The following was submitted by Roger Whittlesey of the Westford Over 30 Softball League
The sixth week of play was the most competitive this season, as five of the seven games finished with a score differential of no more than four runs. Drew Farms (6-3) won two of three games this week to move into a third-place tie with Shortcut Landscaping. The redoubtable Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs (7-0) remain the only undefeated team in the league and sit atop of the standings, a game ahead of Floral Arts (7-2).
Nashoba Valley Veterinarian Mustangs 11, Drew Farms 9
It took eight innings for the Mustangs to pull out a tough 11-9 victory over a determined Drew Farms team. Craig Smith tied the game for the Mustangs in the top of the sixth inning with his second homer of the year. The Mustangs added three runs in the eighth to secure the win. Mark Cusano and Cormac Bordes each had three hits. Paul Selfrige (home run) and Jack Erickson also contributed two hits each for the Mustangs. Paul Liguori played well defensively.
Gutcheck 15, Floral Arts 13
Gutcheck scored an impressive 15-13 victory as Gary Lavelle’s seventh-inning walk-off grand slam capped a two-homer night for the pitcher of record. Thanh Nguyen and Billy Cullen also went deep for Gutcheck. Strong team defense and a good outing on the mound by Lavelle kept Floral Arts in check. Nguyen played impressive defense in left field, making about a dozen putouts, and cutting down a runner at the plate late in the game.
Shortcut Landscaping 15, Willis Tent 14
Willis’ John Mangiaratti hit his second homer of the night to give his team a one-run lead in the seventh, but it was not enough to keep SCL from surging ahead and winning it in the bottom of the inning. Steve Damiani had three hits for Willis, and Paul Duato, Andrew Metters, and Brian Anderson each had two hits. Anderson pitched a great game and Damiani made a fine diving catch in the sixth to keep the score close.
Drew Farms 18, Healy Oil 9
Drew Farms scored in every inning, including a six-run third to overcome an early deficit in defeating Healy Oil, 18-9. All 12 Drews’ players collected hits, with three hits each coming from Tom Menicci (including a home run), Rob O’Neal and Mark Kost. Blake Buxton, Bill Faherty and Joe Walsh provided the necessary stops to provide solid defense. After scoring in each of the first three innings, Healy was held to one run.
Pro Sports Therapy 19, Mario’s Restaurant 3
Pro Sports Therapy scored in all but the second inning as they defeated Mario’s Restaurant Tuesday night, 19-3. The offense was powered by Nate Frazee’s big offensive night. Frazee hit the walk-off grand slam in the sixth to cap off a 4-for-4 night with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI. Jeff Fuller got the win for PST and contributed a two-run triple as PST got contributions from he entire lineup. Dave Chirokas added a homer and 5 RBI, John Bodi had 3 hits and 2 RBI, and coach Gary Royal got on base all night and drove in a pair.
Shortcut Landscaping 13, Pro Sports Therapy 10
A tightly contested battle saw SCL push across three runs in the top of the eighth to take control of the contest and seal a 13-10 win over PST. Dave Chirokas pitched well in defeat for PST, supported by his defense, which threw out two runners at the plate. Nate Frazee continued his tear at the plate, hitting another home run. John Bodi and Tim Schutt added three hits each and Andrew Fletcher contributed a rocket of a home run off the light pole in centerfield.
Drew Farms 22, Mario’s Restaurant 21
In a long, wild game, Drews withstood a furious couple of rallies from Mario’s to hold on for the win. Drews led 17-6 after four when Mario’s scored nine in the fifth to draw within two.  Drews scored two in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth to go into the seventh ahead by six. Mario’s scored six in the top of the inning to tie the score, but Todd Shepherd hit a walk-off home run (his second homer) in the bottom of the inning to finally close out the game. All Drews players recorded at least one hit, with Pat Pawlak leading the way with a 4-for-4 game, including two home runs. Mark Kost, Tom Menicci, Bill Faherty and Scott Cole each had three hits.Jon Russo and Murph McKeon hit homers for Mario’s, and Dave Batchelder went 4-for4, with four runs. John Geary, Brian Collamore and Jerod Colley each had three hits. Colley held Drews in check from the mound over the late innings to enable the comeback.
