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Play Off Champions: After a bye in the first round as the #1 seed, the Mustangs defeated Burton's Grill (3 Games to 2) and Floral Arts (3 Games to 2).
The 2017 Play-offs kicked off with a major upset- the #7 seeded Healy Oil Squad took down Floral Arts, 13-12. Floral Arts, who had tied for first but were seeded #2 based on a tie-breaker, came back on Wednesday night to defeat Healy 21-13 and force a third and deciding game on Friday night.
This 2-7 series is the only one that will see a win-or-go-home third game. #3 seed Short Cut Landscaping posted two decisive wins over Drew Farms to advance to the second round. In the other series, #5 Burton's Grill took a different route, taking two close games from Willis Tent to also advance.
Game 3 between Floral and Healy will be on Friday night at 7 PM.
The second round will begin on Sunday at 6:30, where the regular season champ Mustangs are waiting to find out who they will play.
What a difference a week, and maybe a year, makes. In the past week, the Nashoba Valley Mustangs suffered their fourth loss of the season including a defeat by run-rule to the now first place, Floral Arts squad. This was the second run-rule defeat of the season for the Mustangs. The final standings will be determined on the final night of regular season play with the top team earning a bye in round one. The playoff teams have been set, with Pro Sports Therapy and CSA Graphics outside of the required top seven spots.
Floral Arts 27 - Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 11
Floral Arts defeated the Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs on Sunday evening, 27-11, in five innings. Floral's relentless attack produced 33 hits in four innings, including seven home runs. Floral hit five three-run homers, a two-run shot, and a solo in the contest. Hitting home runs for Floral were Simon Tripp, Geoff Pavao, Ryan Dunn, Matt Critch, Jim Peolquin, Mike Alonardo, and Rob Beaudette. Critch pitched a fine game and benefited from some great defense, including a nice running catch by Chad Kirby in right field and a diving play at second by Ken Delaney. The win moves Floral into sole possession of first place.
Drew Farms 22 - Burton's Grill 9
Drew Farms showed why they earned a spot in the playoffs soundly beating Burton's Grill by the run-rule 22-9. Drews hit early and often and Burton's lackluster offense simply couldn't keep up. Raghu Mantena was a highlight for Burton's going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI and a blast over the center field fence. Jerry Breen, 4-for-4, three runs scored, two home runs, two RBI and Rick Waldron 3-for-3, and one RBI also contributed in the Burton's loss.
Willis Tent 21 - CSA Graphics 13
A couple no-shows left CSA Graphics playing Willis Tent short-handed, but the gritty last-place team held their own for most of the game. After a slow start through three innings, CSA fell behind 7-0. The offense came alive in the fourth and fifth innings, leading to an 8-8 tie game. Willis got hot in the sixth, aided by some CSA errors, and scored 11 in the top of the inning. CSA responded with five in the bottom, but a no-run seventh inning left them on the losing end of the game. Everyone for CSA had multiple hits, but nothing bigger than a double. Leading the way was Billy Ryan who went 5-for-5.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 20 - Shortcut Landscaping 5
Lefty Jack Erickson led the Mustangs' offense with three hits, including two home run bombs and five RBI. Erickson also made a tremendous sliding catch in left field. Fellow southpaws Mark Cusano (2-for-2, home run, two walks, three RBI, three runs scored) and Cormac Bordes also added home run blasts. Righty slugger Keith Reynolds chipped in with a towering home run of his own. Mike Kennedy had three hits and a couple of outstanding plays at shortstop. Jim Ward and Jay Lincoln each had two hits and two walks apiece and Ward made a nice leaping catch at the fence. Craig Smith had two hits and the play of the year with a diving catch of a foul popup behind the plate.
Burton's Grill 15 - Willis Tent 2
Burton's responded well coming off of a couple of bad games to defeat Willis Tent by the run-rule 15-2. Eric Pasters, filling in at short stop for Burton's, made an ESPN-worthy diving stop and then throwing the runner out at first. Pasters also contributed two RBI at the plate. Eric Cataline, 3-for-4, two RBI, two runs scored and several nice catches made in left center field. Dave Batchelder added three RBI and pitcher Jerod Colley was 3-for-4 with two RBI. The bottom of the order, Mantena, Lenicheck, Haley and Morano combined for nine runs scored, 9-for-11 at the plate and four RBI in the vistory.
