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It was another week of dominance for the undefeated Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (12-0), as they scored 62 runs in three games and their miserly defense only allowed 14 runs. Gutcheck (5-6) also had a good week, winning both their games and moving into sixth place.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 12 – Floral Arts 6 Bill Knute (4 RBI) and Mike Kennedy (5 RBI) both went 3-for-3 with a home run apiece for the NVVM. Jack Erickson added a home run blast of his own. Don Cusano homered and got the win on the mound. Jim Ward played outstanding outfield defense for the Mustangs. Jonathan Morgan (3-for-4) hit well for Floral.
Pro Sports Therapy 8 – Burtons Grill 3 Led by a strong mound performance by veteran Dave Chirokas, Pro Sports Therapy earned their second win of the season over Burtons. PST jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first, powered by Jerry Cressman’s 2-run homer. PST continued to score, posting at least run in every subsequent inning after the second. Cressman led the PST attack with 3 hits (including the HR) and 2 RBI. Chirokas also drove in a pair of runs on the night.
Willis Tent 22 – Healy Oil 17 Healy got off to a quick start, leading 6-2 by the second inning, but Willis came charging back in the third and added seven runs to take the lead, 9-6. Healy answered with five runs in the fourth inning, but Willis exploded with nine runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead for good. Willis’ John Mangiaratti hit a grand slam, Rick Devanna went 3-for-4 with two home runs and a double, and Andrew Metters was 3-for-4 with a homer.
Gutcheck 3 – Pro Sports Therapy 2 In a rare pitcher’s duel, a former Pro Sports Therapy player Bill Cullen took the hill and shut down his old team, limiting the PST offense to single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. But in the third inning, PST pitcher Dave Chirokas gave up a leadoff home run to Jim DeMarco. Rey Vienneau followed with a single and scored on a John Haskin hit. Darren Wizst hit a sac fly to score Haskin, providing all the offense Gutcheck would need for the win. Gutcheck played excellent defense, including turning a bases-loaded double play. PST outfielder Ben Armstrong made several diving catches and went 2-for-2, while SS John Bodi was 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Drew Farms 19 – Healy Oil 14 Down by one in the top of the seventh, facing two out and no one on, Drews scored seven runs to pull out an exciting win over Healy. Rookie Rich Rago hit a grand slam, which Drews followed with another three runs to seal the victory. Rookie Pete Morowiak garnered his first hit to keep the inning going. Other than a couple of rough defensive innings, Drews played solidly with contributions from Bill Faherty, Alex Lelchook, Joe Welch and Sal Buonacore.
Gutcheck 14 – Shortcut Landscaping 12 A back and forth battle where Gutcheck eventually sneaked ahead in the sixth inning and held off the Short Cut bats in the final frame. Thanh Nguyen led the way offensively, going 4-for-4 with four home runs, accounting for six of Gutcheck's runs. Jim DeMarco hit a solo home run, and Billy Cullen contributed a solo shot and two doubles, and six RBI. Josh Haskin was 2-for-3. Jeff Stabach made several key plays in the outfield, including a diving catch that ended an inning, keeping runs off the board.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 9 – Healy Oil 5 Mike Kennedy went 3-for-3 with a home run and 4 RBI to lead NVVM to the win. Jack Erickson continued his hot hitting with 2 hits, including a home-run blast and 3 RBI. Don Cusano added three hits, 2 RBI, and solid outfield defense.
Floral Arts 3 – Willis Tent 2 Rob Beaudette knocked in two runs in the sixth inning to give Floral a 3-2 lead, and Floral’s defense, especially the outfield defense, helped make the lead stick. Dave Janowsky (2-for-2) and Jonathan Morgan (2-for-2) were key contributors for Floral. Willis’ John Mangiaratti hit a home run and a double, and Paul Duato pitched a great game.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 41 – Pro Sports Therapy 3 The reigning champs scored 16 runs before Pro Sports Therapy had a chance to bat. Then the Mustangs tacked on another 26 runs over the next four innings to win by mercy rule. The first-place Mustangs clubbed 11 home runs, four of which were reduced by a league rule to singles.
The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (9-0) edged two games closer to achieving a perfect regular-season record, something they nearly accomplished in 2014 until finally suffering a late-season loss to Burtons Grill—nee Mario’s Restaurant. Third-place Shortcut Landscaping (8-3) also won twice this week, the highlight being a come-from-behind victory over second-place Floral Arts (8-2).
