Mustangs

Obdurate lumps of dirt-encrusted snow loitered in the shaded section of the VFW parking lot, but no one was thinking about the wicked winter on Sunday, May 3, as the Westford Over 30 Men’s Softball League kicked off the 2015 season under summery blue skies. Colorful uniforms, the ping of the bat, and the constant greetings of old friends reacquainting themselves punctuated the scene and established the mood for the new season. And there was food—so much delicious food! The 2014 champion Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs prepared and cooked an array of meats and vegetables—some donated by new team sponsor Burtons Grill—that nourished the nearly 400 attendees. That evening, when the easy-ups were eased down and the grills and tables lifted into pickups and packed away, well after the conclusion of four regular-season games, the Mustangs delivered and donated the remaining food to St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen, in Lowell.

Sunday, May 3 (Opening Day)

Burtons Grill 5 – Pro Sports Therapy 4 The team formerly sponsored by Mario’s Restaurant opened the new season with a new sponsor, Burtons Grill, and a walk-off 5-4 win over PST. Burtons combined stellar defense, timely hitting and solid pitching from Jerod Colley to climb out of a 2-run deficit in the bottom of the 7th to post the win. Defensive gems included an over the shoulder catch by Raghu Mantena in right field and a pinpoint relay from outfielder Tim Scott to shortstop Dave Batchelder to catcher John Geary to nip a PST runner at the plate. Geary also delivered a clutch 2-run double in the 7th to score rookie Steven Sawyer with the winning run.  Derek Donegan led the way offensively for PST with two hits and two runs scored.

Drew Farms 11 – Gutcheck 9 Drew Farms scattered 18 hits over six innings to fend off Gutcheck, 11-9. Tom Milanese, making his Drews debut, went 3-for-3, as did Scott Cole. Mark McAleese, Todd Shepherd, Blake Buxton, Rob O’Neil and Mark Kost contributed to the win, getting two hits apiece. Jason Goldthwaite, Joe Welch and Pat Pawlak helped the cause with their excellent defense. Gutcheck’s Thanh Nguyen, Matt Sepe and Jim DeMarco all went 3-for-4. Two of Nguyen's hits were home runs, and Sepe hit the top of the fence twice. Gutcheck was down by two in the seventh with the tying run at the plate when the game ended.

Healy Oil 13 – Floral Arts 12 The Healy Oilers withstood a late-inning surge by Floral Arts to prevail 13-12 in a nail-biter. The Healy offense was buoyed by a series of three-run home runs by shortstop Tony Pantoja, outfielder Brian Egan and newcomer Wayne Meadows, who also impressed with his defense at third. Mike Martin and Tommy Hudson combined on the hill for the win. Floral’s Jeff Moore, Rob Beaudette, and Simon Tripp homered in the loss.

Shortcut Landscaping 5 – Willis Tent 4 In the season opener, both team’s bats started off slow. In the end, the difference-maker came from SCL rookie John Kulesza, whose go-ahead three-run homer ended up the game-winner. For Willis, Kevin Adolph had 4 hits. Dennis Kane and Steve Damiani both had 3 hits. Brian Gallardo hit his first career HR.

Tuesday, May 5  The first week of the season was in doubt when several weeks ago a town official discovered the light pole holding the electrical box was yet another victim of the vicious winter, laying sideways on the grass between the softball and baseball field. But town officials and work crews combined to resolve the problem in time for the first night games last Tuesday.

Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 19 – Gutcheck 5  The first four Mustang batters went 3-for-3 to start the season, as the defending champs defeated Gutcheck in a 19-5 run-rule win. Paul Selfrige set the tone at lead off with three doubles and three runs scored. Jim Ward added three singles and three runs scored as well. Don Cusano chipped in with a homer and 5 RBI to go along with his three hits. Bill Knute and Paul Liguori (winning pitcher) also contributed three hits in the winning effort. Mark Cusano blasted a home run and had three RBI. Gutcheck’s Gary Lavelle and Rey Vienneau each had two hits, and Jim DeMarco went 3-for-3 three in a loss to the Mustangs. Thanh Nguyen hit a home run in his first at bat, and then was pitched around in his final two plate appearances.

