2024 Intercity League Champions – Andre Chiefs
Blue Sox and Expos Take Thursday Wins
INTERCITY LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES
Reading Sweeps Melrose, Bulldogs-Chiefs & Blue Sox-Reds Semi-Finals Start Sunday
The Reading Bulldogs beat the Melrose Americans 3-1 on Friday night at Morelli Field to sweep their best of three first round series and advance to the ICL’s semi-finals. The Bulldogs got a five inning, three hit, outing from Wayne Lundgren, who got the win. Johnny Hayes drove in two of Reading’s runs while Kyle Devin drove in the third. Mike Taylor had a perfect three for three night at the plate for Reading. Cody Hall went the final two innings, allowing just one hit, to get the save. Shawn Smeglin (3.0 innings) and Kevin McGlinchy (4.0 innings) worked on the mound for the Americans. The Bulldogs will now meet the Andre Chiefs in a best of five semi-final series that begins on Sunday night at Maplewood Park (Malden Catholic) at 8:00 PM. In the other semi-final series, the Lexington Blue Sox and Watertown Reds will also get underway on Sunday. Game One of that series will be played at Victory Field in Watertown starting at 7:30 PM.
Blue Sox Edge Royals 4-3, Win Series 2-1
Julian Alavarez doubled home Thomas Russo with what proved to be the winning run when the Lexington Blue Sox beat the Somerville Royals 4-3 in Lexington on Thursday night. With the win, the #3 Blue Sox take the series 2-1. The defending champs will now move on to meet the #2 Watertown Reds in a best of five semi-final series that begins on Sunday night at Victory Field at 7:30 PM. Wagner Gomez put the Royals in front 2-0 with a two run homer in the top of the first inning. The Blue Sox tied things up in the bottom of the second when Dan Graham hit a two run homer of his own. The Blue Sox pulled in front at 3-2 on Taylor Ferguson’s sacrifice fly before Alvarez supplied the eventual game winner in the bottom of the third inning. The Royals cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fourth, and had the tying run thrown out at the plate, on singles from Gomez, Adam Johnson, Luke Ronchi, and Paul Pollano. Drew Brzozowski went four innings to get the win. Rob DiFranco retired eight of the nine batters he faced to get the three inning save. Steve Sinatra allowed only five hits in six innings, but took the loss.
Lexington’s Alsis Herrera Signs with Cleveland Indians
Lexington left-hander Alsis Herrera signed with the Cleveland Indians last week. Herrera has pitched for the Blue Sox for the last two seasons and was a two-time ICL all-star. A native of the Dominican Republic, Herrera appeared in a dozen games ICL games, making his debut on June 13, 2015 against the then Somerville Thunder. He posted a 4-2 record and struck out 69 batters in just 50.1 career innings. He last pitched for the Blue Sox on August 2 against the Chiefs. Herrera earned second team NAIA All-America honors while pitching for The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma this past spring where he had an 11-4 record with an ERA of 2.43. He struck out 143 batters in 112 innings. Herrera was assigned to the Indians’ affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League. He made his professional debut on August 11th when he threw a scoreless inning against the Dodgers.
Leenhouts Throws No-Hitter as Blue Sox Even Series with Royals
Drew Leenhouts fired a no-hitter when the Lexington Blue Sox shutout the Somerville Royals 4-0 in Game Two of their best of three first round series on Tuesday night at Trum Field. With the win, the Blue Sox evened the series at 1-1. The deciding Game Three will be played at Lexington High on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM. Leenhouts was in command from start to finish, allowing only two baserunners in the game. He hit Luke Ronchi with a 1-2 pitch in the third and Jake Cintolo reached on an outfield error in the seventh. Leenhouts faced just 23 batters, struck out 11, and threw just 98 pitches in completing the gem. The Blue Sox took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on singles from Thomas Russo, Ross Curley, and Julian Alvarez. Lexington jumped their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth on RBI singles from Alvarez and Dan Graham. Dave Ahern provided the final run of the night when he led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer. Jonathan Richard went the distance for Somerville. He gave up nine hits, four earned runs, struck out two, and walked three. In addition to the rubber game of the Royals-Blue Sox series in Lexington, Game Two of the Melrose-Reading series will be played on Wednesday night at Morelli Field at 8:00 PM. Reading leads that series 1-0.