"Seven Decades of Tradition"
18 League Championships

Chiefs Host Reading at Tufts on Sunday at 5:00 PM
FRENI THROWS NO-HITTER
Chiefs Win 4th Straight 2-0 at Watertown
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In Memory

Hank Landers
"One of the Greatest Chiefs of All Time"
Intercity League Hall of Fame & Chiefs Retired Number
April 11, 1961- June 9, 2013

Harold “Hank” Stanley Landers III, 52, of Salem, NH died Sunday, June 9, 2013, surrounded by his loving children and family. Born in Somerville on April 11, 1961 he was the youngest son of the late Harold S. Landers Jr. and the late Irene (Pickett) Landers.

Hank attended Somerville High School and Brown University. In High School, he was an exceptional student athlete, earning three varsity letters each in baseball, football, and basketball. He was also a member of National Honor Society and ranked 18th in Somerville’s graduating class of 645 students.

He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 24th round of the 1979 MLB June Amateur Draft, but Hank decided instead to pursue his college education at Brown University. Hank Landers was highly recruited since he excelled in two sports, football and baseball. While at Brown, he set several individual records as quarterback for the Bears' football team. Baseball was where Hank really made his mark, playing in the outfield. Hank's stats...second in extra base hits, second in total bases, second in slugging percentage, second in career home runs, second in most walks in a season, second in most home runs in a game. All of these diamond accomplishments made it easy for Hank to be selected three times All-Ivy and three times all E.I.B.L. Hank swung a ‘big bat’ earning the nickname “The Hammer”. He was inducted into the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 1982, Hank signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Following two years in pro-ball, he settled down in New Hampshire and was father to three children, Jenaleigh, Harold “Hal” IV, and Clayton.

Hank continued following his baseball dream playing in Greater Boston's Intercity League. He played on four Andre Chiefs championship teams in 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1997. He retired in 1998 as a ‘League Legend” and was inducted into the Intercity League Hall of Fame in 2011.

Over the years, Hank worked for MA-COM (East Coast Sales Manager), Progressive Power Products (Owner), and Vicor Corporation (Director of Sales – America East). He loved his job, but his passion was his three children. His natural abilities were put to good use coaching various teams for his children. Hank was the founder of the New England Rebels AAU baseball program and devoted many years managing and coaching his children and many others.

He was an outstanding father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, coach, and baseball player. He is warmly remembered by many who benefited from his coaching and friendship.

“Live Your Dream” was Hank’s genuine advice.

Hank was a loving father and a great support to his family. He was always there for his children. He leaves behind his daughter, Jenaleigh Landers of Manchester, NH, his son Hal Landers of Salem, NH, and his son Clayton Landers of Salem, NH. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother, David Landers. Hank is survived by his three sisters, Ellen Conroy and husband Brian of Hanson, MA, Patricia Moro of Stoneham, MA, and Clare Morin and husband Joseph of Pelham, NH. In addition to his children and sisters, Hank leaves behind his former wife, Robin (Burba) Landers of Salem, NH, his sister-in-law, Darlene Landers of Lowell, MA, his loving partner, Sharon Siegel of Cape Elizabeth, ME, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will be greatly missed.

Calling Hours are on Friday, June 14, 2013, from 4 to 7 PM at Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main Street, Salem, NH. A private funeral service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Hank’s memory to the Jane Dybowski Fund for Neuroendocrine Cancer (http://walkingwithjane.org/contribute/)

To leave an online condolence, please visit: www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com

 or facebook.com/GoundreyDewhirstFuneral.

Watertown, MA- Right-hander Jared Freni tossed a no-hitter as the Chiefs shutout the Reds 2-0 on Wednesday night at Victory Field.

For Freni, it was the first no-hitter of his ICL career which began in 2006.

The former UMass-Amherst and Malden Catholic ace raised his record to 2-0 on the season and gave the Chiefs their fourth straight win.

Freni outdueled Babson righty Nick Ahearn (0-2), who was also outstanding on the mound. Ahearn allowed just six hits and was victimized by an infield error and some tough luck when a fly ball was lost in the twilight sky.

The only runs of the game came in the top of the third. Nick Leva led off with a single and was forced out at second on Tony Serino’s infield grounder. The Chiefs caught a break when Tony Deshler’s grounder was booted putting runners on first and second with no outs. Nate Witkowski then grounded out to short with Serino and Deshler each moving up a base. Peter Copa drew a two out walk that loaded the bases. Mike Andre was next and he hit a towering fly to right that was lost by the Reds defense and went for a two RBI single, scoring Serino and Deshler and pushing Copa to third. Ahearn escaped further damage when he struck out Paul Yanakopoulos to end the inning.

For the Chiefs, Andre (2 for 3, 2 RBI), Mike Barbati (2 for 3) and Leva (2 for 3), recorded the only hits for the visitors in the game.

The Reds best scoring chance came in the bottom of the second when Josue Feliciano reached on a one out fielder’s choice, stole second, and went to third when Leva’s throw went into centerfield. Freni got out of the jam by getting Pete John to fly to Serino in shallow center and striking out Rich Boyer.

Barbati and right-fielder Matt Boleski both did their part in preserving Freni’s no-hitter. Barbati made a nice diving backhand stop of a Felicano hard hit grounder and Boleski made a diving circus catch of Steve Tramontozzi liner, that had extra bases written all over, it in the third inning.

It was the Chiefs’ first no-hitter since the 2011season when the team had two in ten days. Rob Machado no-hit the Reading Bulldogs on June 30 and Mike DiCato turned the trick against the Mooney Dental Tanners on July 9.

Prior to 2011, the last Chiefs’ no-hitter was on June 13, 2007 by Keith Forbes against the Wakefield Merchants at Walsh Field. Forbes’ gem was the first in dozen seasons for the team since former Boston Red Sox hurler Mike Carista threw a masterpiece in a July 14, 1995, win over the Cremone A’s at Morelli Field in Melrose.

The now 4-1 Chiefs are off until Sunday when they host the Reading Bulldogs at Tufts University in Medford at 5:00 PM.

Arlington, MA- The Chiefs swept both ends of a doubleheader at Summer Street Field in Arlington on Sunday afternoon, winning the opener 8-4 and then riding the shutout pitching of Tim Dunphy to take the nightcap 7-0.

The Chiefs played Sunday’s games with heavy hearts and without right-fielder Hal Landers, after learning that former Chiefs’ great and ICL Hall of Famer Hank Landers, who is Hal’s dad, passed away earlier in the day. (see separate story)

In the opener, Tony Serino, Juan Portes (double, single 2 RBI), Paul Yanakopulos and Mike Barbati all had two hits. Tony Deshler (2 RBI), Mike Andre, Nate Witkowski (triple), Chad Conner and Matt Boleski (double) all chipped in to pace the 13 hit attack. Every Chief in the lineup had at least one hit.

Matt DiCato (1-0) went the first 5.1 innings to get his first win of the season. Big brother Mike DiCato came on to get out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth to pick up the save.

In Game Two, Dunphy’s complete game five-hit shutout gave the Chiefs the 7-0 win.

The Chiefs matched their hit of total of 13 in the first game. Serino led the way with three hits, while Deshler and Witkowski each had a couple of hits each. Portes (double, RBI), Andre (single, RBI), Boleski (double, 2 RBI) and Nick Leva (single, RBI) led the offense.

Babson’s Rob Caggiano recorded the first hit of his ICL career with a pinch hit single in the top of the seventh.

Dunphy struck out five and didn’t walk a batter while bringing his record to an even 1-1 for the year.

The Chiefs will send Jared Freni (1-0) to the mound on Monday night when they meet the 3-0 Mooney Dental Tanners at Maplewood (Malden Catholic) starting at 8:00 PM.

Melrose, MA- Jared Freni and Matt DiCato combined for seventeen strikeouts and the Chiefs knocked out some timely hits and took advantage of some defensive lapses to knock off the Melrose Americans 8-1 at Morelli Field on Wednesday night.

Freni (1-0) was dominant throughout the game. The right-hander struck out 15 batters, allowed just one hit, one run, and walked a batter in 6.1 innings. DiCato struck out two in the seventh inning while allowing one hit.

Tony Serino went 2 for 4 with a couple of RBI’s to lead the Chiefs offense while Peter Copa, Mike Andre and Mike Barbati all had RBI hits. Tony Deshler added two singles and Juan Portes a long double for the Chiefs.

Mike Kalfopoulos (double) and James McConnville had the two American’s hits.-B.Tilman

Medford, MA- The 2012 Chiefs received their championship rings over the weekend. The rings were designed by Balfour Ring Company coordinated through the efforts of Hal Smith of NES Jewelry of Littleton, MA. Smith, a former Harvard standout, played in the Boston Park League in the 1970’s for Mass Envelope.

The ring features a replica of the Chiefs logo set over a garnet stone, replicating the colors of the team. Each ring has the players name, number and position etched on one side, with the Intercity logo and the team's overall record on the other. 

The members of last season’s championship squad got their rings at an on field ceremony at Huskins Field, the longtime home of the Chiefs, located on the campus of Tufts University in Medford.

Medford, MA- Dan Chaisson delivered a two out, two RBI double in the top of the eighth inning to get the Watertown Reds past the Chiefs 5-3 at gusty Tufts University on Sunday afternoon.

The Chiefs squandered a 3-0 first inning lead in a sloppily played game that saw each team make four errors. In an ICL rarity, all eight runs scored in the game were unearned.

After starter Tim Dunphy retired the Reds in the top of the first, the Chiefs got all runs they would get in the game in the bottom of the inning. Hal Landers started things with a single and the Reds threw Tony Deshler’s double play ball into rightfield, sending Landers to third. Juan Portes popped up for the first out before Reds starter Cal Carroll walked Peter Copa to load the bases.  Mike Andre then flew to center, and with wind blowing in and knocking it down, it was not deep enough for Landers to tag. Chad Conner followed and drilled a single to right-center, scoring Landers and Deshler for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. The second Reds’ infield error of the inning, off the bat of Tony Serino, allowed Copa to score the third Chiefs run of the inning.

The Reds chipped a run off the lead in the second on an infield error and a Will Brennan opposite field double to left.

Watertown tied the game up 3-3 in unusual fashion in their half of the third. After two were out, Pete John singled. Dunphy then struck out Sean Callahan-Montague swinging on a low breaking ball in the dirt. The Reds stayed alive when catcher Chad Conner’s throw to get Callahan-Montague at first sailed into rightfield, with John going to third. Dunphy came right back to strike out Josue Feliciano on yet another low pitch that hit the front of the plate and caught a piece of Conner’s equipment and sailed up and over the backstop, allowing John to score the tying run. Dunphy got Chaisson to ground out to finally end the inning.

The Reds broke the tie in the eighth. After John grounded out to Portes at shortstop, Callahan drew a walk and moved to second on Feliciano’s bunt.  Kyle LaVigne then reached on an error by Kevin Luciano, who had come on at third base, after Andre was lifted for a pinch runner and Matt Boleski pinch hit for Rob Caggiano in the seventh. Chaisson made that error hurt when he followed with a line shot double over Tony Deshler’s head in left, giving the Reds a 5-3 lead.

Carroll (1-0), went a strong seven innings to get the win. He allowed just four hits (Landers, Conner, Portes and Andre), despite striking out just one.

Dunphy (0-1) was nearly as good, going 7.2 innings, allowing five unearned runs and five hits. Both of his two strikeout victims reached base safely in the Reds two run third inning.

Monday’s scheduled game against Wakefield at Maplewood Park, on the campus of Malden Catholic, was postponed due to field conditions.

The Chiefs are back in action on Wednesday at 7:15 PM when they travel to Morelli Field to meet the Melrose Americans.

THE 2012 SEASON
CHAMPS!!
Chiefs Get Recognized by BoSox

The 2012 ICL Champion Chiefs were recognized by the BoSox on September 25.
Several Chiefs who were still in the area were able to attend the event at the Sheraton Needham.
Kneeling from L to R: Edward Ovalle, Mike Andre, Matt Boleski and Tony Deshler.
Standing L to R: Coach John Veneziano, Peter Copa, Juan Portes, Coach Anthony Durkee, Manager Chuck Andre, Tim Dunphy, Nick Leva, Mike Barbati and Assistant Manager Paul Crisafulli

CHIEFS TAKE ICL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH
3-0 WIN IN GAME FIVE

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MARK A. CAVANAUGH'S GAME 5 HIGHLIGHTS IN PICTURES



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Lexington, MA- The Chiefs once again rule the Intercity League.
For the first time since 1997 the Chiefs are the kings of the ICL.
The Chiefs rode the pitching of ace Jared Freni, who pitched his second shutout of the series, allowing just six hits and striking out five, to knock off the five time defending champion Lexington Blue Sox 3-0 in Lexington on Sunday afternoon.
Juan Portes & Mike Baillargeon led the offense.
It was the eighteenth championship for the franchise and the fifth since they became the Andre Chiefs. The legendary Hosmer Chiefs won thirteen titles in both the Suburban Twi-League and the ICL dating back to 1960.
**SCROLL DOWN TO MORE PHOTOS & STEVE FREKER'S GAME 5 COVERAGE***
ANDRE 2 RBI WALK OFF
GIVES CHIEFS GAME TWO, 3-2

Mike Andre delivered another game-winner
Clutch Two Out Single Puts Chiefs in 2-0 Series Lead,
Dunphy Shines on Mound Once Again,
CHIEFS TAKE GAME ONE, 2-0
FRENI K'S 12 in 4-HITTER

Jared Freni

Boston, MA- The accolades continue to pour in for the Chiefs following the winning of the 2012 Intercity League Championship last Sunday.

The Boston Red Sox and the BoSox Club have gotten into the act and will honor the Chiefs at a luncheon on Tuesday, September 25 at the Sheraton Needham Hotel.

At the luncheon, which begins at 11:30 AM, the Chiefs will receive their 2012 championship trophy.

Later that day the Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park at 7:10 PM.

By Stephen Freker
Medford Daily Mercury/Malden Evening News

Jared Freni’s done plenty this summer throwing smoke off the mound for the Andre Chiefs.

But there are two items that could not be brought up prior to last night’s ballgame, another gem by the righthander from Malden.

Now they can be said:

Freni has been the best pitcher in the best semiprofessional baseball league in Massachusetts from his opening start to his last.

And the best pitcher in the Intercity League hurls for the best TEAM in the ICL.

Case closed.

With Freni running the defense through his towering presence on the Chiefs mound, and his Andre teammates finally busting out of offensive funk, a 15-year ICL championship drought for one of the winningest teams in league history came to a end with a 3-0 shutout victory for the Chiefs over five-time defending champ Lexington last night on the road in a winner-take-all Game Five.

It is the Chiefs’ first crown since the 1997 campaign and the eighteenth overall for the franchise and fifth for manager Chuck Andre.

The Chiefs, then known as the Hosmer Chiefs, won thirteen other ICL and Suburban Twi-League crowns from 1960-1980.

In defeating Lexington, the Chiefs stopped a five-year championship streak for the Blue Sox.

In Sunday’s clincher, the Chiefs scored the only run they would need in the first inning. Hal Landers had a leadoff single, Tony Deshler sacrificed Landers to second and Juan Portes doubled to left to drive in Landers.

Freni won his second game of the finals and his second shutout. He scattered six hits, struck out five and walked one.

Portes had two doubles, an RBI and run scored for the Chiefs. Mike Baillargeon doubled and had a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Jeff Bercume drove in the Chiefs’ other run.
MORE SOON

GAME FIVE HIGHLIGHTS IN PICTURES
Courtesy of Mark A. Cavanaugh

Lexington, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox won Game Three of the best of five championship series 5-1 at Lexington High School on Thursday night.

