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Westford Over 30 Softball Round Up (Week Two)
After two weeks of play, Floral Arts has scored 108 runs in five games and remains undefeated. Shortcut Landscaping (3-1) has used the long-ball to power itself into second place, and the 2013 league champs Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (2-0) won both games this week, good for third place in the standings.
Sunday was a special day, as the Mustangs manned the grill and fed hundreds of players and friends of the league for more than five hours during the annual league cookout. While the reigning champs put on an all-star fete, the league played four regular season games.
Pro Sports Therapy 18 - Mario’s Restaurant 3 Jeff Fuller led PST to their first win of the season with an impressive performance on the hill. Tim Schutt’s led the way with a three extra-base-hit performance (2 doubles and a 3-run homer) as PST scored in every inning of the contest. PST also got a 2-run homer from Keith Davighi and three hits from Dave Chirokas and newcomer Ben Armstrong.
Willis Tent 23 - Gutcheck 9 John Hunter led the offense with four hits as Willis Tent defeated Gutcheck, 23-9. Dave Harrington settled down and pitched well after Gutcheck scored nine runs in the first two innings, and Kevin Adolp, Andrew Metters (3-run homer), John Damiani, Mike Ellis, and Paul Duato had multiple hits in the game. Willis played solid defense, led by a hustling catch by Adolph. Thanh Nguyen hit a grand slam for Gutcheck.
Short Cut Landscaping 25 - Drew Farms 8 The big bashers on SCL put on a impressive offensive display, mashing their way to a 25-8 victory over Drew Farms. This was the second game this season that SCL scored 20 or more runs.
Floral Arts 20 - Healy Oil 4 Jim Peloquin led the way with two home runs and 5 RBI as Floral’s powerful offense continued to fire on all cylinders, beating Healy Oil, 20-4. Rob Beaudette and Simon Tripp each hit two home runs, and Larry Mardany added a 2-run shot. Geoff Pavao and Mark Chambers added some sparkling defense while Mardany was once again solid on the mound.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 23 - Healy Oil 2 On Tuesday night, Don Cusano and Jack Erickson led the Mustang offense with two homers apiece as the defending champion Mustangs opened up with a win against Healy Oil. Cusano also earned the win on the mound, while the Mustangs played excellent defense overall. Mustang rookie Cormac Bordes made an outstanding debut going 3-for-3 with a grand slam. Mike Kennedy and Jay Lincoln also added home runs for the winners, while Paul Selfrige went 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot.
Pro Sports Therapy 11, Short Cut Landscaping 8 Trailing 8-2, SCL rallied for 9 runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Rich Acabbo and Don Morash hit home runs to lead the comeback. Brent Oakleaf hit a big double over the third base bag. Bill Doherty picked up the pitching victory. PST pitcher Dave Chirokas held the big bats of SCL in check for 5 innings but then fell victim to the powerful SCL lineup. PST got a 3-run homer from OF Nate Frazee and three hits from shortstop John Bodi.
Drew Farms 18 - Mario's Restaurant 5 On Wednesday, Drew Farms scored in almost every inning, defeating Mario’s Restaurant, 18-5. Drew Farms now sits in fourth place with a 2-2 record.
Floral Arts 9 - Willis Tent 8 Floral hung on for dear life late in a 9-8 win over Willis Tent. Rob Beaudette made a leaping catch against the left-field fence with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. Larry Mardany pitched another strong game and chipped in an RBI double. Rob Beaudette, Frank Lancelotta, and Simon Tripp (2) all homered for Floral, while Jeff Briggs and John Manginotti had blasts for Willis.
