Mike Andrews tossed six innings of four-hit baseball and Dillon Koster went 4 for 4 to lead the Merchants to a 6-2 win over Alibrandis in Wakefield. 2017 ICL MVP Bobby Lossano had a triple and drove in two runs for the Merchants. At Maplewood, Jared Freni struck out 12 in just 6 innings and Leivi Ventura, Nate Witkowski and Danny DiMare had two RBI’s each when the Chiefs beat the Malden Maddogs 7-1. 2017 Rookie Pitcher of the Year Alex Mandrus picked up where he left off last season, allowing just three hits in five innings, to pitch the Reading Bulldogs to a 6-1 win over the Melrose Americans at Endicott College. The Bulldogs got two hits each from Darren Hartwell, Jeff Roy, Chris Bosco and Mike Taylor. Kyle Devin drove home the Melrose run. Ryan Covelle (1-0) got the win in relief when the Somerville Royals won their second game in as many nights in a 4-3 walk off win over the Watertown Reds at Trum Field. Jake Cintolo had three hits, including a home run, to lead the Somerville offense. Justin Forman and Dan Chaisson each had a couple of hits for the Reds while Pat Maher (0-1) took the loss. Two ICL games are on the schedule for Thursday. The Lexington Blue Sox open up their season when they host the Reading Bulldogs, in a rematch of the 2017 finalists, at Lexington High at 8:00 PM while the Chiefs travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn to visit Alibrandis, also at 8:00 PM.

The two new teams in the circuit, the Malden Maddogs and the Alibrandi Baseball Club, will act as hosts when the 2018 ICL season kicks off on Tuesday night. The Maddogs will play their first ICL contest ever when they entertain the Watertown Reds at Maplewood starting at 7:45 PM while Albrandis makes its ICL debut when they take on the Somerville Royals at Ferullo Field in Woburn beginning at 8:00 PM. Both Malden and Albrandis come into the ICL this summer after playing in the Yawkey League for a number of years. Alibrandi has won 18 of the last 20 Yawkey League championships.

ICL President Emeritus and longtime Wakefield Merchants owner & manager Les DeMarco passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018. He would have turned 89 on Monday. Les holds the distinction of being the first person elected to the charter class of Intercity League’s Hall of Fame in 2010. A great man who will be missed. Les DeMarco (February 5, 1929-February 2, 2018) Leslie E. “Les” DeMarco, age 88, a lifelong Wakefield resident died Friday, February 2 at his residence, surrounded by his family. Born in Wakefield on February 5, 1929 he was the son of the late Joseph and Ruth (Justice) DeMarco. Mr. DeMarco was raised in Wakefield and was a graduate of Wakefield High School, Class of 1946. During the 1946 baseball season, Les threw two nine inning no-hitters and was later inducted into the Wakefield High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was drafted by the Philadelphia A’s and played baseball professionally for a number of years. He worked and retired from Fraen Corp. in Wakefield as a Tool and Die maker. Mr. DeMarco had served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the West Side Social Club, and coached the Wakefield Merchants for close to 50 years. Les was the president of the Intercity Baseball League for over 40 years and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Intercity Baseball League Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was selected as the Town of Wakefield Citizen of the Year. Mr. DeMarco was the beloved husband of Phyllis (Stanco) DeMarco, married for 61 years. He was the loving father of Michael DeMarco and his wife Mary Ellen of Woburn, Sharon DeWyngaert and her husband Keith of Fair Haven, NJ, Susan Colson and her husband Jay of Belford, NJ, and Robert DeMarco and his wife Brenda of Middleton. He was the grandfather of Nicole, Lauren, Rachel, Jessica, and Emily DeMarco, Christopher, Catherine, Alexandra, and Emilia DeWyngaert, and Natalie and Ian Colson. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was the brother of the late Joseph DeMarco, Jr., Robert DeMarco, Paul DeMarco, and Ruth DeFazio. His Funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 10am. Interment will be at St. Patrick Cemetery in Stoneham. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4-8pm.  

The Intercity League has announced their award winners for the 2017 season. The winners will be honored at the Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, November 11 at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham, MA. Here are your 2017 winners: Eddie Larson Most Valuable Player Award- Bobby Losanno, Wakefield Merchants Outstanding Hitter- Will Brennan, Watertown Reds Outstanding Pitcher- Josh Desai, Andre Chiefs Batting Champion- Jeff Costello, Lexington Blue Sox Rookie of the Year- Jeff Costello, Lexington Blue Sox Rookie Pitcher of the Year- Alex Mandrus, Reading Bulldogs Les DeMarco Sportsmanship Award- Johnny Hayes, Reading Bulldogs Playoff MVP Hitter- Dan Graham & Ross Curley, Lexington Blue Sox Playoff MVP Pitcher- Ryan Filipowicz & Drew Leenhouts, Lexington Blue Sox The 2017 ICL Hall of Fame inductees will be announced soon.