The Chiefs lead the series two games to one. Game Four wll be played at Maplewood Park at Malden Catholic on Friday at 8:00 PM.

Over the first three innings the game feautured some fine pitching from the Chiefs' Mike DiCato and Lexington's Matt Karis. Karis retired nine of the first ten Chiefs he faced with the streak broken when Paul Yanakopulos reached on an error by shortstop Steve Gath with two outs in the third. DiCato allowed just a first inning double to Justin Wright and a walk to Dan Graham and struck out the side in order in the bottom of the third.

The night's scoring began when the Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning against Karis. Tony Deshler led off with a single up the middle and Juan Portes followed with a single to right that sent Deshler to third. Jeff Bercume then hit into a 4-6-3 doubleplay with Deshler scoring. Mike Andre then reached on an error but Karis got out of the inning when he got Edward Ovalle to fly to left.

Lexington came back to score four times in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Dan Graham's one out double to left-center got the rally started. DiCato was an out away from escaping the inning when he struck out Dave Ahern for out number two before issuing what proved to be a costly walk to Jeff Vigurs. Jason Twomley then tied the game at 1-1 with a single to right. Dan Capra was next up and he singled to center with Landers' throw on target to the plate with Vigurs colliding with Chiefs catcher Nick Leva and scoring on the play. When Joe Eramo followed with Lexington's third consecutive single to right scoring Twomley and Capra, the Blue Sox had a 4-1 lead.

Karis frustrated the Chiefs over the next two innings retiring all six batters he faced.

Eramo closed out the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning that scored Capra who had doubled to jump the lead to 5-1.

The Chiefs made a little noise in the top of the seventh when Bercume and Baillargeon both singled but Karis gave the Blue Sox Game Three when he struck out Leva to end the evening.

Karis threw just 60 pitches in the complete game four hit win. He walked none and struck out two.

DiCato took the loss in a complete game effort. He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out five.

By Bruce Tilman
Malden, MA- Mike Andre delivered a two out, two RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the Chiefs to a come from behind and edge of your seat 3-2 win in Game Two of the Intercity League 's Championship series at Maplewood Park on Wednesday night.

With the win, the Chiefs take a 2-0 lead in the best of five series with Game Three scheduled for Lexington High on Thursday at 8:00 PM.

This one had all the twists and turns of an evening commute on Storrow Drive as the Chiefs pulled off more seventh inning dramatics to put themselves on the brink of an ICL Championship.

The Chiefs appeared poised to take a lead in the bottom of the first inning against Blue Sox starter Drew Brzozowski. Hal Landers got things going with a long double to left-center. Tony Deshler was next and he grounded out to Steve Gath at shortstop with Landers moving to third. Juan Portes followed with a hard grounder to Ross Curley at third, and with Landers going on contact, Curley threw a strike to catcher Jeff Vigurs to erase Landers at the plate. Jeff Bercume then drove Dave Ahern back to the fence in center to make a nice catch in his bid for a two run homer that ended the inning.

It was the Blue Sox who drew first blood and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Ahern went the home run route and drilled a 0-2 Tim Dunphy change-up over the centerfield fence to give Lexington a one run lead.

In the Chiefs second, Andre flew deep to center for the first out and former Minnesota Twin Edward Ovalle singled sharply to left. Brzozowski kept the Chiefs scoreless when he struck out Mike Baillargeon and then got Mike DiCato to fly to center.

Dunphy got the Sox in order in the top of the third inning and the Chiefs threatened with two outs in the bottom of the inning but couldn’t come up with the equalizer. Deshler and Portes both singled with two away before Brzozowski retired the dangerous Bercume on sharp grounder to Jason Twomley at first to end the inning.

Lexington’s lead doubled to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, again thanks to Ahern. Gath drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Dan Graham’s grounder. Ahern picked up his second RBI of the night with a single to left, scoring Gath, to make it a 2-0 ballgame.

The Chiefs got their first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning. Andre led things off with a single to center and Ovalle reached on an infield error. With Baillargeon at the plate, he missed on a bunt attempt that was a called strike and was dropped by Vigurs. Unsure if the ball was bunted or dropped, Andre headed for third where he was gunned out by Vigurs for the first out of the inning. The Chiefs then caught a break when Wright misplayed Baillargeon’s grounder sending Ovalle to third. Mike DiCato then a hit a grounder at Twomley at first who tagged the bag but Baillargeon beat his throw to second allowing Ovalle to score the Chiefs’ first run that cut the lead to 2-1.With Baillargeon in scoring position, Brzozowski got Nick Leva to bounce out to Wright at second to end the inning.

Dan Capra reached on an error by Baillargeon on a hard hit ball and stole second with one out in the Lexington fifth. Dunphy kept it at 2-0 when he got pinch-hitter Dan Haugh on a groundout  and Justin Wright on a flyout to Landers in center.

Brzozowski enjoyed his best inning of the night in the Chiefs’ fifth when he struck out Landers, Deshler and Portes in succession.

Gath drew his second consecutive leadoff walk from Dunphy to start the Lexington sixth but he was erased when Graham hit into a 4-6-3 doubleplay. The inning ended when Ahern was retired for the first time in the game on a fly to Ovalle in right.

The Chiefs looked to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth but were once again turned back by Brzozowski. Bercume led off with a line single off Twomley’s glove to right. Rob Caggiano came on to pinch for for Bercume who has been nursing a hamstring pull suffered in the Watertown series. Andre then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt moving Caggiano to second. Ovalle followed and drew a walk. With Baillargeon at the plate, Vigurs attempted pickoff of Ovalle got past Twomley moving the runners up to second and third. Brzozowski came up huge when he caught Baillargeon looking at a breaking ball for the second out and then got DiCato to bounce out to Wright to keep it 2-1 heading for the seventh.

Dunphy struck out Vigurs and Twomley for the first two outs of the seventh before Jack Laurendeau singled sharply to left. Capra sent a shot deep to right-center that Landers made a nice running catch on to end the inning an set up the dramatic Chiefs’ seventh.

Brzozowski hit Leva with the first pitch he threw in the bottom of seventh and Paul Yanakopulos came on as a pinch-runner. Landers then moved Yanakopulos to second with a sacrifice bunt. Deshler was next and he beat out an infield grounder to Haugh who was subbing for the injured Curley at third. Portes followed and he worked a full count walk to load the bases for Matt Boleski who was hitting for Bercume who was lifted for a pinch runner an inning earlier. Brzozowski was equal to the task and struck out Boleski swinging to put the Sox an out away from tying the series. Andre took a fastball for a strike and then saw another pitch for a ball to even the count. Brzozowski’s 1-1 offering was the last of the night as Andre singled to right center scoring Yanakopulos from third and the sliding Deshler from second to give the Chiefs the dramatic two out 3-2 comeback win.

For the Chiefs, it was their fourth straight walk off win against the Blue Sox in Malden dating back to last year’s game three of the championship series when they rallied from a 4-1 seventh inning deficit to take a 5-4 win. In game four of that series, Andre delivered a walk off tenth inning grand slam to give the Chiefs a 6-2 win. Back on July 2, Portes provided the walk off game winner with a two RBI single giving the Chiefs a 5-4 win.

Dunphy allowed four hits (Ahern 2, Gath & Laurendeau) and struck out five. Brzozowski allowed eight hits (Andre 2, Deshler 2 and Portes, Ovalle, Bercume & Landers one each) and struck out six.

Lexington, MA- Right-hander Jared Freni tossed a twelve strikeout, four hit gem to give the Chiefs a 2-0 win and a one game to none lead in opener of the Intercity League’s best of five championship series on Tuesday night in Lexington. Game Two will be played at Maplewood Park at Malden Catholic on Wednesday at 8:00 PM.

The Chiefs gave Freni the only run he would need in the top of the first inning. Leadoff man Hal Landers drew a walk from Lexington starter Brett Fistes and went to third on Tony Deshler’s single to right. With Juan Portes at plate, Fistes threw a wild pitch as Landers scored standing to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. With Deshler at second, Fistes got Portes, Jeff Bercume, and Mike Andre to all ground out to end the inning.

The Blue Sox got a man in scoring position in the bottom of the first inning on Justin Wright’s single, but Freni got both Steve Gath and Dan Graham on outfield flies to keep it 1-0.

A Nick Leva two out single was all the Chiefs could generate against Fistes in the top half of the second. Lexington took advantage of walks to Jason Twomley and Jeff Vigurs to move two runners into scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the inning before Freni got Dan Capra to fly to Landers in center.

Fistes struck out Landers and Deshler to open the top of the third before Portes singled and

Bercume was hit by a pitch but Fistes got Andre to fly out to Capra in left.

Wright reached base for the second time when he drew a one out walk in the Lexington third but Freni struck out Gath and Graham to send the game to the fourth inning.

Leva’s second single of the night gave the Chiefs another two out baserunner in the top of the fourth but Paul Yanakopulos flew out to end the inning. Vigurs went the same route with a two out single for Lexington in the home half of the frame but Freni got Jack Laurendeau to bounce out to Portes at short that ended the inning.

Portes gave the Chiefs their fourth straight inning with a two out single in the top of the fifth. Twomley’s nice play on a Bercume grounder to first base ended the inning as the game headed to the Blue Sox fifth. Ross Curley singled to center with one out but Freni stayed tough and got Wright to ground out and struck out Gath swinging to end the inning.

The Chiefs threatened but couldn’t push a run across in the top of the sixth.  Andre got things started when he led off with a single to left and Edward Ovalle sacrificed him to second. Mike DiCato was next and reached on a Wright error at second that sent Andre to third. Fistes then got Leva to bounce back to him with Andre forced to hold at third and DiCato moving up to second. Fistes then came up with his biggest strikeout of the game when he got Yanakopulos swinging to end the inning.

Graham led off the Lexington sixth with a single to center and after two unsuccessful bunt attempts by Capra, he flew to Ovalle in right for the first out. Graham then stole second as Freni struck out Twomley for out number two. Vigurs was next and he struck out swinging on a low breaking ball that got past Leva allowing him to go to first with Graham moving to third. Freni kept the one run lead intact when he got Laurendeau to ground to Portes at short.

The Chiefs caught a break and picked up a big insurance run in the top of the seventh. After Landers and Deshler both grounded out, Portes hit his third consecutive single of the night to left and stole second. Bercume, who was hitting in the cleanup spot in the game, was next and he hit a grounder up the middle that was gloved by Gath but his throw to first was high for an error allowing Portes to score the Chiefs’ second run in unearned fashion.

Freni was immense in the bottom of the seventh striking out the side to preserve the two run lead.

Fistes allowed seven hits (Portes 3, Leva 2, Andre & Deshler 1 each) struck out five, walked one, and hit a batter. Along with his dozen K’s, Freni walked three and threw 123 pitches in his complete game effort.

Malden, MA- For the third consecutive night the Chiefs prevailed in a one run game and in the process swept the Watertown Reds three games to none in their best of five semi-final series. The Chiefs will now move on to the Intercity League Championship for the second consecutive season and for the third time in the last four years.

The Chiefs took the series opener 2-1 in a marquee matchup between two of ICL’s best pitchers with Jared Freni’s one-hitter besting Reds ace Brian Casey. A night later they saw the Reds, who were down to their last strike, rally to tie the game at 2-2 before they came back and won it on Matt Boleski’s tenth inning single.

The series clincher came Thursday night at Maplewood Park and by no means did it come easy. In a back and forth game that saw four lead changes, the Chiefs dug themselves out of 1-0 and 4-2 holes to a take a 8-4 lead into the seventh before another Reds’ rally came up a run short as they held on to win 8-7.

In the middle of it all was Chiefs veteran righty Mike DiCato, who surrendered a career high eleven hits. He somehow managed to go the route, including the nail-biting seventh, before he sent his team to the finals with a huge game ending strikeout.

The Reds drew first blood and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on singles by Matt McEvoy, Steve Busby and Brendan Casey.

Watertown starter Andrew LeBrun kept the Chiefs off the board in the bottom of the first.

DiCato pitched himself out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the second and the Chiefs responded in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the night at 2-1. After Mike Baillargeon flew to left for the first out, Nick Leva singled. Consecutive walks to Mike Barbati and Paul Yanakopulos loaded the bases for Hal Landers who beat out the back end of an attempted 6-4-3 doubleplay to allow Leva to score and tie the game at 1-1. Tony Deshler followed with a sharp RBI single to left that scored Barbati giving the Chiefs their first lead of the night. LeBrun then issued his third walk of the frame to re-load the bases before he struck out Edward Ovalle swinging to keep it a 2-1 affair.
 
DiCato settled in nicely and enjoyed a seven pitch 1-2-3 third inning. LeBrun had his best inning of the night when he returned the favor and retired the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the inning.

The Reds came back and took their second lead of the game when they scored three times in the top of the fourth to re-claim the lead at 4-2. Dan Chaisson got things started with a line single to left. DiCato struck out Will Brennan for the first out and Steve Tramontozzi followed with another single. Kevin Kelley drew a walk to load the bases for leadoff man Mac Jacobson. Jacobson singled to center to score Brennan with Landers coming up big and throwing out Tramontozzi at the plate on a close play. McEvoy followed and lined a full count fastball into right center scoring Kelley to put the Reds back in front 3-2. Baillargeon then booted a grounder off the bat of Busby that allowed Jacobson to score and give the Reds a 4-2 lead. Deshler tracked down catcher Sean Callahan-Montague’s bid for a three run homer on the warning track in left to end the inning and keep the Chiefs within striking distance.

Two runs came across for the Chiefs in the bottom of the fourth when they tied the game at 4-4. Barbati drew LeBrun’s fifth walk of the game and Paul Yanakopulos followed with a single. They both moved up on a wild pitch before Landers sent Barbati home with a sacrifice fly to left. LeBrun’s control problems continued as he walked Deshler to load the bases. Juan Portes was next and he hit a hard grounder to Casey at third. The former Azusa Pacific standout stepped on third to force Yanakopulos but his throw across the diamond to get Portes skipped by Chaisson at first allowing Deshler to score and knot things at 4-4 with Portes going all the way to third on the error. LeBrun kept the game tied when he got Ovalle to ground to Casey to end the inning.

DiCato got the Reds in order for the second time in the game in the top of the fifth.

Mike Andre got the Chiefs four run uprising started when he lined a leadoff single to right to begin the bottom of the fifth. Baillargeon drew a walk and Charlie DeFrancesco came on for the Reds to replace LeBrun. Leva then legged out a perfect bunt to load the bases. Game Two pitcher Tim Dunphy pinch ran for Leva. Barbati then came up with the Chiefs’ biggest hit of the game when he lined a single down the left field line scoring Andre and Baillargeon to give them a 6-4 lead. Yanakopulos' sacrifice bunt was thrown away by DeFrancesco for an error, allowing Dunphy to score from second to make it a 7-4 game. With runners on second and third, Landers popped up for the first out of the inning before Deshler drew the seventh walk of the night issued by Reds’ pitching to load the bases. Portes was next and he lined to Kelley at second who made the catch but threw low to first in a double play attempt as Barbati came across with the fourth run of the inning.

The Reds went in order on three groundouts and Ryan Augenstene kept the Chiefs bats quiet in the uneventful sixth.

