Westford Over-30 Slow-Pitch Softball

Willis Tent dispatched Pro Sports Therapy in two straight playoff games and now moves into the semifinals of the playoffs against a Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs team that only lost once in the regular season. Shortcut Landscaping required three games, two of which went into extra innings, to beat Drew Farms and will now face second place Floral Arts in the semifinals, a best-of-five series.

Willis Tent 18 - Pro Sports Therapy 3

On Sunday evening, Willis Tent eliminated Pro Sports Therapy with a big win in the second game of the series. Willis jumped out early with seven runs in the first inning, sparked by Dennis Kane’s leadoff home run. Willis put up seven more runs in the second inning and the game was effectively over, as PST only managed seven hits in the game. John Bodi, who collected two of the seven hits for PST, doubled in the fourth and then a double by Jerry Cressman drove Bodi in. Mark Pelosky then singled to drive in Cressman. Willis pitcher Dave Harrington kept PST off balance all game. Willis’ Rob Swinamer had two doubles and a home run.

Drew Farms 15 - Shortcut Landscaping 14

Tom Menucci hit a walk-off home run to straightaway center field to help Drew Farms stave off elimination in the second game of the three-game playoff series on Sunday night. Drew Farms jumped out to a big lead and maintained it until seventh inning, when SCL tied it on the power of a Dave Sullivan home run. The game went to extra innings and then Menucci stepped up to the plate with two outs and delivered the game winner.

Shortcut Landscaping 20 - Drew Farms 17

On Tuesday night, in the Game Three of the the three-game playoff series, Shortcut Landscaping needed extra innings to earn the victory over Drew Farms. Drew Farms had a 14-1 lead until the bottom of the third, when SCL put up 11 runs to close the gap. The game was notched at 17-17 in the ninth inning, when Jason Humphry and Chris Clark singled for SCL and then Brent Oakleaf hit a three-run walk-off home run. Todd Shepherd hit two home runs for Drew Farms in the loss. Tom Menucci, the hero of Game Two, tied the game in the sixth when he hit a three-run bomb to straightaway center. Both teams had chances to take the lead in the next couple of innings, but pitching and defense came up big when it mattered.

It all came down to the final night of the regular season.

On Tuesday night, when Pro Sports Therapy (10-14) beat Willis Tent, they breathed a sigh of relief because the win continued the team’s streak of making the playoffs the year after its inception in 1997. That left two teams with nine wins, and they played each other on Wednesday night. Willis Tent (10-14) got the necessary tenth win against Healy Oil (9-15), a solid team with three championships to its legacy, and ultimately knocked them out of the playoffs.

That left league secretary John Bodi with the task of figuring out how to seed three teams with identical records, as Drew Farms (10-14) also finished with ten wins. Bodi poured over the tie-breaker rules and, using every resource short of sorcery, determined the match ups for the first round of the playoffs (a best-of-three series).

Third place Shortcut Landscaping (13-11) beat sixth place Drew Farms in Game 1 of the first round of playoffs. Fourth place Pro Sports Therapy lost to fifth place Willis Tent in their first playoff meeting. The winners of these series will move into the semi-final round (a best-of-five series) against either first place Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (23-1) or second place Floral Arts (20-4).

Home Runs

Most teams would likely acknowledge that the ball did not fly out of the park this season the way it has in the past. Some blame it on the humid summer, others on the bats, and still others on old age. However, there is an elite group of hitters in the league that hit them no matter what the circumstances.

Here are the top home run hitters of the 2014 regular season:

1. Don Cusano: The Mustangs pitcher is the league’s most consistent power hitter. He is usually good for one home run a game, though he hit seven home runs in the final three games of the season. Cusano knocked out 23 home runs in 24 games this season.

2. Rob Beaudette: The Floral Arts left fielder plays softball as a change of pace from his role as the Nashoba Tech varsity football coach. Softball is not his favorite sport, but that hasn’t stopped him from banging out 21 home runs this season and gathering 60 RBI.

