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For a few teams, the playoffs are a familiar friend. For others they are as elusive as Big Foot. And for yet another small group clustered at the center of the standings, the playoffs are within scratching and clawing distance.
Scratching: It took eleven innings for Healy Oil (8-11) to defeat eighth place Mario’s Restaurant (6-14) this week.
Clawing: Third place Drew Farms (9-10) needed nine innings to defeat last place Gutcheck (4-14), a team that, though not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, will likely need to win 5 of its final 6 for a legitimate chance at the post-season.
Healy Oil is now in fifth place and 1.5 games ahead of seventh place Pro Sports Therapy (7-13), which has made the playoffs for 17 years in a row, but with only four games left, is in danger of ending its streak. Willis Tent (7-11) currently holds the sixth and final playoff spot, but may need to win half of its remaining six games to earn a playoff berth.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs (18-1), Floral Arts (16-3) and Shortcut Landscaping (11-9) are the top three teams. Floral and Mustangs have already earned a first-round playoff bye.
Drew Farms 15 - Gutcheck 13
On Tuesday night, Gutcheck owned the lead until the seventh inning, when Drew Farms posted four runs to go up 12-11. Gutcheck pushed across a run in the seventh and then forced the game into extra innings. Neither team scored until Drew Farms plated three runs in the top of the ninth. Gutcheck left fielder Thanh Nguyen hit a solo shot, his second homer of the game, to lead off the bottom of the ninth and make the score 15-13, but that would be all for Gutcheck, despite getting a couple more runners on base. Jim Curley hit two home runs for Gutcheck, and Gary Lavelle and Bob Wilson each had a solo shots. Todd Shepherd and Steve Abbott hit big home runs when Drew Farms needed a lift. Jason Goldthwaite played a great game at shortstop and Billy Faherty made an amazing catch behind the plate in the bottom of the ninth to help secure the win.
Floral Arts 17 - Pro Sports Therapy 2
Jim Peloquin made his third start of the season on the mound and pitched a gem, allowing no hits until the fifth inning when PST's John Bodi lined a single down the third base line. Peloquin made several stellar defensive plays in the game, including a diving grab on a ball earmarked for center field. Peloquin didn't leave the offense to chance, either. He went 4-for-4, hit three home runs, knocked in seven and scored four times. Outfielder Mike Alonardo (3-for-4, 2 HRs, 4 RBI) threw out a runner trying to tag from second base on a fly ball. Rob Beaudette was 4-for-4 with a home run.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 16 - Shortcut Landscaping 12
On Wednesday night, Jack McGrath had a huge night for the first place Mustangs, going 3-for-3 and swatting a grand slam. The Mustangs also got great offense from Donnie Cusano (2 HRs), Mike Kennedy (3-for-3 with a home run) and Paul Selfrige and Jack Erickson, who both homered once. Erickson was instrumental in cutting down a late-inning Shortcut threat by throwing out a runner at first base from the short left field position to take away what would have otherwise been a base hit.
Healy Oil 24 - Mario’s Restaurant 21
In one of the most exciting games of the season, Healy Oil needed sparkling defense, great physical stamina, and raw power to push past Mario’s, 24-21, in eleven innings. Brian Herrmann, Brian Egan, and Tony Pantoja hit homers for Healy. Defense kept the game close, especially plays by right fielder Egan, who threw out a runner at third late in the game, and Al Boisvert’s catch of a pop foul that brought him to the foul line and required great agility to keep his toes in fair territory while making the grab.
It was David and Goliath all over again. Mario’s Restaurant (6-13), a team in eighth place, served the reigning champs and currently first-place Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (17-1) their first loss of the season in a extra-inning thriller on Sunday. There are no more undefeated teams in the league. Nevertheless, the Mustangs have secured a first-round playoff bye for the sixth year in a row. Second place Floral Arts (15-3) won twice this week and needs either one more win or a Shortcut Landscaping (11-8) loss to gain a playoff bye for its fourth year in a row. The top two teams of the regular season sit out the first round while the third through sixth place teams battle it out. Drew Farms (8-11) is in possession of fourth place, and Willis Tent (7-11) and Healy Oil (7-11) are tied for fifth place. Surging Pro Sports Therapy (7-12) has won two out of its last three games and is in a three-way battle for one of the four first-round playoff spots.
