Melrose Americans

Americans Take Series Lead with 5-3 Win Over Expos

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Bobby Lossano had three hits and two RBI’s and Noah Jankowski and John Jennings added two hits each to lead the Melrose Americans to a 5-3 come from behind win over the Middlesex Expos on Thursday night at Morelli Field. The Americans scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to erase a 3-2 Middlesex lead and go up 1-0 in their best of three semifinal series.

Mike Andrews (3.1 innings) got the win in relief of starter Mike Nestor (2.2 innings) while Nick Colucci threw a scoreless seventh inning, with two strikeouts, to record the save. Michael Smith worked into the sixth inning for the Expos and took the loss.

Game Two of the series will be played on Friday evening at Morelli Field starting at 7:30 PM.

Lexington Blue Sox

Lexington squeezes by Chiefs 3-2 to take a 1-0 lead in series

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By Bruce Hack
Lexington- Ryan O’Rourke executed a perfect bunt as John Fritz raced across home plate with the go-ahead run to give Lexington a 3-2 lead and send the Blue Sox on to a game one victory in their semifinal series against the Andre Chiefs.
Game two is scheduled for tonight with a 7:45 PM start at Maplewood (Malden Catholic).
The bottom of the sixth started with a single by Alex Voitik, who was pinch-run for by Fritz. Fritz stole second and Dahiandy Johnson walked. Will Potdevin sacrificed to move both runners into scoring position and set up the game-winning scenario.
The game was a typical Chiefs – Blue Sox playoff game. Close, back-and-forth with good pitching, defense and timely hitting.
Lexington scored in the bottom of the first. Josue Feliciano began the inning with a single to center. Feliciano was forced at second and Alex Krylov reaching on a fielders choice. Krylov stole second and Luke Hall walked. Krylov and Hall stole second and third putting two runners into scoring position. Voitik grounded out to second with Krylov scoring.
The Chiefs answered in the top of second. With one out Kyle DeRoma walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a fielders choice. From there he scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Valdario for a 1-1 game.
Lexington retook the lead in the bottom of the second. The Sox loaded the bases on a walk to Potdevin, single by O’Rourke, who pitches and hits for the Blue Sox, and a walk to Brendan Jones. Feliciano reached on a fielders choice with Potdevin scoring for a 2-1 lead.
For the third straight inning a team scored has the Chiefs tied the game in the top of the third. Nate Witkowski reached on a fielding error. He moved to second on a single by Ryan Noone. After two strikeouts, Adam Johnson singled to drive in Witkowski and tie the game at 2-2.
Both starters, the Chiefs Cal Carroll and Lexington’s O’Rourke settled down after the third. Carroll retired nine of 11 Sox batters, five on strikeouts, from the third through fifth innings.
O’Rourke got out of a first and third with one out threat in the first by striking out Andrew Caulfield and Graham Smith. From the fourth through sixth innings he set down eight straight and nine of the last 10 batters he faced.
With the Sox up 3-2 Manny Delcarmen came in to pitch the seventh and set down the Chiefs on six pitches. He combined with O’Rourke to retire 12 of the last 13 Chiefs batters.
O’Rourke finished with eight strikeouts and earned his first postseason win with the Blue Sox.
Johnson and Noone each had two hits for the Chiefs.

To watch the Lexington-Andre series go to Beyond Sight Sports on You Tube and find the game. You can watch game one or watch game two live.

Andre Chiefs, Intercity League Baseball

Chiefs roll on to semifinals with 13-1 win over Alibrandis

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By Bruce Hack
Lexington – The Andre Chiefs advanced to the ICL semifinals with a 13-1 win over Alibrandis Wednesday night at Lexington High School.

The fifth seeded Chiefs defeated sixth seed Reading Tuesday night 6-1 and then beat the fourth seeded Alibrandis. The Chiefs will next take on top seeded Lexington Thursday night in Lexington at 8:00 P.M.

