Announcement
They almost did it!
Almost.
The Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs’ 2015 undefeated streak ended on Tuesday night at 22 games when Floral Arts beat them by a 7-6 margin. The first place Mustangs, however, returned the favor on Friday against Floral, beating their league rival, 15-12, and finishing with an impressive 23-1 regular season record. Floral Arts (19-5) and the Mustangs will play the winners of the first round of the playoffs. In the first round of playoffs, Willis Tent (14-10) will face Drew Farms (11-13), while GutCheck (12-12) will play Shortcut Landscaping (13-11).
Healy Oil 10 – Pro Sports Therapy 9 On August 16, Healy Oil put up a single run in the top of the eighth inning and made it stand to defeat Pro Sports Therapy, 10-9. PST’s furious rally in the bottom of the seventh earned them three runs to tie the game, but Healy cut the rally there, stranding the winning run at third, before scoring the what became the winning run in the extra inning. PST’s Jeff Morse (3-for-4 with 2 RBI) and Michael Winer (3-for-4), along with Jeremy Joyce’s 3 RBI, were key offensive contributors.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 23 – Shortcut Landscaping 8 Winning pitcher Don Cusano led the Mustangs offensive attack with two homers, 7 RBI, and three runs scored. Mike Kennedy added four hits, including a home run and 2 RBI. Jack Erickson (4-for-4, BB, 5 RBI, 4 RS) and Jack McGrath each had four hits apiece with four runs scored. Dan Crogan (2-for-3, BB) also scored four times, while LF Bill Knute added a long home run blast over the shed and made several outstanding catches to thwart Shortcut rallies.
Floral Arts 7 – Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 6 On Tuesday, Floral Arts extinguished the Mustangs’ dream of a perfect season, winning by a whisker—throwing out the tying run at the plate in the seventh inning. Don Cusano (4-for-4, 2 HR, 2 doubles) hit an opposite field home run in the top of the first the give the Mustangs the early lead. In the bottom of the inning Simon Tripp scored from second on an opposite field hit by Roger Whittlesey to tie the game, then Ken Delaney stepped up to the plate and blasted a three-run homer to make it 4-1. Later, Jim Peloquin (3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) hit a long home run over the left field fence to give Floral seven runs. It was 7-5 in the top of the seventh when the Mustangs loaded the bases with two outs. Cusano then hit a rocket single to left-center that Greg Marchand handled, then threw to Peloquin, who relayed to Jonathan Morgan at the plate. Morgan applied the tag and the Mustangs’ season-long win streak came to a sudden end.
Shortcut Landscaping 16 – Pro Sports Therapy 3 Shortcuts jumped out to a seven-run lead on the power of a first inning grand slam by Mike Gross and a three-run homer by Don Morash. Pat Flaherty and Dave Sullivan also homered in the game. Gross made some nice catches in left field and, overall, SCL’s defense was solid. PST’s Ben Armstrong (2-for-2) scored two of the three PST runs, and Tom Rose (2-for-2, RBI) and Ryan Steele (2 RBI) played well in the game.
Willis Tent 21 – Healy Oil 8 Willis tent opened quickly with seven runs in the top of the first. Healy tried to keep pace but could only muster four runs, only to have Willis nullify their effort with another four runs in the second. By the end of the fourth inning, Willis was winning, 17-8. Willis finished up the evening with four runs in the top of the seventh. Dennis Kane ended the game with a walk off home run. Willis’ Andrew Metters (4-for-4, HR, double and two singles), Rob Swinamer (3-for-3, HR, double, single, BB), Brian Gallardo (3-for-3, HR, double and a single), Dennis Kane (3-for-4, 3 HRs), and Rick Devanna (3-for-4, triple and 2 singles) were the offensive leaders for Willis.
Drew Farms 14 – GutCheck 12 GutCheck started hot, scoring four runs in the first, four in the second, and three in the third. Then their bats went cold, and only scored once more—in the seventh. Thanh Nguyen led the way, going 4-or-5 with three home runs, a double, and eight RBI. Matt Sepe had a solo home run, and Jim DeMarco and Jeff Bernier contributed three hits apiece. Drew’s Todd Shepherd hit two home runs for the winners.
Burtons 17 - Healy Oil 16 On Friday night, Burtons Grill 17-16 win secured them a seventh place finish in the standings. Burtons jumped out to an early eight-run lead, but Healy stormed back and held a short-lived 10-9 lead, until Burtons scored eight more, to lead 17-10. Healy managed to score six runs in the bottom of the seventh, and had the tying run on third when Burtons' pitcher Jerod Colley closed the door. Dave Batchelder led Burtons with a 4-for-4 performance, including three home runs and 6 RBI, and he also made a sliding catch in the outfield. Tim Scott also went deep, while Brian Haley and Colley went 3-for-3. Kieran Murray knocked in a pair on two hits. Murph McKeon chipped in with a standup triple.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 15 – Floral Arts 12 Mustang pitcher Paul Ligouri has a stutter-step delivery that has been very successful for him and his four-time championship team, earning him two straight seasons of nothing but wins. But against Floral Arts on Friday, the streak was almost immediately in jeopardy, as Floral built an early 11-2 lead. But the Mustangs, who had struggled against Jim Peloquin’s pitches, suddenly erupted in the fourth, and by the fifth inning took a 13-11 lead. Simon Tripp’s solo shot moved Floral to within one run in the sixth, but the Mustangs answered, as Don Cusano struck his 27th home run of the season (his second of the game), a two-run shot to give the Mustangs a 15-12 lead. Cormac Bordes and Mark Cusano also homered for the Mustangs. Jim Peloquin (3-run homer, 2 BB), Geoff Pavao (homer and two great defensive plays), Tom Semeter (home run), and Chad Kirby (diving catch and a great throw to second to cut down a runner) played well for Floral.
Pro Sports Therapy 12 - Willis Tent 3 Pro Sports Therapy ended a disappointing season with an upset of the number three seed Willis Tent in the late game Friday night, 12-3. PST jumped out to a seven-run lead in the first on a Jerry Cressman two-run double, a Mark Strzegowski two-run homer, and then Dave Chirokas knocked in two with a double. On throwback night for PST, Chirokas channeled 2003 on the mound, holding the potent Willis lineup to three runs. PST had many bright spots offensively, none brighter than Tom Rose, PST’s leading hitter on the season. Rose was 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. John Mangiaratti went 2-for-3 and Steve Damaini was 2-for-4 on the night.
GutCheck 14 – Healy Oil 2 On August 23rd, GutCheck and Drew Farms played in the last regular season game of the season. GutCheck scored early and often, getting four runs in the first and five in in the second. Billy Cullen pitched a solid game and added a two-run home run. Jeff Stabach and Jim DeMarco each had three hits and scored three runs. Derek MacDermott went 3-for-3 with two runs. Rey Vinneau stopped everything at short and added two hits and two RBI.
