Play-In Game Sunday at Morelli Field, 8:00 PM

The Melrose Americans and Malden Maddogs will meet on Sunday night in the ICL’s play-in game at 8:00 PM at Morelli Field.

The #4 Americans finished the season in fourth place with a 10-14 record while the the #5 Maddogs ended up in fifth position at 8-17.

The winner of Sunday’s play-in game will move on to meet the #1 seeded Sabertooth Expos (20-5) in a best of three semi-final series that will begin Monday at Morelli at 8:00 PM.

In the other semi-final series, the #2 Andre Chiefs (18-7) will meet the #3 Lexington Blue Sox (13-12). Game one is scheduled for Monday at Maplewood/Malden Catholic. Game two will be played in Lexington on Tuesday. If a game three is needed it will be contested back at Maplewood on Wednesday. All games in the series will begin at 8:00 PM.

The semi-finals winners will move on to the ICL’s best of five championship series with the schedule for that series to be announced.

In Thursday’s final regular season game, the Lexington Bulldogs beat the Maddogs 12-5 in Lexington.

Friday’s scheduled Bulldogs-Americans game at Morelli Field has been cancelled due to the expected heavy rain.

Maddogs, Expos Get Wednesday Wins

Quinton Copeland had three hits, including a homer and double, and drove in three runs, to lead the Malden Maddogs to a 9-4 win over the Melrose Americans on Wednesday night at Morelli Field. Sam Browning and Lawrence Tang added two hits each to the Maddogs’ nine hit attack. Garrett Kingston (1-1) got the win. Will Hunter and Noah Jankowski both had a couple of hits for the Americans.

At Maplewood, the Sabertooth Expos broke open a close 3-2 game and scored eight times in the bottom of the sixth inning to come away with an 11-2 win over the Lexington Blue Sox.

The Maddogs visit the Lexington Bulldogs on Thursday at 7:00 PM in the only ICL game on the schedule.

Chiefs, Blue Sox and Expos Get Tuesday Wins

Juan Parra, Andrew Caulfield, Ryan Noone, Luis Tejada, and Chris Klein, all had two hits each to lead the Andre Chiefs to an 8-6 win over the Melrose Americans on Tuesday night at Morelli Field. The Chiefs used six pitchers in the game with Jonathan Richard (3-0) going two innings to get the win. Jonathan Chotkowski worked a scoreless seventh to record the save. Corey Bright was perfect at the plate for the Americans going 4-4 with two RBI’s and  John Jennings added three hits, including a double. Chris Mitchell (1-3) took the loss.

In Lexington, the Blue Sox jumped out to 6-0 second inning lead against Brian Pelrine (1-3) and went on to hold off the Malden Maddogs 6-3. Jake Elbeery had a three run homer for the Sox in the five run second inning and D.J. Johnson and Dylan Walsh had RBI’s. Steven Bangs (5-1) threw five innings of one-hit ball to chalk up the win while Eric Lopes picked up his first save of the year. Joe Colucci had a two RBI single for the Maddogs in the top of the sixth inning.

The Sabertooth Expos scored twice in the first inning, added three runs in each of the second and third frames, opening an 8-0 lead, and then turned back a Lexington Bulldog comeback attempt to come away with an 8-7 win at Maplewood. Andrew Mazzone had two hits and drove in three runs for the Expos. Bladamir Ramirez (2-0) picked up the win and Ryan Cloutier recorded his first save.

On Wednesday, the Maddogs visit the Americans at Morelli at 7:30 PM and the Blue Sox host the Expos in Lexington at 8:00 PM.

Expos Beat Chiefs 18-7, Blue Sox Edge Bulldogs. 3-2

Andrew Mazzone, Ryan Cloutier, and Leon Paulino all homered to lead the Sabertooth Expos to an 18-7 rout of the Andre Chiefs at Maplewood on Monday night. Kebler Peralta and Jose Paulino added three RBI’s each as the Expos rung out 17 hits. Dan Shaw (3-1) went the distance to record the win. Shaw allowed eight hits but struck out 11. Andrew Caulfield drove in five of the Chiefs’ runs with two doubles. Tim Dunphy (4-3) took the loss.

