By Bruce Hack Lexington Blue Sox Media Relations Director Lexington – On a day that was supposed to have the Intercity League displaying all its talent in one spot, the storm clouds interrupted the action and allowed only one game to be played Saturday at Lexington High School’s Center One Field. The Chiefs and Malden Maddogs were the only teams that managed to play today and the Chiefs came away with a 6-3 over Malden. The host Blue Sox and Sabretooth Expos were rained out in the top of the first in game two. The Expos had sent four batters to the plate before the skies opened up and the field quickly turned into a collection of puddles. The third game of the day, the Bulldogs vs. Melrose was also postponed by the rain. In the first of what was supposed to be the three games, the Chiefs used a pair of three-run innings to improve to 3-1 on the young season. In the bottom of the first Joe Bova capped off the inning with a two-out, two-run single to give the Chiefs a 3-0 lead. Luis Tejeda walked with the bases loaded to bring in the first run. Malden starter Quinton Copeland was helped by his defense in the first when second baseman Joe Colucci made a nice leaping catch to take a hit away from Chiefs’ Miles Reid. Malden scored in the top of third when with two outs Matt Travisano walked. Conor Hanlon drove a 1-1 pitch to centerfield that scored Travisano as Halon slid into third with an RBI triple. The Chiefs wasted no time in answering with their second three-run inning in the bottom half of the third. Reid started the frame with a walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI single by Teddy Dzuiba. Dzuiba moved to second when Gordie Gronkowski reach on an infield error. Tejada singled to center and Dzuiba scored on an error for a 5-1 lead. Gronkowski came home on a wild pitch for the 6-1 advantage. Malden’s defense again came through turning an unassisted double play by third baseman Lawrence Tang, who caught a line drive and easily doubled up Tejeda. Chiefs starter Evan Walsh recorded his first win of the season on a Herculean effort. He went the distance throwing 130 pitches. He retired nine straight Maddogs in the third through sixth innings, five by strikeout. The lefty finished with 10 K’s, 6 hits, 3 runs and five walks in his first start of 2023. The Maddogs got to Walsh in the top of the seventh to make the final score 6-3. They opened the inning with three straight singles with Cole Tully driving in Cal Jacey with Malden’s second run. Ben Croteau scored on a fielder’s choice with the final Maddogs run. Rain came in the top of the seventh and caused what was possibly the shortest rain delay in ICL history. Play was halted with a 1-0 count on Travisano and resumed two minutes later as the rain stopped and the sun came out. Malden starter Copeland (0-1) pitched three innings and gave up 5 hits and 6 runs, while walking 4 with 2 strikeouts. Ryan Rametta relieved Copeland in the fourth quickly gave up two hits, then retired the final eight batters he faced on 20 pitches. Malden returns to action tomorrow as it travels back to Lexington for a 5:00 pm contest against the Bulldogs. Melrose, who has had three games rained out all ready, resumes play on Monday with an 8:00 pm game at Maplewood against the Chiefs. The Blue Sox take on the Bulldogs in Lexington in an 8:00 pm contest Tuesday night. While the Expos resume play on Wednesday hosting the Chiefs at Maplewood.

Nick Johnson fired a complete game three-hit shutout when the defending champion Sabertooth Expos blanked the Malden Maddogs 3-0 on Thursday night at Maplewood. It was  the only game on the ICL schedule. Idelson Tavares had three of the Expos six hits, including a double, and Ethan Hillenberg added two hits and drove in a run for the winners. Johnson struck out 14 batters in the game. He raised his 2023 record to 2-0 and has not allowed a run in 14 innings, giving up just five hits while striking out 29. He opened the season with a 15 strikeout two-hitter against the Lexington Bulldogs on May 31. All ICL teams will be in action on Saturday at Lexington High during the annual Jerie DeAngelis Memorial Day of Baseball. The Malden Maddogs and Andre Chiefs will meet at 12:00 noon, the Expos and Lexington Blue Sox hook up at 2;30 PM and the Melrose Americans and Bulldogs play the nightcap at 5:00 PM.