Pro Sports Therapy 27 - Burton's Grill 14
Pro Sports Therapy ended the season with five run-rule games, three wins and two losses but surely showed in this one the type of team they can be. PST defeated playoff bound Burton's handily, 27-14. Lead-off hitter Ryan Steele going 6-for-6 (including two home runs and a double) with seven RBI including the game-ender, and four runs scored; a Brian Dubey home run; Ben Armstrong with two home runs and six RBI; Derek Donegan with four hits; a Mark Pelosky mammoth home run; and venerable bench coach Gary Royal ending the season with a 4-for-5 performance including a triple, and scoring four runs- including the final one to end the game. Burton's contributors included Tim Scott 3-for-3 two runs cored and two RBI, Jerry Breen, three runs scored and two RBI. John Geary 3-for-3, three RBI and one run scored, Dave Batchelder knocked in two runs and the returning Brian Collamore was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the loss. Burton's was missing four of their top hitters in this one but PST deserved this win any way you look at it.
Floral Arts 17 - Short Cut Landscaping 11
On Tuesday, Floral beat Shortcut Landscaping, 17-10. Larry Mardany pitched a masterful game against the hard-hitting SCL. Chad Kirby played well in left-center and went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a three-run homer. Rob Beaudette also homered in the game.
Floral Arts 25 - Pro Sports Therapy 9
On Wednesday, Floral Arts earned its 20th win of the season (20-3) in a 25-9 win over Pro Sports Therapy. Floral scored six in the first and 14 in the second inning, then cruised (despite some defensive hiccups) to a 25-9 victory. Larry Mardany, Jim Peloquin, Mark Chambers, Chad Kirby (inside the park) and Simon Tripp (two) hit homers for Floral. Kirby amassed five hits in the game. Mardany pitched well for Floral. PST offensive high lights included back-to-back home runs from Ben Armstrong and Brian Dubey.
2017 Play-Off Seedings and Schedule Announced
With the conclusion of the 2017, the Play-off seedings have been set. The defending champion Mustangs, with a win in extra innings over Floral Arts in their last game of the regular season, took the #1 seed and the bye based on the first tie-breaker (3-1 in head-to-head competition). Floral will be the second seed and open the post-season in the first game on Tuesday night, August 22nd, at 6:30 against Healy Oil.
The second game will feature the #3 seed Short Cut Landscaping facing the #6 Seed, Drew Farms at 7:45. Healy and Drews were tied at 8-16, with Drews taking the higher seed. Again, this tie was broked with the head-to-head results, where Drews prevailed based on a 2-1 record against Healy's this season.
In the 3rd game of the night, a 9 PM start, 4th seed Willis Tent will face the #5 seed Burton's Grill.
Each series is a best of 3 games- the first with 2 wins advances.
The Mustangs await the three teams that advance- with the second round scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 27th. This second round, along with the Finals, will be a best of 5 series.
The Mustangs received their third loss of the season this week but remain firmly in first and far outpace the rest in runs scored. Floral Arts, also with three losses, is playing strong and owns the number two position. Healy Oil is playing very well and has done a nice job securing a playoff spot. Drew Farms and Pro Sports Therapy are grabbing any win they can down the stretch to capture the final opening.
Burton's Grill 18 - Nashoba Valley Mustangs 17
Burton's Grill earned a walk off win over the first place Mustangs in what was a back and forth, run-trading affair. Burton's scored six runs in the first inning highlighted by home runs by Charlie Chungu (2), Jon Russo (1) and Dave Batchelder (1). Burton's scored another four runs in the third bringing the score to Mustangs 11 and Burtons 10. Murph McKeon and Charlie Chungu hit back-to-back home runs in the frame. Both teams scored two each in the fourth and sixth to keep it close and this one was clearly going to come down to the wire. Luke Boulanger hit a clutch blast in the bottom half of the sixth to continue his torrid hitting. The Mustangs posted important runs in the top of the seventh and Burtons came to bat, down three, against one of the best defensive teams in the league. Jerry Breen (three runs scored) hit a single followed by singles from McKeon (3-for-4 three runs scored, two RBI), and Chungu (4-for-4, three runs scored, four RBI). The next two batters popped out, leaving Burton's still down three with the bases loaded and two outs. Dave Batchelder hit a single and knocked in a run, John Geary hit another single that scored two more and tied it up at 17. Jerod Colley confidently then swung at the first pitch he saw, sending it to the right side of the field and scoring the winning run from third for a Burton's 18-17 win.
