Floral Arts

In a refreshing twist in the standings, at the top spot is Drew Farms followed by Healy Oil and perennial leader Nashoba Valley Mustangs each a half a game back. Floral Arts, 3E Moving and Pro Sports Therapy make up the next three positions.

Floral Arts 25 - Healy Oil 12

A dash of good pitching, a pinch of defense, and whole lot of offense were the recipe for success for Floral Arts on Friday evening in 25-12 win over Healy Oil. Floral knocked home ten runs in the first inning and then sprinkled in two or three runs in nearly every inning thereafter. Rob Beaudette drove the Floral offensive bus, pounding three balls over the fence and knocking in eight runs. Matt Critch (4-for-4, BB) had several lucky strikes at the plate, smoking one over the fence for a three-run gain. Also hitting homers for Floral were Simon Tripp and Chad Kirby. Larry Mardany pitched well and fielded a smartly hit grounder. Walter Carmichael was 4-for-5 with four runs scored. Dave Janowsky made his season debut and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Pat Woods (3-for-5) hit a fence-scraper in the top of the seventh that plated the run that created the 13-run differential needed to earn a run-rule victory.  On a night where Floral's hits seemed to have eyes and eluded the Healy defense despite sharp play from Dave Cannistraro, Tony Pantoja and Dan VanSchalkwyk.Offensive highlights from Healy came from Colin MacDonald (3-for-3), Nick Wilmot (2 home runs, 4 RBI), Tony Pantoja (2 doubles), and Matt Dowling adding a 2 run shot in the third.  

CSA Graphics 23 - Burtons Grill 22

CSA Graphics managed to battle with nine players and pull off a win in dramatic, walk-off fashion versus Burton's.  Everyone hit and scored for CSA, led by Jonathan Ring who went 5-for-5 with three home runs and seven RBI.  Billy Ryan and Tim Greenwood both had four hits.  Burton's took an early lead in the game, but CSA chipped away.  The big inning for CSA was the fourth, during which they batted thru the line-up and posted nine runs to tie the game at eighteen.  Neither team scored in the fifth inning, and CSA held Burton's scoreless in the top of sixth as well.  A solo home run, by Ring, in the bottom of the sixth gave CSA the lead.  Burton's scored four in the top half of the seventh to take back the lead, 22-19.  A lead-off single by Sean Troy and a two-run homer from Jim DeMarco cut the lead to one.  Ring was intentionally walked, bringing Bill Cullen to the plate.  In his first game, still nursing a bad ankle, Cullen (4-for-6 with 5 RBI) hit his second home-run of the game to end it.  The Burton's offense was led by rookie Justin Randall who had eight RBI on a 5-for-5 night with a home run.  Eric Cataline (4-for-5, 5 runs scored) also had a very strong night at the plate as did Jerry Breen and Luke Boulanger (3-for-4 3 runs scored) in his first game of the season.  Jerod Colley, Mike Santiano, Raghu Mantena (3-for-4) and Dave Batchelder, (3-for-3 4 RBI), were also big contributors at the plate in the loss.  Cataline also made a stellar catch in left field.

Drew Farms -15 - Nashoba Valley Mustangs 8 

Mustangs bats were as cold as the game time temperature in the 40s.  Paul Selfrige (home run) did make several outstanding plays at shortstop and Mark Cusano made a nice running catch while crashing into the right field fence.  Don Cusano added a long home run blast in the losing effort. First place Drew’s played great defense throughout the entire game in the win while also smashing five home runs.

3E Moving 14 - Burton's Grill 12

Burton's came up short in another close game losing to 3E Moving 14-12 on Sunday night.  Burton's offensive contributors included: Brian Haley (3-for-3), Dave Batchelder (3-for-3, 4 RBI), Erik Pasters (home run and 2 RBI) and Murph McKeon (3-for-3, 2 runs and 2 RBI).

Floral Arts 28 - CSA 13

Floral Arts hit seven home runs in a 28-13 run-rule win over CSA on Sunday evening. Jim Crowley had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI. Floral also got home runs from Matt Mallette, Simon Tripp, Rob Beaudette, and Matt Critch. Mike Alonardo, in his first game of the season, went 4-for-4 and threw out a runner at the plate from right center field. Critch earned the win on the mound. 

Healy Oil 14 - Pro Sports Therapy 7

Healy Oil doubled up PST 14-7 notching their fourth win of the season.  

Drew Farms 17- Pro Sports Therapy 13

PST was led by Derek Donegan’s big night, going 3-for-3 with a walk, including a home run and 4 RBI.  PST’s offense was also boosted by rookie Anthony Cadorette’s first career home run among his three hits and Al Nudler’s three hits and three RBI.