Andre put the game away with a six run second inning. Nate Witkowski singled with the bases loaded to drive in the first two runs of the frame. After a walk and hit batter, Alibrandis starter Jared Brooks was replaced on the mound by Anthony Delprete. The Chiefs added three more runs on a sacrifice fly by Nick Valdario and RBI singles by Adam Johnson and Joe Bova.

Evan Walsh was the beneficiary of the Chiefs offense. The southpaw was 0-5 in the regular season put together his best outing of 2021. He gave up three hits, walked three and struck out six. Though he only had one 1-2-3 inning, Walsh stranded six runners and only allowed two base runners in one inning. The victory was the second postseason career win for Walsh.

Gordie Gronkowski supplied the lone Alibrandis run with a long home run to left in the sixth inning. It was his first postseason home run in the Intercity League.

Valdario was 4-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored for the Chiefs. Johnson drove in 3 runs on two singles and an infield out. Witkowski had 3 hits, 2 RBI and Bova had 2 RBI. Miles Reid and Ryan Noone each scored 3 runs. Reid and Noone each had one hit, while Reid had two walks and stole home on the back end of a double steal. Noone reached base on a hit by pitch and an error.

Kyle Halloran had two hits for Alibrandis.

The 13 runs was the most the Chiefs scored since they scored 15 in a 16-15 loss to Lexington on August 23, 2015. On August 12, 2015 the Chiefs defeated Arlington 13-1. For Alibrandis the 13 runs is the most they have allowed in an ICL postseason game since joining the league in 2018. This was the quickest exit for Alibrandis in the playoffs. In 2018 they lost to Lexington in the semifinals. In 2019 they lost to Lexington in the finals. Alibrandis is now 7-9 in three postseasons in the ICL.

By Bruce Hack, ICL correspondent

Dunphy, Chiefs Beat Bulldogs 6-1, Advance to Meet Alibrandis Tonight at LHS

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Veteran lefty Tim Dunphy tossed a two-day complete game five-hitter when the Andre Chiefs eliminated the Reading Bulldogs 6-1 in a game started at Maplewood on Monday and completed at Victory Field last night.

The Chiefs made a five run first inning stand up.

With the win, the #5 Chiefs move on to meet the #4 seeded Alibrandis at Lexington High on Wednesday night at 8:15 PM in a single elimination second play-in game.

The winner of the Chiefs-Alibrandis game will go on to meet the #1 seeded Lexington Blue Sox in the first game of a best of three semi-final series starting Thursday at 8:00 PM in Lexington.

The #2 Middlesex Expos and the #3 Melrose Americans will also begin their semi-final series on Thursday night. Game one of that series will be played at Morelli Field at 7:30 PM.

Expos Beat Maddogs, ICL Playoff Seedings TBD on Sunday as Regular Season Concludes

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The Middlesex Expos beat the Malden Maddogs 7-2 on Saturday afternoon to eliminate the Maddogs from the 2021 ICL playoffs and clinch the sixth seed for the Reading Bulldogs.
As a result, the #6 Bulldogs will now meet the #5 Andre Chiefs on Monday at 8:00 PM at Maplewood in a play-in game. The winner of Monday’s game will move on to a second play-in game vs. the fourth seed (Alibrandis or Melrose) on Tuesday night to determine which team will advance to the best of three semi-final round.

Sunday’s Alibrandis at Melrose Americans game at Morelli Field at 3:00 PM will decide who will be the ICL’s third and fourth seed. The winner of the game will meet the #2 seeded Middlesex Expos on Wednesday while the loser drops to fourth and will be forced to meet the Bulldogs-Chiefs winner on Tuesday to determine who will move on to battle the #1 Blue Sox in Lexington on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM. Heading into Sunday’s game, the Americans stand at 13-10 (26 points) and Alibrandis enters the game at 12-10-1 (25 points). The Chiefs and Expos will also conclude their respective regular seasons when they meet at Maplewood tonight at 8:00 PM. The Maddogs-Bulldogs game has been cancelled.

