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Reading advances to finals with 5-3 win
Melrose – The underdog Reading Bulldogs upset the first place finisher Andre Chiefs 3 games to 2 in the semifinals to advance to the Intercity League finals for the first time in team history.
Reading finished sixth in the regular season and since the league expanded the playoffs to six teams in 2009 is the first six seed to move past the first round and reach the finals.
The Bulldogs answered Johnny Welch’s first inning home run with single runs in five straight innings (2-6) to take a 5-2 lead into the seventh.
Reading tied the game in the second when Chris Bosco walked, went to third on Mike Taylor’s single and then came home on a double play for the first of his three runs scored. Bosco scored his second run in the fourth when he singled, moved to second on Taylor’s single, third on an infield out and scored on Johnny Hayes single. His third run and the Bulldogs fourth was in the fifth. He doubled and scored on an error by Chiefs rightfielder Mike DeCato.
The final run for the Dogs came in the sixth when Corey DiLoretto walked to start the inning. He went to third on Hayes single and scored on Kevin Marciano’s infield out, his second RBI of the game.
Jack Burke started for Reading and pitched 6.2 innings before giving way to Alex Mandrus. Mandrus came in with the bases loaded, one run in and two outs. He threw one pitch to Mike Barbati who grounded out to second base to end the game.
Barbati scored the second Chiefs run in the fourth. He singled to start the inning. Barbati moved to second on Mike Andre’s infield out and then took third on a passed ball. He scored on an infield out by Mike Gedman.
The Chiefs did not go quietly in the seventh loading the bases with one out on a single, fielders choice and walk to Welch. Matt Nuzzo walked on a 3-2 pitch to cut the lead to 5-3. Mandrus then came in and quickly preserved the win and sent Reading to the finals.
In 2011 Reading was the first fifth place team to advance to the semis beating Testa Corp. 2 games to 1. In 2012 the Bulldogs repeated the feat with a 2-1 win over Wakefield in the best of three series. Both years they played Lexington in the semis and lost 3-2 in 2011 and 3-0 in 2012. They will now face Lexington, in the finals for its 11th consecutive season, in the Bulldogs first appearance in the finals since joining the league in 2010.
Game one of the finals will be Tuesday night at Melrose’s Morelli Field.
Deciding Game 5 of Bulldogs-Chiefs Semi-Final is Sunday at Pine Banks, 7:30 PM
Game five of the best of five series semi-final between the Reading Bulldogs and Andre Chiefs will be played tonight (Sunday) at Pine Banks Park starting at 7:30 PM.
The winner will advance to meet the Lexington Blue Sox in the ICL’s Championship Series which will begin on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs jumped out to two game to none series’ lead, winning the first game 6-2 in eleven innings, then beating the Chiefs 6-4 in game two. The Chiefs forced tonight’s deciding game by taking the next two games 8-5 and 9-2.
Kezer Field at Pine Banks Park is located at 101 Main St, Melrose MA 02176.
Fans are asked to bring their own chairs as there is limited seats at the facility. Additional parking is available behind the centerfield fence.
Chiefs Tie Up Series 9-2 Behind Dunphy 5-Hitter
Veteran lefty Tim Dunphy spun a complete game five-hitter to keep the Andre Chiefs alive and tie up their semi-final series with the Reading Bulldogs 9-2 on Friday night at Morelli Field. The deciding game of the best of five series will be played on Sunday night at 7:30 PM at Pine Banks Park on the Melrose-Malden line.
Johnny Welch led the Chiefs’ 12-hit attack with three hits, including a double, and three RBI. Tony Serino had two hits and scored four runs. Shane Stande knocked in a couple of runs with a single and a double, Matt Nuzzo had a two RBI single, Mike Andre had an RBI double, and Mike Gedman pitched in with a double and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Darren Hartwell had two of the Reading hits and scored both runs.
Dunphy struck out five while throwing only 75 pitches in the game. Colby Morris took the loss before giving way to Alex Mandrus in the 5th inning.
The winner of Sunday night’s game five at Pine Banks will move on to meet the Lexington Blue Sox in the ICL’s Championship Series that is scheduled to begin on Tuesday night. The Blue Sox swept the Somerville Royals 3-0 in their series that concluded on Wednesday.
Fans who plan to attend Sunday’s game are asked to bring their own lounge chairs.
Kezer Field at Pine Banks Park is located at 101 Main St, Melrose MA 02176.
Blue Sox Sweep Royals 11-4, Chiefs Beat Bulldogs 8-5 in Game Three
The #2 Blue Sox beat the #5 Somerville Royals 11-4 on Wednesday night in Lexington and in the process competed a three game semi-final sweep. The Blue Sox used a big seven run sixth inning to ice the win and the series. The big hit was a bases clearing double by Thomas Russo, who had four RBI in the game. Drew Leenhouts picked up the series clinching win. The lefty allowed just one run and five hits, while striking out nine, in his six innings of work. With the win, the Blue Sox advance to the ICL’s championship series for the 11th straight season and the for the 14th time in the last 15 years.
At Pine Banks, the #1 Andre Chiefs used a seven run first inning to stay alive and beat the Reading Bulldogs 8-5 in game three of their series. Tony Serino led the Chiefs with three hits, Matt Nuzzo added three RBI’s, and Nate Witkowski had a single, double and two RBI’s. Darren Hartwell and Kevin Marciano had three hits each for the Bulldogs and Zac Talis picked up a double and single. Josh Deasi went the distance for the Chiefs and struck out ten, including the side in the seventh. Steve Hueston took the loss. Zac Levine allowed just two runs for Reading in 6.1 innings of relief work.
