Westborough's Scorpions hoping for postseason spot
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Westborough - Fives are wild right now for the Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth's Westborough Scorpions baseball team.

The team entered the week with a 5-5 mark, its goal of snapping a five-year streak of not qualifying for postseason play still an attainable goal.

"I think we have a great chance this year to make the postseason," first-year coach Gary DelBuono said. "We haven't made it in a while, sure, but this year I feel the amount of veteran leadership that serves as the nucleus will be a big key for us."

Pitching has been a key component of the resurgent Scorpions' success this season. Leading the allright handed staff are Joe Teevens, Matt Cornaro, Anand Shah, Matt Daniele and Dan Sharifipour. Shah had been slowed by a shoulder injury, but recently returned to the hill following his recovery. Sharifipour, when not pitching, is the Scorpions' starting catcher. He played third base for the Westborough High varsity team last season.

"Dan does a good job for us in all facets of the game - catching, pitching and hitting - and in so many other ways, too," the coach said.

Other starters in the infield include Ben Williams at second base, Nick DelBuono at shortstop and Kevin O'Day at third.

Williams, who played second during Westborough High School's season as well, bats third in the order for the Scorpions while Sharifipour hits out of the cleanup position. Nick DelBuono, who is the coach's son, is a switchhitting leadoff batter. Just a sophomore, Nick DelBuono played for the Westborough High junior varsity this past spring.

"Nick has really improved and I think playing at this level has really forced him to elevate his game," the coach said. "He handles the bat well, is a very good bunter and works the count to the point where he makes the opposing pitcher throw a lot of extra pitches. The way he plays defense is the real underrated aspect of his game, though. In a win over Dover- Sherborn he saved four runs for us with his defense."

Andy Basque is Westborough's regular left fielder, while Brian Ruhl plays center field and Ryan Kim right field.

Key reserves include Mike LaRocca, who sees time as a fourth outfielder, and Corey Schneider, who fills in at first base on occasion.

This being his first year, the coach decided to go with an unusually large roster for a summer league team - 20 players - in an eff ort to give as many a players a chance to learn his system and what he expects. Of that 20, only 14 are in uniform each game.

The lack of success the team has had over the past five years is a stark contrast to the success it had in its first six years, when the Scorpions were a squad that annually battled for the league title.

From 1996 to 2001, Westborough did not experience a losing season. In addition, the Scorpions won the Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth's North Division in 2000 and 2001. The team was 93-48-2 during that six-year span. Its record is 37-57 since.