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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.
The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (12-0) outscored their opponents 42-13 this week to add two more wins to their undefeated season. Now, as the league goes into hibernation for 11 days for its annual mid-season break, most teams have played 12 or more of the 24 games in the regular season. At the break, Floral Arts (10-3) remains in second place. Drew Farms (8-7) and Shortcuts Landscaping (7-7) continue to play musical chairs with the third and fourth spots in the standings. Willis Tent (5-7), Mario’s Restaurant (4-8) Gutcheck (4-8), Pro Sports Therapy (4-9) and Healy Oil (4-10) enter the break knowing that each is in striking distance of earning one of the six playoff spots.
Willis Tent 17 - Mario’s Restaurant 14
On Sunday, Willis Tent and Mario’s Restaurant were knotted up at 13 before Willis prevailed 17–14 by scoring four runs in the eighth inning and then withstanding a Mario’s rally in the bottom half that brought the tying run to the plate. Mario’s made up a seven-run deficit in the last two innings to send the game into extra innings. Murph McKeon had a season best two homer and 5 RBI to pace the Mario’s offense. Dave Batchelder and Keith Reynolds also homered, and Brian Collamore capped a three-hit night with a triple.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 25 - Drew Farms 5
In a well-balanced offensive attack, every Mustang had at least one hit and scored at least one run in the five-inning run rule victory over Drew Farms. Bill Knute led the attack with three home runs and 8 RBI. Paul Selfrige and Jim Ward set the table at the top of the Mustangs’ order, combining for six hits, seven runs scored, and 6 RBI. Mike Kennedy, Jack Erickson (3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI), and Craig Smith each had three hits apiece.
Shortcut Landscaping 27 - Gutcheck 11
In the Sunday nightcap game, Shortcut offense came out swinging, scoring nine runs in the top of the first. Carl Dean returned from a few weeks absence to go 4-for-4 at the top of the order for Shortcuts. Chris Clark (4-for-4) and Steve Harrison (GS) helped build up the score for the winners. Gutcheck responded with seven runs in the second inning, but could only muster two more runs before falling to Shortcuts via the mercy rule in the fifth. Thanh Nguyen went deep for Gutcheck, and Billy Cullen had a multi-hit game.
Mario’s Restaurant 3 - Shortcut Landscaping 2
On Tuesday, in a worthy reprisal to the previous encounter—a 2-1 Short Cut win—Mario’s evened the regular season score with a 3-2 victory in a game when the bats were all but silenced and pitching ruled. Mario’s scraped together a single run in the second, third and fifth innings to support pitcher Jerod Colley, who kept Short Cut hitters off-balance all night. Team defense was key for Mario’s as Rick Waldron played a flawless short, Tim Scott and Brian Collamore ran down every fly ball, Raghu Mantena made a crucial catch in right, and catcher Brian Haley fielded a swinging bunt to throw out a Short Cut batter to end the game.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 17 - Gutcheck 8
The Mustangs rallied from a three-run deficit with a nine-run sixth inning to defeat Gutcheck, 17-7. Mark Cusano struck the big blow with a grand slam, the only home run of the game for the Mustangs on a windy night at the field. Jim Ward and Cormac Bordes had three hits apiece for the Mustangs, while Jack Erickson added two hits and three RBI for the winners. Paul Ligouri pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, while the Mustangs still trailed in the game. This allowed the Mustangs to rally in the next inning, giving Liguouri the win on the mound. Gutcheck carried a narrow lead into the sixth inning but the Mustang bats came alive and scored nine runs in the top of the frame. Gutcheck threatened in the bottom of the sixth, with the bases loaded and two outs, Liguouri threw a pitch that was caught in deep left field to end the inning. Gutcheck 14, Healy Oil 5 On Wednesday, the Gutcheck defense came ready to play, holding the Healy Oil offense to just five runs. Bats were alive for Gutcheck as Thanh Nguyen went deep twice, and Matt Sepe, Jim Curley, and Gary Lavelle all had multi-hit games. Mike Martin hit a home run for Healy.
Floral Arts 19 - Healy Oil 4
On Friday night, Mike Alonardo smacked two home runs to lead Floral Arts to a 19-4 win in five innings over Healy Oil. Jim Peloquin and Rob Beaudette each hit a home run. Larry Mardany was masterful on the mound, giving up no runs until the fourth inning, and Bill Luppold continued his hot-streak, collecting two more hits.
Willis Tent 21 - Drew Farms 6
Willis Tent’s bats came alive as they went deep nearly a half a dozen times to defeat Drew Farms in runaway fashion, 21-6.
Drew Farms 12 - Pro Sports Therapy 8
After Drew Farms put up four runs, Pro Sports Therapy scored six runs in the first inning, but Drews then held PST to only two additional runs for the balance of the game to post the 12-8 win. Drews played solid defense, as Bill Faherty, Sal Buonacore, Pat Pawlak, Rob O’Neal, and Joe Welch each made great plays. Blake Buxton, Welch, Mark MacAleese, Pawlak, Todd Shepherd, Buonacore, and Mark Kost each had multiple hits for the winners. Derek Donegan and Jerry Cressman both went 3-for-3 in the loss for PST.
Mario’s Restaurant 20 - Gutcheck 5
Mario's offense scored in every inning to support pitcher Jerod Colley in a five-inning run-rule victory over Gutcheck. Murph McKeon continued to swing the bat with authority as he added a pair of doubles and a home run, crossing the plate four times. Luke Boulanger, Dave Batchelder and Brian Haley each contributed three hits, and rookie Tim Scott went 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Colley allowed a two-run homer to Thanh Nguyen in the first but held Gutcheck in check the rest of the way as Mario's tightened up the standings by moving into a tie for sixth place.
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