With the Chiefs holding an 8-4 lead, things got more than a bit interesting in the top of the seventh as the Reds appeared poised to pull off some last inning dramatics for the second night in a row. DiCato hit McEvoy with the first pitch of the inning and then walked Busby. When Rich Boyer blooped a single to center the Reds were back in business with the bases loaded and nobody out. Casey then drilled a double down the left field line scoring Busby and Boyer to make it an 8-6 game and setting the Reds up with the tying runs at second and third with still no outs. The biggest play of the game came next when Chaisson hit a grounder to Portes. The shortstop looked at first base and then wheeled and threw a perfect strike to Yankopulos to get Boyer at the plate for the first out of the inning. With runners now on first and third, Brennan hit a chopper back to DiCato who threw to second to force Chaisson for the second out but he beat the relay to first to pick up an RBI, scoring Casey, to make it 8-7. The resilient Reds were still not finished as Tramontozzi kept them alive one more time with a line shot single to center. With the tying run at second base, DiCato came up big and finally ended things and sent the Chiefs to the championship when he struck out Kelley swinging to conclude the series and complete the sweep.

The now 26-7-2 Chiefs played Game Three without the services of Jeff Bercume and Peter Copa who were both out of the lineup with injuries suffered on Tuesday.

MORE COVERAGE IS COMING SOON.

Watertown, MA- Matt Boleski’s two out single in the top of the tenth inning gave the Chiefs a 3-2 win in Game Two of their Best of Five semi-final series at Victory Field in Watertown on Wednesday night.

Tim Dunphy, went all ten innings for the Chiefs to get the win.

The Chiefs took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh when Rich Boyer’s two out, two strike, single tied the game at 2-2.

Singles by Mike Andre and Edward Ovalle and a Hal Landers RBI groundout gave the Chiefs a 1-0 second inning lead against Reds’ starter Dave Ryan.

The lead went to 2-0 in the top of the seventh on a double by Nick Leva and triple by Jeff Bercume, who was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch it to a home run.

In the Reds seventh, Brendan Casey and Dan Chaisson both singled with one out. They both moved up a base on a Will Brennan ground out setting the stage for Boyer who singled up the middle to tie the game.

In the Chiefs tenth, Peter Copa led off with a single and Andre sacrificed him to second. Reds reliever Pat O’Donnell then got Ovalle to pop up before Boleski lined his game winner to center.

Dunphy, now 7-1-1 overall this season, allowed eight hits and struck out five.

Game Three is scheduled for Maplewood Park at Malden Catholic on Thursday at 8:00 PM.

Malden, MA- Jared Freni outdueled Watertown Reds' ace Brian Casey as the Chiefs took Game One of their Best of Five Semi Final series 2-1 at Maplewood Park in Malden on Tuesday night.

Freni allowed just one hit, a fourth inning single to Matt McEvoy, and struck out ten. Casey, allowed just five hits and struck out five.

Freni retired the Reds' side in order in the top of the first and the Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff man Jeff Bercume singled, stole second and third, and scored on Juan Portes' sacrifice fly to right.

The Reds went 1-2-3 again in the second, including two more Freni K's. The Chiefs threatened but could score in the bottom of the second. Mike Andre led off with a single to left. Peter Copa followed with a liner off Reds' shortstop Will Brennan's glove that moved Andre to second. Hal Landers then bunted but Casey was quick off the mound and threw Andre out at third for the inning's first out. Casey, the former Tufts star and two time ICL Pitcher of the Year, got out of the inning unscathed when he struck out Paul Yanakopulos and then got catcher Nick Leva to bounce back to him.

Freni and Casey both retired the side in order in the third inning.

The Reds got their first baserunner with one out in the top of the fourth when McEvoy singled up the middle. McEvoy got into scoring position on a passed ball. Freni left him stranded when he struck out Steve Busby and then got Sean Callahan-Montague to ground out.

Casey crusied through his second 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Chiefs picked up what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Yanakopulos singled, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a Leva grounder, and scored on Bercume's RBI single to right center.

The Reds got their run in the top of the sixth without a hit and threatened for more. Trouble started when pinch-hitter Rich Boyer reached on a one out error by Andre at third. Freni then walked Mac Jacobson. The Reds loaded the bases when Portes mis-played McEvoy's potential double play grounder. Busby then delivered a sacrifice fly down the left field line cutting the lead in half at 2-1. Callahan-Montague drew Freni's second walk of the inning to re-load the bases before he struck out Brendan Casey to keep the Chiefs in the lead.

Casey got the Chiefs in order for the third time in the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the Reds' seventh, Dan Chaisson bounced to Andre at third, Brennan grounded to Portes at shortstop, and Freni struck out Steve Trammontozzi to end the game.

Casey didn't walk a batter and retired ten Chiefs in a row from the second thru the fifth innings when Yanakopulos singled. Freni threw 104 pitches in the game and walked two.

Game Two is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:30 PM at Watertown's Victory Field. Game Three will be played back at Maplewood on Thursday night.

By Bruce Tilman
Medford, MA- Through the long and storied history of the franchise, whether they were known as the Hosmer Chiefs, Andre Realty, or the Andre Chiefs, they have been blessed with that very special power hitter in the heart of their lineup every year. In the early to mid 1960’s it was player-manager Lenny Dempsey, who handed off the unofficial throne to Sammy Greenwood, who was followed by Dave Polcari in the 1970’s, then Warren Olson and Hank Landers of the 1980’s and 1990’s, and most recently Justin Crisafulli, who assumed the “role” with distinction and who had the longest reign of all, being the Chiefs power guy from 1995 through 2011. During his tenure Crisafulli shattered all team records ending up with 567 hits, 91 homers and 417 runs batted in.

Following the recently concluded 2012 regular season, you can now pencil in the name of Juan Portes as the newest addition to that renowned list. In a lineup that already had possessed some well respected veteran ICL bats like Jeff Bercume, Peter Copa, Mike Andre, Tony Deshler and Mike Baillargeon, the Chiefs’ acquired Portes in the off season to fill the big shoes that were vacated when Crisafulli called it an ICL career at the end of last year. It has been a so far so good scenario as the Chiefs finished the regular season with a 23-7-2 mark and earned a first round playoff bye.

Portes’ first regular season in a Chiefs uniform yielded the former Minnesota Twins slugger the Intercity League’s Triple Crown. He becomes the team’s first Triple Crown winner since 1997 when Crisafulli turned the trick on the way to leading them to their fourth championship of the decade. Two days after that memorable season ended with a 35-6 record, Crisafulli signed with the Cleveland Indians before returning to Chiefs for fourteen more seasons.

Hitting a lofty .452 (38-84), Portes also smacked five homers, and drove in 24 runs. The shortstop edged out Wakefield’s Scott Searles (.440), Bercume (.435), and Reading’s Zac Talis (.424) for the batting title. Portes, Searles, Bercume and Talis were the only ICL regulars to hit over the coveted .400 mark during the 2012 regular season.

Portes shared the league lead in homers with Watertown Reds’ slugger Dan Chaisson with five each. Bercume, who played a couple of seasons in the Oakland A’s system, and has combined with Portes to give the Chiefs a dynamic 1-2 punch in almost all of the ICL’s offensive statistical categories, finished in the second spot with four round trippers.

In the RBI category, Portes and Reds’ veteran Steve Busby led the way with 24 runs driven in each. Bercume (5th) with 21 RBI and Andre (7th) with 19 RBI both joined Portes in the ICL’s top ten.

 “It’s really an honor winning the ICL’s Triple Crown but we still have some work to do,” said Portes when reached on Friday morning. “It has been an exciting regular season for me and I honestly couldn’t have done it without the lineup I have surrounding around me. From the first day I put on the Chiefs’ uniform I felt like I was at home and that I had known the other guys who I’d just met for years,” he added. “We are like a family now, we stick together on and off the field and our focus right now is to win the ICL championship,” said Portes.

Prior to coming onboard with the Chiefs, Portes spent seven seasons in the Minnesota organization after being drafted in the 15th round of the 2004 MLB draft. During his pro career he played in 666 games hitting .264 with 61 homers and 314 RBI. In addition, he led the Twins major league club in hitting during spring training of 2010 with a .346 average and a team best three homers, including a grand slam (pictured at left being greeted at the plate by Ben Revere) and six RBI against the New York Yankees on March 7. Portes was in the middle of a lineup that featured the likes of Joe Mauer, Ben Revere and Nick Punto. He just missed making the Twins twenty-five man opening day roster and to many observers it was a surprise when was sent back to the minors after such a productive Grapefruit League spring. He spent the rest of that season playing in New Britain and waiting for the call-up to the show that never came. Portes then bypassed a Triple “A” opportunity in 2011 and chose to return to the Boston area to be closer to his family who are in now attendance on a daily basis at virtually every Chiefs game both at home and on the road.

Portes played a year of high school baseball at Malden High before being drafted in 2004. He got his introduction to the Chiefs from Mike DiCato and Jared Freni who he teams up with in the spring to make up the Somerville High coaching staff.

“During the spring, Jared (Freni) and I spoke to Juan about the Chiefs. We told him that even though he had spent all of those years in pro ball that we can play some pretty decent and high level baseball in the ICL too,” said DiCato with a laugh. “Juan was immediately interested in playing for the Chiefs so we contacted Chuck, they talked, and he became a Chief. We are all pretty happy that he did,” added DiCato.

DiCato, who took over as the Somerville High head coach in 2012, has had the opportunity to observe Portes as both a coach and a teammate. “As a first year high school coach, I couldn’t have asked for anyone better than Juan. He is unbelievable with the kids and commands immediate respect”, said the Chiefs veteran and former UMass-Amherst standout who is looking to rejuvenate the Highlanders’ baseball program. “As a teammate on the Chiefs, his approach to the game is outstanding and just being around him brings all of us to a new level of confidence”, added DiCato.  

Chiefs’ seven year veteran Mike Andre, who spent the majority of the season hitting behind Portes in the four hole with usual cleanup man Peter Copa sidelined with a quad injury, echoed DiCato’s comments.“Juan’s just a great teammate and you can just tell how much he loves the game,” said the third baseman. “It doesn’t hurt to have a guy like Juan in the three spot who you think is going to make something good happen each time he comes to the plate. It’s pretty easy to pick up RBI’s when you are hitting behind guys like Juan and Bercy (Jeff Bercume) added the former Merrimack captain and four time ICL all-star.

 “From the moment he first walked into the dugout Juan had an immediate and positive impact,” said manager Chuck Andre. “His ability on the field, how hard he plays the game, his impressive numbers, and his professional resume all speak volumes. But what has impressed me more about Juan is how quickly he became one of the leaders of the team both on and off the field and the way he brings the club together and solidifies our team chemistry. The younger guys gravitate toward him. He’s a class act and we are sure glad to have him,” Andre stated.

On a team whose roster is dotted with no less than twelve former college captains as well as seven other players with professional experience, it is apparent that Portes, who has acquired the nickname “Big Daddy” from his Chiefs’ teammates, has indeed become a leader. 

Portes tried to divert attention away from himself when questioned about his first three months as a Chief. “I really want to thank all of the guys, the coaching staff, and especially Chuck (Andre) for giving me the chance to part of this team,” he added in his now familiar humble fashion. 

The Chiefs must be pretty thankful for him as well. 

Medford, MA- Statistically, several Chiefs finished the regular season among the leaders in many ICL categories.

To go along with Juan Portes, who won the regular Triple Crown with a .452 average, five homers and 24 RBI, other Chiefs’ players were tops in many categories led by leadoff man Jeff Bercume and right-hander Jared Freni.

Bercume, (pictured left) posted some big time numbers over the regular season. The veteran centerfielder led the ICL in five major offensive categories. The former Oakland A’s farmhand and Merrimack College standout and captain was tops in triples with five, runs scored with 26, slugging percentage (.739), on base plus slugging (1.239) and stolen bases, stealing 24 bases in 24 attempts.

Bercume also finished third in the batting race going 40-92 for a .435 mark, was second league wide in both hits with 40, and on base percentage (.500), third in home runs with four, and fifth in runs batted in with 25. The Chiefs’ veteran, who began his ICL career in 2007, played in New York in 2008 and was with the Oakland A’s in 2010 and half of 2011, before returning to the Chiefs last July. He continues to climb up the Chiefs’ all-time leader lists, and is currently ninth in homers with 13, sixteenth in hits with 141, and nineteenth in runs batted in with 73. Bercume has also stolen 58 bases in 66 attempts during his Chiefs’ career. He has a .342 lifetime batting average in the ICL.

Other Chiefs among the ICL’s regular season batting average leaders included Tony Deshler who was eighteenth at .325 and Mike Andre at .286. Andre was seventh in the ICL in hits with 30 while Deshler finished in the thirteenth spot with 28. Andre was also seventh in RBI with 19 and Deshler had a dozen, good for a top twenty finish in that category. Both Mike Baillargeon (6 for 6) and Hal Landers (5-5) finished in top ten in stolen bases.

Jared Freni

In the pitching department, Jared Freni led the circuit in several categories. The former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst standout, who posted an 8-1-1 regular season record, was tops in wins with 8, strikeouts with 104, innings pitched (69) and strikeouts per inning pitched (1.51). Freni, who was a co-recipient of the ICL’s Outstanding Pitcher Award in 2011, also finished fifth in ERA (1.52), and WHIP (.942). He began his Chiefs’ career in 2006, spent a few college seasons in the NECBL, before returning to the team on a full time basis in 2010. Like Bercume, he also continues to climb the Chiefs all-time leader lists and is now in third place in career strikeouts with 306 K’s, fifth in career wins with 23, seventh in appearances (40), and sixth in innings pitched with 241. He has a career record of 23-6 with the Chiefs.

Right behind Freni and giving the Chiefs a solid 1-2 pitching punch was veteran lefty Tim Dunphy who compiled a 6-1-1 regular season record. He finished third in three categories including; wins (6), ERA (1.14), and WHIP .904. Dunphy was also fifth in innings pitched with 55.1.

Other Chiefs’ pitchers among the leaders were Matt DiCato (4-1), who finished with the fourth best ERA (1.52) and in eighth place in WHIP (1.200) in 31.2 innings pitched. Both Matt and his older brother Mike DiCato were in the top ten in wins with four each.

The Chiefs hit .294 as team over the regular season. They posted a team ERA of 2.23 while compiling a record of 23-7-2. 

Malden, MA- The Reading Bulldogs got a complete game effort from Kevin Church to beat the Chiefs 6-3 in the regular season finale at Maplewood Park on Wednesday night.

The Chiefs finished the regular season at 23-7-2 but saw their ten game winning streak come to an end despite outhitting the Bulldogs 8-7. They now enjoy a first round bye and await their semi-final opponent. They will play either Watertown, Wakefield or Reading, depending on the first round results, in a best of five series most likely starting next Tuesday. Both the Watertown-Medford and Wakefield-Reading best of three series are expected to begin on Friday.

The Chiefs used five pitchers in Wednesday’s game; Rob Machado, Sam McDonough, John Chotkowski, Paul Covelle and Dan Bonito. Machado (1-1) took the loss. The righty worked the first three innings giving up five runs on three hits. He also walked four, struck out one, and hit a couple of batters. McDonough worked a scoreless fourth with an inning ending strikeout, Chotkowski gave up a run on a couple of hits in the fifth, Covelle allowed a hit and walked two in the sixth, and Bonito worked a 1-2-3 seventh for the Chiefs.

Church kept the Chiefs off the board until the bottom of the sixth when they picked up two runs on Jeff Bercume’s second triple of the night, Juan Portes’ double, and a RBI fielder’s choice by Mike Andre.

The Chiefs picked up their third run in the bottom of the seventh on singles by Mike Baillargeon, rookie Christian Veneziano and Bercume and an RBI groundout from Andy Cavanaugh. For Veneziano, it was the first hit of his ICL career and for Cavanaugh, his first RBI.

Steve Buitkus had a big night at the plate for Reading going three for four with three RBI. Bercume reached base four times for the Chiefs (walk, two triples, single) and Portes went two for three, including his sixth inning double.

More regular season wrap-up and playoff coverage tomorrow.

