Chiefs One Way Away from Title
Melrose – The Andre Chiefs put on a hitting clinic Wednesday night on their way to a 15-3 win over Lexington at Morelli Field. The Chiefs now lead the best-o-five finals 2-0 and can close out the series tonight in game three starting at 8:00 pm.
The Chiefs scored at least a run in all six innings including a six-run fourth that put the game away. They have now scored in seven consecutive innings going back to the seventh inning of game one.
Right fielder Joe Bova led the Chiefs’ 19-hit attack with three hits and five RBI. Bova was one of four Chiefs with three hits. Also, in the three-hit club were Teddy Dzuiba, Mitchell Schroeder, and Nate Witkowski. For Dzuiba it was his third straight three-hit game. For Schroeder and Witkowski they each scored and drove in two runs. Joining the hit parade were Hector Pellot with two hits and three runs, and Byron Woodman with two hits, two runs, and two RBI. Every Chiefs starter had at least one hit and scored a run.
Paul Frisoli was the beneficiary of the offense. The Chiefs starter went the distance and gave up five hits. He struck out 11, gave up three runs, and walked three. He had 1-2-3 innings in the second and third, setting down seven consecutive Lexington batters.
Lexington started quickly in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Jeff Costello reached on a throwing error to begin the action. Anderson Jimenez followed with a double down the left-field line for a 1-0 Blue Sox lead. After the first out, Julian Alvarez singled up the middle driving in Jimenez with his 20th career postseason RBI.
The Blue Sox added their final run in the fourth. With the bases loaded on two fielders’ choices and a walk David VanderZouwen was walked on four pitches to bring in Julian Alvarez to make it 7-3 after 3 and a half.
The 15 runs scored equals the most scored by the Chiefs in a playoff game since 2006. The first time they scored 15 was on August 20, 2015, when they lost 16-15 in nine innings to Lexington in the championship-clinching game for the Blue Sox. Other team playoff records the Chiefs set are for hits (19), RBI (14), and total bases (24).
Bova’s five RBI came on a two-run single, a two-run double, and a solo home run. His offense came after striking out in his first two at bats. Bova’s five RBI are believed to be the third most in a playoff game for the Chiefs. He trails Ben Waldrip (7) on August 18, 2018, against Melrose and Juan Portes (6) in the nine-inning game against Lexington in 2015.
By Bruce Hack, Lexington Team Historian
