Westford Over 30 Slowpitch 2021

Floral Arts is on a roll and sits atop the standings at 7-2.  The Nashoba Valley Mustangs are right behind at 7-4 followed by Drew Farms at 5-4.  Healy Oil at 5-5 is the only remaining team with a winning record at this early point in the season.  

Short Cut Landscaping 25 - Burton's Grill 21

In a possible sign of a pending apocalypse, Raghu Mantena hit a home run in his second consecutive game and Jerod Colley legged out a triple for the losing Burton's squad.  All 13 Burton's players crossed the plate in this one but unfortunately couldn't hold off the Short Cut offensive.  Burton's also got home runs from Charlie Chungu, Erik Pasters, Justin Randall, Mike Santiano, Murph McKeon, and, of course, Dave, "Juice"  Batchelder.

Floral Arts 28 - Shortcut Landscaping 24

In the top of the seventh with the score tied, Mike Donaruma stepped up the plate with the bases loaded and announced, “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” What happened was that he blasted the ball over the left-field fence for a grand slam, thereby giving Floral Arts a four-run lead, as Floral defeated Shortcuts, 28-24, on Sunday evening. Floral scored six runs in the first inning. Matt Critch (3-for-4) stroked a three-run homer and then Mark Chambers hit a two-run shot. Roger Whittlesey (4-for-5, 3RS) scored on a single by Rob Beaudette. In the second inning, pitcher Larry Mardany gave Floral three more runs on a blast over the left-field fence. Floral also got home runs from Ryan Dunn (4-for-4, 3R, 3 RBI) and Beaudette (3-for-4, 2 HRs, 3 RS). Mardany, Chambers and Critch made several strong defensive plays. The win moved Floral Arts (6-2) into first place.

Floral Arts 9 - Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 7

A retired legend returned to the old ball yard on Tuesday night and immediately made an impact. Frank Lancelotta returned to play as a reserve (the tenth man on the squad), and, without taking any swings since a game last September, the 62-year-old slugger slammed the second pitch over the fence to score the first of nine runs in a game that Floral Arts won, 9-7, over the Mustangs. Lancelotta, who went 2-for-3, also played well at first base, handling every play smoothly. The Mustangs built a 5-0 lead in the early innings, but homers by Lancelotta, Simon Tripp (3-for-4) and a two-run shot by Rob Beaudette made it 5-4. Mike Alonardo opened the fourth inning with a solo shot, and then Floral scored three more times that inning to go up 8-5. Pitcher Matt Critch was masterful, inducing many fly-outs and ground-outs, and then ultimately getting a Mustang power hitter to fly out on a 3-0 count with two men aboard in the top of the seventh. The win moved Floral further into first place with a 7-2 record. 

Floral Arts 19 - Drew Farms 3

On Wednesday, Floral Arts pitcher Matt Critch spun a beauty, allowing only three runs—and no home runs—in a 19-3 win over Drew Farms. James Peloquin, in his season debut, hit a pair of two-run bombs and played a rangy shortstop. Matt Mallette hit a three-run homer for Floral and Mike Donaruma hit a solo shot in the second inning. Roger Whittlesey was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and Walter Carmichael was 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.  Ryan Dunn and Dave Janowsky each knocked in two. Floral Arts stretched its winning streak to seven games with the win. 

Pro Sports Therapy 10 -  CSA Graphics 9

CSA Graphics held the lead from the start but a series of errors in the field and a failure to make timely hits made it impossible to put PST away. An error to start the bottom of the 7th followed by a 2-run walk-off home run ultimately gave PST the win.  Jonathan Ring (2), Cody Freihofer (2), and Garrett Quinlan had home runs in the loss.  PST's 10 runs were on only 14 hits.  Credit on the PST sides goes to Ben Armstrong, 4-for-4 with 2 home runs and four RBI, including the game-winning 2-run walk-off, a line drive rocket to center that followed the misplayed pop-up.  PST also got four RBI from veteran Jeff Fuller and a 3-for-3 effort from John Bodi, including a "bunt" single in the second.
Both Dave Chirokas and Bill Cullen pitched well for their respective sides and were deserving of the win on the mound.

Pro Sports Therapy 19- Healy Oil 15

PST was led by Ryan Steele who went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in the lead off spot, Kirk Legatos 3-for 4 with two home runs and three RBI right behind him.  Mark Pelosky also contributed a three-run blast in the win.  In a back and forth contest, it was Healy stranding 11 runners that contributed to the loss in the hard fought battle. Highlights for Healy was Matt Dowling hitting two home runs followed by Dan VanSchalkwyk, Colin MacDonald and Nick Wilmot going long over center field. Cam Santana continues a hitting streak going 4-for-4. 

Drew Farms 17 - Burton's Grill 12

Burton's longest tenured player, Mike Jerzlyo, was called on to pitch his first ever game and held his team close in the loss.  Drew Farms outlasted the Burton's squad 17-12 in the end by posting a strong late inning and Burton's was not able to respond.  Raghu Mantena blasted a home run for Burtons as did Dave Batchelder, (two home runs, five RBI), Brian Haley, 2-for-3 one RBI, and Jerry Breen, 3-for-4 and four RBI in the loss.