Malden, MA- The Chiefs won their tenth game in a row, behind veteran right-hander Mike DiCato’s complete game effort, 4-2 over the Watertown Reds in the late game at Maplewood on Monday.

The Reds took a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Brendan Casey lined a one out single off DiCato’s foot and Matt McEvoy singled when his fly ball dropped on some miscommunication between Juan Portes and leftfielder Tony Deshler. Will Brennan then singled to load the bases. Ryan Manning followed with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Casey.

The Chiefs scored all of their runs in the bottom of the second inning against former Triple A pitcher Randy Newsom. Mike Andre got things going when he lined a double off the wall in right. Peter Copa then singled sending Andre to third. Hal Landers tied the game at 1-1 when he lined a single to left that scored Andre. Newsom got Mike Barbati to fly to short right for the first out before Paul Yanakopoulos singled to center load the bases. Jeff Bercume then drilled a shot into the right field corner that appeared to clear the bases but was ruled a ground rule double. The disputed call scored Copa and Landers but Yanakopulos was sent back to third and Bercume returned to second, having to settle for two RBI’s and a double and a 3-1 Chiefs lead. Deshler then drew a walk to reload the bases for Juan Portes who picked up his team leading 24th RBI of the season on an infield grounder scoring Yanakopulos making it a 4-1 contest.

Watertown chipped a run off the lead to make it 4-2 in the top of the third. Mac Jacobson doubled, went to third on Luke Begley’s infield grounder, and eventually scored on another grounder to third with veteran Steve Busby getting the RBI.

DiCato kept the Reds off the scoreboard over the next three innings. Newsom gave way to reliever Pat O’Donnell to start the fifth and the former Tufts standout blanked the Chiefs over the next two frames.

It was still a 4-2 game entering the top of the seventh. Dan Chaisson led off the inning with a sharp single to left. DiCato then hit pinch hitter Kyle Thebado with a pitch. He then got a big out when he struck out Steve Panza. Mike Giordarno was next up and was thrown out at first by DiCato on a chopper in front of the mound with Chaisson and Thebado moving into scoring position. Sean Callahan-Montague then drew a walk to load the bases. Barbati ended the game when he came up with defensive play of the year to date when he ranged far to his right to glove and flip a grounder in one motion to Portes covering second to force Callahan-Montague and rob Casey of a sure game tying hit.

DiCato (4-3) allowed seven hits and struck out six. Newsom (0-1) went four innings and surrendered eight hits while striking out one.

Malden, MA- The Chiefs clinched a first round playoff bye with a 6-0 shutout of the Arlington Trojans in the opening game of a three team doubleheader at Maplewood Park on Monday night. It was their ninth straight win.

Lefty Tim Dunphy was once again superb, raising his season record to 6-1-1 on the season. Dunphy allowed just five hits, struck out three, and pitched the Chiefs to their eleventh shutout of the year. He also helped himself defensively recording four putouts, two of the line drive back to the box variety, to go along with one assist.

The Chiefs, who were the visiting team in the game, struck for a couple of runs in the top of the first inning and threatened to blow the game open against Trojans starter Justin Mansfield. Jeff Bercume and Tony Deshler both drew walks and then executed a double steal. Consecutive RBI singles by Juan Portes and Edward Ovalle made it 2-0 Chiefs and left runners at the corners with nobody out. Mike Andre was next and he hit a rocket right at Trojans first baseman Kevin Hart who easily doubled up Ovalle at first, keeping the Chiefs from a bigger first inning. Portes was left stranded at third when Peter Copa bounced out.

The Chiefs doubled their lead to 4-0 in the top of the second. Hal Landers got things started with a long triple into the left-centerfield gap. Mansfield struck out Nick Leva for the first out and Mike Barbati followed and plated Landers with a sacrifice fly to right jumping the margin to 3-0. Bercume was next and he drilled a sinking opposite field liner to left. Trojan leftfielder Dan Fitzgerald tried to make a running catch and the ball got by him and rolled all the way to the wall with Bercume circling the bases. The play was ruled a single and a three base error, to make it a 4-0 game.

Singles by Portes, Andre and Landers loaded the bases in the top of third but reliever Sean Gustin  (Holy Cross) came on and got Leva to fly out to keep it a 4-0 ballgame.

Dunphy cruised through the next three innings and Gustin kept the Chiefs off the scoreboard in the fourth, fifth and sixth.

The Chiefs picked up a couple of more runs and some breathing room in the top of the seventh. Barbati got things started with a double down the left field line. Bercume moved him to third with a right side grounder and Barbati scored the fifth run on Deshler’s sacrifice fly to right. Portes then singled and Ovalle reached on an infield error before the final run came when Andre lined a single to right, scoring Portes, making it 6-zip.

Dunphy got the Arlington side in order in the bottom seventh to lock up the win. For Dunphy it was his third complete game shutout of the season and his second straight. He blanked Lexington 5-0 in his previous start on July 28 at Tufts University. Dunphy’s ERA now stands at 1.14 in 55.1 innings so far this season.

Portes had three singles, Landers a triple and single, and Andre a single and double to lead the eleven hit attack.

Medford, MA- The Chiefs beat the stormy skies as well as the Mooney Dental Tanners 2-0 at Tufts University on Sunday evening.

In a game that was delayed twenty minutes at the start due to threatening conditions and finished in a steady rain shower, the Chiefs rode the two-hit pitching of ace Jared Freni to take their eighth straight win.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.  Mike Andre got things started when he doubled into the right field corner off Tanner lefty starter Chris Pessotti. Mike DiCato moved Andre to third with a sacrifice bunt and when the throw to first to get DiCato was low, the Chiefs had runners on the corners with nobody out. Pessotti got then Nick Leva to pop up for the first out. Mike Barbati’s infield grounder to shortstop scored Andre with DiCato being forced at second. Pessotti got Jeff Bercume swinging to keep it a 1-0 game after two innings.

The Tanners mounted their most serious scoring threat in the top of the third. After an infield throwing error by DiCato at first, Johnny McDonald singled sharply up the middle. With runners at first and second, Carlton Lentini grounded to Juan Portes at short with both runners moving into scoring position. Freni and the Chiefs got out of the inning and kept the shutout intact when Edward Ovalle made a nice running catch of a Joe Burnham liner to left.

The lead doubled to 2-0 in the home half of the fifth inning. Leva blooped a 3-2 pitch into right for a single. Barbati moved Leva up to second with a sacrifice bunt. Jon Byrne, making his first start of the season in the DH role, was next and he grounded out to McDonald at second base with Leva moving to third. Bercume then delivered Leva with  long double to right. McDonald robbed Hal Landers with a diving stop of a hard grounder earmarked for a RBI single to right to retire the side.

That was all the scoring either team could generate as Freni retired the last ten Tanners in a row and Pessotti blanked the Chiefs over the final two innings.

Freni raised his record to 8-1-1 on the year and recorded nine strikeouts while walking just one. Pessotti, now 2-4, scattered six hits, struck out three and walked a couple.

Chiefs Chatter......The Chiefs are now 21-6-2 on the season. Sunday’s shutout was the tenth thrown by the pitching staff in 29 games so far in 2012.....On Monday, the Chiefs will host a three team doubleheader at Maplewood Park (Malden Catholic). In the opener, the Chiefs will play the Arlington Trojans at 6:30 PM and then take on the Watertown Reds in the nightcap at approximately 8:30 PM........The Chiefs will conclude their regular season schedule on Wednesday night when they host the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood at 7:45 PM.

Malden, MA- Brotherly love can go a long way.

Veteran Mike DiCato came on in the top of the fifth inning to get his younger brother Matt out of a bases loaded one out jam to keep the Chiefs in the lead in a hard fought 6-4 win over the resilient Testa Corp. Bombers on Friday night at Maplewood Park.

It was the seventh straight win for the Chiefs who improved to 20-6-2 on the season with four regular season games left to play.

This one did not come easy as the Bombers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.

Testa Corp. picked up a run in the top of the first inning against Matt DiCato on a walk to Mark O’Flynn, a Mike Addesa base hit, a Devon Perry HBP, and a RBI single from journeyman Aaron Finklestein.

The lead went to 3-zip Bombers in the top of the second inning when O’Flynn hit a two run homer to right-center.

The Chiefs came back quickly and tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the second. Peter Copa, who was making his return after missing ten games with a quad injury, singled to left to get things started. Hal Landers then doubled into the left-center field gap sending Copa to third. Bomber’s starter Airel De la Cruz then struck out Mike Barbati swinging and got Nick Leva to line to Perry at shortstop for the first two outs of the inning. De la Cruz was a strike away from getting out of the predicament when Jeff Bercume came up big, tripling to left-center, scoring Copa and Landers getting the Chiefs on the board but still trailing 3-2. Tony Deshler then drilled a De la Cruz fastball into right scoring Bercume to even things up and make it a new ballgame at 3-3.

The younger DiCato got the Bombers in order in the top of the third and the Chiefs responded to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the inning. Edward Ovalle, who was another returnee to the lineup after missing the last four games with a calf injury, walked, stole second, and scored on Mike Andre’s long RBI double off the fence in right-center.

DiCato worked his second 1-2-3 inning in a row in the top of the fourth and the Chiefs picked up a couple of more runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-3 lead. Bercume lead off the inning with his fourth homer of the season, a moon shot to straight away rightfield off Bombers reliever John Jennings.  Deshler and Juan Portes followed with consecutive singles to left. Jennings got Ovalle to pop up for the first out before Andre lined a single to right-center scoring Deshler to make it 6-3 with Portes being thrown out trying to go to third on the play. Copa then hit a ground rule laser double to left sending Andre to third. Landers drew a walk to fill the bases but Jennings kept the Bombers within three runs when he got Mike Barbati to fly out to end the inning.

O’Flynn  got the Bombers back within two runs when he led off the top of the fifth inning with his second homer of the game to straight away center, making it a 6-4 game. DiCato then walked Dan O’Flynn. After an infield out the Bombers got another threat brewing when Adessa drew the second walk of the inning and Perry singled to right to load the bases. That was the night for DiCato as he gave way to older brother Mike who was summoned from the bullpen. Big brother didn't let his younger sibling down as he got out of the jam by striking out Finklestein and Joe Barry in succession to keep the Chiefs in front at 6-4.

Mike was superb over the next two innings, allowing just one baserunner, hitting O’Flynn with a two strike picth with two outs in the sixth. The former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst standout struck out four while picking up his third win of the season. Addesa, formerly a GBL all-star pitcher at Revere High as well as making mound appearances during his collegiate career at Salem State, blanked the Chiefs over the final two innings to account for the 6-4 final.

The Chiefs are off on Saturday and will host the Mooney Dental Tanners on Sunday at 5:00 PM at Tufts University in Medford.

Medford, MA- Jared Freni threw the third three-hit shutout for the pitching staff in three days as the Chiefs blanked the Arlington Trojans 5-0 at Maplewood Park on Monday night. Freni’s three-hitter followed mirror efforts by Tim Dunphy who beat Lexington on Saturday 5-0 and Matt DiCato’s 3-0 win over Mooney on Sunday night.

Tony Deshler’s two run homer in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Jeff Bercume ahead of him who had singled, gave Freni all the runs he would need.

The Chiefs made it 3-0 in the third when Mike Andre fielder’s choice grounder with the bases loaded was thrown wide of home allowing Bercume, who had singled, to score.

It went to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Mike Barbati scored when Bercume beat out an infield single and the throw to get him at first skipped away.

The Chiefs added their fifth and final run in the sixth inning on Andre’s RBI single to right.

Freni struck out eleven Trojans and retired the last 14 batters in a row. The right-hander raised his record to 7-1-1 on the season.

The Chiefs, who are now 19-6-2, are off on Tuesday and will return to Maplewood to face the Reading Bulldogs on Wednesday at 7:45 PM.

Woburn, MA- For the second consecutive Sunday Matt DiCato threw a gem.

Last week he held the Wakefield Merchants to five hits and one unearned run as his mates pulled off a seventh inning two out rally to give him a 2-1 win. On Sunday night at Ferullo Field he was even better.

The now 4-1 right-hander threw a complete game three-hit shutout, never allowing a runner to get beyond second base, and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning in a 3-0 Chiefs win over the Mooney Dental Tanners. It was the Chiefs second three hit shutout in as many days as lefty Tim Dunphy turned the trick against the Lexington Blue Sox on Saturday.

The game featured a fine pitcher’s duel between DiCato and Mooney righty Max McKenna of Amherst College. McKenna deserved a much better fate as he only allowed one earned run and six hits while striking out a half dozen.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the top of second inning when Mike Baillargeon singled and stole second. McKenna then struck out Mike DiCato looking at a breaking ball and got Paul Yanakopulos to fly to right. Veteran Mike Barbati was next and he came up big with two outs when he drove home Baillargeon with a liner off first baseman’s Bill Manley’s glove.

It went to 2-0 in the top of the third. After Tony Deshler bounced back to McKenna for the first out, consecutive line drive singles by Juan Portes and Mike Andre put runners at first and second. McKenna got Baillargeon to fly to right for out number two. The Chiefs caught a break when Mike DiCato’s pop up was dropped in short right field allowing Portes to score the unearned run.

The Chiefs scored another unearned run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. McKenna started the inning by striking out Matt Boleski. He then hit Barbati with a pitch. Bercume was caught looking at a McKenna fastball on a 3-2 count with Barbati running and stealing second on the pitch. The Chiefs caught break number two of the night when Deshler’s grounder went through the wickets of shortstop Carlton Lentini as Barbati was crossing in front of him, allowing him to score the third and final run of the night.

Lentini broke up DiCato’s hitless run with a clean single to right leading off the fourth. After Joe Burnham flew to Bercume in center for the first out Manley drew a walk to give the Tanners two base runners on for the only time in the game. The Tanners only real scoring threat ended when Keegan DeNapoli bounced into a 6-4-3 doubleplay.

McKenna and DiCato threw blanks the rest of the way as the Chiefs left Woburn with their fifth straight win and an 18-6-2 record.

Chiefs Chatter.....Mike Andre reached a milestone with his third inning single that was the 200^th hit of his Chiefs career. The third baseman is currently in tenth place on the Chiefs’ all time career list. He is in some pretty impressive company in the “200 Hit Club” trailing Justin Crisafulli (567), Mike Langston (538), Mike Barnes (365), Dave Clivio (328), Warren Olson (304), Steve Daley (273), Hank Landers (238), Brian Macrina (227), Alex Masel (213) and now Andre at 200.....Matt DiCato lowered his ERA to 0.51 in 27.1 innings of work so far this season.....For the 47th time in 49 seasons the Chiefs have clinched both a playoff spot and a winning record.....Both Peter Copa (quad) and Edward Ovalle (calf) are expected back into the lineup later this week.....The Chiefs will send Jared Freni (6-1-1) to the mound on Monday night when they host the Arlington Trojans at Maplewood Park on the campus of Malden Catholic at 7:45 PM.....

Medford, MA- Veteran Tim Dunphy twirled a complete game three-hit shutout to pitch the Chiefs by the Lexington Blue Sox 5-0 on Saturday afternoon at Tufts University’s Huskins Field.

Dunphy was in control from the outset, allowing just four baserunners on the day, two of which were erased on Chiefs’ doubleplays.

The Blue Sox got the first of their hits in the top of the first inning when Dan Capra lined a one out single to right. Capra was forced at second when Dunphy got Steve Gath to bounce into a 6-4-3 (Portes-Baillargeon-DiCato) doubleplay to end the inning.

The Chiefs went right to work in the home half of the first inning. Leadoff man Jeff Bercume was hit by a Drew Brzozowski pitch. Brzozowski caught Bercume leaning and picked him off for the first out. Tony Deshler then drew a walk and Juan Portes was next. For the third consecutive game Portes gave the Chiefs a lead when he hit his third first inning home run in a row and fifth of the year, a line drive to right-center, scoring Deshler ahead of him for a 2-0 lead.

