single to center scoring Boleski with the second run. Misho averted further trouble when he struck out Dempsey swinging to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Gilchrist got John to ground to Yanakopulos at shortstop, struck out Klimkiewicz, and got Addesa to fly to Sencabaugh, as he worked his second straight 1-2-3 frame.  Misho returned the favor and set the Chiefs down in order in the top of the sixth.

Gilchrist stayed poised and perfect in the sixth, striking out DeMartinis and Serino both looking for the first two outs before Rey flew out to left, the ninth consecutive batter he retired.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Chiefs got a runner in scoring position when Barbati drew a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Misho sent the game into the home half of the seventh at 2-0 when McCarthy grounded out to end the inning.

The Bombers got their first hit off Gilchrist to open the seventh. Smart hit a hard grounder over the third base bag which Andre dove and came up with, but the throw from his knees was half a step late. Unfazed, Gilchrist bore down and got Sturkel on fly to Boleski in right, O’Flynn on a grounder to Yanakopulos at short and ended things when he got John to fly to Dempsey in center.

Gilchrist (2-0) of Medford, MA, picked up the win and combined with Freni, his fellow Malden Cathoilc alum, to strikeout ten batters.

Misho (3-1) of Cathoilc Memorial and UMass-Amherst, allowed just three hits, struck out five and walked three, while suffering his first ICL defeat.

Medford, MA- The mastery of Matt Karis combined with some pretty lousy defense led to a 5-1 win for the Lexington Blue Sox at Tufts University on Thursday night.

Chiefs starter Tim Dunphy was the principal victim of the non-support, as his mates made a season high four errors behind him. The miscues led to all four runs charged to him being unearned.

After a scoreless first inning the Chiefs handed the Blue Sox a 2-0 lead in the second. Dan Graham led off and reached on an error by Peter Copa at second. Former Suffolk star Nick Martinho drew a full count walk and Matt McEvoy moved both runners up to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. With the Chiefs infield drawn in, Dunphy got Eric Poling to line out to Tony Deshler at shortstop for the second out. Deshler then kicked Ryan Duff’s apparent inning ending grounder allowing Graham to score the first run. Eckerd’s Dan Capra followed with a single to right scoring Martinho with run number two. Dunphy ended the inning when he got Pete Frates to ground to Copa.

Mike Gedman started the Chiefs second with a single but was quickly erased when Justin Crisafulli hit into a 6-4-3 doubleplay.

The only baserunner either Dunphy or Karis would allow over the next two innings would be a Copa two out single in the bottom of the fourth.

The Blue Sox took advantage of more sloppy defense and doubled their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning. After Duff grounded out trouble began when Deshler threw Capra’s routine grounder wide of first. Frates followed with a single that sent Capra to third. Ross Curley was next and he hit a RBI sacrifice fly to rightfield, that Gedman misplayed for an error. The lead went to 4-0 on Graham’s fielder’s choice.

Matt Anderson drew a two out walk in the bottom of the fifth but Karis sent the game into the sixth when he got rookie pinch-hitter Paul Yanakopulos, who was hitting for Deshler, to line out to Duff at shortstop.

Jeff DeCarlo (photo left) came on for Dunphy and worked a scoreless sixth and the Chiefs wasted a double from Tim Dempsey in the bottom of the inning.

The Sox got their fifth run in the seventh off Pat O’Donnell. After striking out Frates to start the inning, Curley doubled and Hewett singled. Tufts teammate Kevin Gilchrist came on to face Graham. Curley scored when the Chiefs did not convert the back end of a 6-4-3 doubleplay.

The Chiefs averted the shutout in the bottom of the seventh when Mike Andre doubled home Gedman who had singled.

Dunphy worked five innings and allowed just two hits while striking out a couple.Karis, now 5-0, scattered six hits and struck out four. The righty has allowed just two runs in 35.0 innings this season.

Both the Chiefs and Blue Sox are back in action on Friday. The Chiefs travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn to meet the Mooney Tanners and the Sox host the Testa Corp. Bombers in Lexington. Both games start at 8:00 PM.

Watertown, MA- Hits and runs were at a premium as the Chiefs and Watertown Reds played a to a scoreless nine inning tie at Victory Field on Wednesday night.

