Mustangs

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.

The Friday night game between Short Cuts Landscaping and Drew Farms has been rescheduled to Sunday, August 12 at 5:30 PM.

With that change, the 9 PM game that featured the Mustangs and Floral Arts will be moved forward to 7:45.

There are still six games remaining on the schedule for most teams, but the Mustangs (16-2) and reigning champions Floral Arts (14-4) each clinched a first round playoff bye this week. This is the third year in a row that both teams have earned the bye. The Mustangs and Floral Arts are 1-1 in head-to-head competition so far this season, and will face each other two more times this season, making a first place finish still up for grabs. The other six teams in the league are all vying for one of the four remaining playoff spots, and there is no team that is out of the hunt. The much-improved Mario’s Restaurant (8-10) sits alone in third place and appears to be heading for its first post season in many years. Drew Farms, Willis Tent, and Shortcut Landscaping are tied for fourth place with an 8-11 record. Pro Sports Therapy (7-11) and Healy Oil (5-14) are both within striking distance of a playoff spot, yet it will take a very strong finish to achieve it.

Drew Farms 16 - Willis Tent 7

Home runs by Dave Guthrie, Tom Menicci and Todd Shepherd powered Drew Farms to a 16-7 win over Willis Tent. Drews displayed solid hitting up and down the line-up, led by Mark Kost (5 for 5) and Menicci (4 for 5). Strong defense backed up strong pitching from Gary Lavelle

Pro Sports Therapy 27 - Shortcut Landscaping 14

Pro Sports Therapy came back from an early barrage of Short Cuts Landscaping home runs, overcoming a 14-3 deficit to post a 27-14 run rule victory in the top of the seventh. SCL hit 6 home runs—several of the tape measure variety (including bombs by Chris Smith, Mike Gross, Brent Oakleaf). Tim Schutt settled down on the mound, shutting out SCL after the third inning and when it was his turn to hit, the tall lefty made it count with a grand slam in the seventh inning. Schutt was 3 for 5 with two home runs and 5 RBI. Derek Donegan (3 hits, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI) provided the game winner for the second night in a row, hitting a 2-run homer in the seventh to end the game. Several other PST players had big nights offensively including Jeff Morse (3-3 with a walk, sac fly, 3 RBI), Jerry Cressman (HR and 3 RBI), Tom Rose (5 for 5 with 5 runs scored, home run, 2 RBI), Keith Davighi (3 for 3, including a home run, a walk, a sac fly, and 6 RBI—at least one in each of his 4 plate appearances), and John Bodi (4 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI).

Floral Arts 10 - Mario’s Restaurant 7

Greg Marchand had multiple hits, including a 2-run homer, to help lead Floral Arts to a 10-7 win over Mario’s Restaurant. Larry Mardany pitched well, surrendering a pair of monster home runs to Thanh Nguyen, but otherwise holding the Mario offense in check. Bill Luppold also chipped in a pair of hits and Tom Lester played strong defense in right field. Peter Morano and Mario Brancato each had two hits for Mario’s. Both teams played great defense.

Drew Farms 19 - Healy Oil 13

Drew Farms scored in every inning but one and hit 6 home runs, most with runners on base to win a high scoring game, 19-13 over Healy Oil. First inning home runs by Pat Pawlak, Todd Shepherd and Jason Goldthwaite provided a quick start for the visitors. Tommy Menicci, Todd Shepherd, Dave Guthrie, Jim Sullivan and Eric Carlyle all collected three hits apiece. Gary Lavelle again pitched a solid game. Mike Martin, Joey Ingalls, and Dave O’Keefe each hit home runs for Healy Oil.

Willis Tent 11 - Shortcut Landscaping 9

Willis Tent defeated Shortcut Landscaping, 11-9, in a game powered by Andrew Metters (3 for 4, home run, and 3 RBI) and John Mangiaratti (2 for 4 with the game-winning home run and 4 RBI). Consistent pitching by Brian Anderson held Short Cuts at bay for most of the night

Mustangs 20 - Healy Oil 1

Mustangs pitcher Don Cusano struck out three Healy batters and gave up only one unearned run in a 20-1 Mustangs mercy rule victory. Cusano was walked three times at the plate, including once with the bases loaded, but the rest of the Mustangs offense was led by Jack Erickson, who went 3 for 3 with a home run and 5 RBI. Mike Kennedy (4 RBI) and Bill Knute (grand slam, 5 RBI) also had 2 hits each, including a homer apiece. Jay Dolan went 3 for 3 from his leadoff spot and scored 3 times. Other Mustangs who chipped in with two hits each were Jay Lincoln, Jim Ward, and Brian Foley. Mark Cusano made several excellent plays at second base for the Mustangs. Glenn Robinson hit well for Healy Oil, along with Dave “Pokey” Cannistaro, and Al Boisvert.

