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Semi-final Round: Floral Arts Vs. Pro Sports Therapy: Floral Arts defeated Pro Sports Therapy in four games to reach the playoff finals for the fifth year in a row.
Game 1: Larry Mardany spun a gem in pitching Floral to an 8-5 victory in a tightly contested game. Jim Peloquin (HR), and Mike Alonardo (2-3, 3 RBI) led the Floral offense, which also got contributions from Ken Delaney (2-2), Mike Spanos (RBI), and Billy Luppold (RBI). Jeff Morse led the PST offense, going 2-3 with 2 RBIs.
Game 2: Floral chipped away in the late innings, but ultimately unable to come up with the timely hit or defensive play in a 13-12 loss. Greg Marchand, Mike Alonardo, Ken Delaney, and Simon Tripp homered in the loss. PST Jumped out to an early lead , then withstood the steady Floral Arts comeback thanks to the gutsy pitching performance of Dave Chirokas. Derek Donegan (2 RBIs) and Gordon Eddy both went 3-3 to lead the PST offense. Tim Schutt hit a 2-run HR in the 1st and Nate Frazee hit a late 2-run HR that proved to be the margin of victory.
Game 3: Floral rallied late for a walk off win thanks to the pitching of Larry Mardany and the clutch hitting of Jim Peloquin (2 HR), Larry Mardany (2-2, RBI), and Geoff Pavao (HR, 2 RBI). The PST pitcher remains a mystery to the once potent Floral offense. PST led 7-6 going into the bottom of the seventh when Peloquin hit a walk-off 2-run HR to lead Floral to the 2-1 Series lead. Keith Davighi led PST with 2 hits and 3 RBI. Nate Frazee also contributed a 2-run HR.
Game 4: Larry Mardany threw another great game, and the dormant Floral bats finally awakened for a 7-run inning late in the game to win the game, 14-4, and to clinch the series. Greg Marchand (2), Jim Peloquin, Rob Beaudette, Ken Delaney, and Simon Tripp homered for Floral, and Dave Janowski, Tom Semeter, and Roger Whittlesey added hits in key moments. Mike Alonardo played a stellar right center field. Jerry Cressman and Nate Frazee homered for PST.
Semi-final Round: Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs Vs. Shortcut Landscaping: The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs eliminated Short Cut Landscaping in three straight, including an exciting 11-inning game three.
Game one: Mustangs used timely hitting and excellent defense to defeat Shortcuts 9-6 in game one of their semifinal playoff series. Mark Cusano led the offense for the winners going 3-3 with 2 homeruns, 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Brian Foley and Don Cusano, who also got the win on the mound for the Mustangs, added homers to aid the winning cause. Dan Crogan and Paul Selfrige turned 3 infield double plays to snuff out multiple Shortcut rallies.
Game two: The Mustangs outlasted Shortcuts in a tremendous back and forth battle 18-14 in 8 innings in game two of the series. Bill Knute led the Mustangs offensive attack with 3 homers (4-5, 8 RBI's, 3 runs scored) including a three run blast in the top of 7th to give the Mustangs a two run lead heading into the bottom of the 7th. Shortcuts top two batters immediately launched solo homers to tie the game with the middle of the order up next. Mustang hurler Paul Ligouri, getting the start on short notice, battled the big guns tough as he had all night and the Mustangs escaped further damage. The Mustangs scraped together 4 runs in the top of the 8th on walks, singles, and a sacrifice fly. The Mustangs were able to hold on in the bottom of the 8th for the victory. Jim Ward threw out a key Shortcut baserunner at 3B from his outfield spot late in the game and added 4 hits and 4 runs scored to assist the Mustang cause. Mustang Jack Erickson also contributed an important three run homerun to go along with 3 hits, 4 RBI's, and 3 runs scored.
Game three: The Mustangs completed the sweep with a 13-12 win in 11 innings.
Championship Round: Mustangs Vs. Floral Arts: These two teams are meeting for the fifth year in a row. The Mustangs won in 2009 and 2010, Floral Arts won in 2011 and 2012.
Game one: In the first game of the best-of-five champion series, Floral Arts won 15-14. Ken Delaney made an incredible diving play to end the Mustangs half of the 7th, then singled leading off the bottom half of the inning in front of Jim Peloquin's walk off two run home run. Mustangs had rallied to take a one run lead in the sixth on a long grand slam by Brian Foley, but couldn't hold off the Floral bats. Simon Tripp (2), Mike Alonardo, and Frank Lancelotta homered for Floral while Don Cusano (2), Bill Knute, and Jack McGrath added long flies for Mustangs.
Game two: Floral Arts defeated the Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 24-21 to take a 2-0 series lead. Floral Arts hit 10 home runs in the contest, played some excellent defense, and pitcher Larry Mardany was key in getting the final batter of the game, a hitter who represented the tying run, to ground out to short with two men on. Mike Alonardo, Jim Peloquin, Mardany, Tom Semeter, Greg Marchand, and Simon Tripp hit home runs for the winners. Donny Cusano hit three bombs for the Mustang and Bill Knute and Paul Selfege each had one. Rob Beaudette and Dave Janowsky made great catches in the outfield. Billy Luppold was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Game Three is Tuesday night.