It was three up and three down for the Blue Sox in the top of the second against Dunphy and the Chiefs picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning. After Hal Landers fouled out, Mike DiCato reached on a two base throwing error and scored when Paul Yanakopulos drilled an RBI single to right-center.

Joe Eramo reached on a Portes error with two outs in the top of the third and stole second before Dunphy got Ross Curley to fly to Bercume in center to end the inning.

The Chiefs made it a 5-0 game in the bottom of the third. Mike Andre got things started with two outs when he lined a Brzozowski pitch to center. Mike Baillargeon then drew a walk and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hal Landers then singled to right-center scoring Andre and Baillargeon jumping the lead to 5-0.

Capra singled to start the top of the fourth but Gath lined into a doubleplay before Dan Graham singled and Jason Twomley flew out to end the inning.

The Chiefs threatened but couldn’t add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Yanakopulos lined a shot down the left field line but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Bercume was hit by a pitch for the second time in the ballgame and Deshler drew another walk. That was it for Brzozowski as Tyler Kendrick was summoned from the Sox bullpen. The lefty got Portes on a foul pop up to keep it a 5-0 game.

Dunphy got the Sox side in order in the fifth. The Chiefs got two aboard with one out when Baillargeon singled and Landers was hit by a pitch. Kendrick got out of it when he got DiCato to hit into a 1-6-3 doubleplay.

Lexington went 1-2-3 again in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Jon Byrne gave the Chiefs a start when he led off the bottom of the inning with a single to right. Andy Cavanaugh came on to pinch run for Bryne and was gunned down at second on a nice throw by catcher Mike Abraham on a Yanakopulos unsuccessful sacrifice bunt. Bercume followed with a single but Deshler hit into a 4-6-3 doubleplay to send the game to the top of the seventh.

Dunphy again retired the side in order (Gath, Graham & Twomley groundouts) to give the Chiefs the win as the skies over Tufts were quickly darkening.

Dunphy needed just 79 pitches to pick up his fifth win of the season. He struck out just one but retired the last ten batters in row. The former Brandeis star is now 5-1-1 on the campaign and lowered his ERA to 1.30 in 48.1 innings.

The Chiefs stay busy with a road game on Sunday night at 8:00 PM when they travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn to visit the Mooney Dental Tanners. On Monday, the Chiefs will host the Arlington Trojans in a 7:45 PM start at Maplewood.

Malden, MA- Jared Freni went 6.1 innings to get his sixth win and Juan Portes and Tony Deshler swung the big bats as the Chiefs topped the Reading Bulldogs 8-1 at Maplewood Park on Wednesday night.

For the second game in row, Portes gave the Chiefs a first inning lead with a home run, this time a solo blast to left-center, for his fourth of the season.

That was all the scoring either team could generate as Reading lefty Sean Boyle and Freni matched zeros until the Chiefs put up a three spot to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Deshler got things started with double into the left-centerfield gap. Portes followed with shot off the fence in center that came back quickly to Darren Hartwell with Deshler only advancing as far as third. With Mike Baillargeon at the plate, Boyle balked Deshler home and moved Portes to third. Baillargeon drew a walk and stole second and Mike Andre’s RBI infield grounder then brought Portes across with the third run. Hal Landers was next and he was hit by a Boyle pitch. With runners on the corners, Landers stole second and when catcher Zac Talis’ throw skipped away, Baillargeon trotted home with the fourth run of the inning.

The Bulldogs answered with their only run of the night in the top of the fifth inning on consecutive hits from Nick Conti, Trevor Manzi and Talis.

Kevin Church came on in the bottom of the fifth for the Bulldogs and kept the Chiefs off the scoreboard. Freni enjoyed a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and the Chiefs put it out of reach when they scored four more times in the bottom of the inning.

After Andre flew out to right, Landers singled and stole second. Paul Yankopulos then delivered Landers with a double into the leftfield corner making it a 5-1 game. Mike Barbati then made it 6-1 with a single to center that scored Yanakopulos and went to second on the throw home. Jeff Bercume then hit a long fly to right that was dropped on the warning track for a three base error that scored Barbati. Deshler followed and drove home Bercume with Chiefs eighth run of the night.

Freni (6-1-1) allowed six hits and struck out eleven before giving way to Rob Machado with one out in the seventh. Machado gave up a hit and also recorded a strikeout.

With the win, the Chiefs move to 16-6-2 on the season while the Bulldogs fall to 10-13-1.

The Chiefs are off until Saturday when they host the Lexington Blue Sox at Tufts University in Medford in a 2:00 PM start.

Malden, MA- Tim Dunphy went the distance to pick up his fourth win of the season as the southpaw pitched the Chiefs past the Watertown Reds 9-4 at Maplewood Park on Monday night.

Looking to avenge two lopsided losses earlier this season to the Reds in Watertown, the Chiefs started quickly on this night scoring four times in the bottom of the first and adding three more in the second to take a 7-0 lead after two innings.

The Chiefs got to Watertown starter Ryan Augenstene early when Jeff Bercume led off with a double and scored on Juan Portes’ third homer of the season, a towering two run shot to left center, for a 2-0 lead. Walks to Edward Ovalle, Mike Baillargeon and Hal Landers sandwiched around a Mike Andre single to left center led to two more runs and a 4-0 Chiefs’ lead after an inning.

The lead went to 7-0 in the second inning on a triple by Portes, an Ovalle single and a Baillargeon double.

Dunphy held the Reds scoreless in the top of the third and Watertown reliever Pat O’Donnell restored order and kept the Chiefs off the board in the bottom of the inning.

The Reds closed the gap to 7-3 when they scored three times in the top of the fourth on singles from Steve Busby, Brendan Casey and Matt McEvoy and an opposite field double by Ryan Manning.

The Chiefs answered right back in their half of the inning when they scored a couple more runs on a Bercume two RBI double, increasing their margin to 9-3.

Dan Chaisson’s fifth homer of the year, a solo blast to left, leading off the sixth inning closed out the scoring for the night to account for the 9-4 final.

Dunphy, now 4-1-1, allowed nine hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six.

Augenstene (1-2) took the loss for Watertown.

The Reds play the Arlington Trojans on Tuesday at Bentley at 6:00 PM. The Chiefs enjoy a night off and return to Maplewood to host the Reading Bulldogs on Wednesday at 7:45 PM.

After squandering scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity and stranding eight men on base, including leaving the bases juiced twice, it appeared that the outcome would result in the one of the Chiefs’ most “tough to take” shutout losses of the season as well as wasting an outstanding effort by righty Matt DiCato.

Not so fast.

Enter Juan Portes. Then Mike Andre.  Followed by Mike Baillargeon. And finally Andy Cavanaugh.

With two quietly and quickly  gone it the top of the seventh Portes (pictured left) gave his team some life with a seed single to left. Andre was next and delivered maybe his biggest clutch hit so far this season when he drilled a full count Connor Mahon offering to right sending Portes to third.

Cavanaugh came on to pinch run for Andre and Baillargeon brought the crowd back into the ballpark when he delivered an opposite field triple into the right field corner with Portes scoring and Cavanaugh beating the relay home to catcher Mike Sorrentino to give the Chiefs a sudden and improbable lead at 2-1. Kevin Flight came on to relieve Mahon and got Mike DiCato on an infield grounder to send the Chiefs back onto the field for the bottom of the seventh leading 2-1.

The Merchants did not go quietly. Joe Papa was first up to face the younger of the two DiCato Brothers and he grounded to Portes at shortstop for the first out. Dave Orlowitz followed with a sharp single to left and promptly stole second. With Orlowitz in scoring position, DiCato got Joe Breen to bounce to Baillargeon at second for out number two with Orlowitz moving to third. With the tying run ninety feet away, Nick Napoli grounded to Mike Barbati, who had come on to replace Andre at third, and he threw Napoli out at first by a couple of steps to end the game.

Mahon frustrated the undermanned and ailing Chiefs lineup through the first 6.2 innings. The Merchants gave him what appeared to be the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Orlowitz drew a one out walk and DiCato threw Breen’s comebacker low to second for an error. Napoli made DiCato pay when he drilled a single to left scoring Orlowitz giving the Merchants a 1-0 lead on the unearned run.

DiCato, who raised his record to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 0.69 in 20.1 innings so far this season, allowed just five hits and struck out one. Mahon, who named as a mid season ICL all-star, took the tough loss and fell to 2-3. The Norwich University righty surrendered ten hits, walked three and struck out four in his 6.2 innings.

With the win the Chiefs go to 14-6-2 while the Merchants fall to 11-14 while suffering their sixth straight loss and their third consecutive one run defeat.

The Merchants are off on Monday and will look to rebound on Tuesday when they visit the Bulldogs in Reading. The Chiefs meanwhile will play their fourth game in four days when they host the Watertown Reds in a big game at Maplewood Park, on the on campus of Malden Catholic, on Monday night at 7:45 PM. Southpaw Tim Dunphy (3-1-1, 1.02 ERA) will draw the starting assignment. -Bruce Tilman

Medford, MA- Former Atlanta Braves right-hander Kevin McGlinchy tossed a neat two-hitter, striking out eight, to get the Medford Americans past the Chiefs 4-1 at Tufts University on Saturday afternoon.

The Americans jumped out to 1-0 lead against Mike DiCato in the top of the first inning on singles from Mike Burgoyne and Kevin Davis, a walk to Joe Sheehan, and a sacrifice fly from Jon Barber.

The Americans’ lead went to 3-0 in the top of the fourth on singles by Barber and Mike Kalfopoulos, a walk to James McConnville, and a wild pitch.

McGlinchy allowed a run, without yet giving up hit, in the Chiefs fourth when Jeff Bercume walked, stole second and third, and scored on a Juan Portes RBI grounder to shortstop.

The Americans got that run right back in the top of the fifth when Chris Salvati reached on a throwing error by Tony Deshler and a Sheehan double making the score 4-1.

McGlinchy meanwhile was sailing along with a no-hitter for 5.2 innings until Bercume broke it up when he beat out an infield single on a close play at first. Deshler followed with the Chiefs’ only clean hit of the day, a single up the middle. McGlinchy ended the Chiefs lone scoring threat when he struck out Portes swinging to end the inning.

McGlinchy evened his season mark at 4-4 with the win while DiCato fell to 2-3.

The Chiefs stay busy travelling to Walsh Field in Wakefield to meet the Merchants on Sunday at 5:00 PM before returning to Maplewood to meet the Watertown Reds on Monday night at 7:45 PM.

Chiefs Chatter...The Chiefs' walking wounded added another member when Edward Ovalle went down with a calf injury in the third inning. Ovalle joins Peter Copa and Hal Landers and a number of others who are already ailing.... The Chiefs ended Saturday's game with the absurd number of 15 players not available including; Ovalle, Copa, Landers, Mike Baillargeon, Tim Quinn, Nick Leva, Brendan Pyburn, Rob Caggiano, Andy Cavanaugh, Paul Covelle, Rob Machado, Jared Freni, Zarif Pajazetovic, Sam McDonough and Dan Bonito....Pitcher Matt DiCato, who had a couple of at bats at Framingham State this spring, was forced into the lineup due to so many players being unavailable when Ovalle was injured.....

Arlington, MA- Jared Freni went six innings to pick up the win and Juan Portes had a 3 for 4 evening as the Chiefs escaped Summer Street Field in Arlington with a sloppy 3-2 win over the Trojans on Friday night.

The Chiefs were cruising along with a 3-0 lead with one out in the seventh until three infield errors cut the lead to 3-2 and brought the winning run to plate with two outs. Only an outstanding play by Tony Deshler on an infield chopper avoided more trouble as he threw Justin Mansfield out at first on a close play to end the game.

The Chiefs staked Freni to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Edward Ovalle doubled in his first Chiefs’ at bat and scored when Portes, his former Minnesota Twin teammate, drove him in with a single.

The lead went to 2-0 in the second when Deshler led off with a single to right, Mike DiCato was hit by a pitch, and Paul Yanakopulos drew a walk from Arlington starter Eric Oberg to load the bases. Jeff Bercume then delivered Deshler with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Deshler.

It stayed a 2-0 as the Chiefs missed scoring opportunities in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings while stranding 13 men on base.

Freni was tough when he had to be as the Trojans got two men on in the second (walk, single), a runner to second in the third, and another runner in scoring position in the fifth (Justin Friedman single).

The Chiefs added what proved to be their all important third run in the seventh. Mike Andre singled into the shortstop hole and when Morgan Brown’s throw was low to first he moved to second. Reliever Marcus Way then struck out Deshler swinging for the first out. Pinch runner Rob Caggiano then went to third on a wild pitch and scored what proved to be the game winner on a DiCato single to right.

Tim Dunphy came on for Freni to start the seventh and things begin uneventfully enough when he got Kevin Hart to groundout to DiCato at first. Dan Csapler then grounded to Portes at short and when his throw sailed high over DiCato’s head at first Csapler was standing at second with one out. Dave Cunningham followed and reached on Pyburn’s error to put runners on the corners. Pinch hitter Paul O’Neil then hit a slow roller at Deshler at third which he charged and threw wide of first allowing Csapler to score to make it 3-1. Friedman then grounded to Pyburn who forced O’Neil at second with Cunningham scoring as the Trojans closed to 3-2. Mansfield then hit another chopper between the mound and third. Deshler charged the ball and fired to DiCato on a banger at first to end the game.

Freni (5-1-1) struck out eight and walked one. Dunphy allowed two unearned runs and picked up his first save of the season.

The Chiefs had eight hits against a trio of Trojan pitchers as Portes (3 singles) and Ovalle (double & single) were the only Chiefs to have multiple hit games.

The 13-5-2 Chiefs are right back in action on Saturday afternoon when they meet the Americans at Tufts University in a 1:30 PM start.

CHIEFS CHATTER........The Chiefs return to action on Wednesday night when they host the Testa Corp. Bombers at Maplewood starting at 7:45 PM.......First baseman and former Malden Catholic/UMass-Amherst/California Angel Peter Copa remains day to day with a quad injury suffered last week against Lexington.....Sam McDonough made his first appearance of the season in Sunday’s loss at Reading. The former UMass-Amherst righty had a standout career at Conrad High in West Hartford CT, before moving on to UMass where injuries limited his appearances. An all around athlete, McDonough was named all Central Connecticut League as a three year quarterback as well as all conference as a senior in basketball. He was a three time CCL all league selection as pitcher for Conrad as well......The Chiefs also added former Minnesota Twins outfielder Edward Ovalle to the roster last week. Ovalle, was a teammate of shortstop Juan Portes on a number of occasions in the Twins system. Ovalle played in 573 professional games over a span of six seasons where he hit 37 homers and drove in 258 runs to go along with a .265 career average.....Two young right-handers will making their ICL debuts over the next few weeks. Malden Catholic righty Paul Covelle of Medford, who is headed to Franklin Pierce in the fall, as well as Everett standout Zarif Pajazetovic have joined the club. Covelle and Pajazetovic give the Chiefs’ staff some added bullpen depth and youth as they join fellow rookies John Chotkowski of Tewksbury and Dan Bonito (Western New England) formerly of Malden Catholic, on the staff.......Former Chief catcher Mike Romano made certain his old team had plenty of good wood to swing this summer as he helped supply the club with Zorian Bats. Another former Chief, Rob Zorian, is the owner of Zorian Bat Company and the two ex-teammates made sure that the Chiefs would be swinging plenty of Zorians this summer.....The Chiefs head into the stretch run with eight players who had previously signed a pro contract on their roster. Jeff Bercume (Oakland A’s), Tony Deshler (Penrith Panthers), Juan Portes and Edward Ovalle (Minnesota Twins), Mike Baillargeon and Mike DiCato (Worcester Tornadoes), Peter Copa (California Angels) and Tim Dunphy (Namur Angels) have all inked professional pacts at some point in their careers....The 2012 ICL playoffs are scheduled to get underway around Thursday, August 9. The top six teams will qualify with the two top regular season finishers getting a first round bye. Team #3 will meet Team #6 and Teams #4 & #5 will meet in a best of three first round. The winners will meet the two top teams in a best of five semi-final series. The ICL championship series is also a best of five series......Mike Andre climbed into the top ten in all time hits last week when he recorded his 194 hit, passing the aforementioned Mike Romano. Andre is currently in eighth position on the career RBI list with 129 and 13^th in home runs with nine. The former Merrimack co-captain is in his seventh ICL campaign....Speaking of former Merrimack co-captains, Bercume is also steadily moving up the Chiefs’ career leader list in home runs (12 HRS, 9^th), RBI (63, 16^th) and hits (123, 17^th).....Staying on the subject of career leaders, Mike DiCato has moved into the top five all-time in both mound appearances (51) and innings pitched (227).....-Bruce Tilman

Reading, MA- Brian O'Neil allowed no runs and only one hit in six innings as the Bulldogs shutout the Chiefs 4-0 in Reading on Sunday afternoon.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when Darren Hartwell's two run single up the middle with the bases loaded gave the Bulldogs all the runs they would need against Chiefs’ starter Matt DiCato.

