The following was submitted by Roger Whittlesey.
The question everyone in the league is asking: Will the 10-0 Mustangs go undefeated this season? The well-balanced team has done nothing a persuade anyone to think otherwise. This week they won two more games, including a nail-biter against their perennial playoff rival, the second place Floral Arts (9-3).
Floral Arts 8, Pro Sports Therapy 4
On Tuesday night, Floral Arts defeated Pro Sports Therapy, 8-4, in a game without any home runs. Floral pitcher Larry Mardany and Pro Sports hurler Dave Chirokas mixed it up all night, keeping most of the batters off-balance. Billy Luppold went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Floral shortstop Jim Peloquin made several nice plays in the field.
Gutcheck 7, Drew Farms 6
The rivalry thickened as fifth place Gutcheck edged third place Drew Farms in come-from-behind fashion, 7-6. Both teams played solid defense—hits and runs were hard to come by for most of the game. Then, in the top of the seventh, and down by two, Gutcheck’s Jim Curley belted the game’s only home run, sparking his team, which then three more that inning to go ahead, 7-6. Gutcheck shut down the Drew Farm offense in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
Mario’s Restaurant 13, Healy Oil 8
Mario’s jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after three innings against Healy Oil, scoring just enough runs every other inning to withstand a late Healy rally to come away with the 13-8 victory. Dave Batchelder led the way offensively with two home runs, and the trio of Murph McKeon, Luke Boulanger and Jon Russo also went deep. Rookie Jerry Breen continued to impress with a three-hit night, including his first triple. Mario’s outfield defense played flawlessly to help pitcher Chris Brooks keep Healy Oil off of the scoreboard in five of the seven innings.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 14, Shortcut Landscaping 13
After Shortcuts rallied for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a one run lead, the Mustangs scored two runs to win the game on a walk-off single by Jack Erickson. Erickson went 4-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI. Dan Crogan added another grand slam and five RBI for the Mustangs. Paul Liguori chipped in with three hits and Don Cusano hit a solo home run.
Pro Sports Therapy 7, Willis Tent 5
On Friday night, Willis Tent jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Pro Sports Therapy in the first inning. PST came back in the fourth to go ahead, 4-2, powered by a Nate Frazee three-run homer. Two solo homers in the bottom of the sixth gave Willis a 5-4 lead, but the bottom of the PST order found ways to get on base. Mark Urlage delivered another three-run bomb to give PST a 7-5 lead. The bottom of the Willis order tried to provide the same spark, but PST hurler Jeff Fuller managed to retire the top of the Willis order to escape with the win. PST Rookie Mark Pelosky quietly played a solid game, going 3-for-3 and adding the other RBI.
Healy Oil 19, Shortcut Landscaping 16
The return of key players from the disabled list made all the difference for Healy Oil, as they erupted for 10 runs in the sixth inning to beat Shortcut Landscaping, 19-16. Mike Finegan and Bill Eaten each went deep twice for Healy. Tom Hudson pitched well, allowing only two SCL homers—Dave Silton and Chris Clark.
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 8, Floral Arts 6
Bill Knute hit the ball that broke Floral Arts’ back, a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth over the right field fence that put the Mustangs up, 8-6. Floral was up 5-0 after three innings, but the Mustangs tied it in the fourth on two homers. Pitcher Don Cusano hit a two-run blast, and Paul Selfrige hit a three-run shot. Mike Alonardo hit a solo shot in the sixth inning to bring the score to 6-5, but it was a short-lived Floral lead thanks to Knute’s heroics in the bottom of that inning.
