Announcement
The Westford Over 30 championship round has begun and the Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs, after losing game one, now lead the series 2-1. After losing 20-9 in the opener, the Mustangs have come back with two 22-run efforts to get within one game of again hosting next year's opening day cookout.
Floral Arts 22 - Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 9
On Sunday night, in the first game of the best-of-five playoff finals, Floral Arts gave up seven runs in the first inning to the Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs, but then chipped away to ultimately win the game, 20-9. Floral pitcher Larry Mardany settled down after the first inning, only allowing two more runs on a handful of hits. Roger Whittlesey (4-for-4, home run, three RBI) hit a single in the first inning and was knocked home on a Jim Peloquin home run. Simon Tripp (2-for-4, two RBI), Rob Beaudette (2-for-4, three RBI), Ryan Dunn (2-for-3, three RBI), and Mike Alonardo (2-for-2, two BB, four RBI), and Chad Kirby (2-for-5) also hit home runs for Floral. Beaudette, Alonardo, and Kirby each made nice running catches in the outfield. Matt Critch (3-for-4) played well at first base for Floral. The Mustangs were still only down three going into the last inning when Floral pulled away. Mustang homers were hit by Mike Kennedy and Billy Knute. They both played excellent defense along with Jim Ward and Paul Selfrige (three hits), who turned an infield double play. Craig Smith added two hits for the Mustangs.
Nashoba Valley veterinary Mustangs 22 - Floral Arts 17
Mustangs overcame a 13 run inning by Floral to take a one run lead into the top of fifth inning when Paul Selfrige did his best Roy Hobbs impression from The Natural and drilled a homerun laser off the electric wires in left center and blew out the lights on all three outfield light poles. The game had to be continued the next night when Bill Knute hit the Mustangs last home run, a clutch three-run shot in the fifth to give the winners some needed insurance runs. Mike Kennedy and Dan Crogan (diving stop and throw from second) in the Mustangs infield made some big plays late in the game to help the Mustangs hold off Floral. Paul Selfrige continued his hot streak, going 5-for-5 with two home runs. Other Mustang long ball hitters were Knute (two), Don and Mark Cusano (four hits), and Kennedy. Jim Ward caught several bullets in left center for the winners and set the table nicely in the two spot with four hits.