Reds right-hander Brendan Casey and Chiefs lefty Dylan Ellis hooked up in an old fashioned pitcher’s duel with neither allowing a run. Casey worked the first 7.1 innings before giving way to reliever Charlie DeFrancesco. Ellis went the nine inning route for the Chiefs.Casey allowed five hits and struck out seven batters. DeFrancesco did not allow a hit and struck out a batter in his 1.2 innings. Ellis scattered four hits, walked two, hit a batter, and struck out eight.

Both teams had opportunities to score but could not break through. For the Reds, they got two men on in the second inning (Steve Busby single, Nate Izzo walk) but Ellis escaped when Jay Olson hit into a 6-4-3 doubleplay. The Reds got Izzo to third with one out in the fifth when he singled, stole second, and went to third when catcher Bob McCarthy’s throw went into centerfield. Ellis struck out both Olson and Sean Callahan to end the threat. Izzo was at the center of another Reds threat in the bottom of the eighth when he singled and was sacrificed to second by Olson. The Chiefs intentionally walked Callahan before Elllis struck out Dan Chaisson. Sam Sager then lined a bullet to Matt Boleski in left to end the inning.

The Chiefs also had some scoring opportunities. In the fourth inning, Justin Crisafulli drew a leadoff walk and Mike Andre sacrificed him to second. Tony Deshler then singled to center with Crisafulli stopping at third. Matt Boleski hit a grounder to third and the throw home was low, allowing Crisafulli to scamper back to third to load the bases. Casey then struck out Mike Barbati and McCarthy in succession to keep the game scoreless. In the fifth, Copa singled and went to second on Mike Gedman’s (pictured left) infield grounder. Bryan Evans made a nice diving catch of a Crisafulli liner to right that ended the inning and kept it at 0-0. An inning later in the sixth, pinch-hitter Justin Sencabaugh hit the best ball of the night, a long fly to left, that was grabbed on a nice running catch by Chris Burke. In the eighth, Gedman lined out to short, Crisafulli singled and Andre drew a walk. DeFrancesco got Deshler to bounce into a 6-4-3 doubleplay to end that chance. In the ninth, Sencabaugh reached on an error but DeFrancesco got McCarthy to bounce into the second consecutive inning ending doubleplay.

The Chiefs are back in action on Thursday when they host the Lexington Blue Sox at Tufts University at 6:00 PM. The Reds host the Medford Americans on Friday at Victory Field at 8:00 PM.   

Medford, MA- Bryant University right-hander Sean McNiff spun a complete game five-hit shutout as the Americans blanked the Chiefs 5-0 at Playstead Park on Sunday. The victory was the Americans fifth straight, the longest current winning streak in the ICL.

The first two and one half innings of the game were rapidly played as the Chiefs Mike DiCato and McNiff were both cruising right along. A leadoff single by Bob McCarthy, who was promptly erased on a 4-6-3 off the bat of Tim Dempsey, and a second inning walk to Justin Crisafulli were the only base runners that McNiff allowed in the first three frames.

DiCato was perfect through the first two innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the third. Joe Sheehan got things going in the Americans’ third with a leadoff single up the middle. P.J. Fulton sacrificed him to second and Mike Burgoyne followed with a double into the left field corner scoring Sheehan and giving the Americans their first run. Mark Addesa was next and he dropped a perfect bunt between first and the mound for to put runners on the corners. K.C. McCarthy then singled to right scoring Burgoyne to make it 2-0. Charlie Pagliarulo followed with a single to right-center scoring Adessa and jumping the lead to 3-0. DiCato kept the Chiefs in the ballgame and got out of further trouble when he got Mike DelPonte to ground into a 3-6-1 doubleplay.

Paul Yanakopulos led off the fourth with his first career ICL hit but he was erased when Dempsey hit into his second consecutive 4-6-3 doubleplay. Peter Copa then dropped a bloop single into rightfield but McNiff ended the inning when he got Mike Gedman to fly to Burgoyne in center.

DiCato escaped a two on, nobody out, jam in the bottom of the fourth and the Chiefs got a base runner in the top of the fifth when Mike Andre reached on an infield error.

The Americans increased their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Addesa drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a fielder’s choice. Pagliarulo was intentionally walked and DelPonte grounded out to Yankakopulos at short who threw to third forcing Addesa for out number two. Mike Kalfopoulos then singled to left-center scoring Pagliarulo from second, making it a 4-0 game.

The Chiefs wasted a leadoff double from McCarthy in the sixth when McNiff got Yanakopulos on a grounder, struck out Dempsey and got Copa on a fly to right.