Pro Sports Therapy 13 - GutCheck 12 (9 Innings) Seven innings weren’t enough as it took two extra innings to settle Friday night’s contest between PST and Gutcheck. PST finally broke through in the bottom of the 9th when Andrew Fletcher got his fourth hit and second RBI of the night, driving in Nate Frazee for the walk-off win. PST also got big offensive contributions from Jerry Cressman (2-run homer), Tim Schutt (3-run homer), and Ben Armstrong (3-for-3). For Gutcheck, Thanh Nguyen led the offense with a number of extra base hits and Dave Guthrie hit a long HR.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 25 - Mario’s Restaurant 12 The Mustangs overcame an 8-run deficit in the fourth inning to defeat a tough Mario's team. The Mustangs bats came alive to score 21 combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings alone in a well-balanced offensive attack. Paul Selfrige and Jim Ward set the tone at the top of the Mustang order, combining for 7 hits, 6 runs scored, and 5 RBI. One of Selfrige's hits was his first homer of the year. Other Mustangs who went deep were: Don Cusano (4-4, 5 RBI), Mike Kennedy (2-3, 4 RBI), and Cormac Bordes. Craig Smith and Jack McGrath also chipped in with three hits apiece for the winners. Mario’s Dave Batchelder hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and Murph McKeon also homered.
Floral Arts 27 - Drew Farms 11 Floral Arts started fast once again with a 9 run first and scored in every inning of a 27-11 win. Larry Mardany was solid on the mound with the exception of one rough inning, and was supported by home runs from Jim Peloquin (2), Mike Alonardo, Dave Janowsky, Rob Beaudette, rookie Mark Chambers, and Frank Lancellota. Tom Menici homered for Drew Farms, which got offensive contributions up and down the lineup.
With a 12-9 win on Friday night, the Mustangs completed a three game comeback against Floral Arts to win the 2013 title 3 Games to 2.
Game 3: Mustangs 22 - Floral 10 Mustangs avoided elimination with a 22-10 victory behind numerous offensive contributions. Paul Selfrige set the tone from the top of the order going 4-5 with 4 runs scored. Don Cusano added 3 hits, including 2 monstrous homers and 4 RBIs. Bill Knute and Jack Erickson also homered for the winners.
Game 4 Mustangs 5 - Floral 4 Great pitcher's duel finally came to an end in the bottom of the 8th inning on a walkoff homerun by Mustang Jack Erickson. Paul Selfrige and Dan Crogan combined to turn 4 infield double plays in the well played game.
Game 5 Mustangs 12 - Floral 9 Bill Knute and Jim Ward played outstanding outfield defense in LF and LC all series long for the Mustangs and it continued in game 5. Offensively, the Mustangs were led by Don Cusano's two tape measure homeruns. Bill Knute and Mike Kennedy also homered to help the Mustangs wrestle the championship back from Floral Arts in a hard fought series.
Regular Season: Floral Arts (21 Wins - 3 Losses)
Play Off Champions: After a bye in the first round as the second seed, the Mustangs defeated Short Cuts (3 Games to 0) and Floral Arts (3 Games to 2).
After 108 regular season games and 18 play-off games, the season now comes down to one game. With a 5-4 victory, the Mustangs extended their season for the second night in a row, tying the Finals series with Floral Arts at two games apiece.
Now this best of five series, and the season, comes down to one game. Friday night. 7 PM.
Semi-final Round: Floral Arts Vs. Pro Sports Therapy: Floral Arts defeated Pro Sports Therapy in four games to reach the playoff finals for the fifth year in a row.
Game 1: Larry Mardany spun a gem in pitching Floral to an 8-5 victory in a tightly contested game. Jim Peloquin (HR), and Mike Alonardo (2-3, 3 RBI) led the Floral offense, which also got contributions from Ken Delaney (2-2), Mike Spanos (RBI), and Billy Luppold (RBI). Jeff Morse led the PST offense, going 2-3 with 2 RBIs.
Game 2: Floral chipped away in the late innings, but ultimately unable to come up with the timely hit or defensive play in a 13-12 loss. Greg Marchand, Mike Alonardo, Ken Delaney, and Simon Tripp homered in the loss. PST Jumped out to an early lead , then withstood the steady Floral Arts comeback thanks to the gutsy pitching performance of Dave Chirokas. Derek Donegan (2 RBIs) and Gordon Eddy both went 3-3 to lead the PST offense. Tim Schutt hit a 2-run HR in the 1st and Nate Frazee hit a late 2-run HR that proved to be the margin of victory.