Healy Oil 17 - Shortcut Landscaping 14
Last Sunday, Healy Oil singled and doubled their way to a big win over the powerful Shortcut crew. Mike Martin got the win on the mound for Healy. Brian Egan hit Healy’s only homer of the game, a liner over the center field fence. Brian Herrmann hit a bases-loaded triple off the right field fence. Shortcuts had two men on and one of their power hitters at the plate when Dan Nucci ended the game by diving to catch a foul tip behind the plate.
Willis Tent 12 - Pro Sports Therapy 9
This was a continuation of a game suspended because of rain in May. At the time of the suspension, Willis led 4-1. Upon resumption, Pro Sports Therapy put up two runs right away, only to see Willis put up three in the bottom of the inning. PST kept chipping away, but a four-run Willis outburst in the bottom of the fifth put it away. A Nate Frazee 3-run bomb in the top of seventh made it close again, but that would be all the scoring PST could muster. Tom Rose (3-for-3) stayed hot, and shortstop Ben Armstrong contributed three hits.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 16 - Gutcheck 3
Paul Ligouri got the win on the mound for the Mustangs in an all-around team effort. Bill Knute led the offense with two hits, including a homer. Mike Kennedy and Don Cusano each had three hits apiece and three runs scored for the winners. Mark Cusano, Dan Crogan, Jay Dolan, Jay Lincoln, and Jack Erickson each had two hits. Jim Curley had a home run for Gutcheck.
Floral Arts 8 - Willis Tent 2
On Wednesday, Shortstop Jim Peloquin stroked two home runs and knocked in five to lead second place Floral Arts to an 8-2 win over Willis Tent. Rob Beaudette also contributed a home run. Dave Harrington pitched well in the loss for Willis, keeping most of the Floral batters off-balance with his mix of short and long pitches.
Shortcut Landscaping 11 - Pro Sports Therapy 6
Short Cut Landscaping defeated Pro Sports Therapy, 11-6, in a battle of small ball as the winds that preceded the lightning that stopped the game after six innings kept the ball in play all night. PST got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but SCL scored in each of the first four innings – including a four-run fourth inning that broke open the tight game. SCL played clean defense throughout, throwing out two PST runners at third and not allowing a PST run after the third inning. For PST, several players had multi-hit games, led by pitcher Dave Chirokas, who drove in three of the PST six runs.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 9 - Mario’s Restaurant 5
The Mustangs were clinging to a one-run lead while batting in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs when Jack Erickson and Bill Knute each hit two-run homers to provide enough insurance runs to hang on for the hard fought victory over a determined Mario's squad on Friday. Knute led the Mustangs with two home runs and four RBI. Paul Selfrige played his usual stellar game at shortstop for the winners. Mario's Dave Batchelder hit a two-run homer and Rick Waldron lined his career first home run to dead center in support of pitcher Jerod Colley's fine effort. Outfield defense continued to shine for Mario's as Jerry Breen, Murph McKeon and Brian Collamore all made difficult catches to keep the game close.
Shortcut Landscaping 10 - Drew Farms 7
Shortcut Landscaping improved to 11-8 with a 10-7 win over league rival Drew Farms. Both of these teams have been switching places in the standings all year long. This win gives SCL the regular-season edge with two wins and one loss against Drew Farms.
Pro Sports Therapy 15 - Gutcheck 14
In the late game on Friday night, Pro Sports Therapy jumped out to a big lead and then hung on by the skin of their teeth to take a 15-14 win in the first game of the two teams’ home-and-home series this weekend. PST exploded for five runs in the third and six more in the fourth to go up 15-3. The Gutcheck offense then took over, scoring six of their own in the top of the fifth and four more in the sixth inning, to make it a 15-13 game. After shutting down the PST offense in the bottom of the sixth, Gutcheck rallied in the top of the seventh. The PST middle infield turned a 6-4-3 double play to temporarily slow the rally, but Gutcheck continued to press, putting runners on first and second with Thanh Nguyen (one of the league’s best hitters) at the plate. Nguyen, who had already hit a grand slam in the game, promptly hit a rope to left field, beating the diving attempt of PST outfielder Ben Armstrong, and scoring the runner from second. But outfielder Mark Urlage backed up the play and threw a strike to shortstop John Bodi, who then gunned down the runner trying to go from first to third to end the game. PST got multiple offensive contributions from up and down the lineup. Urlage was 4-for-4, Bodi was 3-for-4 and scored three runs, Armstrong scored three runs and drove in three more, and Andrew Fletcher was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI.
