News and Announcements
Coming out of the midseason break, several teams continued where they left off posting strong wins and scoring lots of runs. The Nashoba Valley Mustangs and Floral Arts still sit one and two at the top of the standings but Short Cuts Landscaping, Burton's Grill and Willis Tent are all having a strong season thus far. With seven of the nine teams making the playoffs this year, the fight for the last two spots between Drew Farms, CSA Graphics and Healy Oil will be heated.
Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 23 - Healy Oil 2
Winning pitcher Paul Liguori kept his four year winning streak alive on the mound for the Mustangs, only allowing two runs in the last inning to narrowly miss a shutout performance. He was backed by solid Mustang defense and balanced hitting throughout the lineup. The last four sluggers at the bottom of the Mustang order combined for nine hits, seven runs scored, and 12 RBI in the five inning game. Ligouri helped himself with two hits, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI. Craig Smith had three hits, three runs scored, four RBI. Dan Crogan added two hits, a sacrifice fly and four RBI, while Scott Lawrence had two hits and two RBI. The meat of the order also contributed with home run blasts from Paul Selfrige and Bill Knute. Cormac Bordes and Don Cusano chipped in with three hits apiece. Outfielders Jim Ward and Jack Erickson made nice catches for the Mustangs, along with the usual steady play at shortstop by Selfrige. Nick Wilmot pitched well in limiting Mustangs home runs and Colin MacDonald pitched in relief and started a 1-6-3 double play in the loss.
Floral Arts 13 - Shortcuts Landscaping 10
On Tuesday night Floral Arts fell behind early to Shortcuts Landscaping until some seventh and eighth inning heroics by pitcher Matt Critch led Floral to the 13-10 victory. Critch earned his third win of the season on the mound while swatting two three-run homers and knocking in six. SCL scored three runs in the first inning, and Floral answered with two runs in the top of the second (Simon Tripp hit a two-run homer). Floral got a solo homer by Rob Beaudette in the fifth, and then two runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-5 when Critch homered to give Floral the 8-7 lead. But SCL tied it in the bottom of the seventh. In extra innings, Geoff Pavao scored a runner on a sacrifice fly to deep right center to pull ahead by one, and then Critch and Ryan Dunn each homered to make the score 13-8. SCL scored twice in the bottom of the eighth and the game ended a final score of 13-10.
Burton's Grill 21 - Pro Sports Therapy 3
Burton's scored 11 runs in their first at bat before an out was recorded and never looked back in a decisive 21-3 run-rule victory over PST. Burton's reached seven home run limit with blasts by Tim Scott (2), Gerry Breen (2), Mike Santiano (1), Charlie Chungo (2). Scott was also 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Santiano contributed four RBI and Breen had five. Brian Haley was 2-for-3, two runs scored and Eric Cataline 4-for-4. Jerrod Coley pitched another gem and Dave Batchelder turned a nice unassisted double-play at first. Brian Haley was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and two-runs scored and Murph McKeon was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. For PST, Ben Armstrong continues his outstanding season, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two of PST three RBI. Both Andrew Fletcher (2-for-2) and Mark Pelosky were on base each opportunity they got.
Burton's Grill 17 - Willis Tent 0
Burton's posted back-to-back run rule wins coming out of the mid-season break shutting out Willis Tent in five innings, and just 38 minutes, 17-0. Jerrod Colley pitched a masterpiece allowing only four hits over the five innings. Burton's has outpaced their opponents 38-3 over the last two games and is in the midst of a record win-streak after many "rebuilding" years. Burtons again posted an 11-run inning in the second getting contributions across the lineup. Tim Scott, batting leadoff, went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Gerry Breen, walloped yet another two home runs and had six RBI after just two at bats. Dave Batchelder, 2-for-3, two RBI, two home runs and two runs scored took exception to some trash talk and responded with his second blast. Raghu Mantena was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and lefty Kieran Murray was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Burton's highlights included Charlie Chungo at short who at one time made six put-outs in a row. Batchelder also played well at first with an error-saving scoop for an out.
Floral Arts 16 - Pro Sports Therapy 12
PST played a great Floral Arts squad tough but came up shortin the end 16-12. Up by three in top of first and held a lead until the Floral Arts big guns finally started to put some runs on the board. Floral got five in the fourth and six in the fifth and Pro Sport's three runs every other inning simply wasn't enough. Second year stud Brian Dubey, 4-for-4 with a double and a homerun and four RBI. Ryan Steele, who bounced back from a tough start to the second half, had three hits (including 2 home runs), four runs scored, and five RBI. Ben Armstrong and Tim Schutt also posted three hits each in the loss.