Healy Oil 16 - Burton's Grill 9
Fresh off of their win over the number one Mustangs, Burton's came out flat and ran into a offensive and defensive juggernaut in Healy Oil. Healy, with two outs in the first, mounted the first of many multiple run innings with a grand slam and an early lead they would not relinquish. Home runs came from Tony Pantoja (two), Nick Wilmot (two), Brian Herrmann, Matt Dowling and Bill Eaton. Nick Wilmot (4-for-4) provided a good mix of pitches while being protected by solid defensive plays from Matt Dowling in left, Tony Pantoja at short and Wayne Meadows at third. Colin MacDonald went 3-for-3 despite suffering a knee injury early in the game. Burton's got a home run from Jerod Colley and Luke Boulanger was 2-for-2 with two runs scored in the loss. Mike Jerzlyo was also on twice for Burtons.
Pro Sports Therapy 25 - CSA Graphics 1
This was the game between the two teams who are currently not qualified for the play-offs. And, it may have been the least attended game in the history of the league - ten guys on each side and an umpire. The next closest human was probably at the Franco American nearby. PST got 15 runs in the first to top their season per game average in that one inning and it was 4-3-3 in their next three innings before the run-rule was enforced. Dave Chirokas threw a gem, only giving up one run in the fourth. All ten players contributed offensively, highlighted by the season debut of outfielder Tom Rose (4-for-5 with four RBI, four runs scored, and a home run off the light pole that is still rising). Ben Armstrong (4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored), Donald Slate (home run and seven RBI), Jeff Fuller (double, triple, and four RBI), and Derek Donegan with a home run. The PST defense was highlighted by a gem of a play on a shot down the line by Tim Schutt at third.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 22 - Drew Farms 9
Bill Knute is rounding back into shape and ripped two long home runs with seven RBI to lead the Mustangs over Drews. Fellow slugger Don Cusano contributed four hits, including one home run, five RBI, and a nice diving catch in right. Jim Ward and Paul Selfrige (home run) both added four hits and three runs scored apiece from their top two spots in the order to set the table. Jack Erickson and Mike Kennedy both chipped in with home run blasts for the winners while Brian Foley and winning pitcher Paul Liguori both had three hits. Foley made a nice play at catcher, as well.
Healy Oil 13 - CSA Graphics 5
Healy's defense helped out pitcher Nick Wilmot in Wednesday's game with solid plays by Tony Pantoja at short and Wayne Meadows occupying third. Matt Dowling continues to shine in left with a few inning ending shoelace catches with runners in scoring position. Going deep for Healy was Tony Pantoja, Nick Wilmot, Wayne Meadows and Bill Eaton in the win. CSA Graphics was unable to get into the swing of things and was unable to achieve more than two hits in any of the first five innings of the game. Healy chipped away continuously to maintain a lead throughout. CSA's Mike Cioffi led-off the second inning with a solo home run, and then CSA did not score again until the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Derek MacDermott. After six innings, Healy had a comfortable 13-2 lead. CSA tried to mount an attack in the seventh inning, scoring three runs, but left the bases loaded to end the game.
Short Cut Landscaping 29 - CSA Graphics 23
A good old fashioned pitching duel between Short Cut Landscaping and CSA Graphics, ending in a 29 to 23 victory for SCL. The scoring was early and often. CSA kept pace with SCL early, scoring seven runs in the first inning and then three more in the second. Short Cuts continued to post runs, benefited from many errors on the CSA side, and maintained a lead throughout. In the fourth inning CSA clawed back, scoring eight, but then again had a quiet fifth inning. SCL eventually reached the home run maximum, but padded their lead in the top of the seventh inning, yielding a comfortable 11 run advantage. CSA scored four in the final frame, which was not enough. While every CSA Graphics player had at least one hit, offensive highlights were Jim DeMarco (4-for-5 with two, two-run home runs), Bill Cullen (4-for-5, including a grand slam), Billy Ryan (5-for-5), and Bob Cullen (three-run homer).
Willis Tent 8 - Healy Oil 5
Healy Oil lost to Willis Tent 8-5 on Sunday's opening game to start the night. Healy, scoreless after the first three innings, tried to rally in the seventh but fell short. Nick Wilmot had a two-run shot over center in the fourth and Dave O'Keefe added another two-run home run over left in the seventh for Healy in the loss.
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