Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- 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 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-center field 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 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 12^th career win in a Chiefs uniform.

The Chiefs are off until Monday when they travel to Lexington at 8:00 PM to meet the Blue Sox in a reunion of the 2009 ICL Championship Series participants.

See www.intercityleaguebaseball.com for Game Box Score

Woburn, MA- The Chiefs will begin their 2010 regular season tonight when they travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn to meet the Mooney Dental Tanners at 8:00 PM.

The Chiefs will send right-hander Mike DiCato to the mound in the opener. DiCato, a two time ICL all-star, was 6-4 for the Chiefs last summer while posting an ERA of 2.13. The former Malden Catholic and UMass-Amherst star led the staff in appearances (11), innings pitched (62.1) and wins (6).

The Tanners opened their season last night with a 5-2 home loss to the expansion Reading Bulldogs.

Following tonight's game, the Chiefs will take on the Wakefield Merchants in their home opener on Friday at 6:00 PM at Tufts University. Southpaw Dylan Ellis (5-2, 1.81 ERA in 2009) is expected to get the starting assignment.

Woburn, MA- Heavy thunderstorms and severe weather hit the Woburn area late this afternoon causing the postponement of the Chiefs-Tanners game at Ferullo Field.

Tanners manager Bob DeNapoli made the decision to postpone the game shortly after 6:00 PM. "Unless we want to wear hip boots there is no way we could play at Ferullo tonight", said DeNapoli. "It is a shame because the weather is clearing and the field drains well, but there was just too much water in a short period of time", added the veteran manager.

The Chiefs will now have to wait another day to open the 2010 season. They are scheduled to host the Wakefield Merchants at Tufts University on Friday at 6:00 PM.

With rain disrupting the opener and previously set pitching rotation, it is uncertain who the Chiefs will now send to the mound Friday. Mike DiCato was scheduled to start at Woburn with southpaw Dylan Ellis penciled in on Friday.  

No make-up date for the Chiefs-Tanners game has been set.

NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Chiefs centerfielder and former Merrimack College baseball standout Jeff Bercume of Leicester, MA, signed with the Oakland Athletics earlier this week and will play for the Class A affiliate Vancouver Canadians beginning in June. Bercume becomes the 111^th player to wear a Chiefs uniform to ink a professional contract.

Bercume, who played two seasons for the Chiefs, started 36 games for the Chiefs last summer hitting an overall .325 with six doubles, three triples, four homers and 25 RBI. He was named to the Intercity League all-star team in July.

The all-time hits leader at Merrimack College, Bercume is the first Merrimack baseball player since Cory Spencer ’99 to sign with a professional team.  Despite not being drafted in June of 2009, Bercume has since been preparing for the opportunity to make a professional squad.“I made the decision last June that in the event I was not selected in the first year player draft I would do everything I could to sign as a free agent with either an MLB affiliated team or a Professional Independent Club,” Bercume said on Friday.

After many professional tryouts in 2009, Bercume found himself in the California Winter League, a professional development and showcase league in Palm Springs designed to give unsigned players 20 games in front of professional scouts. The CWL was where Bercume caught the eye of Chris Weissmann and the Oakland A’s.  Despite their interest, a hamstring injury would put his baseball playing on hold momentarily.  Intense rehabilitation and hard work at home in Massachusetts kept Bercume in shape and ready for the call should that day come.“After a month of rehabbing back home I received a call from Chris Weissmann for extended spring training in Phoenix,” Bercume said.  “They liked me enough to keep me around for a few weeks and eventually offered me a contract on May 12.”

On top of his good fortune of being signed while in Phoenix, Bercume had the pleasure of playing alongside and learning from players such as Mark Ellis, Brett Tomko and Coco Crisp. With the chance to live his dream, Bercume added, “Being a member of this organization and taking the field everyday with the A's uniform on my back is an unbelievable opportunity and I am very grateful for the chance to hopefully make a career out of playing baseball.”Bercume’s noticeable improvement from year-to-year was evidenced through his numbers, but his dedication and commitment may be even more impressive.

“Jeff’s determination and will to accomplish his personal mission speaks volumes about him as a person,” said Merrimack College coach and former Wakefield Merchant Joe Sarno.  “I am so proud of him and I wish him nothing but the best in his future.  I know that no matter what he ends up doing in life he will be a major success because of the determination he possesses.” ---Will Rothermel

2010 CHIEFS ICL ROSTER   (Updated 6/3/10)