In Lexington, the Blue Sox came back from a 2-0 fourth inning hole to rally past the Bulldogs 3-2.  Jack Swarbrick (1-0) went four innings to get the win while Ryan O’Rourke picked up the three inning save. Graham Seed gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the second with a two-run homer. Andrew Selima drove in a run and Joe Auger had a double for the Blue Sox. Ethan Hunt (0-1) was tagged with the loss.

On Tuesday, the Chiefs visit the Melrose Americans at Morelli Field at 7:30 PM, the Expos and Bulldogs meet at Maplewood at 8:00 PM, and the Blue Sox and Malden Maddogs hook up at Lexington High also at 8:00 PM.

Blue Sox and Expos get Friday Night Wins

The Blue Sox beat the Bulldogs 11-4 in an all Lexington battle on Friday night at LHS. V Desai led the Sox with two hits and four RBI’s. Desai tripled in two runs in the first and doubled in two more in the fifth inning. Julian Alvarez had there hits and D.J. Johnson scored and drove in two runs. Pat McGowan (3-2) picked up the win pitching 2/3’s of an inning in relief with two strikeouts. The Bulldogs had four doubles in the game, two by Dylan DiGangi, the first driving in the first Bulldogs run. Bulldogs tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth on Conor Brala sacrifice fly and an error. Trent Balian (0-2) started for the Bulldogs and pitched five innings but took the loss.

At Maplewood, Leon Paulino homered and drove in two runs to lead the Sabertooth Expos to an 8-4 win over the Melrose Americans. Ryan Cloutier (double, 2 Rbi’s), Matt Consigli (RBI), and Jose Paulino, all added two hits each for the Expos. Josh Roberge, in relief of David Kerns, picked up the win while Dan Shaw recorded a three inning save. John Jennings had a homer and two RBI’s for the Americans.

ICL play will resume on Sunday when the Americans host the Bulldogs at Morelli Field starting at 4:00 PM.

Expos Five Run 6th Beats Chiefs, 5-3

The Sabertooth Expos scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally past the Andre Chiefs 5-3 at Maplewood on Thursday night in a battle for first place.

Chiefs’ starter Paul Frisoli faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings before the Expos took advantage of his sudden wildness and wrestled the game away in the sixth.

The Chiefs jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead against Expos’ ace Nick Johnson on a walk to Joe Bova, a Miles Reid double, and a sacrifice fly to center from Andrew Caulfield.

The lead went to 3-0 in the third on a Bova leadoff triple followed by a Reid single.

Frisoli was perfect through three innings before the Expos broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Leon Peralta led off with a single but was picked off first after a rundown. George Chava followed with another single but was erased when Anthony Mazzone bounced into a 4-6-3 doubleplay as the Expos sent the minimum 15 batters to the plate through five innings.

Meanwhile, Johnson began to settle in, striking out the Chiefs’ side in the fourth, getting them in order in the fifth with a K, and ended the top of the sixth with another strikeout with Hector Pellot aboard via a walk.

Things unraveled quickly for Frisoli and the Chiefs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Three consecutive walks to Michael Oliviera, Jose Paulino, and Hunter Weissman, loaded the bases with nobody out. Frisoli then struck out Leon Paulino for the first out before a Chava groundout got the Expos on the board at 3-1. Mazzone then delivered an RBI single to make it 3-2. Jon Matos replaced Frisoli and the Expos greeted him with consecutive singles by Leon Paulino, Ryan Cloutier and Angelo Colucci for three more runs and a 5-3 lead. Cameron Breault came on for the Chiefs and ended the inning with a strikeout, keeping it a two run Expos lead heading into the seventh.

Johnson struck out the first two batters of the seventh before the Chiefs got two runners aboard via an error and a walk. Johnson finished in style recording his 12th K of the game to secure the Expos’ win.

Johnson, now 6-0, allowed five hits. He has struck out 96 batters in 49 innings so far this summer and has an ERA of 1.43. Frisoli (0-1) ended up taking the loss. The righty went 5.2 innings, gave up three hits, struck out seven, but allowed three walks that all scored in the sixth inning.

The Blue Sox-Bulldogs game in Lexington was rained out.

ICL action continues on Friday with the Expos hosting the Melrose Americans at Maplewood and the Blue Sox and Bulldogs meeting in an all Lexington battle at LHS. Both games will start at 8:00 PM.

