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A couple of "firsts" were experienced this week in Westford Over 30 Softball as the mighty Mustangs went down to the run-rule allowing the Short Cut Landscaping squad to put up 30 runs against them. And Pro Sports Therapy, sitting in last place, posted 30 runs of their own against eighth place Healy Oil, also winning by the run-rule. With just three weeks left in the regular season, the seventh, and final, playoff spot is still up for grabs between the teams currently in sixth thru ninth place.
Willis Tent 6 - CSA Graphics 4
CSA scored two in the first inning courtesy of a Bill Ryan (3-for-3 on the game) two-run homer, and then added two more runs on a collection of singles in the second frame. Solid defense across the outfield from Jim Coveno, Bill Ryan, Zak Smolkin, and Dave Luro allowed CSA to keep a 4-2 lead over Willis until the late innings when Willis posted four runs to take the lead. CSA would not score again.
Floral Arts 9 - Burton's Grill 6
Floral Arts improved its regular season record to 16-3 with a 9-6 win against Burton's on Tuesday night. Jim Peloquin played a fantastic shortstop for Floral while going 2-for-3 at the plate and knocking out two home runs. Ken Delaney, Mike Alonardo, and Ryan Dunn also homered. Larry Mardany pitched well, keeping Burton's from hitting any homers. Burton's pitcher Rick Waldren did a great job of mixing his pitches and keeping Floral batters off balance throughout the game. Burton's Brian Haley had two RBI for Burtons in the loss.
Pro Sports Therapy 30 - Healy Oil 8
In a renewal of one of the storied rivalries in the league, a 12 run PST outburst in the top of the first inning provided a hole that the Oilers could not dig themselves out of; highlighted by a vintage pitching performance by long time PST ace Dave Chirokas. Chirokas tossed a gem, with the only blemish being a six-run rally in the fourth spearheaded by Bill Eaton and Brian Hermann home runs for Healy. Chirokas also provided inspiration at the plate, crushing a third inning pitch for his first home run since 2014.
In this run-rule shortened affair, all ten PST batters had a hit and scored at least two runs. All but one also drove in a run. Slate led the PST squad with two dingers (both in the first inning) among his four hits and nine RBI. Ryan Steele also had a huge night with two home runs, five hits, four runs scored, and four RBI. Ben Armstrong had five hits, scored five runs, and drove in four. Brian Dubey was on base all night and scored five runs, including a rocket of a home run. Steve Sawyer, had a home run among his four hits, scored three times and drove in four. He also made two highlight sliding catches in the outfield to support Chirokas defensively. Tim Schutt also posted a solid 4-for-4 effort.
Shortcuts Landscaping 30 - Nashoba Valley Mustangs 17
Jack Erickson (four RBI) and Don Cusano had two homers apiece to try to keep the Mustangs offense afloat against the bashers from Shortcuts, 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," stated veteran Dan Crogan.
With two-thirds of the season completed, the Mustangs remain on top with only one loss at 15-1. Floral Arts is also having a strong season and sits firmly in second place at 15-3. Short Cut Landscaping and Burton's Grill are 11-5 and 10-6 respectively and are in third and fourth place. Willis Tent at 9-6 is the only remaining team with a winning record and is in the fifth spot. The top seven teams earn a playoff berth and the final four teams are each firmly in contention for those two coveted positions. Important games this week include Healy Oil versus Drew Farms and again when Healy plays Pro Sports Therapy.