Tonight’s games have been postponed due to the weather. These 3 games will be played on Sunday, July 23rd, as follows.
5:15 Short Cut Landscaping @ Mustangs
6:30 CSA Graphics @ Willis Tent
7:45 Healy Oil @ Drew Farms
Please note that the make-up game originally scheduled between Healy Oil and CSA Graphics on this date has now been moved to Sunday, 7/30, at 6:30 PM.
Burton's Grill 10 - Healy Oil 3
The real MVP of this game was a bin of Speedy-Dry and a bunch of rakes to make the field playable after Tuesday's heavy rain. Burtons got another great pitching performance from Jerod Colley who gave up only three runs. Offensively Kieran Murray, Rick Waldron, Raghu Mantena and Greg Fitzgerald each had two hits and an RBI while Jerry Breen hit the lone Burton's home run of the night.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 20 - Shortcuts Landscaping 1
Mustangs jumped out to 13-0 lead after two innings in this rain interrupted game and never looked back. Winning pitcher Don Cusano led the charge (3-for-3, walk, two home runs, three RBI, four runs scored) for the Mustangs but received plenty of support. Baby brother Mark Cusano added three hits, including a homerun. Jack Erickson (four RBI) and Paul Selfridge (three runs scored) each blasted home runs to help the cause. Mike Kennedy chipped in with three hits and Dan Crogan added two hits, two runs scored, and three RBI and they combined to turn another outstanding infield double play to end an inning. Erickson made a tremendous sliding catch in left field that turned into another double play for the winners.
Floral Arts 15 - Healy Oil 2
Floral Arts defeated Healy Oil, 15-2, in five innings on Wednesday night. Matt Critch got his second win of the season on the mound. Critch, who has allowed only two runs in two games, also went 2-for-3 at bat, with a two-run homer. Floral also got homers from Jim Peloquin and Simon Trip (two). Tripp and Peloquin each made several nice plays in the infield. Mark Chambers played well at second base and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Floral Arts enters the mid-season break with an 11-3 record, good for second place.
CSA Graphics 11 - Drew Farms 10
This was a close game throughout, with a few lead changes. CSA Graphics set the table in the first with Josh Haskins (2-for-3, one run scored) and Jim DeMarco (2-for-3, three runs scored, one RBI) followed by a Jonathan Ring home run. Ring went 4-for-4 in the game with three runs scored, and five RBI. After Drew's battled back, CSA started the third inning with singles from DeMarco and Ring, followed by a three-run blast from Bill Cullen. Needing more runs again in the fourth inning, CSA had singles from Zak Smolkin and Sean Troy who both later scored. CSA added another run in the fifth inning with a lead-off solo home run off the bat of Mike Cioffi. Drew's kept pace, however, and had a one-run lead going into the seventh inning. After a couple of singles, Bill Cullen struck again, providing a ground-rule double that gave CSA a one-run lead, and then closed-things out from the mound with a 1-2-3 inning.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 17 - Drew Farms 9
Don Cusano led the winning offense going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and four RBI. Mike Kennedy added four hits and three RBI. Paul Selfridge (home run) and Cormac Bordes chipped in with three hits apiece. Mark Cusano and Scott Lawrence also hit long balls for the winners. Outfielders Jim Ward and Mark Cusano made great catches while infielder Cormac Bordes made a great play at second and the Mustangs turned their customary double play to back winning pitcher Paul Liguori.
Willis Tent 16 - Healy Oil 8
Healy took an early three run lead in the first inning but Willis scored two runs in the second and four in the fourth leaving Willis with a 6 to 5 lead over Healy. Willis would add ten more runs to their total taking a 16 to 5 lead into the bottom of the seventh . Willis defense would hold Healy to just three runs in the bottom of the seventh securing a Willis 16 to 8 win over Healy.
Willis game standouts were, Roger Neild going 5-for-5 with three singles, a double and a home run, Kurt Andjus 4-for-5 with three singles and a home run, Paul Duato 3-for-4 with a single, two home runs and a base on balls, Dennis Kane 3-for-5 with a single and two home runs, and John Lutatti 3-for-4 with a single, a double and a home run. Rick Devanna also contributed to the Willis win with a home run.