Floral Arts 19 – Pro Sports Therapy 5 The game remained close until the fourth inning, when the seesaw battle ended and Floral Arts scored 15 runs, leading to a run-rule victory that ended in the fifth inning. Many Floral batters tallied multiple hits and runs, but Billy Luppold stole the show with a majestic double to the right field fence. Greg Marchand, Rob Beaudette, and Simon Tripp (2) homered in the game, and Jim Peloquin pitched well for the winners.  Jerry Cressman led the way for PST going 2-2 with a double and an RBI. Rookie SS Ryan Steele also drove in 2.

Wednesday, May 6

Gutcheck 8 – Healy Oil 6 It was a back and forth battle through seven innings. Gutcheck’s Matt Sepe hit a two-run home run and hit the top of the fence on another at bat. Jeff Stabach went 2-for-3, with two doubles, driving in one run and scoring one of his own. Derek McDermott, just off rotator cuff surgery, pitched a gem for Gutcheck. In the top of the 7th, with one on, and two out, Thanh Nguyen hit a two-run homer to break the tie and allow the eventual win.

Nashoba Valley Mustangs 14 – Drew Farms 0 Great Mustang defense and Don Cusano’s stellar pitching helped shutout Drew Farms earning the reigning champs their second consecutive win and first shutout of the new season. Paul Selfrige continued his hot start with two doubles, a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored. Selfrige and Mike Kennedy played great defense at short and third, respectively, helping to snuff out any potential Drew rallies. Kennedy also chipped in with two hits and three RBI. Mustang Bill Knute contributed two hits, a walk and two RBI.

Friday, May 9

Shortcut Landscaping 24 – Burtons 11 Burtons fell behind early to a Short Cuts home run barrage, and then woke up with some late offense before going down in a 24-11 defeat. Donny Morash, rookie Patrick Flaherty (2), Chris Clark, Mike Gross hit long-balls for the winners. Jon Russo paced the Burtons bats with a three hit, four RBI night, including his first home run of the young season. Rick Waldron stepped in admirably in his first appearance on the mound, in relief of the injured Burtons starter. Greg Fitzgerald and Tim Scott were active on the bases, scoring five runs and leading a late Burtons rally.

Drew Farm 19 – Healy Oil 18 An excellent played game from both teams resulted in a tight win for Drews. There were 22 hits, including home runs from Todd Shepherd (2), Jason Goldthwaite and Sal Buonacore to support a solid defense for Drews. Tom Menicci supplied four hits, with three each coming from Mark McAleese, Shepherd and Goldthwaite, and two each from Pat Pawlak and Blake Buxton.

Willis Tent 19 - Pro Sports Therapy 12  Capping an evening of high scoring and late running games, Willis Tent broke up a 12-12 tie in the 6th by adding 6 more runs to take a 19-12 victory over Pro Sports Therapy. Willis Tent received contributions up and down the line up with Rob Swinamer leading the charge with 4 hits and 5 RBI including a tape measure blast.  Mike Ellis had 3 hits including 2 doubles and 3 RBI. PST was led offensively by Ben Armstrong (3-4 with a double), Andrew Fletcher (3-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI), and Ryan Steele (2 home runs and 3 RBI).

Opening Day for 2015 is on Sunday, May 3rd.  A full slate of 4 games is on tap to be accompanied by the now traditional Opening Day BBQ.  As is tradition, the BBQ is hosted by the defending League Champions.  The Mustangs will play the role of Chef while the remaining eight teams take the field for the first time.  This year's BBQ will be brought to you by the League's newest Sponsor- Burtons Grill.

The first game begins at One PM and will feature Pro Sports Therapy squaring off against Burtons.  Following at 2:15 will be Gutcheck at Drew Farms.  The 3:30 PM game has Healy Oil against Floral Arts.  The night cap, scheduled for 4:45, has Short Cut Landscaping playing Willis Tent.

