(Malden, MA) – The Andre Chiefs came all the way back from a two games to none deficit to beat the Sabertooth Expos 12-3 and take the 2023 Intercity League Championship in five games on Friday night at Maplewood.

The Expos jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead off starter Josh Desai in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a two-run homer off the bat of Dionys Quezada.

The Chiefs used the long ball to take the lead for good in the top of the second. A leadoff John Baptista solo shot to left-center cut the Expos lead in half to 2-1. Following a Nate Witkowski single and a walk to Nick Valdario, Juan Parra launched a Dan Metzdorf offering over the centerfield fence for three-run homer and a Chiefs a 4-2 lead.

Desai set the Expos down in the bottom of the second and the Chiefs put up another four spot in the top of the third to open the lead to 8-2. Andrew Caulfield led things off with a single and John Baptista reached on an infield error. Joe Bova then singled up the middle, scoring Caulfield, to make it a 5-2 game. Tyler Ferdinand’s single scored Baptista jumping the lead to 6-2. Valdario followed with a line drive to right, that was scored a triple, plating both Bova and Ferdinand making it 8-2. Valdario was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch it to four bases.

The Chiefs added a run in the top of the fourth on a Teddy Dziuba RBI single. They picked up a couple of more runs off reliever Bladamir Ramirez in the fifth on a Parra sacrifice fly and a bases loaded hit batsman to Dzuiba.

Desai was cruising and retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced through the bottom of the sixth.

The Chiefs picked up their final run in the top of the seventh before veteran lefty Jonathan Richard spelled Desai in the bottom of the inning, giving up a run, but sealing the win.

Desai went six full innings to get the win. He allowed four hits and struck out three.

For the Chiefs it was the 20th overall championship in franchise history dating back to the first in 1961. The team won five consecutive titles in the Suburban Twi-League as the Hosmer Chiefs from 1961-1965 before winning their first ICL crown in 1968. Since then, the Chiefs have won 15 ICL championships, 8 as the Hosmer Chiefs through 1980 and seven more as the Andre Chiefs from 1990-2023.

 

 

 

Teddy Dziuba’s bases loaded single, with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, gave the Andre Chiefs a 2-1 win over the Sabertooth Expos on Thursday night at Morelli Field.

With the win the Chiefs even the series at two games each with the deciding game five now scheduled for Friday at 8:00 PM at Maplewood/Malden Catholic.

Andrew Caulfield gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead with a solo homer off Expos starter Dan Shaw. Dionys Quezada evened things up at 1-1 with a homer off Tim Dunphy in the top of the fourth.

Dunphy went the distance for the Chiefs and scattered four hits and struck out five batters.

Evan Walsh fired a complete game two-hitter to lead the Andre Chiefs to a 1-0 win over the Sabertooth Expos in game three of the Intercity League Championship Series on Wednesday night.

The Expos lead the best of five series 2-1 with game four scheduled for Morelli Field in Melrose on Thursday at 8:00 PM.

Walsh and Expos’ ace Nick Johnson hooked up in an outstanding pitching duel.

The Chiefs scored the game’s only run in the top of the fifth inning when Nate Witkowski scored on Juan Parra’s double to left-center.

Walsh struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Johnson allowed just four hits, one walk, and struck out 11.

If a game five is needed it will be played on Friday at 8:00 PM at Morelli Field.

The Sabertooth Expos scored three times in the bottom of the first inning to take the opening game of the ICL Championship Series 3-1 over the Andre Chiefs at Morelli Field on Friday night.

Idelson Tavares got things started in the first innng with a leadoff double. Kebler Peralta followed with an infield single and Chiefs’ lefty Josh Desai hit Andrew Mazzone to load the bases with no outs.  After a pop up for the first out, Matt Consigli grounded up the middle forcing Mazzone at second. The throw to double up Consigli was wide of first, allowing both Tavares and Peralta to score. When Ryan Cloutier singled down the rightfield line, scoring Consigli, the Expos had a 3-0 lead.

Pitching dominated the game from that point on. The Expos duo of Josh Roberge (3 innings, one hit, 5 K’s) and Bladamir Ramirez (4 innings, 0 hits, 6 K’s) were immense. After the three run, three hit first inning Desai allowed no runs and just one hit over the last five innings.

The Chiefs lone run came in the top of the third without a hit. Juan Parra drew a walk from Roberge, stole second, went to third on an infield grounder, and scored on a Teddy Dziuba RBI grounder.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 PM at Morelli Field.

 

#2 ANDRE CHIEFS (20-7) vs #1 SABERTOOTH EXPOS (22-5)

Best of Five- All games at Morelli Field, Melrose MA at 8:00 PM

GAME 1- Expos 3, Chiefs 1
GAME 2- Expos 6, Chiefs 5
Tuesday, August 15- PPD RAIN
GAME 3- Wednesday, August 16
GAME 4- Thursday, August 17 (if nec)
GAME 5- Friday, August 18 (if nec)