Willis Tent 22 - Short Cuts Landscaping 19
Willis exploded for 19 runs in the first three innings with the help of two grand slams. All the while Willis pitcher Paul Duato backed by a solid defense held Short Cuts to three scoreless innings. However, Short Cuts came charging back with 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Short Cuts continued to pick away at the Willis lead for the rest of the game and heading into the seventh inning it was Willis 22, Short Cuts 18. in the bottom of the 7th, Willis defense held Short Cuts to just one run. Willis wins over Short Cut 22 to 19.
Contributing to the Willis win were, Justin Swanson going 4-for-4 with three singles and a grand slam home run, Kurt Andjus 3-for-4 with a single and two home runs (one being a grand slam), John Lutatti 3-for-4 with three singles, Kevin Adolph 3-for-5 with three singles and Paul Duato 2-for-3 with 1one single a home run and a base on balls. Also contributing with Willis Tent home runs were Roger Neild, Brian Gallardo and John Beebe.
Short Cuts landscaping 11 - CSA Graphics 9
CSA Graphics took advantage of Short Cuts only having nine fielders in the first inning, and jumped to a quick 4-0 lead, with back-to-back doubles from Josh Haskin and Jim DeMarco to start the game, and then a single from Jonathan Ring, followed by a three-run homer off Bill Cullen's bat. Short Cuts got their tenth player, closed the gap, and the game was close the remainder of the way. The rest of the scoring for CSA game off a DeMarco hit and Ring two-run homer, and then singles by Jim Coveno, PJ Browne, Dave Luro, Bob Cullen, and sacrifice flies from Derek MacDermott and Haskin. CSA had a one-run lead going into the seventh, but Short Cuts scored three, and CSA had no response in the bottom frame.
CSA Graphics 8 - Pro Sports Therapy 6
CSA Graphics jumped to a quick lead, scoring five runs in the first inning, and added three more in the third inning. Jim Coveno (2-for-3, one run), Jonathan Ring (2-for-3, double, two runs, one RBI), Jim DeMarco (2-for-3, double, two runs, three RBI), Billy Ryan (3-for-3, double, one run, two RBI), and Darren Wizst (two sacrifice flies) led the offensive for CSA. PST bounced back to keep the game close and CSA could only muster two hits in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Although the CSA bats fell silent, their defense preserved the win... led by great stops and scoops from Bob Cullen and Derek MacDermott at first base, and a couple sharp stabs at third base by Zak Smolkin. For PST, Steve Sawyer deserved credit for pitching a good game, only giving up three runs after CSA's five run outburst in the first. Offensively, Jeff Fuller led the PST squad with two doubles in the loss.
Burtons Grill 15 - Drew Farms 0
Drew Farms will continue to have to look straight up in the standings in order to see Burtons after this 15-0 run-rule shut out domination. The score was close at 3-0 after three innings when Burton's strung together seven straight singles and a couple of home runs to score 12 before the first out was tallied by a great Drew Farm's defensive catch by Todd Shepherd. Burton's received outstanding pitching from Jerod Colley who only had one Drew's player make it as far as third base. Burton home runs were hit by Jerry Breen, Dave Batchelder and Mike "Beef" Santiano. Jason Lenicheck was 2-for-3 with two RBI and good defense at third and Greg Fitzgerald managed two-bases loaded walks yielding two RBI on eight straight pitches.
Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 17- Floral Arts 12
The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs defeated Floral Arts on Tuesday night, 17-12. The Mustangs eliminated a three-run lead that Floral built in the sixth inning by scoring eight runs in the top of the seventh. Both teams played great defense. Floral's Mike Alonardo made a leaping catch at the center field fence in the fourth inning. Floral hit six home runs in the contest. Those homering were Roger Whittlesey, Alonardo, Geoff Pavao, Simon Tripp, Mike Donaruma, and Jim Peloquin. The Mustangs were able to shut the powerful Floral arts offense down in the bottom of the 7th to claim the come from behind victory. Southpaws Jack Erickson (4-or-4, home run, two RBI) and Bill Knute (two home run, six RBI) led the offensive charge for the Mustangs. Fellow lefty Mark Cusano and Keith Reynolds both added home runs for the winners. The Mustangs defense was also evident throughout the game as Jim Ward made an outstanding leaping catch at the center field fence in the last inning to help close out the game and Dan Crogan (2-for-3, 2 runs scored) made several good plays at second base and catcher.