3. Simon Tripp & Jim Peloquin: Both players are key on defense for Floral Arts and each hit 20 home runs this season and knocked in 50-plus runs. The pair hit a combined four grand slams this season.

5. Thanh Nyugen: Gutcheck’s star left fielder and sometimes pitcher hit five home runs in the final week of the season to finish with 19 home runs. It is staggering to think how many more home runs he would have hit if he hadn’t been intentionally walked nearly ten times and constantly pitched around.

6. Todd Shepherd: The Drew Farms outfielder got off to a screaming start, hitting 12 home runs in the first ten games, but then hit four in the final 12 games for a total of 16 long flies.

7. Mike Gross: Shortcut Landscaping’s first baseman rapped out 15 home runs this season, including several grand slams.

8. Rob Swinamer & Billy Knute: When Willis Tents’ Swinamer is playing, no one parks within fifty feet of the right field fence. The powerful lefty is known for hitting tape-measure shots over the right field fence into the parking lot. Knute, the smooth left fielder for the Mustangs, also bats lefty and is a formidable presence at the plate. Both Knute and Swinamer tied with 14 home runs.

10. Mike Kennedy & Mike Alonardo: The Mustangs’ Kennedy and Floral Arts’ Alonardo each swatted 13 home runs.

Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 22 - Pro Sports Therapy 10

On Sunday, The Mustangs began their last regular season game with five home runs in the first inning and never looked back. Paul Selfrige went 3-for-5, three runs scored and an RBI and set the tone by leading off the game with a blast to left. Jim Ward followed with a single, then the Mustangs hit four consecutive homers. Don Cusano was 4-for-5, with a homer and 5 RBI, Bill Knute went 4-for-5, with two homers, and 5 RBI, Mike Kennedy homered and Mark Cusano went 4-for-4 with a home run. Ward (4-for-5, HR, 4 RS, 3 RBI) later added his first home run of the year. The Mustangs hit 12 home runs in total, but league rules allow only the first seven to count. Jay Dolan added three hits and played excellent outfield defense for the Mustangs. Several PST players quietly had big games: Al Nudler and Dave Chirokas both went 3-for-3 and Tom Rose was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and three runs scored.

Pro Sports Therapy 9 - Willis Tent 7

On Tuesday, both teams were fighting to qualify for the playoffs, but Pro Sports Therapy had to win or go home. On the strength of four runs in the bottom of the sixth, the PST squad was able to hold off Willis Tent with a 9-7 win. Willis jumped out to a two-run lead in the first, but PST responded with three runs. Willis broke out for four in the fourth to take the lead back. PST got two in the fifth and then took the lead in the sixth. Willis rallied in the seventh, pushing across one run, but saw their rally die with the winning runs on base and a fly-out to the fence. PST’s Tim Schutt had two hits and two RBI. Willis got offensive contributions from Dennis Kane, who went 3-for-3, with a two-run homer and Rob Swinamer, who was 2-for-2, walked, and hit a two-run homer. Dave Harrington pitched a solid game.

Floral Arts 19 - Shortcut Landscaping 6

Floral Arts hit two grand slams en route to a 19-6 victory over Shortcut Landscaping. Jim Peloquin, typically the team shortstop, pitched well for Floral Arts, earning his third win of the season on the mound. Mike Alonardo hit two homers, including a grand slam, Peloquin hit a grand slam, and Rob Beaudette and Frank Lancelotta each hit solo shots for the winners. Lancelotta also made a nice running catch in right field.

Willis Tent 22 - Healy Oil 8

Healy Oil's season ended Wednesday with a 21-8 loss to Willis Tent. Ten players on Willis had two or more hits. John Hunter (2 HR, 5 RBI), Rob Swinamer (2 HR, 5 RBI), and Jeff Briggs (HR) provided the big hits for Willis. Dave Harrington pitched a strong game. Healy’s Bill Eaton hit a three-run homer over the left-center fence.

