2024 Intercity League Champions – Andre Chiefs
Americans Blast Expos 14-2, Bulldogs Edge Chiefs 3-2
INTERCITY LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES
Blue Sox Take 2-0 Series Lead
Drew Leenhouts tossed a complete game four-hitter to lead the Lexington Blue Sox to a 5-0 shutout win over the Andre Chiefs in Game Two of the ICL Finals. Game Three is Tuesday night at Morelli Field in Melrose on Tuesday at 8:00 PM. Game story will be posted soon by Bruce Hack.
FRENI PITCHES CHIEFS TO ICL FINALS, SERIES VS BLUE SOX BEGINS ON SUNDAY
For the sixth straight season, and for the seventh time in the last eight years, the Lexington Blue Sox and the Andre Chiefs will meet to decide the Intercity League Championship. Jared Freni punched the Chiefs’ ticket to the dance with a lights out eleven K, six-hitter, when the he blanked the gutsy and game Reading Bulldogs 3-0 in the deciding game of their best of five series at Maplewood Park in Malden on Thursday night. Peter Copa was the offensive standout of the night with a first inning RBI single and a third inning solo homer. Steve Gambale drove in the final Chiefs run with a two out single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bulldogs’ starter Jack Burke allowed only four hits, and struck out four, in four innings, before giving way to veteran Steve Hueston in the fifth inning. The best of five Championship Series will get underway on Sunday at Morelli Field at 8:00 PM. All games will be played at the Melrose venue, with Games Two and Three planned for Monday and Tuesday, and if necessary, Games Four on Wednesday, and Game Five to be determined. All games in the series will begin at 8:00 PM.
Blue Sox Eliminate Reds with 8-4 Win, Bulldogs Even Series with Chiefs
The Lexington Blue Sox scored eight times in the bottom of the first inning on the way to a series clinching 8-4 win over the Watertown Reds in Lexington on Wednesday night. After dropping the series opener, the Blue Sox won three straight to take the series 3-1 and advance to the ICL’s Championship Series that will begin on Sunday at Morelli Field. Dan Graham, Jeff Vigurs, Josh Hassell, and Ross Curley, all had two RBI’s in the first inning. Aidan Freeburg chalked up the win with help from Tony Annino in the sixth and Jimmy Hill in the seventh. Kyle LaVigne had three hits and drove home two of the Watertown runs. At Morelli Field, the Reading Bulldogs got six innings of four hit pitching from lefty Tim Woods, then scored five times in the bottom of the sixth, to break a 1-1 tie, and beat the Andre Chiefs 6-1. Mike DeDonato and Chris Bosco each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Bulldogs at the plate. E.J. Martinez also drove in a run for the Bulldogs. Tim Dunphy allowed only two earned runs and struck out six for the Chiefs. Peter Copa drove in the lone Chiefs run with a third inning single. Game Five of the Bulldogs-Chiefs series will be played at Maplewood Park/Malden Catholic on Thursday night at 8:00 PM.
Blue Sox Edge Reds & Bulldogs Beat Chiefs to Put Both Series at 2-1
Blue Sox 3, Reds 2 Matt Karis pitched five strong innings to record the win when the Lexington Blue Sox edged the Watertown Reds 3-2 at Victory Field on Tuesday night. With the win, Lexington takes a 2-1 lead in the series. Dan Graham and Jeff Vigurs both had RBI singles and Dave Ahern scored the game winning run on a wild pitch. Borja Jones-Berasaluce worked a scoreless sixth and Jeff Blount blanked the Reds in the seventh to get the save. Dan Chaisson, with a solo homer, and Kyle LaVigne, drove in the Reds’ runs. Jonathan Bishop went all seven innings for Watertown and struck out five. Bulldogs 5, Chiefs 2 The Reading Bulldogs used some sparkling defense, and got six solid innings from Wayne Lundgren, to beat the Andre Chiefs in Game Three, 5-2. The Chiefs lead the series 2-1. Steve Busby had a 3 for 3 evening, and along with Darren Hartwell, turned in several outstanding plays in the outfield. Kyle Devin, Chris Bosco, Johnny Hayes, Mike Taylor, and Busby, all drove in a run for Reading. Juan Portes provided all the scoring for the Chiefs with a two run homer in the bottom of third inning. Sam Kasten went the distance for the Chiefs and struck out nine batters. It’s on to Game Four for both series on Wednesday night. The Chiefs and Bulldogs meet at Morelli Field in Melrose and the Reds and Blue Sox get together at Lexington High with both games starting at 8;00 PM. Karis Dan Cha