Floral Arts 16 - Pro Sports Therapy 12
Pro Sports Therapy battled hard and put a scare into second place powerhouse Floral Arts but the stronger team prevailed in the end. Matt Critch and Simon Tripp homered for the winners, who scored five runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth to provide the margin of victory. Pro Sports used the long ball to score three runs in four separate innings including two home runs from Ryan Steele and one from Brian Dubey.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 21 - Burton's Grill 7
Last week's Cy Young pitching for Burton's Jerod Colley ran into the Mustangs' southpaw sluggers who combined for five of the seven team home runs and 13 RBI in the win. Bill Knute (4-for-4, two home runs, including a grandslam, seven RBI) and Cormac Bordes (4-for-4, two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored were the leaders of the surge. Fellow lefty Jack Erickson added a home run of his own, along with righties Don Cusano (three hits) and Keith Reynolds. Mark Cusano chipped in with three hits and gunned out a speedy Burton's hitter from right field trying to stretch a single into a double. The Mustangs turned three infield double plays to end potential run scoring innings each time. Burton's were missing their regular three thru six hitters and lacked the power needed to keep up with the Mustangs. Murph McKeon contributed as always going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Lefty Jerry Breen launched another team leading home run, Jason Lenicheck hit his first career home run as part of his 3-for-3, two RBI night. Kieran Murray also went 2-for-2 for Burtons in the loss.
Willis Tent 15 - Pro Sports Therapy 9
Pro Sports hung tough early: leading 3-1 in the first, 3-3 after two, and went up 7-5 after three innings. Then, the bats went quiet, at least on the PST side as the Willis' youth put up five in the fourth and four more in the sixth to pull away while PST could only get two more the rest of the way. PST got two hits from a bunch of players, but simply not enough in slow pitch softball to win. Ben Armstrong was the offensive leader again with a double and home run and two RBI. PST also got a home run and two RBI each from Ryan Steele, Brian Dubey, and Donald Slate. Willis game standouts were Justin Swanson going 3-for-3 with three home runs, one ruled a single because of the 7 HR rule limit, Roger Nield 3-for-3 with a single and two home runs, Rick Devanna 3-for-3 with three singles. Also contributing to the Willis win with home runs were John Luttati and John Beebe.
Burton's Grill 15 - CSA Graphics 2
Burton's tenth win of the season was another run-rule victory, three in Burton's last four games. CSA played tough the whole way but Burton's was able to chip away with a few runs every inning to close it out after six. Leadoff hitter Tim Scott was 4-for 4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Kieran Murray kept up his torrid hitting with a triple and two runs scored on his perfect 3-for-3 night. Eric Cataline scored three times and had three RBI, Jerry Breen knocked in two more runs including the run-rule game winner and Dave Batchelder hit a three-run home run. Rick Waldron scored twice and Luke Boulanger, making his first appearance of the year, shook of the cobwebs and went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored to win the game MVP.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 14- Pro Sports Therapy 5
Veteran Mustang's slugger Don Cusano blasted three home runs (eight RBI, three runs scored) to lead the Mustangs to victory after an early deficit to PST. Jack Erickson set the table from the two hole with three hits, three runs scored and one RBI. Paul Selfrige blasted a leadoff home run of his own in the bottom of the first after PST's leadoff batter Ben Armstrong launched one to start the game. Long time Mustang Brian Foley came off the reserve list to chip in with a single, an RBI, a run scored and two nice plays at catcher. Armstrong went 3-for-4 for PST with a double and home run. Brian Dubey and Mark Pelosky also had home runs for PST in the loss. PST scored in the first to grab an early lead and scored again in the third to take the lead for the second time. Unfortunately PST didn’t score again until the Mustangs were up 14-4.
Short Cuts Landscaping 21 - Healy Oil 8
Healy Oil lost to SCL on the only Friday night game of the week, 21-8. With both of Healy's pitchers out, Bill Eaton filled in holding SCL to just one run after four innings. Defensive plays and strong fielding and hustle from Matt Dowling and Brian Herrmann in left / left center kept Healy in this one early. Healy lead 8-5 going into the bottom of the fifth with a three run home run over center from Bill Eaton. However, SCL exploded in the fifth putting up 14 and ended any hopes of a Healy rally. Credit the Oilers with one of the finest (and most boistrous) alumni sections seen at VFW Field in a long while.
Floral Arts 17 - Willis Tent 2
Floral Pitcher Larry Mardany had quite a game as he carried a shutout into Willis’ last at bat, and contributed two home runs at the plate. Jim Peloquin made a handful of sparkling plays in the field to help thwart the Willis offense and Mike Alonardo and Simon Tripp added home runs of their own. Justin Swanson broke up the shut out with a two run bomb for Willis in the fifth.