Pro Sports Therapy 12 - Gutcheck 9
Pro Sports Therapy and Gutcheck played another close one Sunday night with PST prevailing, 12-9. Winning pitcher Jeff Fuller got some timely defense, including a 6-4-3 double play to squelch a Gutcheck rally and a diving catch in the outfield by Mark Urlage with the bases loaded that prevented several runs. PST’s offense got contributions up and down the line-up, led by Jerry Cressman’s three-run homer and Derek Donegan’s three hit game.
Mario’s Restaurant 4 - Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 3 (8 innings)
The players on Mario’s Restaurant showed a lot of heart and determination as they upset the Mustangs, 4-3, and handed them their first loss of the season. The game ended in the eighth inning on a single to right that scored the tying run, and then, on the same play, the winning run crossed the plate when the usually sure-handed Mustangs were unable to effectively execute an outfield-to-infield relay.
Floral Arts 17 - Drew Farms 4
Simon Tripp hit a two-run blast in the sixth inning to give Floral Arts the 13-run lead and the victory. Larry Mardany allowed four runs in the first inning and then scattered only three more hits in the rest of the game. Floral played excellent defense, including turning a 4-6-3 double play, started by Ken Delaney, who fielded a hard hit ball to second, shuffled it off to shortstop Jim Peloquin (who was 3-for-3, 2 HRs, triple, 5 RBI), who then threw a laser to first baseman Mark Chambers. Peloquin later made a circus play in the hole at short that required him to throw off of one foot. Tom Semeter fielded the throw on a hop to get the runner by a whisker. Rob Beaudette hit two solo shots, and Mike Alonardo hit two home runs and knocked in three. Catcher Billy Luppold led off the fourth inning with a double that one-hopped the right field fence.
This could be the season. After an informal inquiry that included sending league secretary John Bodi to research the e-files, it appears that there is no record of any team in the Westford Over 30 Men’s Softball League, which began in the ‘70s, finishing the regular season with a perfect record. Right now, the first-place Mustangs are 15-0, and after Friday night’s convincing 31-3 win over Healy Oil, they appear on a mission to reach that hallowed 24-0 mark. What’s more, currently only two of the teams the Mustangs will face in their final nine games possess a winning percentage above .500. Mustangs will face second place Floral Arts (14-3) and third place Shortcut Landscaping (9-8) one time each, fourth place Willis Tent (6-10) twice, fifth place Pro Sports Therapy (5-10) once, eighth place Gutcheck (4-10) twice, and last place Mario’s Restaurant (5-12) twice.
Willis Tent 7 - Mario’s Restaurant 6
On Sunday, Willis’ Steve Damiani drove in the tying run to start the eighth inning and then ran from first to home on the next hit to give Willis Tent the extra-inning 7-6 victory over Mario’s Restaurant. Dennis Kane (2-for-3), John Hunter (2-for-3, including a double in the eighth), and Brian Anderson (2 hits) led Willis on offense. Bob Fleury was outstanding on the mound and Damiani made several run-saving catches in left field.
Healy Oil 16 - Drew Farms 1
On Wednesday, Healy Oil run-ruled Drew Farms in five innings. Healy’s Tony Pantoja went deep twice and Chris Ricard had one home run. Tom Hudson pitched well and Mike Martin kept the runners pinned down at first base. Shortcut Landscaping 9, Willis Tent 8 Short Curt beat Willis, 9-8, in a back and forth game. Willis led 8-6 until the top of the seventh when Shortcuts got two runners on and then Brett Durham hit a three-run homer to secure the win. Chris Smith and Rich Acabbo were instrumental on defense in the win. Jason Humphrey and Chris Clark also homered for Shortcut. Willis’ Dennis Kane (2-for-3 ) hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning. Other Willis standouts were Kevin Adolph (2-for-3) and George Haines, who reached base twice. Willis shortstop Kane started two double plays and Bob Fleury pitched another strong game.
Floral Arts 10 - Gutcheck 8
On Friday night, Jim Peloquin (3-for-3, 2 HRs, 4 RBI) offensive heroics gave Floral the edge it needed to beat a scrappy Gutcheck team, 10-8. Billy Luppold (2-for-3) legged out a double to start the fifth-inning rally that saw Floral score five runs. Dave Janowsky made a fantastic sixth inning running catch in left field to keep Gutcheck from mounting a comeback. Jim Curley hit two home runs for Gutcheck and made a nice sweeping tag at first to make an out.