DiCato pitched himself out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the first inning when he experienced some wildness and walked three batters. He escaped by catching Pete Castoldi looking at strike three to end the inning.

Jeff Bercume singled to left (the Chiefs only hit) with two outs in the top of the third and got into scoring position by stealing second. O’Neil ended the threat by striking out Tony Deshler swinging at a fastball.

It remained a 2-0 game until Mike Taylor led off the Reading fifth with a solo homer to center. Sam McDonough came to replace DiCato and got out of the inning with two strikeouts.

The Bulldogs added a run off McDonough (W. Hartford CT/UMass-Amherst) in the sixth on a Hartwell single, two walks, and a sacrifice fly to right from Alex Fischer.

O’Neil (North Reading, MA/Bryant) struck out four and evened his record to 2-2 on the season. Brian Pedrotti worked a scoreless seventh for Reading despite issuing a couple of walks.

DiCato, now 2-1, went four innings plus and allowed six hits. He struck out four and walked four. McDonough, in his first appearance as a Chief, went two innings and gave up one hit while striking out a couple but issuing four walks.

The Chiefs are off until Wednesday when they host the Testa Corp. Bombers at Maplewood (Malden Catholic) at 7:45 PM.

Medford, MA- The Chiefs rewarded veteran manager Chuck Andre with his 500^th career win in a come from behind 4-1 win over the Wakefield Merchants on Saturday afternoon at blistering Tufts University.

The Chiefs tied the game up at 1-1 in bottom of the fourth inning on a single by Hal Landers and an RBI double from Juan Portes.

It stayed 1-1 until the Chiefs scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to seal the victory for starter and winner Jared Freni.

Jeff Bercume got things started in the home half with a single to right-center. Bercume then stole second as Merchants righty Ed Donovan (Trinity) struck out Landers for the first out. Portes walked and Bercume stole third. Mike Andre was next he delivered Bercume with the winning run with a single to center making it 2-1. Donovan then got Mike Baillargeon to fly to center for the second out but the Chiefs weren’t done scoring. Deshler lined a single to left with the runners going on a full count scoring Portes making it a 3-1 game. Mike DiCato then doubled into the left-centerfield gap scoring pinch runner Rob Caggiano running the margin to 4-1.

Freni worked a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the Merchants. The righty upped his record to 4-1-1 on the season. He allowed six hits, struck out eight, walked five and hit a batter. Donovan, now 3-1, suffered his first loss of the season. Mike Sorrentino had two of the Merchants' hits.

Andre now has a career managerial record of 500-290-68.

The 12-4-2 Chiefs stay on the road on Sunday when they visit the Bulldogs at Morton Field-Reading High School in a 5:00 PM start.

Lexington, MA- For the first time since last August the Chiefs lost their second consecutive game in a tough 3-1 setback to Blue Sox on Thursday night as Lexington ace Matt Karis went to 5-1.

The Blue Sox scored all of their runs with one out in the bottom of the third inning against tough luck loser Tim Dunphy. After Mike Abraham flied out, Jack Laurendeau hit a routine fly to right which Matt Boleski couldn’t find in the twilight sky and it fell for a double. Dunphy then walked leadoff man Ross Curley and was a step short of getting out of the inning when Justin Wright beat the throw to first on an attempted 3-6-1 doubleplay.  Steve Gath was next and he drilled a two RBI double to left scoring Laurendeau and Wright. Jeff Vigurs then reached on an error by Mike Barbati at second base with Gath moving to third. Dan Graham then hit a single off Barbati’s glove up the middle scoring Gath making it 3-0.

The Chiefs threatened but could not score in the top of the fourth. Tony Deshler singled and was forced at second on a Juan Portes grounder. Peter Copa then flew out to the warning track in left before Mike Andre lined a single to right-center pushing Portes to second. The threat ended when Karis got Boleski to pop up.

The Chiefs got two more men on in the fifth on a walk to Nick Leva and a Barbati single before Karis ended the inning by getting Deshler to fly out.

Mike Andre’s two out solo homer to right finally got the Chiefs on the board in the top of the sixth.

The Chiefs made one more run at Karis in the top of the seventh. After Leva struck out Barbati singled up the middle and Hal Landers reached on an infield single behind the mound. The bases went full when Deshler lined a single to left. Portes was next and he grounded into a 6-4-3 doubleplay to end the game.

The Chiefs outhit the Blue Sox 9-6 but left eight men on base.

Karis, struck out two and walked one. Dunphy (3-1-1) suffered his first loss of the year. The lefty struck out four and walked two.

Chiefs Chatter..... Copa pulled up lame on infield grounder in the sixth inning on what appeared to be a muscle pull in his leg.......The Chiefs are back home at Tufts University in Medford on Saturday at 1:30 PM when they host the Wakefield Merchants......On Sunday they travel to Reading to meet the Bulldogs at 5:00 PM....

Watertown, MA- For the second time in three weeks the Chiefs traveled to Victory Field and took it on the chin from the Watertown Reds. This time it was an 11-1 loss on Wednesday night. That followed a 19-3 beating that they took back on June 20.

This one got ugly early despite the Chiefs taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  Mike Baillargeon walked, Tony Deshler dropped an opposite field ground rule double behind first base and Juan Portes drove home Baillargeon with a sacrifice fly to right.

That was all the scoring the Chiefs could muster against Reds’ starter Andrew LeBrun (2-0), who went five innings to get the win, and reliever Rob Bertucci.

The Reds put up a four spot against Chiefs’ starter Mike DiCato (2-2) in the bottom of the first and added five more in their half of the third inning to take a 9-1 lead.

Rob Machado came on with one out in fourth when the Reds added their final two runs on a Danny Chaisson two run homer.

The Chiefs were held to just three hits (Deshler, Portes & Paul Yanakopulos) while the Reds knocked out thirteen hits.

Machado held the Reds scoreless over the last 2.2 innings while recording three K’s.

The Chiefs, now 11-3-2, stay on the road when they visit the Lexington Blue Sox on Thursday night at 8:00 PM.

Medford, MA- Right-hander Jared Freni went six strong innings and upped his season record to 3-1-1 in a 7-2 Chiefs’ win over the Arlington Trojans on Monday evening at Tufts University.

The Chiefs gave Freni a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Arlington starter Mike Griffin. Mike Baillargeon reached on a two base outfield error and scored when Juan Portes singled to right. Peter Copa was next and drilled a long double to the base of the wall in left-center scoring Portes to make it 2-0. Catcher Tim Quinn then walked and Copa came around to score on a Mike Andre infield single.

Freni retired the first seven Trojans he faced before hitting Kevin Hart with a pitch with one out in the top of the third.

The Chiefs doubled their lead in bottom of the third inning. Copa got things started with a triple to center and Quinn walked for the second time in as many at bats. Andre made it 4-0 when he delivered Copa with a sacrifice fly. A Tony Deshler RBI single scored Quinn to make it 5-0. Matt Boleski drew a walk and Deshler scored on a Nate Witkowski RBI infield grounder.

The Trojans got their first hit and run of the game in the top of the fourth when Justin Mansfield doubled and scored on Dan Csaplar’s RBI single, cutting the Chiefs lead to 6-1.

The Chiefs got that run right back in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of Portes. The former Minnesota Twin singled, stole second, and when the throw to get him stealing third sailed into leftfield, he scored standing.

It stayed 7-1 until the Trojans scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh against reliever Matt DiCato on Hart’s long RBI double to the wall in right.

Freni, allowed one earned run and three hits in his six innings. The former UMass-Amherst  and Malden Catholic standout struck out nine, hit a batter, and didn’t issue a walk.

Manager Chuck Andre will be looking to record his 500^th career win when the Chiefs get back in action on Wednesday night at 7:45 PM when they travel to Victory Field in Watertown to meet the Reds.

Malden, MA- Maybe there is something that agrees with the Chiefs in the late night City of Malden water supply.

The Chiefs and Blue Sox have met in Malden three times in last ten months. And in each of the three meetings the Chiefs have come away with a dramatic eleventh hour last inning walk off win.

The first two meetings came last August in Games Three and Four of the 2011 championship series at Pine Banks with Mike Barbati’s single bringing the Chiefs back from the grave in Game Three as they overcame a 4-1 seventh inning deficit to win 5-4. Two days later Mike Andre’s walk off grand slam gave the Chiefs a dramatic 6-2 win, concluding a Game Four ten inning classic.

Now Monday night’s game may not have had the implications of last year’s championship series but you would be hard pressed to convince the Blue Sox and Chiefs of that fact.

In a playoff atmosphere, albeit it only being the first week of July, the Chiefs pulled off yet another heart pounding and this time controversial last inning comeback to beat Lexington 5-4 at Maplewood.

Oh, this one had its twists and turns just like many of the Chiefs-Blue Sox matchups over the last few years.

It started quietly enough as two of the ICL’s best pitchers, Matt Karis and Jared Freni went head to head in the first inning.

The Chiefs drew first blood in the bottom of the second when Brendan Pyburn hit an opposite field double to left and scored on Mike Baillargeon’s RBI single.

Meanwhile Freni was cruising and allowed just one hit through the first four innings and the Chiefs doubled the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Tony Deshler lined a single to right and was sacrificed to second on a Nick Leva bunt. Jeff Bercume then reached on an infield single over the mound with Deshler forced to hold at second. Hal Landers then dropped a Texas League ground rule double down the left field line scoring Deshler to make it 2-0. With runners at second and third, Karis pitched out of the jam by getting Juan Portes looking at a breaking ball and Peter Copa to ground out to Ross Curley at third base.

Things got a bit hot and heavy in the Blue Sox sixth. Curley led off with a laser double to left-center. Freni then got Justin Wright to line to Landers in right for the first out. Steve Gath was next and he flew to Deshler in left for out number two. Freni walked Mike Moragn and Jeff Vigurs in succession on close pitches with the Chiefs dugout not pleased with the ball four calls. Ageless veteran Dan Graham was next up and deposited a Freni fastball deep over the center field wall to give the Blue Sox an instant 4-2 lead. As Graham was rounding the bases, Freni expressed his disapproval with home plate umpire Bill Carroll’s calls and was subsequently ejected. Mike DiCato came on to restore order and got Mike Abraham to ground out to end the inning.

The Chiefs made some noise in the bottom of the sixth but came up empty. After Karis got Pyburn to fly to left, Baillargeon singled up the middle and Andre drew a walk. Deshler then grounded into a Gath (unassisted) to Morgan doubleplay seemingly taking the air out of the Chiefs balloon as the game moved to the top of the seventh with the Sox holding on to the 4-2 lead.

DiCato kept the Blue Sox off the board in the top of the seventh setting the stage for the Chiefs’ dramatics in the bottom of the inning.

Leva got things started when he led off with a single to left with Barbati coming on to pinch run.

Bercume was next up and he drew a walk, with the Blue Sox bench and Karis not pleased with the strikezone, to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Landers then dropped a perfect bunt and when the throw to get him at first skipped into right field, Barbati came around to score to make it 4-3. With Landers at second and Bercume at third, Portes (shown right) avenged two earlier strikeouts and drilled a Karis pitch into right-center with Bercume and Landers scoring easily to give the Chiefs their tenth win of the season in walk off fashion, 5-4. The Chiefs got to Karis (4-1) for ten hits. The right-hander struck out five and issued two walks. DiCato (2-1) got the win in relief of Freni, who allowed four runs and four hits while striking out four in his 5.2 innings.

With the win, the Chiefs move into first place as the ICL heads into the annual Fourth of July Break with a 10-2-2 mark. The Blue Sox are close behind in second at 10-3-1.

Medford, MA- Veteran left-hander Tim Dunphy (3-0-1) won his third straight decision in a 4-0 blanking of the Americans at humid Playstead Park in Medford on Sunday afternoon. For Dunphy, it was his second win over the Americans in less than a week as he was the winner in last Monday’s 12-3 win at Maplewood.

The Chiefs scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the first inning. Jeff Bercume beat out an infield single to second base and Nat Witkowski singled to left. Mike Baillargeon followed with a line single to right that loaded the bases with nobody out. Tony Deshler, hitting in the cleanup spot, then grounded into a 4-6-3 doubleplay with Bercume scoring. Medford’s Ryan McNiff got out of the early jam with just the one run when he got Matt Boleski to fly out to right to end the inning.

The Chiefs got to McNiff for another run in the visitor’s second. After Mike DiCato grounded out, Mike Andre singled to right and Mike Barbati (pitcured left) dropped a single into short leftfield. Catcher Nick Leva was then hit by a McNiff pitch to load the bases. Bercume delivered Andre with a single to right to make it 2-0. McNiff got Witkowski to pop up and Baillargeon to fly to center to keep it a ttwo run game.

It stayed 2-0 until the top of the seventh when the Chiefs picked up a couple of insurance runs to double their lead to 4-0. Witkowski singled to left to get things started. McNiff got Baillargeon to fly to center for the first out. Witkowski then stole second and went to third when Deshler’s outfield fly was dropped to put runners at second and third with one out. Boleski drilled a single to right scoring Witkowski and when the ball was bobbled, Deshler came across with the fourth run.

Dunphy set the Americans down in order in the seventh to give the Chiefs their ninth win (9-2-2)of the year. He allowed just four hits, struck out four, and issued just one walk. He did not allow a runner to get beyond second base.

The Chiefs return to action on Monday when the host the 10-2-1 Lexington Blue Sox at Maplewood Park (Malden Catholic) at 7:45 PM. The Blue Sox were also 4-0 winners on Sunday, beating the Merchants in Wakefield.

Jared Freni (2-0-1) will draw the starting assignment for the Chiefs on Monday while the Blue Sox are expected to counter with ace Matt Karis (4-0).

Friday, June 29
at Maplewood Park (Malden, MA)

Non-League
Brooklyn 000 030 010   4   9   2
Chiefs     121 001 40X   9  10 1

Brooklyn-Chrisano, Vargas (4th), Ariza (5th) and Feliz
Chiefs- Matt DiCato, Witkowski (6th), Machado (8th) and Leva, Yanakopulos (5th), Deshler (8th)

WP-DiCato
LP-Chrisano

HRS- Chiefs- Bercume

Watertown, MA- Sean Callahan had a career day, hitting a grand slam and a two run homer as well as a triple and a single, driving in, what surely has to be a modern day ICL record 10 runs, to lead the Reds to a 19-3 demolition of the Chiefs at Victory Field. It was the Chiefs worst defeat since July 6, 1997, when they lost a 24-4 decision to the Augustine A’s at Devir Park.

