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)

 

 

Lexington – For the first time since 2016 the Andre Chiefs will be playing for the Intercity League Championship as they beat Lexington 3-1 Wednesday night to sweep the semi-final series.

The Chiefs put a crooked number on the scoreboard in the third inning for the second straight game. With two outs Nick Valdario started the rally with a double to left center. Juan Para doubled to center driving in Valdario for a 1-0 lead. Para took third on a ground ball by Miles Reid as Para rounded the bag, he saw the throw get away from Blue Sox first baseman Jake Elbeery and raced home to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

With two outs and no one on in the fourth, Elbeery drove the first pitch from Chiefs starter Evan Walsh high and deep over the right field fence for his first home run of the playoffs putting the Sox on the scoreboard, at 2-1.

The Chiefs added an insurance run in the sixth. Andrew Caulfield took a one-out walk from Blue Sox reliever Braham Rosario.  A balk moved Caulfield to second and after the second out a wild pitch moved Caulfield to third. With two outs Caulfield scored on another Blue Sox error to take a 3-1 lead.

Walsh tossed a complete-game three-hitter, walked none and struck out 10. He pitched five innings of 3-up, 3-down and retired the last 10 Sox batters he faced, five on strikeouts. It was his first postseason win over Lexington and improved his record to 4-2 in the playoffs. The 10 strike outs are the second most in a playoff game for Walsh. He struck out 12 Reading Bulldogs in 2019.

Both starters had 1-2-3 first innings. Lexington starter, Chris Wanat, retired the first eight Chiefs before Valdario’s double in the third. Wanat pitched five innings, gave up five hits, two runs, one earned, walked none and struck out four.

Walsh set down the first five Sox batters before Eric LeBreault doubled to left with two outs in the second. The lefty then set down the next six Sox before giving up the home run to Elbeery.

A midseason addition to the Blue Sox Elbeery hit four home runs over the summer in 11 games for Lexington. He drove in two runs in the playoffs and was second on the team with 12 RBI in the regular season.

The Chiefs last visit to the finals in 2016 was the last year of a six-year run that saw the Chiefs and Blue Sox met in the finals every season from 2011-16. The last Chiefs championship was in 2014 with a 3-2 series win over Lexington. This will be the seventh Championship appearance for the Chiefs since 2006. In the previous six they won twice and lost four times, all to the Blue Sox.

For Lexington this ends a 15-year stretch in which the Blue Sox have played in the finals every year. During that time the Blue Sox won 12 ICL Championships and lost three times.

The Chiefs will face off against the defending champions Sabertooth Expos (known as Middlesex Expos in 2021-22) in this season’s 2023 title matchup. All the finals games will be played at Melrose’s Morelli Field.

 

By Bruce Hack

Lexington Director of Media Relations