Westford Over-30 Slow-Pitch Softball

With another Mustangs championship win, the menu will be set for next year's opening day cookout.  The Mustangs outlasted a bunch of tough competition along the way and yet again proved how good they are.  Winning in a five-game series, the Mustangs beat a very good Floral Arts team that certainly proved they deserved to be in the final series.

Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 22 - Floral Arts 14

The Mustangs won an important game three with offensive contributions by Cormac Bordes with two home runs,  Paul Selfrige, Mark Cusano, Don Cusano, Billy Knute and Jack Erickson all with a home run as well. Mike Kennedy and Keith Reynolds added four hits apiece.  Kennedy helped turn a double play in the  infield and Jim Ward played great in the outfield for winners.

Floral Arts 29 - Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 20

Floral Arts roared back for the win and to force a game five.  Paul Selfrige, Mike Kennedy (seven RBI), and Cormac Bordes (five RBI) all had to home runs apiece in the losing effort.  Mark Cusano added another home run blast.  Jim Ward had four hits and Dan Crogan had three knocks and outstanding defense at second base. Bill Knute made several great running catches in left.

Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 14 - Floral Arts 2

The Mustangs dedicated their season to their late former teammate and skipper, Nat Arena.

They had to overcome their toughest test yet to capture their fifth straight championship and seventh in nine years.  The champs had to win their last two regular season games against second seeded Floral Arts and third seeded Shortcuts to secure the only first round playoff bye.  Then, they faced two separate series deficits against a very talented upstart Burton's squad to squeak out a five game victory in the semifinals.  Lastly, they lost the finals opener to a powerful Floral Arts team and had to overcome that deficit along with power outages, shaky weather and numerous injuries to pull out the tight game five victory.

In the final game Cormac Bordes led the offensive charge with  two more bombs to make it six for the series, same as his total in the semi final round.  Don Cusano pitched outstanding and caught a bullet line drive to end the game and the series in the last inning. He helped himself with two home runs.  Baby brother Mark Cusano added a long homerun, as well.  Bill Knute added three hits and a bomb of his own.  Paul Ligouri had two big hits.  Craig Smith had a clutch double.  Paul Selfrige played great defense at short and added a double to lead off the game.