Gutcheck 22 - Mario’s Restaurant 9

In a contest to determine eighth place, Mario’s Restaurant fell behind early and could not keep pace with Gutcheck’s offense, closing out their season with a 22-9 loss to Gutcheck in six innings. Gutcheck’s Thanh Nguyen pitched against his former mates and hit three home runs, including one that rattled the Porta-Potty just outside the right-center field fence. Threes were wild for Mario’s as Dave Batchelder hit a three-run home run, John Russo and Jim Scott both went 3-for-3, and Raghu Mantena and Russo both legged out triples.

First Round of the Playoffs

GAME 1: Willis Tent 17 - Pro Sports Therapy 12

On Friday, Willis Tent put up seven runs in twice in the game and defeated Pro Sports Therapy, 17-12, to take a 1-0 lead in this first round series. Willis pitcher Dave Harrington kept PST off balance all night, recording two strikeouts and six walks. Rob Swinamer took the mound during PST’s desperate seventh inning rally and closed out the game. PST’s Tom Rose, Jeff Fuller, and Jeff Morse all were 2-for-2 with a walk. PST also got important contributions from the bottom of the order, as Al Nudler and coach Gary Royal both contributed two RBI. Rob Swinamer hit two home runs, including one of his trademark bombs that landed nearly seventy feet over the right field fence.

Game 1: Shortcut Landscaping 21 - Drew Farms 9

Shortcut Landscaping overcame a 6-2 deficit in the third inning on the power of home runs by Mike Gross and Steve Jacobsmeir. Both players swatted two home runs in the game. Gross amassed 5 RBI. Dave Sullivan and Brent Oakleaf also homered for SCL. Todd Shepherd hit two home runs for Drew Farms and Tom Menucci hit a line-drive home run over the center field fence. SCL leads the best-of-three series, 1-0.

As Floral Arts pitcher Larry Mardany is fond of saying, “You need ten to win.” The logic in this maxim is that on most nights scoring ten or more runs will result in a win. The same notion could be transferred to a team making the playoffs this season: You may need ten to get in.

Healy Oil (9-14) appeared to be a team earmarked for a playoff berth, but two losses this week allowed several other teams to creep close enough to make it very uncomfortable for the Oil Men. Healy may need to win its final game of the season against Willis Tent (8-13) if it wants to see the post-season. A loss would tie Willis and Drew Farms (9-14) with Healy, and both teams, by virtue of their winning records against Healy in the regular season, would earn the tie-breaker and knock Healy into sixth place, where they would grab the last playoff berth. However, surging Pro Sports Therapy (9-13), which has won its last two games by a 41-15 margin and has two chances to acquire its tenth win, could play the spoiler under the same conditions described above and keep Healy from making the playoffs.

This week Shortcut Landscaping (13-10) defeated Gutcheck (6-16) thereby mathematically eliminating the second year team from the playoffs. Mario’s Restaurant (6-16) cannot earn a playoff berth this season either. Mustangs, Floral Arts and Shortcut Landscaping are seeded one, two, and three. They’re in the playoffs. After that, it comes down to four teams (Healy Oil, Drew Farms, Willis Tent, and Pro Sports Therapy) with nearly identical records vying for the three remaining playoff spots.

This will be settled on the field this week.

Mustangs 15 - Willis 2

On Sunday, Don Cusano got the win on the mound for the Mustangs and also led the way at the plate (3-for-3, 2 HR, 4RBI, 4 RS).?Bill Knute, Jim Ward, Paul Selfrige,?and Jack Erickson each had three hits.?Selfrige and Erickson added home runs as well.?Erickson also threw out another runner from his left short fielder spot to end?a potential Willis rally.?

Gutcheck 6 - Drews 5

Gutcheck played another tight game against Drew Farms, winning the defensive battle, 6-5, and taking the regular season series, 2-1. Most of the damage was done in the bottom of the third inning when Gutcheck put up five runs. A couple of double plays, one unassisted by shortstop Rey Vienneau, and then a run down between third and home that ended in a tag out by catcher Earl Dawson were big inning-ending plays orchestrated by Gutcheck during the game. Gutcheck, not mathematically out of the playoffs, doesn’t appear to be going down without a fight.

