Malden & Somerville Tie for 6th, Play-in Game Friday at Morelli Field, 8:00 PM

The Malden Maddogs and Somerville Royals have both finished the regular season at 10-16-2. As a result, a one game play-in game will be contested on Friday night at Morelli Field to determine who will be the sixth seed in the upcoming ICL playoffs.

The Maddogs and Royals split their season series 2-2, Both teams have the same number of wins. Therefore, per ICL rules, the first two tiebreakers can’t break the deadlock and a one game playoff is required,

The winner of Friday’s game will move on to meet the #3 seeded Wakefield Merchants in a best of three series.

The other first round matchup is set with the #5 Andre Chiefs meeting the #4 Reading Bulldogs.

Friday’s play-in game at Morelli will start at 8:00 PM.

The #1Lexington Blue Sox and #2 Alibrandis have earned first round byes.

The Royals earned their chance at a play-in game by virtue of a 0-0 nine inning tie with Lexington on Thursday night. Cal Carroll ( 7 innings) and Joe Saia (2 innings) combined on the shutout for Somerville. Dawy Lebron (4 innings), Kelvin Guzman (2 innings), Nick Harper in the 7th, and Junior Pena over the last three innings, teamed up on the whitewash for Lexington. Somerville’s Graham Smith threw out John Barry out at home in the fifth inning, the closest either team came to scoring.

In other ICL action, the Chiefs ripped six homers to beat the Melrose Americans 22-7 in a slugfest at Morelli Field. Kyle Dembrowski hit two dingers, while Mike Gedman, R.J. Libby, Ben Waldrip and Andrew Caulfield hit one each. Josh Bohn got into the home run parade with a two run shot for the Americans. David Kerns (1-0) got the win.