Westford Over-30 Slow-Pitch Softball

Healy Oil and Drew Farms are both putting on a nice end-of-season push to grab the two final playoff spots.  Both are putting distance between themselves and the teams in eighth and ninth position with only a handful of games remaining.  At the other end, the Nashoba Valley Mustangs and Floral Arts are in a race for the top spot and a bye in round one.  Short Cut looks to be a lock in third while Willis Tent and Burtons fight for fourth and fifth, while, in either case, they will face off against each other in round one.

Healy Oil 19 - CSA Graphics 10

There were signs of this one being a slug-fest as Healy posted five runs in both the first and second innings, and CSA Graphics batted through their line-up in the first, amassing seven runs.  However, while Healy continued to score in spurts, CSA did not keep pace. Offensively for CSA, Tim Piwowar, Darren Wizst, Zak Smolkin, and Dave Luro all hit doubles and scored runs.  Josh Haskin was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Jim DeMarco was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run, and two RBI.

Mustangs 20 - Willis Tent 7 

The Mustangs bounced back from their run-rule loss to bash seven home runs and defeat Willis Tent. The Mustangs scored 13 runs over the first two innings and never looked back. Jack Erickson continued his torrid hitting with two more home run blasts, including a grand slam and seven RBI.  Other home run hitters were Paul Selfrige, Mike Kennedy, Mark Cusano, Cormac Bordes, and Don Cusano.  Jim Ward and Bill Knute made their return to game action and contributed offensively and defensively.  Ward tracked down numerous fly balls at the left center field fence and Knute chipped in with two hits and made a great tag at the plate on a throw from Jack Erickson in left.

Healy Oil 15 - CSA Graphics 14

CSA Graphics, as they have done most games this year, had their bats early with first inning home runs from Jim DeMarco, Jonathan Ring, and Zak Smolkin.  Healy matched the scoring in the bottom half of the frame, resulting in a 4-4 tie after one.  CSA went quiet at the plate for the next two innings, and Healy pulled ahead 9-4 after three.  In the fourth inning, CSA bounced back, batting through their nine man lineup and scoring eight runs.  Jonathan Ring (4-for-5 on the night) had his second home run of the game and just about everyone else for CSA had a single in the inning.  Healy managed to counter and bring the score to a 12-12 tie.  In the fifth inning, hits from Adam Hickey (3-for-5), Zak Smolkin (3-for-5 with three RBI), and PJ Browne (5-for-5, two RBI) put CSA back on top 14-12.  Healy again responded in the bottom half with three runs, taking a 15-14 lead.  Jim DeMarco (4-for-5, three RBI) led off the sixth with a single, but the inning would end with his pinch runner trying to score from third on a 6-4 fielder's choice, getting gunned down at the plate.  CSA left the bases loaded in the seventh. In this back and forth affair,  Healy had a great defensive play by Dan Nucci at home from a Darren Dupre relay.  Matt Dowling had two clutch homers, while both Brian Hermann and David "Pokey" Cannistraro chipped in with one each.

Floral Arts 26- Drew Farms 25

Floral Arts overcame a 12-run deficit against Drew Farms on Friday night to win a tight one, 26-25. In the fifth inning, Drew Farms had two outs, was up by 12 runs, and the runner on second was the potential run that would earn Drews a coveted run-rule win.  But Floral got the needed third out and a chance to bat. Floral scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth, and by the seventh inning had tied the game at 24. In the extra inning, Drew Farms went ahead by one run, but in the bottom of the seventh, Rob Beaudette singled, Roger Whittlesey walked, Jim Peloquin singled and scored Beaudette to tie the game while Whittlesey moved to third. Simon Tripp then hit the first pitch over the fence for a single (Floral had already reached the maximum seven home runs allowed), but that was enough to score Whittlesey and earn the win. Beaudette had a monster game at the plate, going 6-for-7 with two home runs and seven RBI, Tripp also had two homers, scored four runs and knocked in five, Whittlesey hit two home runs, scored four runs, and notched three RBI, and Ken Delaney also homered for Floral. Peloquin pitched in relief in the fifth and only allowed three runs thereafter. 

Short Cut Landscaping 30 - Nashoba Valley Mustangs 17

In a game that happened last week, but didn't get the write-up it deserved, Short Cut picked up a huge win against league leading
Mustangs by slugging thirteen home runs. Chris Clark led way with four home runs, followed by  Mike Gross , Donny Morash, and Brent Oakleaf with two each and Jay Humphrey , Bobby McCormack, and Patrick Flaherty with one homer apiece. Steve Jacobsmeier had a clutch double and Rich Acabbo and Donny Aiken had four hits each. Rob Prendergast had four hits and pitched well enough to improve to 4-0 on the season.  Jack Erickson (four RBI) and Don Cusano had two homers apiece to try to keep the Mustangs offense afloat against the bashers from Short Cut, but it wasn't enough.  Jay Lincoln and Mike Kennedy also homered in the loss and Dr. Paul Liguori had three hits and two RBI. The Mustangs' usual solid defense was sloppy and almost non-existent in their worst played game in years.

Willis Tent 20 - Pro Sports Therapy 6

PST fell to Willis in a barrage of bombs, 20-6 in just five innings.  Willis hit their seven (and what seemed like many more), with the last one being the walk off in the bottom of fifth.  Everyone had a big night for Willis offensively in the win.  PST failed to make a couple of plays that they needed in order to stay in it and had a pretty quiet night offensively. PST was led by a three-run bomb by Derek Donegan and the performance of venerable coach Gary Royal, who went 2-for-2, scoring both times and driving in a run.  

Short Cut Landscaping 25 - Burton's Grill 12

Short Cut played an all round solid game and beat a flat Burton's team 25-12 enacting the run rule in the sixth. Short Cut reached, and exceeded the maximum allowed home runs in the win.  Burton's made some mental errors both on the bases and in the field in the final inning to aid in the loss.  Burton's hitters of note included Jerry Breen 2-for-3, with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI, Greg Fitzgerald was 3-for-3 as was Dave Batchhelder.  Charlie Chungu, Tim Scott and John Geary were all 2-for-3 in the effort with runs scored.  Luke Boulanger again was solid at the plate going 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI.