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This week’s weather was more characteristic of Scotland than New England as a conspiracy of rain, lightning, and cold undermined best intentions, postponing four of seven games. Reigning champions Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (6-0) now sit at the top of the standings, while Floral Arts (7-1) slid down into second place.
Floral Arts 31 - Mario’s Restaurant 17 (suspended because of rain after four innings) On Tuesday, the bats were alive for both teams, but Floral Arts made the most of their offense by swatting three grand slams to build a 31-17 lead after four innings against Mario’s Restaurant. Pitcher Jim Peloquin, in relief for Frank Lancelotta, needed only three outs to earn the mercy win, but a streak of lightning, its ensuing boom, and then torrential rain caused the game to be suspended until the two teams meet again in July. Greg Marchand, Simon Tripp and Rob Beaudette hit grand slams for Floral Arts.
Willis 30 - Healy Oil 12 Willis Tent scored 15 runs in the second inning as they powered their way to a 30-12 win over Healy Oil. Andrew Metters, Rob Swinamer, Steve Damian, Dennis Kane, Bill Andrews and Paul Duato hit homers for the winners. Glenn Harding and Jeff Briggs each had three hits. Everyone in the Willis lineup had a hit. Brian Anderson pitched a strong game, keeping Healy scoreless in three of the five innings.
Mustangs 22 - PST 6 Mustang hurler Paul Liguori earned the win on the mound with a solid performance, including several fine fielding plays from his position. Dan Crogan (2-for-3, HR, 5 RBI) led the Mustang offense with a grand slam and run-scoring double. Jack Erickson and Craig Smith both added three hits, including a home run apiece for the winners. The Cusano brothers, Mark and Don, combined for four hits, two homers (one each), six RBI, and four runs scored. Jim Ward helped set the table near the top of the Mustang order with three hits. Mike Kennedy added a long home run for the winners. Mark Pelosky hit his first home run for PST.
Floral Arts 17 - Shortcuts 3 On Friday night, Rob Beaudette hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to give Floral Arts a run-rule walk-off win over Shortcut Landscaping. Floral Arts hit seven home runs in the contest, including two that bounced off of the top of the fence. Tom Lester, in his first game with Floral in two years, went 4-for-4 with a home run. Floral also got home runs from Simon Tripp, Greg Marchand, Frank Lancelotta, and Jim Peloquin. Jason Humphrey went deep for Shortcuts in the first inning and was solid at shortstop.
It took four weeks of play, but now there is only one undefeated team in the Westford Over 30 Softball League. The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (5-0) won twice this week, including handing Floral Arts (6-1) its first loss of the season. Drew Farms (4-2) also won twice this week to pull into a tie with Shortcut Landscaping (4-2). And Gutcheck (1-4) won its first game of the season.
Healy Oil 15 - Gutcheck 14 On Sunday night, in a back-and-forth affair, Healy Oil defeated Gutcheck, 15-14. Chris Ricard launched a three-run bomb in the top of the seventh to put Healy ahead by one after Gutcheck had taken a two-run lead in the sixth. Defensive keys in the win included Tony Pantoja’s two great stops in the infield and Chuck Santos’ insistence to play in the outfield despite an injury. Thanh Nguyen, Jim Curley, and Billy Cullen all went deep for Gutcheck.
Shortcut Landscaping 2 - Mario’s Restaurant 1 A pitcher’s duel is rarity in slow-pitch softball, but that’s exactly what happened when powerhouse SCL eked out a 2-1 win over Mario’s on Sunday night. Bill Doherty pitched a gem, holding Mario’s to only a run—a solo shot by Murph McKeon on the first pitch of the game. SCL shortstop Jason Humphrey hit an early solo home run and the game stayed tied until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Doherty drove in the winning run with a sharp single. SCL played excellent defense and managed several double plays, including a play when third baseman Brett Durham fielded a ground ball, touched third for one out and then gunned down the runner at home. Mario's rookie Tim Scott made a terrific running catch to preserve the 1-1 tie for pitcher Chris Brooks.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 15 - Floral Arts 9 The last time the Mustangs and Floral Arts played each other was in the fifth game of the 2013 Playoff Finals, a game that the Mustangs won to earn the championship. On Sunday, both teams began the game undefeated, but the reigning champs sent a message loud and clear to Floral Arts, outplaying their league rivals and winning handily, 15-9. Don Cusano smacked three home runs and drove in five. Paul Selfrige, Jack Erickson, Mike Kennedy, and Cormac Bordes also hit home runs for the Mustangs. Bill Knute and Jim Ward played excellent outfield defense.
Drew Farms 15 - Willis Tent 10 An 11-run 2nd inning proved to be the key in Drew Farms’ win over Willis on Tuesday night. Tom Menicci, Todd Shepherd and Pat Pawlak hit home runs as Drews tallied 19 hits in an offensive attack that saw every player earn a hit. Sal Buonacore, Alex Lelchook and others provided solid defense behind pitcher Mark Kost, who made his first appearance of the year. Willis scored in each inning except one.
Gutcheck 12 - Mario’s Restaurant 10 After a few close games, Gutcheck finally put a number in the win column, defeating Mario’s in another close game. Dave Guthrie, Jeff Curley and Thanh Nguyen homered for Gutcheck. Defense was big for Gutcheck as Rey Vienneau had a couple of unassisted double plays.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 12 - Willis Tent 3 On Wednesday, Paul Liguori held Willis to one run over six innings and got the victory on the mound for the Mustangs. Bill Knute (3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) and Jim Ward each had three hits and three runs scored for the winners. Mike Kennedy and Cormac Bordes also added home runs for the Mustangs. Kennedy played great defense at third for the winners.
Drew Farms 24 - Pro Sports Therapy 15 Drew Farms recorded a second straight game with an 11-run inning, all with 2 outs, which was key in this 24-15 victory over PST. Drews started strong, scoring six in the first inning, keyed by a 3-run home run from Todd Shepherd, who hit another 3-run shot in the 5th. Every Drews player had at least two hits, with Mark McAleese leading the way with four, followed by three each from Mark Kost, Todd Shepherd, Pat Pawlak, Rob O’Neal, and Alex Lelchook. The game started with a solid defensive play from Jason Goldthwaite, and all 12 players made significant defensive contributions. PST responded with a 9-run 3rd inning, followed by two each in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings. Nate Frazee (4-for-4, 2 doubles, 3-run HR, 3 RBI, 3 RS) hit a rocket of a home run for PST that landed on the road in right field. Matt Dolan went 3-for-4 with a 3-run HR and a double. Gordon Eddy chipped in with a 3-for-4 effort and 3 RBI.
Floral Arts (6-0) won decisively again this week and remains at the top of the league standings, while the Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (3-0) took over second place in an exciting game that went down to the wire against now third-place Shortcut Landscaping (3-2). Also, Mario’s Restaurant (1-3) earned its first win of the season against Healy Oil (1-4).
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 16 - Shortcut Landscaping 15
On Tuesday night, the slugging SCL came out mashing the ball, hitting five home runs in the first inning; however, the Mustangs withstood the early onslaught and battled back to win, 16-15. Mustang hurler Don Cusano tied the game with a well-timed three-run blast in the top of the seventh before the Mustangs scraped together two more insurance runs. In the bottom of the seventh, SCL’s Chris Smith and Mike Gross hit back-to-back home runs, but because their team had reached the maximum seven home runs allowed in a game, the blasts were reduced to singles. A SCL singled scored Smith, but then Cusano induced a rocket double play grounder, turned by Paul Selfrege and Dan Crogan, to end the game. Cusano led the Mustang offense (2 HR and 6 RBI). Mike Kennedy (4-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R), Bill Knute (2 HR), and Cormac Bordes (4-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) were offensive standouts for the winners. Kennedy and Knute made several stellar defensive plays in the game.
Floral Arts 18 - Pro Sports Therapy 4
Also on Tuesday, sweet swinging Billy Luppold swatted three key hits to help lead first-place Floral Arts to an 18-4 win over PST. Larry Mardany pitched a fine game, giving up only two earned runs. PST threw out two Floral players on relays from the outfield, including one at the plate. Mark Urlage (3-for-3) and John Bodi (2 H, RBI) were the bright spots for PST. Floral’s Geoff Pavao hit a three run bomb off the lights behind the centerfield fence to end the game in the fifth inning.
Mario’s Restaurant 23 - Healy Oil 8
On Wednesday, Mario’s Restaurant broke into the win column with a run-rule victory over Healy Oil. Murph McKeon, Jon Russo, and David Batchelder all slammed home runs. Both Batchelder and Jerod Colley went 4-for-4. Rick Waldren and Kieran Murray were each perfect on the day with three hits. McKeon made several running catches in left field to support pitcher Chris Brooks and derail all chances of a Healy Oil comeback.
Looking ahead, this week Floral Arts and the Mustangs, the only remaining undefeated teams in the league, will meet for the first time since the 2013 finals, when the Mustangs defeated Floral to earn the championship.
The weather refused to cooperate on Friday night, forcing the Pro Sports Therapy - Willis Tent game to be suspended after 3 innings. This game will be continued on Sunday, July 20th, at 5:30 PM, followed by the remaining two games that were postponed that night.
5:30 Willis Tent @ Pro Sports Therapy
6:45 GutCheck @ Mustangs
8:00 Short Cut Landscaping @ Healy Oil
Westford Over 30 Softball (Week One)
The Westford Over 30 Men’s Softball League opened the 2014 season this week in weather more reminiscent of winter than spring. Floral Arts got off to a great start in two games this week, outscoring opponents, 52-17. Reigning champions Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs were rained out on Wednesday and will have to wait until next week to try to pick up where they left off last season.
Healy Oil 17 - Pro Sports Therapy 7 On Tuesday, with temperatures in the high-30s, Healy Oil erupted with 9 runs in the bottom of the third to defeated Pro Sports Therapy, 17-7. Chris Ricard, Brian Egan, and Bill Eaten homered for the winners. Tony Pantoja was flawless at short, Glenn Robinson made a big stop at third to end the game, and Tom Hudson pitched well for Healy. Matt Dolan hit a grand slam and Andrew Fletcher hit a 2-run bomb off the light pole in left center for PST and Mark Urlage had 3 hits.
Floral Arts 34 - Shortcut Landscaping 11 Also on Tuesday, Floral Arts exploded for 22 runs in the first two innings and cruised to a big win in the season opener against Shortcut Landscaping, 34-11. Larry Mardany pitched well in the win and was supported by home runs by Mike Alonardo (2), Dave Janowsky, Rob Beaudette, Jim Peloquin, Geoff Pavao and Tom Semeter. Short Cuts displayed raw power as well with long balls from Rich Acabbo (2), Brent Oakleaf, Dave Sullivan, and Dave Silton.
Floral Arts 18 - Gutcheck 6 On Friday, Larry Mardany spun a gem and Rob Beaudette hit a key 3-run home as Floral Arts defeated Gutcheck, 18-6. Ken Delaney homered and played stellar defense at shortstop and Roger Whittlesey continued his season-opening streak of reaching base in every plate appearance. Greg Marchand and Simon Tripp also homered for Floral. Thanh Nguyen accounted for the majority of Gutcheck's offense with 2 home runs and 5 RBI.
Shortcut Landscaping 21 - Willis Tent 3 In the second game of the evening, Shortcut Landscaping beat Willis, 21-3, behind a 9-run first inning led by a Mike Gross grand slam. Dave Sullivan went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored. Jason Humphrey, Carl Dean, Brent Oakleaf, Donny Morash also homered for Short Cut.
Drew Farms 19 - Healy Oil 5 Drew Farms won the nightcap game over Healy Oil, 19-5. Chris Ricard hit an early-inning monstrous grand slam for Healy, but Drew Farms was relentless at the plate thereafter.
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