Blue Sox Eliminate Reds with 8-4 Win, Bulldogs Even Series with Chiefs

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The Lexington Blue Sox scored eight times in the bottom of the first inning on the way to a series clinching 8-4 win over the Watertown Reds in Lexington on Wednesday night. After dropping the series opener, the Blue Sox won three straight to take the series 3-1 and advance to the ICL’s Championship Series that will begin on Sunday at Morelli Field.

Dan Graham, Jeff Vigurs, Josh Hassell, and Ross Curley, all had two RBI’s in the first inning.
Aidan Freeburg chalked up the win with help from Tony Annino in the sixth and Jimmy Hill in the seventh.

Kyle LaVigne had three hits and drove home two of the Watertown runs.

At Morelli Field, the Reading Bulldogs got six innings of four hit pitching from lefty Tim Woods, then scored five times in the bottom of the sixth, to break a 1-1 tie, and beat the Andre Chiefs 6-1.

Mike DeDonato and Chris Bosco each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Bulldogs at the plate. E.J. Martinez also drove in a run for the Bulldogs.

Tim Dunphy allowed only two earned runs and struck out six for the Chiefs.

Peter Copa drove in the lone Chiefs run with a third inning single.

Game Five of the Bulldogs-Chiefs series will be played at Maplewood Park/Malden Catholic on Thursday night at 8:00 PM.

Blue Sox Edge Reds & Bulldogs Beat Chiefs to Put Both Series at 2-1

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Blue Sox 3, Reds 2
Matt Karis pitched five strong innings to record the win when the Lexington Blue Sox edged the Watertown Reds 3-2 at Victory Field on Tuesday night. With the win, Lexington takes a 2-1 lead in the series.

Dan Graham and Jeff Vigurs both had RBI singles and Dave Ahern scored the game winning run on a wild pitch.

Borja  Jones-Berasaluce worked a scoreless sixth and Jeff Blount blanked the Reds in the seventh to get the save.

Dan Chaisson, with a solo homer, and Kyle LaVigne, drove in the Reds’ runs.

Jonathan Bishop went all seven innings for Watertown and struck out five.

Bulldogs 5, Chiefs 2
The Reading Bulldogs used some sparkling defense, and got six solid innings from Wayne Lundgren, to beat the Andre Chiefs in Game Three, 5-2. The Chiefs lead the series 2-1.

Steve Busby had a 3 for 3 evening, and along with Darren Hartwell, turned in several outstanding plays in the outfield. Kyle Devin, Chris Bosco, Johnny Hayes, Mike Taylor, and Busby, all drove in a run for Reading.

Juan Portes provided all the scoring for the Chiefs with a two run homer in the bottom of third inning.

Sam Kasten went the distance for the Chiefs and struck out nine batters.

It’s on to Game Four for both series on Wednesday night.

The Chiefs and Bulldogs meet at Morelli Field in Melrose and the Reds and Blue Sox get together at Lexington High with both games starting at 8;00 PM.

 

 

 

Karis

Dan Cha

 

Chiefs Rally to Take 2-0 Series Lead, Blue Sox-Reds Even at 1-1

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Tony Deshler and Juan Portes hit back to back homers in the top of the eighth inning when the Chiefs rallied back from a 2-1 seventh inning deficit to go on and beat the Bulldogs 5-2 at Morelli Field.

Mitchell Clegg went the distance to get the win.

Kyle Devin gave Reading their 2-1 lead with a solo homer in the fourth.

Cody Hall pitched well for the Bulldogs.  The Chiefs lead the series 2-0.

In Lexington, Drew Leenhouts tossed a four-hit shutout to lead the Blue Sox to a 4-0 win over the Reds and even their series at 1-1.

Dan Graham had two RBI’s for Lexington and Jeff Vigurs added two hits.

Aric Dama took the loss.

Semi-final action continues on Tuesday with game three of each series scheduled. The Bulldogs and Chiefs will play at Maplewood (8:00 PM) while the Reds and Blue Sox meet in Watertown at 7:45 PM.

Chiefs & Reds Go Up 1-0 in Semi-Finals, Games at Morelli & Lexington Tonight at 8

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UPDATED 11:53 AM– PLEASE NOTE THAT DESPITE A REPORTING ERROR IN TODAY’S BOSTON HERALD, TONIGHT’S GAME TWO BETWEEN THE READING BULLDOGS & ANDRE CHIEFS WILL BE PLAYED AT MORELLI FIELD IN MELROSE STARTING AT 8:00 PM. GAME TWO OF THE LEXINGTON BLUE SOX & WATERTOWN REDS WILL BE PLAYED TONIGHT AT LEXINGTON HIGH AT 8:00 PM.
The Andre Chiefs and Watertown Reds both took opening game wins in their respective best of five semi-final series on Sunday night.

