Announcement
An interesting and exciting week for sure in Westford Over 30 Softball. The Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs are no longer undefeated, losing to Short Cut Landscaping. Pro Sports Therapy continues to be the hottest team in the league and now has fifth place locked up. The biggest game of this upcoming week is clearly between Burton's Grill and Drew Farms as they face off on Wednesday with the winner likely taking the final playoff spot. Short Cut and Floral Arts will battle to grab the second place spot and the important first round bye that comes with it.
Floral Arts 23 - CSA Graphics 7 Floral Arts beat CSA Sunday night, 23-7. Larry Mardany pitched well for Floral. Ryan Dunn (two), Kenny Delaney (two), Simon Tripp (two), and Geoff Pavao each homered for Floral. Floral Arts jumped to an early lead after scoring three in the first and then piling on 10 in the second. CSA Graphics, playing with only nine for the game, hung in for a bit, before falling to the run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning. Gary Lavelle, of CSA, playing in his first game this year, pitched well for CSA Graphics and added a couple hits (including a double). Rey Vienneau also coming off the reserve list for his first game, hit a home run on his first swing of the year, and played solid at shortstop. Jim DeMarco was four for four at the plate.
Pro Sports Therapy 22 - Floral Arts 15 In a game with playoff implications for both squads, PST continued on their hot streak with a 22-15 victory over perennial power Floral Arts. PST jumped out immediately with lead-off hitter Ben Armstrong going deep for the 1-0 lead. PST kept the pressure on, pushing three more across before leaving the bases loaded. Floral, not to be fazed, kept at it and after three took a 7-6 lead. After Larry Mardany shut down the PST offense again in the 4th, Floral hit their 6th and 7th home runs in the bottom of the inning to increase their lead to 10-6. Then came the inning that may define the PST season- in the top of the 5th, PST exploded for 10 runs to go up 16-10. Shortstop Donald Slate was the offensive star of the inning with two hits (single and three-run home run) and two runs scored. Other highlights were a booming James Chen double over a drawn in outfield and another Ben Armstrong home run. Out of home runs after reaching the league limit, Floral had to chip away, and they did, responding immediately with two more to close the gap to 16-12. But, an energized PST squad immediately posted another four to increase their lead to 20-13 at the end of six. Brian Dubey homered again to increase the lead and then PST hung on, giving up two in the bottom of the 7th for the final score of 22-15. PST had four players with four hits (Armstrong, Mark Urlage, Ryan Steele, and Tim Schutt) and another five with three hits each. In a game that would seeming be dominated by offense, it was the defense that provided some of the biggest highlights. Floral’s Mike Alonardo made a spectacular diving catch in centerfield to end an inning, only to see PST LF Armstrong rob the Floral hitter leading off the next inning with an equally dazzling dive. Floral turned two double plays, PST one. And, PST 3B Steele and 2B John Bodi both laid out to corral ground balls and throw out a runner at first to get big outs late in the game. Floral Arts hit seven home runs including blasts from Mike Alonardo (two), Chad Kirby (two), Roger Whittlesey, Frank Lancelotta, and Ken Delaney.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 16 - CSA Graphics 3 The Mustangs jumped to an early 13-0 lead against CSA Graphics, who could never catch-up. Don Cusano, Mike Kennedy and Corma Bordes all homered for the winners. CSA did quiet the bats of the Mustangs by deploying a short-fielder strategy, but in the end fell to the run rule with a walk-off run in the bottom of the fifth. No big heroes for CSA, although Jeff Bernier was perfect at the plate (1-1 with an RBI), and a now two-time contributor for CSA in games versus the Mustangs. Interestingly, the addition of one of the Mustang's sons (Paul) led to another solo homerun for the CSA scoreboard. Outstanding defense for the Mustangs was highlighted by Don Cusano at third base. Winning Mustangs pitcher Paul Liguori kept his three year undefeated streak alive
Short Cuts Landscaping 25 - CSA Graphics 12 On Wednesday night, a similar story for CSA of not being able to keep up with the opposing offense and eventually losing to run rule. CSA Graphics and Short Cuts Landscaping exchanged punches over the first few innings, leading to a 6-5 lead by CSA. Short Cuts then mounted an attack with 10-run inning, benefitting from some poor defense on the other side. CSA Graphics worked their way back into the game, led by Matt Sepe (2-2, two homeruns, five RBI), Bill Cullen (2-3 with a homerun and double), Jim DeMarco (3-3 and three runs scored), and Tim Piwowar (2-2, with a double). In the bottom of the fifth, Short Cuts turned a 15-12 lead into a 25-12 win. The men in black put up a hitting display and hit nine home runs. A 10 run fifth inning finished the night with a big three run home run by Donny "White Shoes" Morash and a walk off two-run home run by Rob Prendergast. Prendergast also made his season debut at first base and fielded the position as "smooth as sandpaper." Other Short Cut notable performances for the night: Mike Gross, 4-4 with two home runs, and John Ablondi, 4-4 and a home run.
Burtons Grill 19 - Healy Oil 14 Burton's Grill narrowly edged a very competitive and energized Healy Oil squad 19-14. Healy jumped out early putting up eight in the first but Burton's quickly recovered with a massive 12 run inning sending 17 to the plate. The 12 runs were all scored with two outs and were much needed as the game remained close from there on as Healy scored another five in the third inning. Offense for Burton's was highlighted by Tim "Usain" Scott with an inside the park three-run homer, Eric "lets play two" Cataline, 4-4, fours runs scored, Charlie, "the Big Hurt", Chungo, 4-4, three runs scored, Dave, "scoop", Batchelder 3-3, two RBI, three runs scored, Murph,"Giuseppe," McKeon, 2-3, three run homerun and five RBI, Jerod, "it's pizza night, right?" Colley with a key three run homerun, and Peter, "all fields," Morano 2-3, and an RBI. Healy Oil, out of the playoff race, came to play the role of spoiler. Contributing with home runs were Matt Dowling, Tony Pantoja and Steve Cuzziere executing a sweet lefty swing resulting in a three-run blast. Healy pitcher Wayne Meadows contributed with home runs and pitched well for most of the night.
Floral Arts 24 - Healy Oil 4 Floral Arts beat Healy Oil, 24-4, in five innings on Friday night. Simon Tripp, Jeff Moore, and Frank Lancelotta homered for Floral. David O'Keefe hit the only home run for Healy.
Short Cuts 17 - Mustangs 15 Short Cuts and Mustangs battled late into the night in a classic Friday summer showdown. Mustangs jumped out early with five runs but Short Cuts answered with eight in the bottom of the first highlighted by a big two-run home run from Pat Flaraty. Defense was the key to the game as Short Cut continuously made the big defensive stops all night. The men in black turned three double plays. Don Morash, Jason Humphrey and John Proulx were stellar all night with their leather. Donny Aiken also made a Willie Mays over the shoulder grab in left. A monster three-run home run by John Ablondi gave Short Cuts a five run cushion late in the game. Mike Martell had a key two out double in the bottom of the sixth and Jason Humphrey knocked him in to give the winners a six run cushion through six. To top off the night the legend Carl Dean came out of retirement to be the 10th player for Short Cut and he proceeded to do his typical 3-4...just awesome!!!!