Floral Arts 17 – Healy Oil 4 Larry Mardany settled in after giving up two early home runs and the Floral bats came to life for nine runs in the second inning to help secure a win over Healy Oil. Jim Peloquin (2), Mark Chambers (2), Chad Kirby, and Simon Tripp homered for Floral. Bruce Wilhelm and Wayne Meadows homered for Healy.
Shortcut Landscaping 17 – Drew Farms 1 Bill Doherty pitched a solid game and also had three hits. Shortcuts hit all through the line-up. Brent Oakleaf and Jason Humphrey were both 4-for-4, with one and two homers respectively. Rich Acabbo had a bases-clearing double.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 13 – Gutcheck 0 NVVM Paul Ligouri pitched his second shutout of the season (fourth for the Mustangs). Jack Erickson (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI), Mark Cusano (3 hits, 3 RBI, 3 runs), Mike Kennedy (3-for-3, 3 runs, 1 RBI) and Jay Dolan (3 hits, 2 RBI) were the offensive stars. Jim Ward and Paul Selfrige also added three hits apiece for the winners. Ligouri and Dan Crogan (2 RBI) contributed two hits each. Selfrige played well at shortstop for the Mustangs.
Floral Arts 14 – Pro Sports Therapy 1 Jim Peloquin, Simon Tripp, and Mike Alonardo hit bombs for Floral in a runaway win against Pro Sports Therapy. Pitcher Larry Mardany gave up nine hits, but great defense kept it a shutout until the last inning. The game ended when Floral Arts threw out a player at the plate. Jerry Cressman, Jeff Morse, and John Bodi each had two hits for PST.
Gutcheck 10 – Healy Oil 9 On Friday, Gutcheck edged Healy Oil by one run and got offensive contributions from everyone in their line up and made a spate of fine defensive plays. Kevin Borselli was 2-for-3 with a run, and Josh Haskin was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Jeff Bernier was 2-for-3 with a run and 2 RBI, and he scored a run after racing first-to-third on a hit to left field, giving Gutcheck a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the 6th. Healy rallied with a 2-out, 3-RBI triple to take a 9-7 lead in the top of the 7th. Billy Cullen, who pitched a gem for Gutcheck, hit a 2-out, 2-run double off the centerfield fence to tie the game, and then scored on the subsequent, game-winning hit by Derek MacDermott.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 22 – Drew Farms 5 Mustangs’ hurler Paul Liguori, who hasn't lost on the mound in over one calendar year, kept his winning streak alive versus Drews. Ligouri received outstanding offensive support, including eight home runs (the last one counting as a single) from his teammates. Paul Selfrige set the tone at the top of the Mustang order, as usual, with four hits, including two home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored. Jack Erickson homered twice (5 RBI), Bill Knute added four hits and a homer, while Mark Cusano chipped in with three hits and a home run. Mike Kennedy provided the last Mustang long ball. Brian Foley saw his first action of the season and contributed two hits, two RBI, two runs, and played good defense at first for the Mustangs.
Shortcut Landscaping 16 - Floral Arts 15 Shortcuts’ Pat Flaherty hit two home runs (3-run and 2-run), including the game-winner that capped an eight-run seventh inning that erased a seven-run deficit. Brent Oakleaf also homered in the seventh inning for SCL, a no-doubter that likely traveled more than 400 feet. Jason Humphrey also homered for SCL and was a vacuum cleaner at shortstop. Jim Peloquin hit three home runs for Floral. Dave Janowsky (4-for-5) made several nice catches in left-center field.
Willis Tent 16 – Burtons Grill 0 Rob Swinamer pitched a three-hit shutout, 5t-inning slaughter-rule win for Willis Tent. Paul Duato, went 3-for-3 with a single, double and home run. Kevin Adolph, Steve Damiani and Rick Devanna also contributed a 3-for-3 performance, and Steve Young went 2-for-2. Rob Swinamer and Dennis Kane homered.
Tonight's games were postponed due to the weather / field conditions. They will be made up on Sunday, July 19th, starting at 5:30.
