Chiefs Win Home Opener
Andre Chiefs 6, Wakefield Merchants 3
Ellis Goes 5.2 Innings to Pick Up 12th Career Win
Gedman (3-3, 2 RBI’s), Copa (2-4, 2 RBI’s) Pace 9 Hit Attack
Lefty Dylan Ellis worked 5.2 strong innings to pick up the win and UMass-Amherst teammates Mike Gedman and Peter Copa provided most of the offense as the Chiefs turned back the Wakefield Merchants 6-3 in their ICL opener on Friday night at Tufts University.
Ellis, who chalked up his second straight opening day score, tired a bit in the sixth and needed a little help from Mike DiCato, who turned in 1.1 innings of two hit, four strikeout pitching to record the save.
Ellis got the Merchants’ side in order in the top of the first and the Chiefs wasted no time in grabbing a 2-0 off Merchants starter James Ramsey of Trinity College. Brian Macrina got things going with a one out single to left and Mike Gedman, son of former Boston Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, followed with bloop single just inside the left field line. Peter Copa delivered them both when he drilled Ramsey’s first pitch into the left-centerfield gap for a two RBI double and a 2-0 Chiefs lead. Mike Andre then drew a walk but Ramsey, who was 17-3 at Trinity over the last three years, averted more trouble when he got Justin Crisafulli to fly out and Brendan Pyburn to ground sharply to Cameron Kneeland unassisted at first.
Ellis got the Merchants 1-2-3 again in the second and the Chiefs made it 3-0 in the bottom of the inning when Gedman singled home Bob McCarthy, who had walked.
A John Davison one out single was all the Merchants could muster of Ellis in the top of the third. Ramsey escaped a two out, bases loaded (Crisafulli and Pyburn singles, Matt Boleski HBP) jam in bottom of the third to keep Wakefield in range at 3-0.
Ellis threw another blank at the Merchants in the fourth and the Chiefs’ lead went to 5-0 in the home half of the inning. Macrina drew a walk and came from first to score when Gedman lined a long double to the left-centerfield gap. Copa then followed with an infield single that pushed Gedman to third. Crisafulli’s slow roller (fielder’s choice, RBI) plated Gedman with the fifth Chiefs run of the evening.
Ellis surrendered fifth inning singles to Steve Langone and Davison but kept the Merchants off the board when he struck out Dom Sorrentino and got Dale Crispin on an infield grounder.
The Chiefs picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth off Wakefield reliever Connor Mahon to jump their lead to 6-0.
The Merchants got right back into the game in the sixth. Ellis got the first out when Matt Russo flew deep to center. Kneeland then singled, Sorrentino was hit by a pitch, and Scott Searles added another single to load the bases with one out. Ellis got Dave Orlowitz to ground to Andre at third, who came home with the ball to force Kneeland for the inning’s second out but keeping the bases jammed. Former Boston College star and Red Sox draftee Steve Langone quickly unloaded them when he deposited a three run double to deep right-center, putting the Merchants right back into the thick of things at 6-3. DiCato replaced Ellis on the mound and he stranded Langone at second when he struck out Davison swinging to end the frame.
The Chiefs came up empty in the bottom of the sixth and the Merchants made things a bit interesting in the top of the seventh. DiCato struck out Dom Sorrentino for the first out but consecutive singles from Crispin and Russo brought the tying run to the plate. DiCato reached back and got Kneeland swinging and Mike Sorrentino looking to preserve Ellis’ win and pick up the save.
Ellis, who struck out four and allowed six hits in his 5.2 innings of work, picked up his 12th career win in a Chiefs uniform.
The Chiefs are off until Monday when they travel to Lexington at 8:00PM to meet the Blue Sox in a reunion of the 2009 ICL Championship Series participants. On Tuesday, the Chiefs return home to entertain the Arlington Trojans at Tufts University starting at 6:00PM.
See www.intercityleaguebaseball.com for Game Box Score.
Pictured above: Lefty Dylan Ellis (top, right) and Mike Gedman (left).
– Information and photos from www.intercityleaguebaseball.com