The Reds erupted for the 19 runs (all earned) and 15 hits against a trio (Jared Freni, Rob Machado & Dan Bonito) of Chiefs’ pitchers. They also allowed nine walks.

Mike Andre (2 RBI double) and Tony Deshler (sacrifice fly) knocked in the Chiefs runs when they scored three times in the fourth inning to close the Reds lead to 4-3.

Freni (2-1-1) worked four innings and was clearly not as his sharpest. The Chiefs’ ace surrendered six runs on five hits but was uncharacteristically wild, allowing a career high seven base on balls. Rob Machado had a tough fifth inning getting roughed up for seven hits and nine runs. Rookie lefty Dan Bonito didn’t fare much better allowing three hits, including a sixth inning grand slam to Callahan.

Chris Constantine also had a three run homer for the Reds in the fifth inning.

MIT righty Rob Bertucci (1-1) went the first five innings for Watertown to get the win. 

East Boston, MA- Veteran right-hander Mike DiCato went the distance, scattering eight hits, to pitch the Chiefs past the Testa Corp. Bombers 9-3 at East Boston Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Chiefs took advantage of some early wildness by Bombers starter Rob O’Neil to stake DiCato to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Walks to Jeff Bercume, Mike Baillargeon, Brendan Pyburn, Mike Andre and Matt Boleski, sandwiched around an infield single to Tony Deshler, led to the runs.

The Chiefs made it 6-0 in the third inning when Andre singled up the middle and Deshler hit a two run homer to right.

The lead climbed to 9-0 in the top of the fifth against reliever Ronnie Wallace on singles from Andre (pictured below), Deshler and Bercume and a long two RBI triple from Matt Boleski.

The Bombers picked up all of their runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 9-3 on singles from T Corea, Mark O’Flynn, an RBI infield grounder by John Jennings, and a two RBI double from Matt Pugh, who was three for four on the night.

DiCato (1-1) struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

The Chiefs will send Jared Freni to the mound on Wednesday night when they travel to meet the Reds at Victory Field in Watertown starting at 7:45 PM.

Malden, MA- Lefty Tim Dunphy went six solid innings to get the win and his mates backed him with a dozen hits as the Chiefs beat the severe weather, as well as the Americans, 12-3 at under the lights at Maplewood Park on the campus of Malden Catholic on Monday night.

Brendan Pyburn, who is shown at left, went 4-4, with 2 doubles and 2 RBI, Former Minnesota Twins slugger Juan Portes (2-3, 3 Run Homer, 4 RBI) and Mike Baillargeon (2-4, triple, 3 RBI) led the Chiefs twelve hit attack. Jeff Berume (2-4, RBI), Mike Andre and Tony Deshler drove in the other Chiefs runs.

For Portes, it was his second homer of the season and he raised his RBI total to nine.

Dunphy (2-0-1), the former Brandeis standout, worked six innings, gave up five hits, three earned runs, struck out three, and walked just one. Bentley University’s Nate Witkowski worked a 1-2-3 seventh for the Chiefs.

Kevin McGlinchy (1-4) took the loss for the Americans. The former Atlanta Braves righty worked three innings, surrendered eight runs (all earned), nine hits, struck out five and hit a batter.

The Chiefs begin a two game road trip on Tuesday when they meet the Testa Corp. Bombers at East Boston Stadium at 8:00 PM with Mike DiCato expected to get the starting assignment. On Wednesday, the Chiefs travel to Victory Field in Watertown to tangle with the Reds at 7:45 PM. The Chiefs are off on Thursday before they return to Maplewood to host the Brooklyn Rams of New York in a non-league contest on Friday at 7:30 PM.

Medford, MA- Despite the drying out forecast, the morning rain has caused the postponement of Saturday's Reds at Chiefs game that was scheduled for Tufts University's Huskins Field at 1:30 PM.

"We were at the field at 8:00 AM this morning" said Chiefs' Assistant Manager Paul Crisafulli. "The clay area around both the mound and plate were both very deep and slick. With light rain still falling and the chance of more storms developing this afternoon, it forced us to make the early decision to postpone, Crisafulli stated."

No make-up date has been scheduled. The Reds-Chiefs game was the only one on the schedule for Saturday.

On Sunday with better weather in the forecast, the Reds will hopefully get back into action when they travel to Walsh Field in Wakefield to meet the Merchants in a doubleheader, with the first game slated to begin at 3:30 PM. In other Sunday action, the Americans host the Lexington Blue Sox at Playstead Park in Medford and the Arlington Trojans and Bulldogs tangle at Morton Field in Reading with both of those games scheduled for 5:00 PM starts.

The Chiefs will be back in action on Monday when they host the Americans at Maplewood Park at Malden Catholic at 7:45 PM. On Tuesday, they travel to East Boston Stadium to meet the Testa Corp. Bombers at 8:00 PM and on Wednesday the Chiefs and Reds will hook up at the newly referbished Victory Field in Watertown at 7:45 PM. After an off day on Thursday, the Chiefs will host the Brooklyn, New York Rams in a non-league contest at Maplewood on Friday evening starting at 7:30 PM.

Malden, MA- Matt DiCato and Nate Witkowski combined on a five-hit shutout and their mates knocked out a dozen hits to lead the Chiefs past the Mooney Dental Tanners 9-0 at Maplewood Park on Wednesday night.

DiCato, who won his second game of the year in as many decisions, worked five innings to get the win. Witkowski worked the final two innings in his impressive pitching debut for the Chiefs.

The Chiefs scored in each of their first four at bats to put this one out of reach early. They took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a walk to Mike Baillargeon and consecutive singles from Juan Portes and Peter Copa.

It went to 2-0 in the bottom of the second on singles from Brendan Pyburn and Hal Landers and a ground rule RBI double from Baillargeon.

Paul Yanakopulos had 2 RBI single

The Chiefs sent 12 men to the plate and scored six times to take an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Copa got things started with a double to left-center. Mike Andre promptly delivered Copa with an RBI single to center making it a 3-0 game. Mooney starter Chris Pessotti (0-2) then struck out Tony Deshler for the first out before Pyburn drew a walk. Landers then bounced back to Pessotti for the second out with Andre and Pyburn moving to second and third. Paul Yanakopulos then delivered a sharp two RBI single, scoring Andre and Pyburn, to make it 5-zip. A Bercume double, followed by an infield error, a Portes RBI single, and Copa’s second hit of the inning ran the score to 8-0.

The Chiefs scored their final run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Pyburn walked, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on a Bercume RBI single.

DiCato allowed four hits in his five innings, struck out five and walked one. Witkowski allowed just an infield single and struck out a couple.

Copa had a big night at the plate going three for four including a double and three RBI’s. Carlton Lentini recorded two of the Tanners’ five hits.

The Chiefs, now 6-1-2, are off until Saturday when then they host the Watertown Reds at Tufts University at 1:30 PM.

Lexington, MA- The Chiefs came home from Lexington with a healthy dose of frustration in their bags, as well as their first loss in eight games, in a tough to digest 2-1 defeat to the three time defending Blue Sox on Monday.

On most nights when a team has ten hits, 14 base runners, and receives outstanding pitching that allows just one earned run, you could assume that the check would safely go into the win column. Such was not the case for the Chiefs on this night in the initial meeting of the season between the 2009 & 2011 championship series participants that was eventually decided by a bad hop fifth inning single.

Chiefs’ starter Mike DiCato (0-1) and Blue Sox ace Matt Karis (3-0) bobbed and weaved their way throughout the evening with both righties landing squarely on their feet after escaping some major league jams.

Karis was the first to escape in the top of the first inning, pitching out of a one out bases loaded situation. After Karis got Jeff Bercume to bounce out, Hal Landers reached on an infield error. Juan Portes and Peter Copa followed with consecutive singles before Mike Baillargeon grounded into a 6 unassisted-3 doubleplay (Steve Gath to Jason Twomley).

Ross Curley led off the Blue Sox first with single but DiCato got Justin Wright on a grounder to first, Gath to pop up and struck out Jeff Vigurs to end the inning.

Mike Andre singled to left center to start the Chiefs’ second but Karis proved once again why he has posted a 29-2 record in his last 31 decisions (both losses against the Chiefs) when he struck out the next three batters (Tim Quinn, Brendan Pyburn & Nate Witkowski) in succession to end the inning.

The Blue Sox appeared poised to take the lead in the bottom of the second. Twomley led off with a long triple to right-center but was thrown out at the plate by Nate Witkowski when he tried to score on Chris Sintetos’ infield grounder.

The Chiefs put two more runners on in the top of the third inning with Landers again reaching on an infield error and Portes drawing a walk. Karis (pictured left) got out of this one when Copa hit the hardest ball of the night, a line shot that was tracked down in deep center by Jack Laurendeau, and by striking out Baillargeon.

The Sox broke through for an unearned run against DiCato in the bottom of the third. Laurendeau flied to Landers for the first out before Curley reached on a two base throwing error by Witkowski. Consecutive singles from Wright and Gath plated Curley with the first run of the game. DiCato averted further damage when he got Vigurs to hit into a 4-6-3 (Pyburn to Baillargeon to Copa) doubleplay.

The Chiefs managed to tie things up in the top of the fourth but threatened for much more. Andre led off with his second consecutive single, a liner to right center. Quinn was next and the big catcher from Assumption drilled a single to left with Andre moving to second. Pyburn followed with a perfect bunt single that stayed fair after rolling all the way to the third base bag putting the Chiefs in business with the bases loaded with nobody out. Witkowski then hit a liner that appeared headed up the middle for two run single. Not so on this night as Wright made an outstanding grab and in stride turned it into a 4-unassisted doubleplay. The Chiefs did salvage a run out of the inning when Bercume singled to score Andre, tying the game at 1-1. Karis then got Landers to fly to left to leave two more men stranded.

DiCato worked a 1-2-3 fourth and the Chiefs left two more aboard in the top of the fifth. Copa reached on a one out infield error and Baillargeon beat out a bunt single. Karis got tough once again and struck out Andre swinging and then got Quinn to fly to deep center to end the inning.

The Blue Sox won the game in the fifth. After two were out, singles by Curley and Wright put runners on the corners. The winning run came on Gath’s bad hop single to left-center that hit the infield lip and bounced high over Baillargeon’s head, scoring Curley.

Bercume’s two out single gave the Chiefs another baserunner in the top of the sixth. Karis got tough when he had to be once again and got Landers to ground out end the inning.

DiCato retired the Sox in order again in the bottom of the sixth inning including two K’s.

The Chiefs made one more run at Karis in the top of the seventh. Portes led off with a sharp single to center but Copa grounded out, Baillargeon struck out looking and Andre grounded out to Curley to end the game.

Karis allowed ten hits, struck out eight and walked one. DiCato surrendered seven hits, struck out four and did not issue a walk. Both teams made an uncharacteristic three errors each.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday with the Blue Sox hosting the Arlington Trojans at 8:00 PM and the Chiefs returning to Maplewood Park at Malden Catholic to meet the Mooney Dental Tanners at 7:45 PM.

Medford, MA- Jeff Bercume had three hits, including two home runs, and Juan Portes added a three run shot, to give the Chiefs a 14-4 win over the Americans on Sunday afternoon at Playstead Park.

The Chiefs rung out a dozen hits and jumped out to a 6-0 lead when they sent nine men to plate in the second inning. That was more than enough for starter Jared Freni (2-0-1) who went five innings to get the win.

After a scoreless first inning the Chiefs jumped on Medford starter Paul Pollano (1-1) in the visitor’s second. Nick Leva gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead when he drove in Tim Quinn and Tony Deshler who had both walked. Singles by Bercume and Hal Landers, in his first game back from the D-3 College World Series with Wheaton, drove home Leva. Portes (pictured below) was next and he deposited a Pollano offering over the left field fence for a 6-0 lead.

The margin went to 7-0 in the fourth on Bercume’s solo homer to left-center.

The Americans cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Mike DelPonte hit a two run homer off Freni, scoring Danny Gunn (single) ahead of him.

The Chiefs put the game away when they scored seven times in the top of the sixth inning to run the margin to 14-2. Bercume’s two run homer, pinch hitter Matt Boleski’s two RBI single, Quinn’s RBI double an RBI single from Mike Andre accounted for the Chiefs’ runs.

John Chotkowski came on to work the bottom of the sixth inning and gave up an RBI single to Gunn.

Western New England University's Dan Bonito of Swampscott worked the seventh and surrendered a solo homer to Joe Sheehan for the 14-4 final.

Freni pitched five innings, allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked three.

The Chiefs head to Lexington High School on Monday night to meet the Blue Sox at 8:00 PM in the first meeting of the season between the 2011 championship series teams.  Mike DiCato is expected to make his first start of the year for the Chiefs. The Blue Sox are expected to counter with ace righty Matt Karis.

Andre Chiefs 14, Medford Americans 4

		at Playstead Park, Medford  Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Chiefs 0 6 0 1 0 7 0 14 12 1 Americans 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 4 7 3
W: J Freni (2-0), L: P Pollano (1-1)

Medford, MA- Veteran lefty Tim Dunphy tossed a complete game four-hitter to lead the Chiefs by the Testa Corp. Bombers 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at Tufts University.

Dunphy, who was 7-3 last season, picked up his first win of the 2012 campaign. The former Brandeis standout struck out 11 batters which is the most strikeouts in a game that he has had since coming onboard with the Chiefs in 2010. He allowed just one run and has not surrendered an earned run in 14.1 innings so far this season.

The Chiefs had to battle back from a 1-0 deficit in this one as Bombers starter Rob O’Neil kept the them off the scoreboard until they took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Bombers broke a 0-0 tie in the top of third inning. Mark Addesa doubled to rightcenter with one away. Dunphy then got Devin Perry swinging for the second out. Dunphy’s former Cassell Club teammate Josh Klimkiewicz (Harvard) was next and he beat out an infield single to shortstop. When Mike Baillargeon’s throw to get Klimkiewicz was low and skipped a few feet away from Peter Copa at first base, Addesa kept running and scored on the error.

It stayed 1-0 until the Chiefs’ fifth.  Baillargeon got things going with a single. Juan Portes drew a walk before O’Neil got Copa to fly to deep center with Baillargeon tagging and going to third. Mike Andre followed with a single scoring Baillargeon to tie the game at 1-1. Tim Quinn was next and he delivered a bomb double to straight away center that scored Portes and Andre to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead.

The Chiefs extended their lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning when Tony Deshler singled with one out and stole second. Portes followed with a line RBI single that scored Deshler on a close play at the plate.

Dunphy threw 101 pitches in his seven inning outing and walked only one.

Quinn, the former Assumption captain and former NECBL all-star, (pictured right) had a big day at the plate going 3-3. Portes, formerly of the Minnesota Twins, went 2-2 and reached base four times, which included a couple of walks and a long double off the base of the wall in left field in the third inning.

The Chiefs are right back in action on Sunday when they travel to Playstead Park in Medford to meet the Americans in a 1:30 PM matinee. The Bombers stay on the road and head to Wakefield to visit the Merchants in a 5:00 PM start.  

Sat, 16 June, 1:30PM, at Tufts University
Andre Chiefs 4, Testa Corp. Bombers 1

Pitching

Umpires- Home Plate: Don January, Bases-Jeff January

East Boston, MA- Matt DiCato made his debut a winning one, throwing 3.1 innings of two hit shutout baseball to get the Chiefs past the Testa Corp. Bombers 8-0 at East Boston Stadium on Thursday night. For the Chiefs pitching staff it was their fourth shutout in the first five games of the season.