In Saturday’s game, the first ICL game ever played at Lawrence Academy, the Expos rode the complete game three hit, 12 strikeout, pitching of Ryan Qualey (3-1) to the win. Andrew Mazzone (3-4) led the Expos at the plate with a homer, double, and two RBI’s, while Michael Oliveira also went 3-4 including two doubles. For Mazzone, it was his league leading eighth round tripper of the season.

Lexington Blue Sox

Blue Sox win Thursday night, clinch first place

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By Bruce Hack
Watertown – In a game moved to Victory Field due to the weather, Lexington jumped out to an 8-0 lead and then held on for an 8-6 win over Alibrandis Thursday night. The Blue Sox win clinched a first place finish in the regular season at 18-6 for 36 points. Alibrandis is 12-10-1 for 25 points in fourth place with a game to play.

Julian Alvarez capped off the sixth run fourth inning with a three run home run, his second of the season. The Sox had Ryan O’Rourke on first (single) with two outs. Lexington took advantage of an Alibrandis error on a dropped infield pop up. Dom Zaher, Gage Gaunt and Luke Hall all delivered two-out singles that drove in a run for a 5-0 lead and setting up Alvarez.

Lexington scored twice in the third also with two outs in the inning. Brendan Jones tripled with one out. After the second out, Gaunt walked and Hall and Alvarez had RBI singles for the 2-0 lead.

Meanwhile on the mound for the Blue Sox O’Rourke faced 15 batters in his 5 innings pitched. He walked Juan Parra to start the game, struck out Pete John and then induced a double-play ground ball by Joe Maguire to end the inning. The southpaw then retired the next 12 batters, eight on strikeouts and finished with five scoreless and hitless innings. At one point he struck out five consecutive batters and seven of eight.
Alibrandis got to the Blue Sox bullpen in the sixth scoring four runs off Armando Acosta. Parra and John each had RBI singles to put Alibrandis on the board with one out. Steve Rizzuto had a two out, two-run single to make it 8-4 after six.

In the seventh with one out Alibrandis loaded the bases on singles by Charlie Auditore, pinch-hitter Tyler Ferdinand and Parra. John delivered a two-run single to make it 8-6 off Blue Sox reliever Robbie Cobb. They would get no closer as Lexington held on to sweep the season series, 4-0.

Alvarez drove in four runs for Lexington on two hits. Jones and Gaunt each scored twice and had two hits. Hall had a pair of two-out RBI.

For Alibrandis John had two hits and three RBI. Auditore scored twice and contributed two hits, including a double. Parra had two hits, a run and RBI.

O’Rourke earned his eighth win of the season finishing 8-0 with 94 strike outs in 50 innings pitched.
Scott McDonald started for Alibrandis and pitched a complete game. He gave up 13 hits, eight runs, two earned, walked three and struck out five.

Bruce Hack, Lexington Media Relations Director

Americans Beat Expos, Chiefs Top Alibrandis in Tuesday ICL Action

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Noah Jankowski had a homer and two RBI’s when the Melrose Americans beat the Middlesex Expos 3-1 on Tuesday night at Morelli Field. Bobby Tramondozzi pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up his league leading fifth save of of the season in relief of starter Mike Nestor (5 innings, 1-0) and reliever Nick Colucci (1 inning). Matt Hosman had the third RBI for the Americans. Cam Monagle (3-1) took the loss for the Expos.

At Maplewood, the Andre Chiefs turned around a 4-1 fifth inning deficit, scoring three times in top of the sixth and adding a couple more runs in the seventh, on the way to a 6-4 win over Alibrandis.
Nick Valdario (3-4, triple, RBI), Graham Smith (2-3, 2 RBI’s), and Andrew Caulfield (double, 2 RBI’s), led the Chiefs in backing Tim Dunphy’s (3-2) complete game win. Gordie Gronkowski hit a homer for Alibrandis. Sean Sullivan (1-3) went the distance but took the loss.