Blue Sox Beat Expos, Chiefs Over Americans

The Lexington Blue Sox had six extra base hits in their four run fourth inning, including a two run homer from Jake Elbeery, that propelled them to an 8-2 win over the Sabertooth Expos on Wednesday night at Maplewood. Ernie Little (triple, 2 RBI’s) added three hits and Austin Masel, Jean Carlos Ramirez, and Eric LeBreault, all contributed two hits each to Lexington’s 13 hit offense. Braham Rosario (1-1) struck out six in five innings, allowing just three hits, to get the win. Ryan Cloutier (0-2) took the loss. Leon Paulino and Angelo Colucci drove in the Expos’ runs.

At Morelli Field, the Andre Chiefs got a 16-4 win over the Melrose Americans. Miles Reid lead the Chiefs with a 4-5 performance that included a homer, two doubles, and six RBI. Andrew Caulfield (HR, 3 RBI’s) and Joe Bova (HR, double, 3 RBi’s) each had four hits for the Chiefs. Evan Walsh (4-1) went four innings to get the win. John Jennings homered and drove in three of the Melrose runs.

On Thursday, the Chiefs and Expos meet at Maplewood and the Blue Sox and Bulldogs meet in Lexington. Both games will begin at 8:00 PM.

Melrose Americans

Americans Beat Maddogs 14-5 at Maplewood

Aidan Barry had a homer, double, and five RBI’s to lead the Melrose Americans to a 14-5 win over the Malden Maddogs on Tuesday night at Maplewood. Mike Nestor (single, double) drove in four runs, Pat Costigan went 4-5 with two RBI’s, and Corey Bright had three hits including a triple to pace the Americans’ 15 hit offense. Ronnie Luke (1-1) struck out six batters in his four innings to record the win. Ryan Dolan went the final three innings and allowed just one run. Quinton Copeland hit his first homer of the season for the Maddogs. Rich Carrillo (3-5) got the loss.

The Americans are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Andre Chiefs at Morelli Field in Melrose at 7:45 PM. In Wednesday’s other game, the Sabertooth Expos and Lexington Blue Sox will meet at Maplewood at 8:00 PM.

Tuesday’s Sabertooth-Lexington Bulldogs game. at Lexington High, was washed out.

Blue Sox and Chiefs Get One Run Monday Wins

Ernie Little was hit by a pitch in the bottom of seventh, forcing in the winning run, when the Blue Sox edged the Melrose Americans 3-2 in Lexington on Monday night. D.J. Johnson drove in the first two Lexington runs with a single in the first inning and sacrifice fly in the third. Jack Beverly singled in the first Melrose run in the second inning and Aidan Barry scored the second run on a passed ball. Steve Bangs (4-1) pitched 3.1 innings in relief and got his 4th win. He gave up a hit, walked three and struck out three. Bobby Tramondozzi (0-2) took the loss.

The Andre Chiefs overcame a 6-3 Malden Maddogs lead, scoring five times in the bottom of the fifth inning, to grab a 9-8 win at Maplewood. Ryan Noone with a single and double and two RBI’s led the Chiefs offense. Teddy Dziuba (double) and Joe Bova each knocked in two runs and Nate Witkowski added a couple hits for the Chiefs. Lawrence Tang and Matt Travisano both homered for the Maddogs. Paul Frisoli (1-0) struck out five in the last two innings to get the win.

On Tuesday, the Sabertooth Expos travel to Lexington to meet the Bulldogs at 7:00 PM and the Maddogs will host the Americans at Maplewood at 8:00 PM.

Barry Leads Americans to 10-2 Win, Maddogs Win 4th Straight

Aidan Barry had a homer, double, and four RBI’s, to lead the Melrose Americans to a 10-2 win over the Lexington Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon at Morelli Field. Leadoff man Pat Costigan added a double and three RBI’s and Ian Libby had two hits and scored twice for the Americans. Jordan Gottesman (2-0) fired 5.2 innings, striking out 11 batters, to gain the win.

The Malden Maddogs overcame a 6-4 deficit, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning, to beat the Blue Sox 7-6 in Lexington. For the Maddogs it was their fourth consecutive win. Marco Carillo (1-0), in relief of A.J. Ortega, went 3.2 innings to record his first win of the season. Robbie Cobb (0-3) took the loss.

On Monday, the Andre Chiefs and Maddogs meet at Maplewood and the Americans and Blue Sox tangle in Lexington. Both games will start at 8:00 PM.