Bulldogs Pitcher Pulls Stomach, Completes Game for Win

Andre (2) – Bercume 3-1, Deshler 3-1, Pennell 3-0, Crisafulli 3-1, Andre 3-0, Barbati 3-0, Boleski 3-1, Leva 2-0, DiCato 1-0, Baillargeon 2-1 Totals 26-5

Reading (3) – B. Flutie 2-0, Cataldo 3-1, Manzi 3-2, Fischer 3-1, Hartwell 3-1,Gagnon 3-1, Strukel 3-0, Dellorfon 2-0, Totals 22-6

Doubles – Boleski, Baillargeon

WP- Kelley (2-1) LP- Machado (2-5)

Andre 0001100 2 5 1
Reading 120000x 3 6 1

Wrap:

The Bulldogs pitched strong and made timely hits Wednesday on their way to defeating the Andre Chiefs 3-2 at Morton Field.

The Bulldogs (14-14-1) are now in a tie with Watertown for the fifth playoff seed but have played two fewer games than the Reds.

Since the Bulldogs began playing in 2010, they have lost all seven of their games against Andre and six games over .500 against the rest of the league. On Wednesday evening, the Bulldogs put an end to the drought against the perennial league power coached by League President Chuck Andre.

“We finally beat Chuck’s team after missing a couple of opportunities to do so earlier,” said John Halsey, the Bulldogs' founder and owner. “Defeating the Chiefs was long overdue considering how well we have played against the rest of the league.”

Reading jumped out early against Andre hurler Rob Machado who had no-hit the Bulldogs in June. The “catalyst” Bill Cataldo reached on an error and then stole second base (his league leading 15th swipe). Then, with two outs, Bulldogs leading hitter Alex Fischer knocked him in with a single.

The lead expanded to 3-0 after two innings following two consecutive RBI singles with two outs, courtesy of Cataldo and Trevor Manzi (two hits).

Meanwhile, Bulldog starter Nick Kelley set down the first nine Chief hitters in order in his second consecutive strong start.

In the fourth inning, Andre got their first hit—a single from former Oakland A’s farmhand Jeff Bercume—which lead to their first run.

In the pivotal fifth inning, Andre put together three hits and a run on the board with one out. However, Kelley worked out of it, retiring the next two batters with the final out ricocheting off of his glove right to shortstop Doug Dellorfon, who calmly threw the runner out.

That was the last threat that Andre had on the evening as Kelley easily shut down the Chiefs in order in the last two innings.

Kelley, the former Malden Catholic High School star, pulled a stomach muscle in the third inning but chose to stay on the mound and toughed out a complete game win.

“I have never had a muscle pull in that spot before, so it felt strange,” Kelley said. “It was more of a mental then physical hindrance after that, but I made enough good pitches and they popped up the few mistakes I made.”

Coach Matt Morrison said his team is building some confidence facing the league's iron.

“Lately, we are facing everyone’s best pitchers, and we are battling real well against them and having some success," he said. "This is great preparation for the playoffs.”