Announcement
The First Week of Playoffs: There are only four teams left. Willis Tent and Shortcut Landscaping swept their opponents in the first round of the playoffs this week. Willis Tent powered by Drew Farms by a combined scored of 38-8, while Shortcut Landscaping won a close one against GutCheck before taking the second game of the series by a large margin. Willis and Floral Arts are now tied 1-1 in the best-of-five second round, while reigning champs Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs are 1-1 against Shortcut Landscaping.
First Round of the Playoffs
Willis Tent 26 - Drew Farms 5 Willis’ Rob Swinamer pitching, the strong defense behind him, and a productive offense were the key contributors in the the 26-5 win over Drew Farms in Game One of the first round of playoffs on Sunday. Willis powered past Drew Farms, scoring five runs in the first while holding Drews to only one run. Willis Tent led 8-3 heading into the fourth inning and then put the “pedal to the metal” from then on. Swinamer went 5-for-5 with four singles, a HR, and 5 RBI, Brian Gallardo was 4-for-5 with two singles, 2 HR and 6 RBI, Dennis Kane went 4-for-5 with two singles and two doubles, Dave Harrington was 4-for 5 with three singles and a double, Andrew Metters had a 3-for-4 night with three singles and 3 RBI, Jeff Briggs was 3-fo-5 with two singles and a double, and John Duffy went 3-for-5 with three singles and 2 RBI.
Willis Tent 12- Drew Farms 3 Willis Tent earned a trip to the second round of the playoffs by sweeping the best-of-three series against Drew Farms, winning Game Two, 12-3. Willis scored once in the first and three times every inning thereafter through the sixth inning. Brian Gallardo went 3-for-4 with a triple and 2 HR, Rick Devanna was 3-for-4 with two singles and a double, Jeff Briggs was 3-for-4 with two singles and a double, Rob Swinamer went 3-for-4 night with three singles, Dennis Kane was 2-for-4 with two HR, and Andrew Metters was 2-for-4 with two doubles. Also helping to set up the win were Keith Wauters, Paul Duato, Steve Damiani and John Duffy, each went 2-for-4 with two singles. Drew Farms’ Todd Shepherd was strong in the series, hitting three home runs in five at-bats.
Shortcut Landscaping 15 - GutCheck 14 SCL got off to a big 15-4 lead on the power of home runs by Rob Prendergast , Jason Humphrey, and Mike Gross. But GutCheck bounced back with five runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to almost come from behind.
Shortcut Landscaping 20 – Gutcheck 10 Rich Acabbo led the way for SCL with two long home runs and a wall ball double, good for seven RBI. Pat Flaherty and Chris Smith also hit two-run homers. Chris Clark and Jason Humphrey played solid defense to limit GutCheck’s scoring chances.
Second Round of the Playoffs
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 17 – Shortcut Landscaping 5 The Mustangs jumped out to quick lead and then coasted. SCL never posed any threat. SCL’s Jason Humphrey and Chris Smith each drove in two runs.
Shortcut Landscaping 11 – Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 4 SCL’s Dave Sullivan led off the bottom first with a home run to give SCL a 1-0 edge, then Mustangs went up 4-1 on a three-run homer by Don Cusano and a solo HR by Mark Cusano. In the fourth inning SCL got two-run home runs from Chris Clark and Rich Acabbo to go up 5-4, and in sixth inning SCL put up six runs, as Brent Oakleaf knocked in three on a homer, and Chris Clark hit a solo shot. The series is now tied 1-1.
Floral Arts 20 - Willis Tent 8 Floral Arts hit four home runs in the contest (Simon Tripp, Rob Beaudette, Jim Peloquin, and Mark Chambers each homered), but the majority of the runs scored came as the result of timely hitting throughout the lineup. Larry Mardany pitched well for Floral Arts.
Willis Tent 21 – Floral Arts 7 Floral Arts built a 6-run lead through four innings, and solid pitching and defense kept Willis Tent from scoring, but then Willis Tent erupted for 16 runs in the fifth inning and then five more in the sixth, creating a deficit that Floral Arts could not overcome. Rob Swinamer hit two deep home runs for Willis Tent. Dennis Kane also homered. Willis made some excellent plays in the field, especially at third base. Tom Semeter and Simon Tripp homered for Floral in the loss. The series is now tied 1-1.