Tufts right-hander Pat O’Donnell replaced DiCato on the mound for the Chiefs to begin the bottom of the sixth and Sheehan greeted him \with a solo bomb to center, giving the Americans a 5-0 lead.

The Chiefs loaded the bases in the seventh but could not break into the scoring column. Gedman led off with a single, Crisafulli flew out, Andre was hit by a pitch, Anderson grounded out and Justin Sencabaugh reached on an error. McNiff ended things, and preserved his shutout, when he got McCarthy to ground to Addesa at short.

McNiff (3-3), scattered five hits, struck out three, walked one and hit a batter. DiCato (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season. The righty surrendered six hits (five in the three run third inning) struck out two and walked three in his five innings of work.

With the loss the Chiefs fall to 15-6-2 on the year while the Americans climb over the .500 mark to 11-10-1.

The Chiefs are off until Wednesday when they travel to Watertown’s Victory Field to meet the Reds in an early 6:00 PM start. The Americans are back in action on Tuesday when they head to East Boston Stadium, in search of their sixth straight win, against the Testa Corp. Bombers at 8:00 PM.

East Boston, MA- A combined 20 strikeouts, 20 hits (many of the infield variety), and 26 men left on base led to another wild and wacky night at East Boston Stadium as the Chiefs and Bombers battled to a dramatic 3-3 tie in a curfew shortened eight inning affair.

Both teams had numerous chances to both and win and lose the game. Fittingly both clubs exited the artificial surface adjacent to Logan Airport with a point apiece. The Chiefs point came with a major tip of the cap to right-fielder Matt Boleski who made a tie-saving and game ending circus catch of a Mike Addesa seed in the bottom of the eighth with men on second and third.

For the Chiefs, the story of the game through the first six innings plus was the pitching of veteran lefty Tim Dunphy who, by a wide margin, has his best effort of the season.

Both teams squandered a number of scoring chances early and the game somehow remained scoreless until the top of the sixth. Bombers starter Jeff Rowan got out of a first inning bases loaded jam, struck out the side in order in the second, stranded a man 90 feet away in the third, left another at third in the fourth after two line drive infield outs, and retired the Chiefs 1-2-3 in the fifth.

Dunphy was wiggling in and out of trouble as well. The former Brandeis and Cassell Club standout surrendered two singles in the first, got out of a bases loaded (two infield singles & throwing error) nobody out quandary in the second aided by a huge 1-2-3 doubleplay, got the side in order in third, left a man at second in the fourth, escaped a two on jam in the fifth after intentionally walking former Cassell teammate Josh Klimkiewicz, and surrendered two more infield singles in the sixth.

Both the Chiefs and Bombers scored all of their runs in a bunch of three. The Chiefs runs came in the top of the sixth. Peter Copa reached on a single and Tim Dempsey walked. Justin Crisafulli followed and flew to center for the first out. Mike Andre then beat out an infield single to load the bases. The first run of the night came when Rowan hit Matt Anderson with a pitch to force in Copa. Boleski then hit a grounder to Addesa at third and he threw home forcing Dempsey for the first out. Pinch-hitter Tony Deshler drew a full count walk bringing Andre across with the second run. Bob McCarthy then singled to center scoring Anderson. Rowan left the bases full when he struck out Mike Barbati looking to keep it a 3-0 game.

Dunphy got out of the bottom of the sixth clinging to the 3-0 lead and the Chiefs appeared poised to break it open it the top of the seventh. Rowan walked Copa and hit Dempsey with a pitch. Lammare Rey replaced Rowan and after walking Crisafulli on four pitches to load the bases, he threw three straight balls to Andre before striking out him, Anderson and Boleski on the next ten pitches, all swinging, to end the inning.

That proved to be huge as the Bombers stayed within range and tied it up it the bottom of the inning. Mark O’Flynn led off with an infield single. Pete John then lined a single to right. Klimkiewicz followed with the third straight single, this one to left-center, loading the bases. Addesa then lined a Dunphy offering to center scoring John and Klimkiewicz to make it 3-2. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Stan DeMartinis then bounced into a 3-6-3 doubleplay with Addesa taking third. Isaac Oakley came on for Dunphy to face the right handed hitting Vin Eurizone. Eurizone beat out---you guessed it---another infield single, getting to first a half step of Copa’s throw from deep shortstop  allowing Addesa to score the tying run. The Bombers had a chance to win it when Oakley walked Anthony Serino sending Eurizone to second but he struck out Chris Smart swinging to send the game to extras.