Talk about a close call. The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (7-0) remain the only undefeated team in the league, but their epic encounter against Burtons Grill on Friday—a game that lasted 12 innings and had a man thrown out at the plate and several potential game-winning rallies squelched—was a win that almost wasn’t. Floral Arts (6-1) won twice this week, including a victory against Drew Farms (6-2), and moved into second place. Drew Farms is now in third place.
Drew Farms 12 – Burtons Grill 8
On Tuesday night, Burtons jumped out to an early 7-4 lead before giving up eight runs to Drews in the fifth. Jason Lenicheck led Burtons with three RBI and a pair of hits; Pete Morano drove in two runs, and Dave Batchelder and Greg Fitzgerald both crossed the plate twice. Pat Pawlak earned the win on the mound.
Floral Arts 21 – Gutcheck 4
Gutcheck struggled to pitch a strike for two innings and Floral Arts took advantage of the free passes by scoring nearly a dozen runs in one inning. Simon Tripp and Rob Beaudette homered for Floral Arts. Gutcheck’s Matt Sepe went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer. Mark Lupien, in his first game of the year, went 1-for-1 with a 2-run home run. Lupien also made three impressive plays in the outfield, catching one over his shoulder and two other basket-catches.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 11 – Willis Tent 4
On Wednesday, Don Cusano blasted two home runs (4 RBI) to lead the Mustang offense. Bill Knute added three hits and 2 RBI while Paul Selfrige (HR) and Mark Cusano chipped in with two hits apiece. Mustang outfielder Jim Ward made the play of the night, gunning down a Willis runner at the plate. Dave Harrington and Keith Wauters each went 3-for-3 for Willis Tent.
Shortcut Landscaping 19 – Healy Oil 15
Shortcuts scored 11 runs in the first inning on the strength of homers by Brent Oakleaf and Chris Clar. Healy scored in every inning and closed within one run, but Shortcuts’ six runs in the seventh earned them the win.
Floral Arts 9 – Drew Farms 5
On Friday night, Floral Arts handed Drew Farms its second loss of the season. Simon Tripp and Jim Peloquin hit back-to-back homers in the second inning. Floral Arts continued to add a run here and it was 9-2 in the seventh when Drews rallied, scoring three runs. There were two men on when Floral Arts’ pitcher Larry Mardany induced a deep fly ball to left that Roger Whittlesey caught in foul territory to end the game. Dave Janowsky was 2-for-2 with two RBI and Tom Semeter hit two screaming line-drive singles for the winners.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 20 – Burtons Grill 17
Burtons Grill, in a bid to replicate last year’s feat of ending the Mustangs’ undefeated season, fell just short in the twelve-inning game. Burtons rallied from eight runs down in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game when Mustang left-fielder Bill Knute threw out the potential winning run at the plate, forcing extra innings. Two innings later, Mustangs third baseman Mike Kennedy extinguished another potential game-winning rally, making a diving stop and throwing to second for the force out. Kennedy blasted a three-run homer in the top of the twelfth to give the Mustangs a three-run lead they would not relinquish. Bill Knute (3-for-6, 2 HR, 6 RBI), Don Cusano (4-for-4, 2 BB, HR, 4 R, 5 RBI), Paul Selfrige (4-for-6, 4R), Jack Erickson (4-5, HR, 2 RBI), and Mark Cusano (4H) were the offensive stars for the winners. Pitcher Paul Ligouri earned the win and added three hits and a walk to the offense. Pitcher Jerod and a stellar Burtons defense combined to earn five consecutive shutout innings. John Geary (3-run homer) and a Raghu Mantena (clutch 2-run double) contributed key hits for Burtons. Colley and Dave Batchelder hit back-to-back home runs.
Shortcut Landscaping 24 – Pro Sports Therapy 11
After the Burton-Mustang 12-inning marathon game, Shortcuts and Pro Sports Therapy played a game into the midnight hour. The relentless SCL offense pounded out hit after hit to overwhelm PST in five innings. Bill Doherty and Brett Hammond each had four hits for SCL, and Dave Sullivan homered. PST played some impressive defense in the loss, inducing two double plays, and left-fielder Ben Armstrong made a spectacular sliding catch after a long run.
All games scheduled for tonight, Sunday, May 31st, are postponed due to weather / field conditions. They will be made up in the same time slots beginning at 5:30 PM on Sunday, June 14th.
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