With the weather that is tearing through the area, tonight's games have been postponed.  These games will now be played on Sunday, June 24, at the same times.

6:30  CSA Graphics @ Short Cut Landscaping

7:45  3E Moving @ Drew Farms

We are very early in the 2018 season and already no team is without a loss, two however, are without their first win.  The Mustangs, with the most games played, are averaging just over 21 runs per game with Healy Oil right behind in second place with over 16 per game.  But, it's only May and we have a long way to go.  

Burtons Grill 19 - Floral Arts 5

Burtons put a hurting on Floral Arts on Wednesday night as a result of their relentless hitting, excellent defense, and the fine pitching of Jerod Colley. The Floral bats, festooned with cobwebs and marred with rust, were mostly ineffective. Roger Whittlesey (2-for-3) hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and Matt Mallette knocked in two with a homer in the second inning, but after that Floral only managed to plate one more runner. For Burton's, Charlie Chungu was 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI.  Mike Santiano also with a home run and three RBI, Erik Pasters 3-for-4, two RBI and two runs scored, Dave Batchelder, two home runs, four RBI ansd two runs scored. Jerod Colley went 3-for-4 and three runs scored and rookie Justin Randall 4-for-4, two runs scored and the game ending home run.  The defensive highlight for the game was an against the fence, leaping catch by Burton's left center fielder, Tim Scott, who also had several other put-outs in the Burton's run-rule win.

Drews 14 - Healy Oil 13

Healy trailed Drews for most of the game until Healy put up 11 runs in the sixth including home runs by Nick Wilmot, Tony Pantoja and Matt Dowling. Mike Finegan continues a hitting streak going 4-for-4 at the plate. 

Healy Oil 15 - Short Cut Landscaping 14

Coming off a disappointing loss to Drews, Healy came out strong putting up five runs through a flurry of singles in the first inning. Going long for Healy was Cam Santana, Wayne Meadows, Nick Wilmot (2) and Tony Pantoja. Healy benefited from strong defensive plays from Wayne Meadows and Tony Pantoja. Nick Wilmot continues to shine on the mound for Healy. 

Healy Oil 17 - Burtons Grill 12

Nick Wilmot continues to excel on the mound backed by a solid defense keeping Burton's strong offense just a few steps behind during the final Friday game. Tony Pantoja and Dave Cannistraro teamed up for two double plays and strong individual defense throughout the night, while Matt Dowling saved two runs from scoring late in the game with a diving catch in center. At the plate Healy's stars were Matt Dowling with two home runs with Colin MacDonald (4-for-4), Tony Pantoja, Brian Herrmann and newcomer Dan VanSchalkwyk contributing with one each.  Burton's hung in the whole away in this one including scoring seven in the bottom of the third but in the end couldn't quiet the Healy offense.  Offensive stats for Burton's included Murph McKeon, (4-for-4, one home run, three RBI) , Mike Santiano, (home run, double, two RBI, one run scored), Jerry Breen (4-for-4, two runs scored, one RBI), John Geary (3-for-4, home run, double, one run scored and two RBI).  

Nashoba Valley Mustangs 23 - 3E Moving 6

Paul Selfridge Sr. (4-for-4, 4 runs scored, home run, 4 RBI) and Bill Knute (4-for-4, 2 home runs, 4 runs scored, 6 RBI) both hit grand slams to lead the Mustangs to victory.  Don Cusano (3 hits), Jack Erickson (3 hits) and Mark Cusano also homered for the winners.  Cormac Bordes added four hits, while Jim Ward and Jay Lincoln tallied three apiece.

Nashoba Valley Mustangs 25 - Pro Sports Therapy 1

Paul Selfridge Sr. (2 hits, home run, 2 walks) led off the game with a long homerun blast and the Mustangs never looked back behind the solid pitching of Don Cusano (3 hits, 2 home run, 7 RBI).  Mike Kennedy also added a three run homer to the winning cause.  Jim Ward helped set the table near the top of the order with three more hits and three runs scored, while Paul Selfridge Jr. added two hits and some nice running catches in the outfield. Brian Dubey was 2-for-2 from the lead-off spot with a home run for the only PST run of the night. 

Westford Over 30 finally began the 2018 season after the opening day BBQ and full slate of games were cancelled due to rain.  The league has made several interesting changes this year including opening the rosters to one 28 year old Westford resident per team or one 30 year or older player from a neighboring community.  Additionally, any homerun after the team game limit of seven is now an out rather than a single which should have an interesting impact on the season.