All league families are welcome to celebrate the beginning of the 2015 season.

Despite the drifts of snow, the 2015 softball season is upon us.  The Westford Over-30 Softball League is planning to hold its annual player dispersal draft the first week of April.  Applications are now available (check the Handouts section in the left margin) and are due Friday, April 3rd.  

For all returning players, a new waiver must be signed before playing this year.  Please go to the Handouts section for a copy.

Expectations are high as the Mustangs look to reload and defend their title and Floral Arts looks to return to the throne after a two year hiatus.  The Big Bats of Short Cut Landscaping are once again the wild card, looking to break the stranglehold of the Mustangs-Floral Arts stranglehold on the title.  Drew Farms, Healy Oil, Mario's Restaurant, PST, and Willis Tent are all looking to add that one or two players that will bring them back to the elite level that once had them at the top of the league.  And league new comer GutCheck looks to make the leap from "any given night" to contender.  The season is scheduled to open on Tuesday, April 28th.

The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs raised the league trophy again on Wednesday night after soundly beating Floral Arts in the fifth and final game of the championship series. The league trophy, a brass chalice, the provenance of which is anybody’s guess, will now have the Mustangs’ name engraved on it for the fourth time, along with three previous championship seasons in 2009, 2010, and 2013. The victory on Wednesday night was the Mustangs’ 29th win of the season against only three losses. It was a truly remarkable season in the history of a team that has been a perennial contender over the last eight years.

Game Four: Floral Arts 16- Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 14

On Tuesday night, Floral Arts staved off elimination and forced a Game Five of the championship series. Floral pitcher Larry Mardany was masterful, keeping the powerful Mustangs from scoring in four innings. Floral retired the top of the order in the first inning and then put up three runs in the bottom of the inning on Jim Peloquin's three-run homer. After six innings and a barrage of hits, Floral had built a 16-10 lead, but the Mustangs appeared poised for one of their trademark comebacks. The Mustangs scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning before finally making the third out on a fly ball to left-center field. Don Cusano hit three home runs in the contest and knocked in eight of the 10 Mustangs runs. Bill Knute, Mark Cusano, and Cormas Bordes each hit home runs for the Mustangs.

Game 5: Mustangs 14 - Floral Arts 1

The Mustangs capped off a record-setting regular season (23-1) by making their 8th finals appearance in the last 9 years. Outstanding all-around team defense and great pitching by Don Cusano held the powerful Floral Arts lineup to just five hits, four walks, and one run in the clinching win. Mustangs leadoff batter Paul Selfrige set the tone, as he did throughout the series, by going 3-for-3, hitting a home run, scoring two runs, and knocking in a pair. Don Cusano added two hits, including his seventh home run of the finals, to go along with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. Jack Erickson continued his torrid hitting with three hits, including a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored. Mike Kennedy chipped in with a homer and outstanding defense at third base. Mark Cusano went 3-for-3, while Jay Dolan added two hits and 3 RBI. Jack McGrath contributed two big hits and two runs scored. Jim Ward made several tremendous running catches in left-centerfield, while second baseman Dan Crogan made the play of the night, a diving grab on rocket line-drive up the middle in the last inning.

After 24 Regular Season games, a bye in the first round, and two very different trips through the semi-final series, the Mustangs and Floral Arts played a game five to determine the Westford Over-30 Softball championship for the fourth year in a row. 

Floral Arts showed great resiliency to force a game five, winning two in a row after being forced to the brink of elimination with two early losses.  This one, however, turned out to be anti-climatic.  The Mustangs, much like they did during the regular season when they went 23-1, steamrolled their way to their fourth title in six years, defeating Floral Arts 14-1.  And once again, the Mustangs did it with pitching and defense, holding the prolific Floral Arts offense to one run behind the pitching of Don Cusano and stellar defense all around the diamond.