Announcement
You have to go all the way back to 2008 to find a season when the Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (18-0) did not finish in first or second place and therefore did not receive a first round playoff bye. You have to go back to 2010 to find a season when the Mustangs and Floral Arts (14-4) both did not receive a bye. This season, the undefeated Mustangs have already secured a bye. Only second place Floral Arts can usurp their first place position (an unlikely scenario when you consider the Mustangs hold a four game lead and Floral has only six games remaining). But there are two other teams breathing down the necks of Floral Arts, eager to take over second place and earn that bye: GutCheck (11-8) and Willis Tent (10-7) have been hot lately. Gutcheck, this week, extended its winning streak to five games. Will Floral Arts say bye-bye to the bye? The games played over the next couple of weeks will answer that question decisively.
Shortcut Landscaping 16 – Healy Oil 8 On Sunday, SCL shortstop Jason Humphrey hit four home runs in four at-bats to lead his team to victory over Healy Oil. It was a close game until the sixth inning, when SCL scored six runs to pull way. Steve Jacobsmeier had three hits and three RBI on the contest.
GutCheck 10 – Pro Sports Therapy 7 On Tuesday, GutCheck jumped to an early 4-1 lead on the power of Matt Sepe's three-run home run. PST countered with a three-run shot by Jerry Cressman and additional offense to make it a 6-4 game. Solo shots from GutCheck’s Matt Sepe and Billy Cullen brought the game even once again. GutCheck’s Josh Haskin and Rey Vinneau made several key plays (including a couple DPs) from their spots at second base and shortstop, and eventually the game went to an extra frame when PST Mark Strzegowski hit a two-out solo home run. GutCheck's Jim DeMarco led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo shot to once again tie the game. Then, with two out and men on the corners, Billy Cullen hit a three-run shot to end the game.
Drew Farms 5 – Healy Oil 3
Floral Arts 11 – Shortcut Landscaping 3 On Wednesday, Floral pitcher Larry Mardany kept Shortcut Landscaping off-balance for most of the game, holding the powerhouse team to only three runs. Mike Alonardo had a big night at the plate for Floral, going 3-for-3, scoring three times, and capping his big night with a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning. Rob Beaudette was 3-for-3 and hit a three run homer. Jeff Moore (2-for-3) and Roger Whittlesey (2-for-3) also homered for Floral. Jason Humphrey hit a two-run homer for SCL in the first inning; it was his fifth home run of the week.
GutCheck 14 - Burtons 6 On Friday, everyone hit for GutCheck, which scattered 24 hits in the victory. Leading the way were Jim DeMarco (4-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI), Jeff Curley (3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI), Thanh Nguyen (3-for-4 with a solo HR), Jeff Stabach (3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI), Darren Wizst (3-for-5 with 2 RBI), and Bobby "Cobwebs" Wilson (3-for-4). Mark Priest and Rey Vinneau played strong defense up the middle behind Derek McDermott's strong pitching performance. Jeff Bernier and Darren Wizst combined on a 9-2 put out early in the game, ending an inning and a Burtons’ rally. Burtons’ Rick Waldron has two hits, two RBI, and made a great leaping catch at the left-field fence. John Geary and Greg Fitzgerald reached base three times, and Raghu Mantena and Dave Batchelder each contributed two hits.