Nashoba Valley Mustangs 21 - Floral Arts 19

The last time the two of these teams played it was Game Five of the finals in early September 2017, a game in which the lights were knocked out temporarily by a batted softball that struck the wires above the fence and which the Mustangs won to earn the championship. A rainout on the Opening Day this season caused these teams to meet for their first game of 2018. The results were much the same: there was a temporary outage of the lights when a ball struck the wires and the Mustangs earned the victory, 21-19. Floral, which played an uncharacteristically poor defensive game, hit six home runs in the contest. Walter Carmichael hit two home runs and played a solid shortstop for Floral. Rob Beaudette, Simon Tripp, Matt Critch and Chad Kirby also hit home runs for Floral.  The Mustangs came back from two down in the bottom of the seventh to win it on Mike Kennedy's (3-for-5, seven RBI) walk-off three-run home run.  Paul Selfrige (home run, five runs scored, three RBI) and Jim Ward combined to go 10-10 in the top two spots in the order and scored eight of the Mustang runs. Keith Reynolds, Mark Cusano, and Paul Selfrige Jr (in his first league at bat) also homered for the winners.  Dan Crogan added two hits, two runs scored and turned two infield double plays from his second basemen position.

Floral Arts 8 - Drew Farms 4

 Floral Arts played nearly flawless defense, turned three double plays, and swatted two home runs to beat Drew Farms, 8-4. Walter Carmichael and Larry Mardany were the offensive stars of the game. Carmichael hit two home runs and knocked five runs. Mardany hit a three-run double in the first inning. Ken Delaney was 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Delaney and Carmichael paired up and second and short respectively to turn three well-executed double plays. Matt Critch pitched well for Floral.  

Healy Oil 21 - Nashoba Valley Mustangs 20

Mustangs suffered a letdown in second game of back to back nights and surrendered a four run lead in the bottom of the seventh to a much improved Healy Oil squad.  Paul Selfridge Sr. continued his torrid hitting with two more homeruns, including a grand slam and a solo blast to lead off the game.  Southpaw slugger Bill Knute added two homeruns of his own.  Don Cusano (home run) and Jack Erickson added three hits apiece for the Mustangs, who uncharacteristically were not sharp at all defensively.

Nashoba Valley Veterinary Mustangs 19 - CSA Graphics 2

This one was over early as the first 12 Mustang batters reached base via hit or walk and the inning ended with the champs ahead 15-0.  Don Cusano (two home run, seven RBI, three runs scored), Bill Knute (two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored) and Mike Kennedy (3-for-3, home run) led the charge for the winners.  Jack Erickson and Paul Selfridge Jr. chipped in with three hits each and both made nice plays in the outfield for the Mustangs.  Contributing two hits apiece for the winners were Paul Selfridge Sr. (home run), Mark Cusano, Craig Smith, Cormac Bordes, and Paul Liguori, who got the win on the mound.

Pro Sports Therapy 12 -  CSA 7

With Dave Chirokas getting the win on the mound.  Offensive notables were Brian Dubey in the lead off slot (double, home run, and four RBI), Ben Armstrong with two home runs and four RBI, and newcomer Kirk Legatos with a home run.

Pro Sports Therapy 12 - 3E Moving 10 

Led by a Ben Armstrong three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to overcome a 10-9 deficit PST outlasted 3E Moving to win their second straight.  Armstrong had a huge day, with 2 home runs, a double, and seven RBI.  Brian Dubey had another four hits.  The wind blowing in hard from left helped Steve Sawyer keep the big 3E bats at bay and earn his first win of the year on the mound.

Short Cut Landscaping 27 - Burton's Grill 15

Short Cut Landscaping showed they will be a force this season with a lineup of power hitters at every spot. Leading 25-6 after the top of the fifth, Burton's was facing a run rule loss but put up 8 to stay alive.  Ultimately, Short Cut would take the win by a final of 27-15.  Tim Scott went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI at the lead off spot for Burtons.  Charlie Chungo went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored.  Mike Santiano and Justin Randall also homered for Burtons, while Raghu Mantena, Jeff Kott, Brian Haley, Jason Lenicheck, Dave Batchelder and Murph McKeon all contributed with RBIs in the loss.

Mother Nature quite clearly has no interest in allowing this year's Opening Day festivities to happen.  With today's rain, the 4 games on the schedule have been postponed.  They will be made up as follows: 

Sunday, 5/20

5:15 PM Healy Oil @ PST

Sunday, 6/3 

5:15 PM CSA Graphics @ 3E Moving

6:30 PM Burton's Grill @ Drew Farms

7:45 PM Floral Arts @ Short Cut Landscaping