The Bulldogs, who lead the series 2-1, will host the Chiefs in game four on Friday night at Morelli Field in Melrose at 8:00 PM,
Reading & Lexington Take 2-0 Semi-Finals Series Leads
The Reading Bulldogs got a three-run homer from Chris Bosco and a two RBI double from Zac Talis to knock off the Andre Chiefs 6-4 to go up two games to none in their best of five series. Colby Morris spelled starter Jack Burke in the 4th inning and got the win with three innings of hitless relief. Mitchell Clegg, who struck out nine, took the loss.
In the conclusion of game one from Monday night, Mike DeDonato doubled in two runs, and Talis hit a two-run homer, when the Bulldogs scored four times in the top of the 11th inning to break a 2-2 tie and go on to a 6-2 win.
In Somerville, the Lexington Blue Sox got six shutout innings from Ryan Filipowicz to paste the Royals 9-0 at Trum to also take a 2-0 series lead. Jeff Costello, with two doubles and three RBI’s, led the Lexington 10 hit offense. Jonathan Richard went 5.1 innings and was tagged with the loss.
Both the Bulldogs and Blue Sox will be looking to sweep their respective series’ on Wednesday night and move on to meet in the ICL Championship. The Bulldogs will visit the Chiefs at Pine Banks and the Blue Sox will host the Royals at Lexington High.
The games will both begin at 8:00 PM.
Bulldogs-Chiefs Suspended in 11th Tied 2-2, Will Resume Tuesday at Morelli Field at 7:45 PM
Melrose, MA- Game one of the best of five semi-finals series between the Reading Bulldogs and the Andre Chiefs was suspended in the top of the eleventh inning, due to a lights curfew, on Monday night at Pine Banks. The game was tied at the point of suspension at 2-2.
The Bulldogs are batting in the top of the eleventh and have the bases loaded with nobody out. Mike DeDonato is at the plate with an 0-2 count.
The game will be picked up at that point at Morelli Field in Melrose on Tuesday night at 7:45 PM. Game Two of the series will immediately follow.
Below is the partial linescore from Monday’s Game One
At Pine Banks, Melrose MA
R H E
BULLDOGS 001 000 001 0 2 11 0
CHIEFS 000 001 001 0 2 10 0
Bulldogs-Hall, Mandrus (7th), Theriault (9th) & Bosco
Chiefs- Freni, Desai (9th), Saia (10th) & Stande
(Reading batting in top of the 11th, bases loaded, no outs, 0-2 count on Mike DeDonato)
Lexington Blue Sox Take Opener Over Somerville, 3-2
The Lexington Blue Sox erased a 2-0 Somerville lead and went on to take a 3-2 win in game one of their best of five semi-final series on Monday in Lexington. Game two will be played at Trum Field in Somerville on Tuesday at 8:00 PM.
Matt Karis went six innings for Lexington to get the win while Jeff Blount picked up the save.
Aaron Barbosa (single, stolen base) scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on an error to give Lexington the win.
Somerville scored two in the second inning on an RBI single by Luke Ronchi and a run scoring double by Jake Cintolo. Thomas Russo drove in Lexington’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Barbosa’s single drove in Jeff Costello (single, stolen ) with the tying run in the sixth.
Soren Hanson went the distance for the Royals and struck out nine while allowing just four hits.
Reading & Somerville Sweep into ICL Semi-Finals
Both the Reading Bulldogs and the Somerville Royals won their games on Friday night, to sweep their respective first round series 2-0, and move on to the best of five ICL semi-finals which will begin on Monday night.
The #6 seeded Bulldogs got a sixth inning double and three RBI’s from veteran Steve Busby to sweep the #3 Watertown Reds 4-2 at Lexington High. Reading erased a 2-0 fifth inning Watertown lead. Colby Morris picked up the series clinching win with three innings of hitless relief. Nate Beck took the loss for the Reds before giving way to Lamarre Rey in the sixth inning.
The #5 seed Somerville Royals followed up on their 5-2 eleven inning win on Thursday to close out the #4 Wakefield Merchants 10-1 at Morelli Field. Somerville got homers from Brian Campbell (2-2, 2 RBI’s, 4 runs scored) and John Collette (2-3, 4 RBI’s, 2 runs scored), and three hits from Rob Caggiano to lead their 13 hit attack. Jonathan Richard went the distance for the Royals and scattered four hits while striking out five.
The opening game of both semi-final series will be played on Monday night. The Bulldogs will travel to Pine Banks, on the Malden-Melrose line, to face the #1 seeded Andre Chiefs while the Royals move on to visit the #2 seeded Blue Sox at Lexington High.
Both of Monday’s games will begin at 8:00 PM.
Reading & Somerville Take Opening First Round Games
The Reading Bulldogs and the Somerville Royals both took a 1-0 lead in their respective best of three series on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs got a strong effort from Jack Burke to beat the Watertown Reds 6-2 at Victory Field. Burke allowed just four hits and struck out seven in six innings as the Bulldogs jumped out to 6-0 fourth inning lead. Kevin Marciano drove in two of the Reading runs and Zac Talis, Darren Hartwell, and Rosario Missiti also had RBI’s. Dan Chassion and Logan Gillis drove in the Watertown runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Royals scored three runs in the top of the 11th inning to beat the Wakefield Merchants 5-2 in a marathon at Lexington High. Brian Campbell, John Collette, and Sean Harrington each had a couple of hits for the Royals. Soren Hanson got the win with three innings of work in relief of Chuck Gibson. Joseph Maguire went the first nine innings for Wakefield and allowed just two runs. Paul McGunigle and Ryan Collins drove in the Merchants’ runs.
Both series continue on Friday night. The Bulldogs and Reds meet at Lexington High and the Merchants and Royals will tangle at Morelli Field in Melrose. Both games will start at 8:00 PM.