After a scoreless first inning, the Chiefs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning courtesy of a Jeff Bercume grand slam to right-centerfield. Mike Andre got the inning started when he drew a walk off Testa starter Matt Pugh. Brendan Pyburn moved Andre up to second with a sacrifice bunt and Paul Yanakopulos drew the second walk of the inning. Catcher Nick Leva followed with a single to right to load the bases and set the stage for Bercume’s bases loaded laser.

Starter Rob Machado got the Bombers side in order in the bottom of the second and the Chiefs made it 5-0 in the top of the third. Former Assumption and NECBL standout Tim Quinn drew a walk and Andre singled to right. Pyburn followed with a RBI double to right scoring Quinn.

Machado surrendered a two out double to Matt O’Flynn in the bottom of the third and Pugh set the Chiefs down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth.

DiCato (pictured left) came on to start the bottom of the fourth after Machado experienced some stiffness in his back between innings. The right-hander, who was 7-3 this spring at Framingham State and the younger brother of Mike DiCato, took immediate control getting the side in order and striking out two in his first inning as a Chief.

Brendan Pyburn

The Chiefs loaded the bases in the fifth when Quinn drew a walk and Andre and Pyburn followed with consecutive singles. Reliever Ronnie Wallace (UMass-Amherst) kept it a 5-0 affair when he struck out pinch hitter Matt Boleski swinging and got Leva to line out to end the inning.

DiCato was solid again in the bottom of the fifth with two more K’s.

It went to 7-0 in the top of the sixth when Andre’s bases loaded two out, two RBI single to center plated Tony Deshler who had doubled and Juan Portes who had walked.

DICato worked his third straight scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth despite giving up a two out triple to Devin Perry.

The Chiefs added their final run in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Rob Caggiano (Medford, MA, Babson) worked a walk and rookie Christian Veneziano of St. John’s Prep made his initial ICL appearance when he pinch ran. Veneziano went to second on a passed ball, to third when Bercume reached on an infield error and scored on a wild pitch.

Dan O’Flynn led off the Bombers’ seventh with a single and DiCato recorded his sixth K of the night before being lifted for rookie lefty John Chotkowski. The former Tewksbury ace faced two batters, allowing a single to Joe Barry before recording his first ICL strikeout. Another rookie lefty, Dan Bonito (Swampscott, MA/ Western New England) came on to strikeout the only batter he faced to end the game.

It was a big night at the plate for three former Merrimack College teammates as Bercume (2-4, 4 RBI), Andre (3-3, 2 RBI) and Pyburn (2-3, RBI) drove in all of the Chiefs runs.

The Chiefs are off on Friday before hosting the Bombers on Saturday at Tufts University at 1:30 PM.

East Boston MA-  The Chiefs will travel to East Boston Stadium, adjacent to Logan Airport, to meet the Testa Corp. Bombers on Thursday night at 8:00 PM.

Rob Machado, who is 1-0 on the season, is expected to be the starter for the Chiefs. The big right-hander threw a 77 pitch complete game shutout vs. Wakefield on Saturday. The former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst standout allowed just three hits while striking out seven.

Last season Machado went a deceptive 4-6 with an ERA of 2.85, striking out 69 batters in 61.1 innings of work. He recently moved into the top ten on the Chiefs all time appearnace list with 34.

Following Thursday's game the Chiefs and Bombers will meet again on Saturday afternoon at Tufts University at 1:30 PM.

Chiefs Notebook....Tufts University rookie Scott Staniewicz made his first start in Chiefs' uniform last Saturday vs. Wakefield. The infielder had an outstanding high school career at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, FL....The Chiefs have added Tewksbury High ace John Chotkowski to the roster.  Chotkowski had an outstanding career for the Redmen which included three shutouts this past season. He will take his talents to the University of Alabama in the fall.....The Chiefs picked up former Malden Catholic star and current Bentley standout Nate Witkowski when the RHP-IF joined the club on Monday....

Malden, MA- Jared Freni was on top of his game once again and this time his teammates finally provided him a run, albeit that they waited until the seventh inning to do it, in a 1-0 Chiefs walk off win against the Wakefield Merchants on Monday night at Maplewood Park.

The game’s only run came when Jeff Bercume (pictured right) led off with a triple to right field and scored on a wild pitch with Juan Portes at the plate and one away in the bottom of the seventh.

The game featured a scoreless pitcher’s duel between Freni (1-0) and the Mulhenberg College (PA) ace Christian Ferlan of Litchfield NH (0-1).

Freni was perfect thru five innings before rookie Jason Dahl broke up the streak with a long triple off the base of the fence in left-center with one out in the top of the sixth inning.

The Chiefs threatened and had runners in scoring position in the first, third and fifth innings but each time they were denied by Ferlan.

In the Chiefs sixth, Tony Deshler singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Matt Boleski. Ferlan then got Mike Barbati to fly to right for the second out. Nick Leva followed and drilled a sharp single to center. A perfect throw home from Merchants’ centerfielder David Orlowitz  to catcher Mike Sorrentino nailed Deshler at the plate to keep the game scoreless.

Jared Freni

Ferlan allowed eight hits and struck out four. Freni struck out sixteen and walked two.

Brendan Pyburn (2-4, double), Leva (2-3) and Juan Portes, who went 2 for 3 in his Chiefs debut, all had multiple hit games.

The Merchants are back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Americans at Playstead Park in a 6:00 PM start. The Chiefs are off until Thursday when they travel to East Boston Stadium to meet the Testa. Corp Bombers at 8:00 PM.

Reading, MA- The good news is that the Chiefs pitching staff has not allowed an earned run over the first three games and 25 innings of the season.

The bad news is that the bats remain mired in an early season slump, hitting at an anemic .187 as a team over the same period.

If offensive baseball is what you are looking for look elsewhere, at least for the moment, as atotal of six runs have been scored (four by the Chiefs-two earned and two by the opposition-none earned)  over the first 25 innings of baseball so far this season.

The solid pitching has netted a Chiefs win and two nine innings ties, good for four out a possible six points.

Sunday in Reading was no different as either the Chiefs and Bulldogs could have easily come away with a win. Both southpaw starters, Tim Dunphy and Sean Boyle, both pitched well enough to get the “W”. Neither did. The two clubs were forced to settle for a point apiece and a 2-2 final at Morton Field.

The Chiefs got a run in the top of the first inning when Jeff Bercume beat out another infield single and Mike Baillargeon lined a single to left. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Bercume eventually scored on Peter Copa’s RBI infield grounder.

It went to 2-0 in the top of the third when Bercume reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a Baillargeon grounder, and scored on Copa’s sacrifice fly to center.

The usually solid Chiefs defense (no errors in the first two games) temporarily abandoned Dunphy in bottom of the fourth as the Bulldogs tied the game at 2-2 on three infield errors (Pyburn 2, Mike Andre 1) and Matt Zajac’s two out, two RBI single.

Both teams had chances to take the lead over the next four innings with the biggest threat coming in the Reading eighth when they loaded the bases with one out. Mike DiCato, who was on in relief of Dunphy, escaped the jam when he got Doug Flutie to bounce into a 1-2-3 doubleplay.

Dunphy allowed four hits in 7.1 innings while Boyle went the distance and surrendered just four hits.

The Bulldogs head to Lexington on Monday at 8:00 PM to meet the Blue Sox while the Chiefs entertain the Wakefield Merchants at Maplewood Park at Malden Catholic starting at 7:45 PM.

Lexington, MA- Rob Machado threw a three-hit shutout to lead the Chiefs past the Wakefield Merchants in the second game of the annual Gerie DeAngelis Memorial Day of Baseball on Saturday afternoon in Lexington.

The Chiefs staked their big righty to a two run lead in the top of the first inning against Merchants starter Connor Mahon. Jeff Bercume beat a dribbler down the third base line and Mike DiCato followed with an infield single to deep shortstop. Peter Copa was next and he reached on an infield error to load the bases. Mahon got Mike Andre to pop up for the first out before Matt Boleski delivered Bercume with a long sacrifice fly to right. Copa and DiCato then executed a double steal with Mike Sorrentino’s throw to second hitting Copa and going into left field allowing DiCato to score.

Machado (1-0) went the distance, throwing just 77 pitches, striking out seven and hitting a batter.Mahon allowed eight hits (four of the infield variety), struck out four and walked two.

Bercume (3-4), DiCato (2-3, sacrifice bunt), Andre, Copa and Nick Leva accounted for the Chiefs eight hits. Scott Searles (double), Nick Napoli and Bobby Losanno had the Merchants hits.

The Chiefs are back in action on Sunday when they travel to Reading High School to meet the Bulldogs in a 5:00 PM start. On Monday, the Chiefs have a rematch with the Merchants in their home opener at Maplewood Park on the campus of Malden Catholic starting at 7:45 PM.

Woburn, MA- Right-handers Jared Freni of the Chiefs and Jonathan Bishop of the Tanners locked up in a classic nine inning pitcher’s duel as the teams battled to a 0-0 tie at Ferullo Field on Wednesday night.

Bishop went all nine innings for Mooney while Freni got some relief help from his former UMass-Amherst and Malden Catholic teammate Mike DiCato, who worked out of a tight spot and got all three outs in the ninth.

Bishop, who came off a tough 14 strikeout 2-1 loss to Reading last week, was equally impressive in his second start. The big righty from Plymouth State allowed just five hits on Wednesday (three of the infield variety) and struck out nine. He pitched out of Chiefs’ scoring chances in fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth innings.

Freni went eight innings plus before giving way to DiCato after surrendering a leadoff single to Corey Collins leading off the bottom of the ninth. He allowed four hits and struck out 16.

Matt Boleski (infield single, opposite field single), Tony Deshler (4^th inning double), DiCato (bunt single) and Mike Baillargeon (infield single) accounted for the Chiefs hits.

Along with Collins, Carlton Lentini, had two singles and Ryan McCarthy added a 7^th inning base hit for Mooney.

The Chiefs return to action on Friday when they travel to Summer Street Field in Arlington to meet the Trojans at 7:00 PM. The Tanners are off until Saturday when they take on the Blue Sox in Lexington at 6:30 PM.

Go to www.intercityleaguebaseball.com for Wednesday Night's Boxscore.

Chiefs Notebook.... Babson infielder Rob Caggiano made his Chiefs debut when he pinch ran in the top of the ninth inning......Leadoff man Jeff Bercume as well as Juan Portes were out of the Chiefs lineup for the opener.....Friday's game in Arlington is a 7:00 PM start. On Saturday, the Chiefs play Wakefield at Lexington High School in the annual Gerie DeAngelis Memorial Day of Baseball at 1:30 PM......

Medford MA- If the weather improves as expected, the Chiefs will hopefully kick off their 2012 season when they travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn on Wednesday to meet the Mooney Dental Tanners at 8:00 PM.

On Friday, the Chiefs travel to play the Arlington Trojans at Summer Street Field at 7:00 PM and on Saturday they meet the Wakefield Merchants at Lexington High at 1:30 PM. The four game road trip concludes on Sunday when they travel north to meet the Reading Bulldogs at Reading High at 5:00 PM.

The Chiefs home opener is slated for Monday when they host the Wakefield Merchants at Malden Catholic's Maplewood Park at 7:45 PM.

The Chiefs will split their home dates this season, playing day games at Huskins Field on the campus of Tufts University in Medford and weekday night games at Maplewood.

The 2012 Chiefs Roster is expected to be posted soon.

NEW YORK - Columbia junior outfielder Dario Pizzano was chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the 15th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

In 2012, Pizzano was selected as the Ivy League Player of the Year and was a unanimous first team All-Ivy League honoree. He batted .360 during the season with four home runs, 16 doubles and 36 runs batted in. He drew 31 walks and struck out just 16 times during the season. Pizzano improved his batting average to .409 during Ivy League play with two home runs and 20 runs batted in.

A three-time first team All-Ivy League outfielder, Pizzano was the Ivy League Co-Rookie of the Year in 2010 and is tied for the program record in home runs with 25, matched by former Major Leaguer Gene Larkin '84.

During his three years at Columbia, Pizzano has batted .364 in 133 games. He ranks among Columbia's top ten in career batting average, slugging percentage (.647), on-base percentage (.448), doubles (43), home runs (25), runs batted in (108) and total bases (293).

Dario, a former Malden Catholic standout from Saugus MA, played for the Chiefs in 2009 when he batted .205 in 23 games.

He becomes the 113th Chiefs player to enter the professional ranks.

The Franchise- The Chiefs franchise carries a winning percentage of almost .700 over the 2,300 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 2012 Coaching Staff-
Chuck Andre-Manager (Boston College) completed his 21st year at the helm in 2011. He begins the 2012 season just thirteen wins shy of his 500th win. Andre, who has a career managerial record of 487-286-66, has piloted the club to 19 playoff appearances, seven regular season pennants and four Intercity League Championships. A former right-handed pitcher, Andre played for the Chiefs from 1974-1980. He has missed the ICL postseason just twice as a player or manager in 29 seasons. He was inducted into the Medford High School Hall of Fame in 1995.
Paul Crisafulli- Asst. Manager (NEBI). Crisafulli first came aboard with the Chiefs in 1997 and has served as a member of the coaching staff since 2001.  He played for the Chiefs from 1997-2000 and was considered one of the ICL’s best power hitters of that era.
Steve Calabresi- Coach (UMass-Boston) Longtime Arlington Catholic coach rejoined the Chiefs staff in 2012. Coach Cal was with the organization from 1989 to 1995.
John Veneziano- Coach (Westfield State) Veneziano joins the Chiefs Staff for the 2012 season. A former Westfield State standout outfielder, Veneziano played for the Chiefs and was part of several Chiefs championships in the late 1970’s and 1980’s.
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 a former Chief 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 daytime 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.
Maplewood Park  at Malden Catholic Located in Malden, Massachusetts- Starting in 2012, the Chiefs will play their night games on the artificial surface of Maplewood Park on the campus of Malden Catholic.
Record Book- The Chiefs have bragging rights to two of the all time winning pitchers in ICL history, Fred Knox (1957-1973) and Dave Marsters (1989-2008) both who recorded over 110 career victories. Former Cleveland Indian outfielder Justin Crisafulli is the career home run leader with 91, hit leader (567) and RBI leader with 417. For a complete history of the Chiefs franchise visit our website at www.AndreChiefs.com
The Chiefs continue to develop young talent from the college level and at the same time showcase players with professional baseball experience. For information e-mail AndreChiefs@aol.com.

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.

Dan Graham had a 2 RBI double

Chiefs’ starter Jared Freni and O’Brien kept the game scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Blue Sox scored twice to take the lead. Veteran Dan Graham (pictured left) gave Lexington all the runs they would need when he crushed a two out, two RBI double to straight away center, scoring Tom Haugh (Bentley) who had walked and Pete Frates (Boston College) who had singled. Graham, the former Central Connecticut star is a two time Intercity League MVP. He played professionally in the Can-Am Legaue with the Brockton Rox.

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

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.

Rick DeAngelis

The Blue Sox have been the dominant team in the Intercity League since 1998, when they succeeded the Chiefs to the title after the Medford based club won their fourth crown of the decade in 1997. Their initial 1998 championship started a run that has seen Rick DeAngelis' club ring up eight titles in the last thirteen seasons, including the last four in a row, and six of the last seven beginning in 2004. The only interruption of the Blue Sox streak was in 2006, when they were upset by the Watertown Reds in the semifinals. Last season the Blue Sox defeated the Reds in the Intercity League's Championship Series. The Blue Sox were named as the ICL's "Team of the Decade" for 2000-2009.

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.