Pro Sports Therapy 22 - Healy Oil 9

Pro Sports Therapy continued their desperate drive to claim the last playoff spot with a run-rule victory over Healy Oil in the top of the sixth inning, winning 22-9. PST jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Healy put up six in the bottom of the third to go ahead 8-6. PST then had a huge fourth inning, putting up eight runs, followed by five in the fifth inning, and then got a walk off for the second game in a row by rookie Ben Armstrong, who doubled in the game-ending run. PST had a big offensive day by playing small ball—putting up 29 hits. Mark Urlage led the onslaught from the lead-off position, going 4-for–4 with a walk and four runs scored. PST also got big days from Derek Donegan (4 H), rookie Mark Pelosky (3-for–3, BB), Gordon Eddy (4 RBI), and the bottom of the order (Gary Royal, Jeff Morse, and Jeff Fuller—all with three hits). Chris Ricard hit a three-run homer and Bill Eaton added a solo shot for Healy.

Floral Arts 24 - Healy Oil 10

Simon Tripp (2) and Geoff Pavao each hit homers in a 24-10 victory over Healy Oil on Tuesday night. Billy Luppold (2H, 2 RBI), Dean Wormell (2H), and Mark Chambers (2H) chipped in at the plate for Floral. Right center fielder Mike Alonoardo cut down a runner at the plate and second baseman Frank Lancelotta made a nice running catch in the win.

Mustangs 10 - Willis 4

Don Cusano got the win on the mound and helped himself with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored.?Cusano’s homers were his 21st and 22nd of the season, which makes him the league leader in that category. He was aided by Bill Knute's three hits, along with two hits apiece from Paul Selfrige, Jim Ward, and Jay Lincoln.?Dave Barnes made an outstanding play at first base for the Mustangs.

Floral Arts 10 - Mario’s Restaurant 6

On Friday night, Simon Tripp hit his third homer of the week and his 20th of the season, this one a grand slam in the first inning, to help Floral get off to a fast start against Mario’s Restaurant. Jim Peloquin and Rob Beaudette also hit home runs. Roger Whittlesey (3-for-3, 2R), Dave Janowsky (2-for-3, 2R) and Greg Marchand (2-for-3) chipped in for Floral in the win.

Shortcut Landscaping 10 - Gutcheck 5

Shortcut Landscaping gunned down two players at the plate in one inning to eliminate a Gutcheck rally that could turned the game around. Instead, SCL hung on for the win. Mike Gross hit a grand slam for SCL and Carl Dean also homered. Doug Bigham was solid at third base for SCL. Thanh Nguyen hit a three-run homer for Gutcheck.

The Nashoba Valley Mustangs (20-1) won twice this week and have clinched first place. Second place Floral Arts (17-4), with one win in two tries this week, has now clinched second place.

Then it gets muddy.

Third place Shortcut Landscaping (12-10), despite winning one of two this week, can still be caught by fifth place Willis Tent (8-11) or fourth place Healy Oil (9-12).  If Willis Tent, by virtue of its three wins against SCL this season, were to tie SCL in the final standings, the league tie-breaker rule would go into effect and Willis would take over third place. If Healy Oil, which has split two games against SCL, wins two of its final three, including its game against SCL, it would overtake SCL’s spot in the standings.

Drew Farms (9-13), which has spent most of the season in third or fourth place, dropped to sixth place after losing three games this week. Seventh place Pro Sports Therapy (8-13) currently sits a half game away from gaining a playoff berth. Mario’s Restaurant (6-15) and Gutcheck (5-15) are both a whisker away from being mathematically eliminated from making the playoffs.

Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 19 - Gutcheck 4

On Sunday, Mike Kennedy led the balanced Mustang offense with three home runs, six RBI, and three runs scored. Every Mustang had at least one hit and one run scored. Jack McGrath hit a home run, while Jack Erickson (3 RS, 2 RBI) and Dan Crogan chipped in with three hits apiece. Mark Cusano (4 RBI, 2 R) and Jay Dolan (3 RBI) contributed two hits each for the Mustangs. Bill Knute continued his excellent outfield play.