Drew Farms 20 - Pro Sports Therapy 7
Drew Farms needed a win as they claw for a playoff spot with the season winding down. They got this one beating PST with a run-rule win 20-7. Drews hit the game-max seven home runs and an eighth that counted as a single. Jeff Fuller went 3-for-3 with his first home run of the season and scored three of the PST seven runs. Brian Dubey had a big three-run bomb in the first to give usPST an early lead that didn't hold up.
Coming out of the midseason break, several teams continued where they left off posting strong wins and scoring lots of runs. The Nashoba Valley Mustangs and Floral Arts still sit one and two at the top of the standings but Short Cuts Landscaping, Burton's Grill and Willis Tent are all having a strong season thus far. With seven of the nine teams making the playoffs this year, the fight for the last two spots between Drew Farms, CSA Graphics and Healy Oil will be heated.
Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 23 - Healy Oil 2
Winning pitcher Paul Liguori kept his four year winning streak alive on the mound for the Mustangs, only allowing two runs in the last inning to narrowly miss a shutout performance. He was backed by solid Mustang defense and balanced hitting throughout the lineup. The last four sluggers at the bottom of the Mustang order combined for nine hits, seven runs scored, and 12 RBI in the five inning game. Ligouri helped himself with two hits, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI. Craig Smith had three hits, three runs scored, four RBI. Dan Crogan added two hits, a sacrifice fly and four RBI, while Scott Lawrence had two hits and two RBI. The meat of the order also contributed with home run blasts from Paul Selfrige and Bill Knute. Cormac Bordes and Don Cusano chipped in with three hits apiece. Outfielders Jim Ward and Jack Erickson made nice catches for the Mustangs, along with the usual steady play at shortstop by Selfrige. Nick Wilmot pitched well in limiting Mustangs home runs and Colin MacDonald pitched in relief and started a 1-6-3 double play in the loss.
Floral Arts 13 - Shortcuts Landscaping 10
On Tuesday night Floral Arts fell behind early to Shortcuts Landscaping until some seventh and eighth inning heroics by pitcher Matt Critch led Floral to the 13-10 victory. Critch earned his third win of the season on the mound while swatting two three-run homers and knocking in six. SCL scored three runs in the first inning, and Floral answered with two runs in the top of the second (Simon Tripp hit a two-run homer). Floral got a solo homer by Rob Beaudette in the fifth, and then two runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-5 when Critch homered to give Floral the 8-7 lead. But SCL tied it in the bottom of the seventh. In extra innings, Geoff Pavao scored a runner on a sacrifice fly to deep right center to pull ahead by one, and then Critch and Ryan Dunn each homered to make the score 13-8. SCL scored twice in the bottom of the eighth and the game ended a final score of 13-10.
Burton's Grill 21 - Pro Sports Therapy 3
Burton's scored 11 runs in their first at bat before an out was recorded and never looked back in a decisive 21-3 run-rule victory over PST. Burton's reached seven home run limit with blasts by Tim Scott (2), Gerry Breen (2), Mike Santiano (1), Charlie Chungo (2). Scott was also 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Santiano contributed four RBI and Breen had five. Brian Haley was 2-for-3, two runs scored and Eric Cataline 4-for-4. Jerrod Coley pitched another gem and Dave Batchelder turned a nice unassisted double-play at first. Brian Haley was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and two-runs scored and Murph McKeon was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. For PST, Ben Armstrong continues his outstanding season, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two of PST three RBI. Both Andrew Fletcher (2-for-2) and Mark Pelosky were on base each opportunity they got.
