Mustangs

The Nashoba Valley Veterinary Hospital Mustangs have earned a first place finish for an impressive fourth year in a row. The Mustangs, which have won two championships in the last three years, finished this season with a 21-3 record, a testament to their balanced offense and solid defense. Reigning champs Floral Arts currently holds a 17-6 record and sits in second place, but has to finish a make-up game against fourth place Willis Tent (11-12). Mario’s Restaurant, a team that has finished in last place each season since 2007, had a remarkable season, finishing in third place with a 13-11 record. Mario’s will face sixth place Drew Farms (9-15) in the first round of playoffs. Willis Tent will face fifth place Pro Sports Therapy (10-14) in the best of three series. Shortcut Landscaping and Healy Oil did not earn a playoff berth this season.

Willis Tent 9 - Mustangs 8

Jeff Briggs hit a home run in the seventh inning to break an 8-8 tie and give Willis Tent a one run victory over the Mustangs. Jack Erickson led the Mustangs offensive attack with a double and a grand slam. Bill Knute was 3-for-3 with a home-run blast of his own. Don Cusano chipped in with two hits and a home run for the Mustangs. Infielders Paul Ligouri and Paul Selfrige also contributed two hits apiece for the Mustangs as well as some solid defense.

Floral Arts 18 - Shortcut 9

Floral Arts’ offense exploded for 6 runs in the first inning, and then scored in every inning thereafter, en route to an 18-9 victory over Shortcut Landscaping. Mike Alonardo, Tom Semeter, Frank Lancelotta, Geoff Pavao, and Simon Tripp all homered for Floral, while Brent Oakleaf and Chris Clark hit long balls for Short Cuts. Jim Peloquin was a standout at shortstop, and Billy Luppold continued his hot hitting with another multiple hit game.

Mustangs 10 - Floral Arts 5

In a hotly contested battle, the Mustangs broke a 5-5 tie with two out in the top of the seventh inning with back-to-back solo homers by Jack Erickson and Don Cusano. The Mustangs tacked on a few more insurance runs to cement the victory and close out the game by turning an infield double play to end it in the bottom of the seventh. Erickson (3 runs scored) had three hits, including his home run. Don Cusano pitched well for the Mustangs and added two hits, including his home run. Mark Cusano, Mike Kennedy, and Bill Knute each had two hits. Knute and Kennedy each played outstanding defense.

Mustangs 20 - Shortcut 7

The Mustangs won their fourth consecutive regular season championship and completed their third straight 21-3 campaign with a 20-7 elimination game victory over Shortcuts that sent their opponents home for the season. Jay Dolan and Paul Selfrige each had three hits and three runs scored to set the table for the Mustangs. Both Cusano brothers, Mark and Don, each had two hits, including a home run and three RBI for the victors. Other Mustangs with two hits apiece included Jack McGrath, Andy Mastandrea, Mike Kennedy, and Jim Ward, who drove in the 20th run, which clinched the mercy rule victory in the sixth inning. The Mustangs played their usual brand of solid defense. Dave Libby led Shortcuts with a pair of two run homers.

Pro Sports Therapy 9 - Drew Farms 6

In the final game of the regular season for both squads, Pro Sports Therapy defeated Drew Farms, 9-6. Pro Sports went up 5-0 after three innings, behind a solid effort from Tim Schutt on the mound, but saw Drew Farms answer with 5 in the fourth inning, powered by a Tom Menicci home run and another run in the sixth. Pro Sports then responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth, and Jeff Fuller closed out the game on the mound for the win. Pro Sports had 11 different players contribute hits to the win.

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.