Healy Oil 7 - Shortcut Landscaping 5

On Tuesday night, when the air was heavy and the ball remained in the ballpark, Healy Oil’s Mike Finegan and Cam Santana both hit triples with men on to pick up the majority of the Healy runs. SCL rallied in the sixth and picked up three to get within two but couldn't put up any runs in the top of the seventh.

Floral Arts 19 - Drew Farms 6

The Floral bats boomed in the first inning, scoring 10 runs against Drew Farms. Drew Farms chipped away at the lead, getting within five runs in the third inning, but then the Floral bats erupted again to out the game out of reach. Ken Delaney (2-for-3, 5 RBI) stroked a grand slam in the first. Rob Beaudette continued his power streak, hitting two more home runs (solo, 2-run), while going 3-for-3. Frank Lancelotta had a nice day at the plate for Floral, collecting two hits, including a two-run home that cleared the left field fence. First baseman Mark Chambers had two hits and made a leaping catch on a hard hit liner that robbed Drew Farms of a sure hit. Larry Mardany pitched a great game and made a running basket catch on a pop up in foul territory between home and third base.

Gutcheck 11 - Healy Oil 9

On Wednesday, Gutcheck ended their losing skid by winning a tight contest against the playoff hopeful Healy Oil, 11-9. Both offenses traded blows all game until Gutcheck took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on, keeping the Healy Oil offense off the scoreboard in the seventh. Gutcheck’s defense was solid all game with Rey Vienneau and Jeff Curley making big plays in the infield. Curley hit two home runs and gathered 6 RBI, and Thanh Nguyen (home run) drew an intentional walk.

Mustangs 17- Floral Arts 8

On Friday, Mike Kennedy (4-for-4, home run, 3 RBI) and Mark Cusano (2-for-3, home run, 4 RBI) led the way for the Mustangs as the 20-1 team cruised to a well-earned victory. Floral went up 2-0 in the first inning on a home run by Simon Tripp, but the Mustangs stormed back in the top of the second. Jim Peloquin (solo home run and two walks) played a fine game at short before coming in as a relief pitcher in the fifth inning. Floral’s Greg Marchand was 3-for-3 with a grand slam homer. Mustang Jim Ward (3-for-4, 3 RS) was productive at the plate, and Cormac Bordes (2 H, 2 RBI) played excellent defense at first base. The win clinched first place for the Mustangs.

Shortcut Landscaping 11 - Mario’s Restaurant 9

Shortcuts prevailed over Mario’s on the strength of five home runs, which provided enough cushion to survive the last-inning rally staged by Mario’s. The game ended with the tying run on first base for Mario’s. SCL’s Jason Humphrey, Dave Silton, Brent Oakleaf, Mike Gross, and Dave Sullivan homered. Sullivan’s two-run blast was the difference-maker in the game. Mario’s Rick Waldron continued his late-season power surge by hitting his third home run of the last three games, this one a two-run shot that cleared both fences. Rookie Tim Scott added to his team lead in outfield assists by throwing out an SCL runner attempting to advance to third base. Brian Collomore remained hot at the plate; he has hit a combined 8-for-9 in his last two games.

Pro Sports Therapy 19 - Drew Farms 6

In a desperate drive for the playoffs, Pro Sports Therapy defeated Drew Farms 19-6 in the nightcap on Friday. PST jumped out to a quick lead, putting up four runs in the first. Leading 7-0, Drew Farms scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to make a game of it. PST responded on the back of Mark Strzegowski home runs in the fifth and sixth innings, which drove in five combined runs. Newly installed lead off man Ben Armstrong then ended the game with a thre-run homer in the top of the seventh. PST also got big offensive performances from coach Gary Royal (3-for-3, Walk, 3 RS) and Jerry Cressman (3 H, 3 RS). Gordon Eddy was on base all night, scoring three runs to go along with two hits. He also was part of the defensive gem of the night for PST, started by 2B Derek Donegan.

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.