There has been a change to Wednesday night's schedule:  The Healy Oil - Mustangs game has been moved from Wednesday to Sunday (7/29) @ 5:30.

There has also been a pair of changes to Friday night's schedule:  The Pro Sports Therapy- Mario Restaurant's game scheduled for 7:45 has been moved to Sunday (8/5) at 5:30.  The 9 PM game between Willis Tent and Short Cuts Landscaping has been moved forward to the 7:45 slot.

Short Cut Landscaping 14 - Mario’s Restaurant 5

Short Cut pitcher Dave Libby silenced the bats on the Mario’s Restaurant team from the third inning on, in a game that Short Cut won, 14-5. Dave Sullivan and Brent Oakleaf each homered to spark the offense. Steve Jacobsmeier sprinted back and rammed into the centerfield fence to make an outstanding catch that robbed Mario’s of a potential home run. Tony DeAntonis led Mario's with a 3-for-3 performance, while Brian Haley, Jerod Colley, Thanh Nguyen and Dave Batchelder each chipped in with 2 hits apiece. Second baseman Colley made a nice over-the-shoulder catch in the latter innings to keep Mario's within striking distance.

Willis Tent 9 - Healy Oil 8

Floral Arts 13 - Drew Farms 3

Larry Mardany survived a 3-run home run by Todd Shephard in the first inning, and then mowed down Drew Farms the rest of the way, in a game second place Floral Arts won, 13-3. Jim Peloquin (4 for 4, 3 HR, 4 RBI), Mike Spanos (3 for 3, HR, 3 RBI), and Ron Paulaskas (2 for 3, 3 RBI) sparked the Floral Arts offense.

Mustangs 8 - Pro Sports Therapy 0

Paul Liguori pitched the first place Mustangs to their first shutout of the season, as they beat PST, 8-0, Wednesday evening. Solid defense backed up great pitching, including a great running catch by Mark Cusano. Jumping Jack McGrath extended one inning for the Mustangs with some creative base running. Craig Smith provided an offensive boost for the Mustangs with a three run homer. Don Cusano, Bill Knute, and Jack Erickson each hit solo home runs. Tom Rose was the one bright spot for Pro Sports Therapy, as he went 3 for 3.

Mustangs 16 - Willis Tent 8

The Mustangs overcame a monstrous home run blast by Willis’ Rob Swinamer that nearly reached the basketball court beyond the right field fence to defeat a tough Willis Tent squad, 16-8. Mark Cusano and Bill Knute led the Mustang attack with two homers apiece. Knute included a grand slam in his repertoire. Additionally, Don Cusano and Craig Smith (3 for 3, 3 RBI) continued their hot hitting with a one homer each. The Mustang defense was led by shortstop Paul Selfrige and left-center fielder Jim Ward.

Floral Arts 17 - Short Cut 3

Frank Lancelotta's three run home run in the bottom of the sixth capped a strong day for Floral Arts, which beat Short Cut, 17-3. Jim Peloquin homered twice and Greg Marchand chipped in another long fly in the victory. Larry Mardany pitched another stellar game, limiting Shortcuts to a Mike Gross 3-run homer in the first.

Healy Oil 24 - Mario’s Restaurant 14

Healy Oil broke open a close 15-14 by scoring nine runs in the last two innings to take a 24-14 win over Mario's Restaurant. Matt Critch hit two home runs for Healy Oil. Mario's offense came to life with home runs contributed by Dave Batchelder, Jon Russo and Murph McKeon. McKeon's blast touched off an 8-run inning; Mario's biggest run output in a single inning this season. Brian Collamore added a personal best of 4 hits, with Jerod Colley (3 hits) and Russo (3 RBI) also hitting well.

Pro Sports Therapy 7- Short Cut Landscaping 6

Pro Sports Therapy came back to defeat Short Cut Landscaping, 7-6, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh on a Derek Donegan 2-run double. Tim Schutt got the emergency start on the mound and limited the potent Short Cut lineup to just 2 runs after the second inning and also contributed a big 2-run homer on offense. Can you say, “Wally Pipp?” Jerry Cressman was the other bright spot for the Pro Sports offense, contributing 2 hits, including a booming double off the top off the fence that drove in 2 runs. Bill Doherty led Short Cut with 3 hits and 4 RBI.

Drew Farms 15 - Healy Oil 2

Solid hitting up and down the lineup, along with strong pitching by Mark Kost in his mound debut resulted in a solid 15-2 win for Drew Farms over Healy Oil. A first inning injury required some early game defensive juggling, but all position players played well. Of note, Jason Goldthwaite made his first start at third and was solid. Jim Sullivan was pulled from first to second and did a nice job. Key hits from Tommy Menicci, Darren Wiszt, Dave Guthrie, Alex Lelchook, and Todd Shepherd contributed to the win.