Announcement
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.
