News and Announcements
The 2012 Playoffs opened on Tuesday night with the first two games of round one at VFW Field.
In the first game, Drew Farms broke open a close game and defeated Mario's Restaurant 17-7.
In the second game, Willis Tent came back from a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning with 5 runs to post a 6-2 win over Pro Sports Therapy.
Both series continue on Friday night with Willis at Pro Sports beginning at 6:30 and Mario's at Drews to follow at 7:45.
There is only one week left in the regular season, and Mario’s Restaurant (11-11) this week added its name to the list of teams that have clinched a playoff berth, a list that also includes the Nashoba Valley Veterinary Hospital Mustangs (19-2) and Floral Arts (16-5). Willis Tent (9-12), Drew Farms (9-13), Short Cut (9-12), and Pro Sport Therapy (9-13) are four teams that will fight it out this week for the three remaining playoff spots. The first round of the playoffs is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Mustangs 13 - Mario’s Restaurant 6
The Nashoba Valley Veterinary Hospital Mustangs got off to a strong start with 5 runs in the first, leading to the eventual 13-6 victory over Mario’s Restaurant. Murph McKeon and Dave Batchelder paced Mario’s offensively as each connected for home runs. Jim DeMarco, Tony DeAntonis, and Brian Collamore had 2 hits apiece.
Mario’s Restaurant 17 - Drew Farms 4
Mario’s Restaurant got back on the winning track with a 17-run night against Drew Farms. Thanh Nguyen hit two home runs and knocked in 5 runs to lead a 25-hit attack. With the score 4-3 in Mario’s favor, Mario’s managed a pair of 4-run innings in the fifth and the sixth to put the game away. Jon Russo contributed 3 hits, while Jerod Colley notched two hits and added a pair of RBI and runs scored.
Mario’s Restaurant 10 - Pro Sports Therapy 5
Mario’s Restaurant clinched their first playoff berth in several years with a 10-5 victory over Pro Sports Therapy. Mario’s jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two innings before PST rallied back to within two. Thanh Nguyen connected on a 3-run opposite field homer in the sixth to cap the scoring, and Christopher Brooks shut down PST in the seventh to seal the win. Jerod Colley, Jim Demarco, and Pete Morano turned in fine defensive plays that kept PST in check.
Drew Farms 14 - Short Cuts Landscaping 6
Solid defense backed up Gary Lavelle’s sound pitching as Drew Farms beat Shortcut, 14-6. Gary Murphy hit a solo home run for the winners. Drew Farms got offense from the whole line up. Pat Pawlak hit a triple, and Jim Sullivan, Matt Chamberlain, Jason Goldthwaite, and Lavelle hit doubles.
Pro Sports Therapy 14 - Healy Oil 3
Tom Rose broke open a game that was close early with a grand slam in the bottom of the second to lead Pro Sports Therapy to a 14-3 win over Healy Oil. Rose led a balanced Pro Sports attack that had six players drive in runs and nine players with hits on the night. The top of the order had a big night, as both Jeff Morse (2 hits) and John Bodi (4-for-4) were on base all night and scored 3 runs each.
Floral Arts 16 - Healy Oil 7
Floral Arts got back on the winning track, using home runs from Tom Semeter, Tom Lester, Mike Alonardo, Jim Peloquin, and Simon Tripp, and great pitching from Larry Mardany to keep Healy Oil at bay. Mike Martin and Dave O'Keefe (2 home runs, 5 RBI) were the only players able to solve Mardany consistently for Healy. Jonathan Morgan turned two double plays for Floral on the infield, and Mike Alonardo threw out a runner at home to complete a third double play.
Due to the weather, Friday night's games are postponed. They will now be played on Sunday, August 19th.
5:30 Floral Arts @ Willis Tent
6:45 Mustangs @ Short Cuts Landscaping
8:00 Drew Farms @ Pro Sports Therapy
Mustangs 9 - Floral Arts 8
It was a game that Floral Arts had to win if it had any real designs on a first place finish this season, but the Nashoba Valley Veterinary Hospital Mustangs used guile and timely hitting in the bottom of the seventh to squeak out a 9-8 win. Down by three runs, Paul Selfridge and Mike Kennedy managed key hits off of pitcher Larry Mardany. But the big hit of the game came with the bases loaded and two outs. Paul Liguori, in a do-or-die situation, punched the ball to right field, just above second baseman Jonathan Morgan’s head, to knock in the winning run. With only four games left in the regular season, the first-place Mustangs (18-2) now have a commanding three-game lead over second-place Floral Arts (15-5).
Mustangs 20 - Drew Farms 2
Nashoba Valley Veterinary Hospital Mustangs pitcher Don Cusano held Drew Farms to only two runs and blasted a grand slam to help his cause. Every Mustang had at least one hit and scored at least one run in the balanced offensive attack. Mike Kennedy went 3-for-4 with a home run, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Bill Knute chipped in with a home run. Paul Selfridge and Jim Ward had three hits apiece. The Mustangs played their usual brand of rock-solid defense.
Floral Arts 9 - Pro Sports Therapy 4
Frank Lancelotta spun a beauty, giving up home runs to Pro Sports Therapy Derek Donegan and Steve Nolan, and not much else. Floral Arts scored seven runs in the second, capped by Jim Peloquin’s 3-run homer, and cruised from there. Roger Whittlesey was 3-for 4, with a double and an RBI, and Dean Wormell contributed a key hit and played some outstanding defense at second base. PST is now 7-12 and in seventh place.
Healy Oil 21 - Shortcut 15
Healy Oil (6-14) only needed 9 players to outslug the powerful Shortcut Landscaping (8-12) line up, 21-15. Dave O’Keefe, Brian Egan, and Mike Finnegan made ESPN highlight-reel catches in the outfield for Healy Oil. Bill Martin led the offense by going 5-for-5. Finnegan, O’Keefe, Steve Cuzziere, and rookie pitcher Matt Critch hit home runs for the winners. Shortcut is currently in sixth place; Healy Oil is in eighth place.
Mario’s Restaurant 10 - Willis Tent 9
Mario’s Restaurant climbed back from 4-0 and 7-4 deficits to nip Willis Tent, 10-9. Team sponsor, Mario Brancato, hit a single in the seventh that drove in Brian Collamore to win the game. The powerful Willis squad started strong, hitting three home runs in the first, but Mario’s pitcher Thanh Nguyen settled down and allowed just one more homer the rest of the way. Dave Batchelder hit a pair of 2-run homers for Mario’s and played sparkling defense at second base. Pete Morano and Keith Reynolds had three hits each. Mario’s Restaurant (9-10) is currently in third place.
Willis Tent 5 - Pro Sports Therapy 2
Willis Tent pitcher Dave Harrington completely shut down the Pro Sports Therapy offense. Rob Swinamer hit yet another HR to lead the Willis offense.
The Willis Tent - Floral Arts game is being moved from Friday to Sunday, August 19th, at 5:30 PM. With this change, the 9 PM game on Friday between Pro Sports Therapy and Drew Farms is being moved forward to the 7:45 time slot. This will leave just two games on the schedule for the night.
Sunday will see two make up games being played.
5:30 Drew Farms - Short Cuts Landscaping
6:45 Pro Sports Therapy - Mario's Restaurant
Playoff note: with the Willis Tent - Floral Arts game being moved to August 19th, the playoffs are now tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday, August 21.