In the top of the eighth, Barbati’s two out single and a walk to Copa gave the Chiefs an opportunity to re-take the lead. Rey waggled out of this predicament when he got Dempsey to fly to center to end the inning.

The last and most dramatic escape was yet to come. Oakley struck out Derek Sturkel to start the eighth and then hit O’Flynn with a 0-2 pitch to launch the histrionics all over again. Oakley reached back and struck out John with a fastball before Klimkiewicz hit a laser double to left sending O’Flynn to third. Addesa followed and it appeared that he had delivered the game winner when he hit a shot down the rightfield line. Enter Boleski. The veteran outfielder made a spectacular diving catch to rob Adessa and save an important point for the Chiefs as the night’s curfew brought a halt to the evening’s proceedings.   

At the end of the day, the Bombers had outhit the Chiefs 13-7 and both teams left 13 men on base. Of the twenty hits in the game by both teams, eight were of the infield variety.

Medford, MA- Jared Freni fired a two-hitter, striking out eight, to pitch the Chiefs past the Mooney Dental Tanners 4-0 under ominous skies at Tufts University on Tuesday evening. The former Malden Catholic and UMass star was in control all game long utilizing primarily an overpowering fastball. He stayed ahead of Tanner hitters throughout his complete game 95 pitch outing.

The Tanners actually had their best scoring threat in the top of the first inning when Mike Baldino led off the game with a line single to center. Freni then struck out Bryan Watkins looking and got Harvard’s Joe Smith to pop up. Baldino stole second before Freni recorded his second K of the inning, setting Phil Recco down swinging on a blistering 90+ MHP fastball.

Tanner’s starter Zach Hofeld of Harvard pitched himself out of a minor jam in the bottom of the first inning. He walked Peter Copa and gave up an “excuse me” infield single to Tim Dempsey with two outs before getting Justin Crisafulli to fly out to end the inning.

Freni surrendered the last hit he would allow in the game to Andrew Bishop with two outs in the top of the second inning and Hofeld got the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Tanners went in order in the top of third and the Chiefs broke through, scoring a couple of times, after two were out, in the home half of the frame. Hofeld got Tony Deshler to ground out and Bob McCarthy to pop up for the first two outs of the inning. Trouble starting brewing when Mike Barbati drew a full count walk. Copa then singled and Dempsey delivered once again with a line single to right-center that scored Barbati. Crisafulli then stepped up and drilled another single to left that scored Copa and gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

With the skies above Huskins Field threatening to open up at any moment, Freni and Hofeld both tossed blanks until the Chiefs doubled their lead in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of former Medford High teammates Mike Andre, Matt Anderson and Matt Boleski. Andre got things started when he lined a Hofeld offering into right-field for a single. Anderson then bunted Andre over to second and UMass-Amherst bound rookie Justin Sencabaugh from Malden Catholic pinch ran. Boleski made it a 3-0 game when he lined a double into the right-field corner scoring Sencabaugh. Deshler then beat out an infield single before McCarthy lofted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Boleski.

Freni, raised his record to 3-1 with the win. The right-hander has now struck out 38 batters in just 30 innings pitched and lowered his ERA to 0.66.

Hofeld (0-2), gave up seven hits, struck out three and walked four. The native of Winnetka, IL, who just completed his junior year for Joe Walsh’s Crimson Tide, recorded his first Ivy League victory for Harvard in a 2-1 complete game win over Cornell.

The Chiefs (15-5-1) are right back in action on Wednesday when they host the Americans at Tufts at 6:00 PM.

Both Marchesi and Ellis, who were former Northeast 10 rivals at Bentley and Merrimack respectively, both were virtually untouchable until the Chiefs put the game away with another four spot in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Tony Deshler got things going in the home half of the fifth when he doubled off third baseman’s Brooks Townsend’s glove. Landers moved then him to third with an infield grounder. McCarthy picked up a RBI fielder’s choice when he grounded to third and Townsend’s throw home was in the dirt. Copa reached on an infield error, Demspey grounded out and Crisafulli walked to load the bases for Mike Andre. Andre, another former NE-10 product from Merrimack, singled to right-center scoring McCarthy and Copa to increase the Chiefs lead to 7-1. Matt Boleski, who was hitting for Brian Macrina who had to leave the game with hamstring issues, closed the Chiefs' scoring when he delivered an opposite field double that scored Crisafulli making it an 8-1 game.