Short Cuts Landscaping 30 - Willis Tent 26
Short Cuts Landscaping scored 30 runs and only won by four over a young Willis Tent squad. Willis put up nine runs in the top of the first but over the next three innings Short Cuts chipped away at the Willis lead. Into the fourth the game was tied at 10 apiece. Short Cuts then exploded for 16 runs in the fifth and were looking at a possible run-rule win, but, in the bottom of the frame, Willis fought back cranking out seven runs and adding an additional eight in the sixth. Short Cuts would then add four more to their total to take the win in this high scoring affair. Contributing to the Willis effort were, Stephen Damiani going 4-for-4 with two home runs and two singles. Darren Swanson 3-for-4 , two home runs and a triple. Roger Neild 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and a single. Brian Gallardo 3-for-4 with three home runs but, because of the home run rule, two were counted as singles. And Kurt Andjus 3 -for-4 with two singles and a triple and Paul Duato contributed to the effort with a home run as well.
Floral Arts 22 - Drew Farms 7
Floral Arts won its tenth game of the season with a 22-7 win over Drew Farms. Kenny Delaney played a great shortstop, putting nine outs in the game. Delaney was 4-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored. Simon Tripp made a nice catch in left center and hit two home runs in a 3-for-4 performance that included six runs batted in. Mark Chambers also homered for Floral and knocked in three, while playing a rangy second base. Dave Janowsky was 3-for-3, with a base on balls, Tom Semeter was 3-for-3 and played a solid first base, and Roger Whittlesey went 4-for-5 with three doubles and four RBI.
The Nashoba Valley Mustangs and Floral Arts sit one and two in the standings with records of 9-1 and 9-2 respectively. The remaining teams are tightly packed with the top seven in the league ultimately landing playoff spots at season's end.
Short Cut Landscaping 16 - Healy Oil 9
Healy got off to a great start putting up six unanswered runs in the first inning with Tony Pantoja and Bruce Wilhelm going deep.
SCL rallied in the fourth & fifth posting a combined 12 runs that went unanswered by Healy. Healy tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh with a Nick Wilmot lead off line drive over center, but, ended up short while stranding two.
Burtons Grill 16- Healy Oil 9
Healy Oil jumped out early putting up six runs in the first only for the bats to fall silent with the exception of Nick Wilmot's third inning solo shot. Burton's hit well and extended their lead as the game wore on ultimately winning 16-9. Rick Waldron, playing injured, and in his first game of the season, pitched six solid innings giving up only three runs. Eric Cataline 3-for-4 with four runs scored. Mike Santiano 4-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBI and Dave Batchelder 3-for-4 with a home run all contributed to the Burton's victory. Matt Dowling also went deep in the first for Healy with a two-run shot to left-center.
Pro Sports Therapy 17- Healy Oil 8
Healy lost to PST 17-8 while the team continues to struggle putting runs. Healy hit the ball well but couldn't convert with the bases loaded on two situations and stranding nine runners overall. Wayne Meadows went deep with a three-run shot over right field in the first and Bill Eaton had a two-run double in the second. The PST offense was active, putting up four runs in each of the first three innings to counter the Healy early offensive output. PST finished with five runs over the last two innings to seal the win in this long-time rivalry. The PST offense was led by Donald Slate (4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI) and Ryan Steele (3-for-3 with a double, home run, and three RBI). Ben Armstrong added a home run, Jeff Morse and Mark Pelosky added three hits each, and Steve Sawyer not only had three hits (including a home run), but came in to relieve Dave Chirokas in the seventh after Chirokas went down with an injury on a brilliant play fielding a swinging bunt. Sawyer finished off Chirokas' strong starting effort to seal the PST win.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 21- CSA Graphics 1
Mark Cusano and Keith Reynolds both went 3-for-3 with two home runs apiece to lead the Mustangs offense. Jay Lincoln added his first longball of the year as well. Mike Kennedy and Don Cusano also added big flies in support of winning pitcher Paul Ligouri (2-for-3). Bill Knute added four hits, three runs scored, three RBI, and made an outstanding leaping catch at the fence in left for the winners.
