Westford Over-30 Slow-Pitch Softball

The 2006 playoff schedule has been revised due to the weather forcing games to be rescheduled from Wednesday, August 30 and Tuesday, September 5. Tuesday, September 5 Make up games First Round (Best of 3 Series) Wednesday, September 6 6:30 Mario's Restaurant @ 3rd Place Team 7:45 5th Place Team @ 4th Place Team Friday, September 8 6:30 4th Place Team @ 5th Place Team 7:45 3rd Place Team @ Mario's Restaurant Sunday, September 10 5:30 Mario's Restaurant @ 3rd Place Team (IF NECESSARY) 6:45 5th Place Team @ 4th Place Team (IF NECESSARY) Second Round (Best of 5 Series) Tuesday, September 12 6:30 Lowest Remaining Seed @ Z's Sports Shop 7:45 Highest Remaining Seed @ 2nd Place Team Series will continue on Friday (9/15) and Sunday (9/17). Wednesday (9/13) is an off day. The series will continue on Tuesday (9/19) and Friday (9/22) IF NECESSARY. Game times and home teams will alternate from game to game. Finals will begin as soon as possible after the conclusion of the semi-final series, but no later than Sunday (9/24). The full schedule has been posted to the calendar. Please note that this schedule is based on at least one series in each round going the maximum number of games. It also counts on complete cooperation from the weather. If either of these does not happen, the schedule will be adjusted accordingly.

With a 9-5 win over Willis Tent, Mario's Restaurant clinched the last playoff spot of the 2006 season. However, with three nights still to play due to early season rain outs, a number of teams are still fighting for their seeding in the tournament. With a 1 1/2 game lead, Z's Sports Shop leads in the race for the first round byes awarded to the first and second place finishers. Even with two games to go are the Mustangs and Drew Farms. None of these teams has guaranteed themselves a bye yet, making this last week critical to each squad. Whichever team does not earn the bye is guaranteed the third seed in the first round, a best of three series. Healy Oil is the front runner for the fourth seed. Lurking close behind them is a Short Cut team that would need to get very hot during this week of make up games to pass Healy and gain the home field advantage in the #4-#5 series. Mario's would need to win their last three games and get some help to jump up to the fifth seed. Barring any additional weather problems, and this season you can't rule them out, the playoffs are due to start on Wednesday, August 30, at 6:30 PM with #3 hosting #6 followed by #4 hosting #5 at 7:45.

The game between Drew Farms and Short Cut that was postponed after 4 innings on June 20 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, August 29. The last three innings will be played before the Z's-Drew Farms game scheduled for 7:45. NOTE: Due to rain, the continuation of this game has been moved to Tuesday, September 5.

Update: The Westford Waves softball program would like to thank all those who contributed to their successful equipment drive. And, as a league, we would like to congratulate the girls and their coaches, parents, and many others for undertaking this charitable endeavor. ******************************************************************* In keeping with our League's desire to promote softball in the local community, we would like to spotlight the endeavors of one of the local Westford softball programs. The Westford Waves are running a charity softball clinic for Girls Inc., a girls club for underprivileged girls from Lowell. This effort was featured in the Westford Eagle. Several of the members of our league have daughters in this program and they could use your assistance. Not only are the girls running the clinic, but they need to find softball equipment (new or used) that they can donate to the program. Girl's Inc. has no equipment. If anyone has any extra equipment that they can donate it would be greatly appreciated. They are looking for balls (especially 11" ), gloves, and bats, but will take equipment bags, batting gloves, etc. The girls served are mostly in the 4-9 age group. Please bring any donations to your next game with Willis Tent (Glenn Meurer), Healy Oil (Steve Frankel), or Franco (Dean Wormell). In addition, donations can be brought to Cumberland Farms on Littleton Road, Rapid Refill on Route 40 or Nab One Stop on Brookside Road. If you have any questions, please contact league member Steve Gomes.

Short Cuts manager Bill Bowser has played in the following event for the past 3 years, and suggests that it is one of the best run tournaments around. Wednesday September 6th at 9:45am - shotgun start Gannon Golf Course on Great Woods Road in Lynn, MA. Scramble format 4 person teams only $100 per person (includes golf, cart and barbecue) Make checks out payable to "Eric Hill Foundation" All proceeds benefit the Eric Hill Foundation for needy children Bill would challenge each team in the league to submit a foursome. Registration money must be in to him over the next week, as the tournament will sell out very fast. For more information, please send an e-mail to Bill directly.