Burton's Grill 17 - Willis Tent 0
Burton's posted back-to-back run rule wins coming out of the mid-season break shutting out Willis Tent in five innings, and just 38 minutes, 17-0. Jerrod Colley pitched a masterpiece allowing only four hits over the five innings. Burton's has outpaced their opponents 38-3 over the last two games and is in the midst of a record win-streak after many "rebuilding" years. Burtons again posted an 11-run inning in the second getting contributions across the lineup. Tim Scott, batting leadoff, went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Gerry Breen, walloped yet another two home runs and had six RBI after just two at bats. Dave Batchelder, 2-for-3, two RBI, two home runs and two runs scored took exception to some trash talk and responded with his second blast. Raghu Mantena was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and lefty Kieran Murray was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Burton's highlights included Charlie Chungo at short who at one time made six put-outs in a row. Batchelder also played well at first with an error-saving scoop for an out.
Floral Arts 16 - Pro Sports Therapy 12
PST played a great Floral Arts squad tough but came up shortin the end 16-12. Up by three in top of first and held a lead until the Floral Arts big guns finally started to put some runs on the board. Floral got five in the fourth and six in the fifth and Pro Sport's three runs every other inning simply wasn't enough. Second year stud Brian Dubey, 4-for-4 with a double and a homerun and four RBI. Ryan Steele, who bounced back from a tough start to the second half, had three hits (including 2 home runs), four runs scored, and five RBI. Ben Armstrong and Tim Schutt also posted three hits each in the loss.
Tonight’s games have been postponed due to the weather. These 3 games will be played on Sunday, July 23rd, as follows.
5:15 Short Cut Landscaping @ Mustangs
6:30 CSA Graphics @ Willis Tent
7:45 Healy Oil @ Drew Farms
Please note that the make-up game originally scheduled between Healy Oil and CSA Graphics on this date has now been moved to Sunday, 7/30, at 6:30 PM.
Burton's Grill 10 - Healy Oil 3
The real MVP of this game was a bin of Speedy-Dry and a bunch of rakes to make the field playable after Tuesday's heavy rain. Burtons got another great pitching performance from Jerod Colley who gave up only three runs. Offensively Kieran Murray, Rick Waldron, Raghu Mantena and Greg Fitzgerald each had two hits and an RBI while Jerry Breen hit the lone Burton's home run of the night.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 20 - Shortcuts Landscaping 1
Mustangs jumped out to 13-0 lead after two innings in this rain interrupted game and never looked back. Winning pitcher Don Cusano led the charge (3-for-3, walk, two home runs, three RBI, four runs scored) for the Mustangs but received plenty of support. Baby brother Mark Cusano added three hits, including a homerun. Jack Erickson (four RBI) and Paul Selfridge (three runs scored) each blasted home runs to help the cause. Mike Kennedy chipped in with three hits and Dan Crogan added two hits, two runs scored, and three RBI and they combined to turn another outstanding infield double play to end an inning. Erickson made a tremendous sliding catch in left field that turned into another double play for the winners.
Floral Arts 15 - Healy Oil 2
Floral Arts defeated Healy Oil, 15-2, in five innings on Wednesday night. Matt Critch got his second win of the season on the mound. Critch, who has allowed only two runs in two games, also went 2-for-3 at bat, with a two-run homer. Floral also got homers from Jim Peloquin and Simon Trip (two). Tripp and Peloquin each made several nice plays in the infield. Mark Chambers played well at second base and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Floral Arts enters the mid-season break with an 11-3 record, good for second place.
CSA Graphics 11 - Drew Farms 10
This was a close game throughout, with a few lead changes. CSA Graphics set the table in the first with Josh Haskins (2-for-3, one run scored) and Jim DeMarco (2-for-3, three runs scored, one RBI) followed by a Jonathan Ring home run. Ring went 4-for-4 in the game with three runs scored, and five RBI. After Drew's battled back, CSA started the third inning with singles from DeMarco and Ring, followed by a three-run blast from Bill Cullen. Needing more runs again in the fourth inning, CSA had singles from Zak Smolkin and Sean Troy who both later scored. CSA added another run in the fifth inning with a lead-off solo home run off the bat of Mike Cioffi. Drew's kept pace, however, and had a one-run lead going into the seventh inning. After a couple of singles, Bill Cullen struck again, providing a ground-rule double that gave CSA a one-run lead, and then closed-things out from the mound with a 1-2-3 inning.