The Chiefs got a 10 strikeout performance from Jared Freni, in his return to the rotation, to lead them to a 3-1 win over the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood. Freni went five innings plus to get the victory and Tim Dunphy (6th inning) and Anthony Sullivan (7th inning, save), supplied the relief as Chiefs’ pitching struck out a dozen.

Juan Portes, with a first inning double, and Mike Andre, who had a fourth inning single, had the RBI’s for the Chiefs.

Jack Burke worked the first five innings for the Bulldogs before giving way to Colby Morris.

E.J. Martinez drove in the Reading run with an RBI single in the sixth inning.

In Watertown, Bill Sullivan went the distance and allowed just four hits when the Reds beat the Lexington Blue Sox at Victory Field, 4-1.

Mike Samko, who had two hits in the game, drove in the game winner with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth. In an oddity, three of the five runs scored in the game did so on wild pitches.

Sullivan, struck out six and didn’t issue a walk. He threw 110 pitches in his route going outing.

Ryan Filipowoicz, (4.0 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 hits, 5 K’s) and Jeff Blount (2.0 innings, 2 runs, 0 earned, 3 hits, 4 K’s ) worked for the Blue Sox.

Dave Ahern (double, single) had two of Lexington’s hits.

ICL semi-final action continues on Monday with the second game of both series on tap. The Chiefs and Bulldogs meet at Morelli Field in Melrose and the Reds and Blue Sox tangle at Lexington High.

Both games will start at 8:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Sweeps Melrose, Bulldogs-Chiefs & Blue Sox-Reds Semi-Finals Start Sunday

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The Reading Bulldogs beat the Melrose Americans 3-1 on Friday night at Morelli Field to sweep their best of three first round series and advance to the ICL’s semi-finals.

The Bulldogs got a five inning, three hit, outing from Wayne Lundgren, who got the win. Johnny Hayes drove in two of Reading’s runs while Kyle Devin drove in the third. Mike Taylor had a perfect three for three night at the plate for Reading. Cody Hall went the final two innings, allowing just one hit, to get the save.

Shawn Smeglin (3.0 innings) and Kevin McGlinchy (4.0 innings) worked on the mound for the Americans.

The Bulldogs will now meet the Andre Chiefs in a best of five semi-final series that begins on Sunday night at Maplewood Park (Malden Catholic) at 8:00 PM.

In the other semi-final series, the Lexington Blue Sox and Watertown Reds will also get underway on Sunday. Game One of that series will be played at Victory Field in Watertown starting at 7:30 PM.

Blue Sox Edge Royals 4-3, Win Series 2-1

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Julian Alavarez doubled home Thomas Russo with what proved to be the winning run when the Lexington Blue Sox beat the Somerville Royals 4-3 in Lexington on Thursday night. With the win, the #3 Blue Sox take the series 2-1. The defending champs will now move on to meet the #2 Watertown Reds in a best of five semi-final series that begins on Sunday night at Victory Field at 7:30 PM.

Wagner Gomez put the Royals in front 2-0 with a two run homer in the top of the first inning.

The Blue Sox tied things up in the bottom of the second when Dan Graham hit a two run homer of his own.

The Blue Sox pulled in front at 3-2 on Taylor Ferguson’s sacrifice fly before Alvarez supplied the eventual game winner in the bottom of the third inning.

The Royals cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fourth, and had the tying run thrown out at the plate, on singles from Gomez, Adam Johnson, Luke Ronchi, and Paul Pollano.

Drew Brzozowski went four innings to get the win. Rob DiFranco retired eight of the nine batters he faced to get the three inning save.

Steve Sinatra allowed only five hits in six innings, but took the loss.

Lexington’s Alsis Herrera Signs with Cleveland Indians

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Lexington left-hander Alsis Herrera signed with the Cleveland Indians last week. Herrera has pitched for the Blue Sox for the last two seasons and was a two-time ICL all-star.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Herrera appeared in a dozen games ICL games, making his debut on June 13, 2015 against the then Somerville Thunder. He posted a 4-2 record and struck out 69 batters in just 50.1 career innings. He last pitched for the Blue Sox on August 2 against the Chiefs.

Herrera earned second team NAIA All-America honors while pitching for The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma this past spring where he had an 11-4 record with an ERA of 2.43. He struck out 143 batters in 112 innings.

Herrera was assigned to the Indians’ affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League. He made his professional debut on August 11th when he threw a scoreless inning against the Dodgers.

Lexington Blue Sox

Leenhouts Throws No-Hitter as Blue Sox Even Series with Royals

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Drew Leenhouts fired a no-hitter when the Lexington Blue Sox shutout the Somerville Royals 4-0 in Game Two of their best of three first round series on Tuesday night at Trum Field. With the win, the Blue Sox evened the series at 1-1. The deciding Game Three will be played at Lexington High on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM.

Leenhouts was in command from start to finish, allowing only two baserunners in the game. He hit Luke Ronchi with a 1-2 pitch in the third and Jake Cintolo reached on an outfield error in the seventh. Leenhouts faced just 23 batters, struck out 11, and threw just 98 pitches in completing the gem.

The Blue Sox took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on singles from Thomas Russo, Ross Curley, and Julian Alvarez.

Lexington jumped their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth on RBI singles from Alvarez and Dan Graham. Dave Ahern provided the final run of the night when he led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer.

Jonathan Richard went the distance for Somerville. He gave up nine hits, four earned runs, struck out two, and walked three.

In addition to the rubber game of the Royals-Blue Sox series in Lexington, Game Two of the Melrose-Reading series will be played on Wednesday night at Morelli Field at 8:00 PM. Reading leads that series 1-0.

Somerville & Reading Win Round One Openers, Royals-Blue Sox Game 2 To NOW BE PLAYED at Trum on Tuesday at 8:15 PM

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The Reading Bulldogs and Somerville Royals both took 1-0 leads in their Best of Three First Round Series with wins on Monday night.

READING BULLDOGS 3, MELROSE AMERICANS 1
The Bulldogs got a complete game three-hitter from Jack Burke and beat the Melrose Americans 3-1 at Endicott College in Beverly. Burke outdueled Americans’ righty Zack Kirby, who allowed just six hits. Harry Oringer had a triple and two RBI’s, Mike Taylor a hit and an RBI, and Steve Busby a couple of hits for the Bulldogs.

Kevin Kelley had a double and drove in the Melrose run.

Burke struck out four and walked three while Kirby had eight K’s.

Game Two of this series, will be played at Morelli Field on Wednesday at 8:00 PM.

SOMERVILLE ROYALS 7, LEXINGTON BLUE SOX 2
IMPORTANT UPDATE: GAME TWO OF THIS SERIES, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE PLAYED AT MORELLI FIELD, WE NOW BE PLAYED ON TUESDAY AT TRUM FIELD IN SOMERVILLE AT 8:15 PM.

In Lexington, the Royals got a complete game four-hitter from Chuck Gibson, and 13 hits from their offense, to lead them to a 7-2 win over the Blue Sox. Wagner Gomez had two doubles and an RBI, John Collette two singles and an RBI, and George Crowley and Luke Ronchi two RBI’s each to pace the Royals at the plate.

Dan Graham hit a solo homer in the second inning and Dave Ahern had two of Lexington’s hits.

Rob Caggiano and Adam Johnson added two each for the Royals.

Matt Karis (0-1, 3.0 innings), Ryan Filipwoicz (2.2 innings), and Jimmy Hill (1.1 innings), all worked on the mound for the Blue Sox.

Gibson (1-0), struck out seven and walked five in gaining the win.

Game Two of this series will be played on Tuesday at 8:00 PM at Morelli Field in Melrose.

Somerville Clinches 6th Playoff Spot, Blue Sox & Merchants Win

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The Somerville Royals beat the Melrose Americans 10-0 at Trum Field to clinch the sixth and final playoff spot. Rob Caggiano, John Collette, Wagner Gomez, and George Crowley had two hits each for the Royals. Jonathan Richard (2-4) went the distance to get the win while scattering six hits. Tom Petry had a couple of the Americans hits.

The Lexington Blue Sox got a double and single from Justin Silvestro on the way to beating the Arlington Trojans 7-2. Drew Leenhouts (4-1) threw four innings to record the win.

Chris Barber’s single in the bottom of the eighth inning drove home Scott Searles with the winning run when the Wakefield Merchants edged the Andre Chiefs 3-2. Searles had three hits for the Merchants and John Russolillo (3-2) allowed just five hits for the win.

The ICL Playoffs will begin on Monday.