Game 3: Floral rallied late for a walk off win thanks to the pitching of Larry Mardany and the clutch hitting of Jim Peloquin (2 HR), Larry Mardany (2-2, RBI), and Geoff Pavao (HR, 2 RBI). The PST pitcher remains a mystery to the once potent Floral offense. PST led 7-6 going into the bottom of the seventh when Peloquin hit a walk-off 2-run HR to lead Floral to the 2-1 Series lead. Keith Davighi led PST with 2 hits and 3 RBI. Nate Frazee also contributed a 2-run HR.
Game 4: Larry Mardany threw another great game, and the dormant Floral bats finally awakened for a 7-run inning late in the game to win the game, 14-4, and to clinch the series. Greg Marchand (2), Jim Peloquin, Rob Beaudette, Ken Delaney, and Simon Tripp homered for Floral, and Dave Janowski, Tom Semeter, and Roger Whittlesey added hits in key moments. Mike Alonardo played a stellar right center field. Jerry Cressman and Nate Frazee homered for PST.
Semi-final Round: Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs Vs. Shortcut Landscaping: The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs eliminated Short Cut Landscaping in three straight, including an exciting 11-inning game three.
Game one: Mustangs used timely hitting and excellent defense to defeat Shortcuts 9-6 in game one of their semifinal playoff series. Mark Cusano led the offense for the winners going 3-3 with 2 homeruns, 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Brian Foley and Don Cusano, who also got the win on the mound for the Mustangs, added homers to aid the winning cause. Dan Crogan and Paul Selfrige turned 3 infield double plays to snuff out multiple Shortcut rallies.
Game two: The Mustangs outlasted Shortcuts in a tremendous back and forth battle 18-14 in 8 innings in game two of the series. Bill Knute led the Mustangs offensive attack with 3 homers (4-5, 8 RBI's, 3 runs scored) including a three run blast in the top of 7th to give the Mustangs a two run lead heading into the bottom of the 7th. Shortcuts top two batters immediately launched solo homers to tie the game with the middle of the order up next. Mustang hurler Paul Ligouri, getting the start on short notice, battled the big guns tough as he had all night and the Mustangs escaped further damage. The Mustangs scraped together 4 runs in the top of the 8th on walks, singles, and a sacrifice fly. The Mustangs were able to hold on in the bottom of the 8th for the victory. Jim Ward threw out a key Shortcut baserunner at 3B from his outfield spot late in the game and added 4 hits and 4 runs scored to assist the Mustang cause. Mustang Jack Erickson also contributed an important three run homerun to go along with 3 hits, 4 RBI's, and 3 runs scored.
Game three: The Mustangs completed the sweep with a 13-12 win in 11 innings.
Championship Round: Mustangs Vs. Floral Arts: These two teams are meeting for the fifth year in a row. The Mustangs won in 2009 and 2010, Floral Arts won in 2011 and 2012.
Game one: In the first game of the best-of-five champion series, Floral Arts won 15-14. Ken Delaney made an incredible diving play to end the Mustangs half of the 7th, then singled leading off the bottom half of the inning in front of Jim Peloquin's walk off two run home run. Mustangs had rallied to take a one run lead in the sixth on a long grand slam by Brian Foley, but couldn't hold off the Floral bats. Simon Tripp (2), Mike Alonardo, and Frank Lancelotta homered for Floral while Don Cusano (2), Bill Knute, and Jack McGrath added long flies for Mustangs.
Game two: Floral Arts defeated the Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 24-21 to take a 2-0 series lead. Floral Arts hit 10 home runs in the contest, played some excellent defense, and pitcher Larry Mardany was key in getting the final batter of the game, a hitter who represented the tying run, to ground out to short with two men on. Mike Alonardo, Jim Peloquin, Mardany, Tom Semeter, Greg Marchand, and Simon Tripp hit home runs for the winners. Donny Cusano hit three bombs for the Mustang and Bill Knute and Paul Selfege each had one. Rob Beaudette and Dave Janowsky made great catches in the outfield. Billy Luppold was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Game Three is Tuesday night.
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