Nashoba Valley Mustangs 17 - Drew Farms 9
Don Cusano led the winning offense going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and four RBI. Mike Kennedy added four hits and three RBI. Paul Selfridge (home run) and Cormac Bordes chipped in with three hits apiece. Mark Cusano and Scott Lawrence also hit long balls for the winners. Outfielders Jim Ward and Mark Cusano made great catches while infielder Cormac Bordes made a great play at second and the Mustangs turned their customary double play to back winning pitcher Paul Liguori.
Willis Tent 16 - Healy Oil 8
Healy took an early three run lead in the first inning but Willis scored two runs in the second and four in the fourth leaving Willis with a 6 to 5 lead over Healy. Willis would add ten more runs to their total taking a 16 to 5 lead into the bottom of the seventh . Willis defense would hold Healy to just three runs in the bottom of the seventh securing a Willis 16 to 8 win over Healy.
Willis game standouts were, Roger Neild going 5-for-5 with three singles, a double and a home run, Kurt Andjus 4-for-5 with three singles and a home run, Paul Duato 3-for-4 with a single, two home runs and a base on balls, Dennis Kane 3-for-5 with a single and two home runs, and John Lutatti 3-for-4 with a single, a double and a home run. Rick Devanna also contributed to the Willis win with a home run.
Willis Tent 22 - Short Cuts Landscaping 19
Willis exploded for 19 runs in the first three innings with the help of two grand slams. All the while Willis pitcher Paul Duato backed by a solid defense held Short Cuts to three scoreless innings. However, Short Cuts came charging back with 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Short Cuts continued to pick away at the Willis lead for the rest of the game and heading into the seventh inning it was Willis 22, Short Cuts 18. in the bottom of the 7th, Willis defense held Short Cuts to just one run. Willis wins over Short Cut 22 to 19.
Contributing to the Willis win were, Justin Swanson going 4-for-4 with three singles and a grand slam home run, Kurt Andjus 3-for-4 with a single and two home runs (one being a grand slam), John Lutatti 3-for-4 with three singles, Kevin Adolph 3-for-5 with three singles and Paul Duato 2-for-3 with 1one single a home run and a base on balls. Also contributing with Willis Tent home runs were Roger Neild, Brian Gallardo and John Beebe.
Short Cuts landscaping 11 - CSA Graphics 9
CSA Graphics took advantage of Short Cuts only having nine fielders in the first inning, and jumped to a quick 4-0 lead, with back-to-back doubles from Josh Haskin and Jim DeMarco to start the game, and then a single from Jonathan Ring, followed by a three-run homer off Bill Cullen's bat. Short Cuts got their tenth player, closed the gap, and the game was close the remainder of the way. The rest of the scoring for CSA game off a DeMarco hit and Ring two-run homer, and then singles by Jim Coveno, PJ Browne, Dave Luro, Bob Cullen, and sacrifice flies from Derek MacDermott and Haskin. CSA had a one-run lead going into the seventh, but Short Cuts scored three, and CSA had no response in the bottom frame.
CSA Graphics 8 - Pro Sports Therapy 6
CSA Graphics jumped to a quick lead, scoring five runs in the first inning, and added three more in the third inning. Jim Coveno (2-for-3, one run), Jonathan Ring (2-for-3, double, two runs, one RBI), Jim DeMarco (2-for-3, double, two runs, three RBI), Billy Ryan (3-for-3, double, one run, two RBI), and Darren Wizst (two sacrifice flies) led the offensive for CSA. PST bounced back to keep the game close and CSA could only muster two hits in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Although the CSA bats fell silent, their defense preserved the win... led by great stops and scoops from Bob Cullen and Derek MacDermott at first base, and a couple sharp stabs at third base by Zak Smolkin. For PST, Steve Sawyer deserved credit for pitching a good game, only giving up three runs after CSA's five run outburst in the first. Offensively, Jeff Fuller led the PST squad with two doubles in the loss.
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