Alibrandis, Blue Sox in Monday Win Column

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Alibrandis erased a 7-2 sixth inning deficit on the way to a 13-8 extra inning win over the Malden Maddogs at Maplewood on Monday night. The winners scored five times in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 7-7. Malden scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead at 8-7 before Alibrandis forced the extra inning with a run in their half of the seventh. Alibrandis posted their second five spot of the night in the top of the eighth to account for the 13-8 final. Juan Parra (3-4, double), Dave Lightbody (2-5, double, 3 RBI’s), Charlie Auditore (2-2, double) and Joe Boushell (2 RBI’s), led Alibarndis’ 12 hit offense. Tyler Ferdinand (1-0) got the win with two innings of scoreless pitching in relief of starter Anthony DelPrete (5 innings) and reliver Brian Bryan Saffelle (1 inning).

In Lexington, the Blue Sox beat the Chiefs 10-1. (See separate story by Lexington’s Media Director Bruce Hack).

On Tuesday, the Americans host the Middlesex Expos at Morelli Field in Melrose at 7:30 PM and the Chiefs visit Alibrandis at Maplewood (Malden Catholic) at 8:30 PM.

Lexington wins big over the Chiefs

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By Bruce Hack
Lexington – The Blue Sox won their fourth straight game Monday night with a 10-1 win over the Andre Chiefs at Lexington High School.

The Sox broke open a 4-1 game with a six-run sixth to improve to 17-6-0 for 34 points and keep hold of first place.

Lexington took a 4-0 lead after three innings. In the second Drew Michaud drove in both runs with a double. Dahiandy Johnson’s 2-run single drove in the two runs in the third.

Lexington starter Pat McGowan was the beneficiary of the offense as he improve to 5-0 and struck out a season-high 14 batters. McGowan set down 10 of the first 11 Chiefs, seven on strikeouts.

The Chiefs lone run came in the fourth. With one out Ryan Noone doubled to left. Andrew Caulfield singled to bring in Noone and it was 4-1. Caulfield had two of the Chiefs four hits in the game.

In the sixth the first six Blue Sox batters reached base on four hits and two errors. Michaud drove in his third run of the night with a single and Gage Gaunt doubled to drive in a run. Luke Hall and Peyton Heisner finished off the scoring with a sacrifice fly each.

Michaud finished with two hits and three RBI to pace the Lexington offense. Johnson had 2 hits, 2 RBI.
Chiefs starter Tommy Leone (0-1) pitched five plus innings giving up nine hits, walking three and striking out three. Jared Frohne came in from the bullpen and finished off the game.

Lexington closes out the regular season on Thursday night when they play Alibrandis in Lexington with an 8:00 PM start.

The Chiefs play Alibrandis tonight at 8:30 PM at Maplewood.

Expos and Blue Sox Grab Sunday ICL Wins

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Michael Oliveira (2), Andrew Mazzone, and Dionys Quezada had the RBI’s when the Middlesex Expos beat the Reading Bulldogs 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Morton Field. Three Middlesex pitchers, Ryan Qualey (4 innings, 2 hits, 4 K’s), Dan Shaw (2 innings, 2 hits, 1 K) and Shawn Carlson (1 inning, 2 hits, 2 K’s) combined on six-hitter for the Expos. Shaw (2-1) picked up the win while Carlson picked up his first save of the season. Jose Paulino added two hits for Middlesex while Joe Miller had a double and single for Reading. Jack Wallace (2-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs.

In Lexington, the Blue Sox walked off with a 5-4 win over Alibrandis. (See separate story by Lexington’s Media Director Bruce Hack)

On Monday, the Blue Sox host the Andre Chiefs in Lexington and Alibrandis will meet the Malden Maddogs at Maplewood. Both games will start at 8:00 PM.