Pro Sports Therapy 15 - Mario’s Restaurant 1
Pro Sports Therapy’s ace Dave Chirokas earned his first win of the season, spinning a gem against Mario’s Restaurant. Mark Urlage, who was on base all night, led off with a double and then was driven in immediately by two-hitter John Bodi to spark a five run outburst in the first. PST never looked back, playing solid defense as they stayed on an offensive roll adding runs in every inning to earn the run rule victory after five. Nate Frazee (2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI) had another big night. PST had seven players with multi-hit games and 12 different players scored at least one run, as contributions came from up and down the lineup.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 31 - Healy Oil 3
Don Cusano got the win on the mound and had four hits, including a grand slam. Mike Kennedy went 5-for-5 with 6 RBI and three runs scored. Jack Erickson and Mark Cusano added four hits apiece. Bill Knute had three hits, including a home run, and threw out another base runner from left field for the winners. Jim Ward and Dave Barnes each had three hits in the game.
Tuesday (7/15/14) - Tonight's games have been postponed due to the weather. The games will be made up on Sunday, August 10th.
5:30 Drew Farms at GutCheck (previously rescheduled)
6:45 Mustangs at Willis
8 Pro Sports Therapy @ Healy Oil
Third place Drew Farms (8-7) traded places in the standings with fourth place Shortcut Landscaping (8-8) again this week. Both teams are anxiously looking in the rearview mirror, as Willis Tent (5-9), Mario’s Restaurant (5-10), Healy Oil (5-10), Gutcheck (4-9) and Pro Sports Therapy (4-10) are a hot-streak away from taking their spots in the standings. The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (14-0) and Floral Arts (13-3) remain in first and second place, respectively, and both appear headed for a first-round playoff bye for the fifth year in a row.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 2 - Drew Farms 0
On Tuesday, Mustang Don Cusano earned the shutout on the mound in a tight defensive victory over Drew Farms. Cusano, Jim Ward, and Jay Lincoln all had two hits apiece for the winners. Left fielder Bill Knute gunned out a runner at the plate to keep Drew Farms off the board. The Mustangs ended the game by turning a 4-6-3 double play with the tying run at the plate. Jack McGrath made several good plays behind the plate.
Floral Arts 31 - Mario’s Restaurant 17
Floral Arts and Mario’s finished up a rain-suspended game from June when Jim Peloquin recorded the last three outs of a 31-17 Floral victory. Floral hit three grand slams in an inning. Mike Alonardo made a diving catch in the final inning to keep runners from scoring.
Floral Arts 10 - Mario’s Restaurant 1
In the nightcap, Larry Mardany gave up a run in the first and nothing after that. Rob Beaudette hit a two-run homer as part of a six-run second as Floral cruised to victory. Wind conditions were tough for both hitters and pitchers. Mario rookie Tim Scott made a sensational diving catch from his left field position and Jerod Colley continued to pitch well despite the loss.
Shortcut Landscaping 12 - Gutcheck 2
On Wednesday, Gutcheck managed only two runs after loading the bases three different times. Shortcut bats broke out in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs to put the game out of reach. Both teams played solid defense in the contest.
Healy Oil 17 - Willis Tent 4
Brian Egan and Tony Pantoja went deep to help lead Healy Oil to victory over Willis Tent. Every player on Healy hit well and a watertight defense was key in keeping Willis from picking up any momentum.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 16 - Pro Sports Therapy 2
On Friday night, Paul Liguori earned the win on the mound in another excellent defensive performance by the Mustangs. Outfielders Mark Cusano and Jay Lincoln made great running catches while Mustang infielders Mike Kennedy, Don Cusano, and Dan Crogan all made outstanding plays for the winners. In a well-balanced offensive attack, every Mustang had at least one hit. Don Cusano led the charge with two doubles, a home run, and two RBI. Lincoln added three hits and three RBI. Liguori helped himself at the plate with two hits and two RBI. Derek Donegan homered for PST.
Mario’s Restaurant 17 - Willis Tent 16
When Willis and Mario's met earlier in the season, they needed extra innings to decide a winner (Willis), and on Friday night in their second of three meetings this season, the teams ratcheted up the pressure with Mario's prevailing this time, thanks to a six-run comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Willis chose to intentionally walk Keith Reynolds (3-run homer, 4 RBI) to load the bases with two outs when John Geary stepped up to the plate and belted a double that scored Jerry Breen to tie it at 17-17. An errant throw to third base on Geary’s hit allowed Reynolds to take home, earning Mario’s a walk-off win. Mario rookie Tim Scott had three hits.
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