2026 Summer League Playoffs- Round 1

8/12/26- Wonders 5 - Isotopes 17

From Wonders MGR-

On this special night of high hopes at The Mac, the Wonder's projected starting pitcher Bob Mastorakis was re-injured warming up and was unable to continue. The Wonders were immediately down to 8 ambulatory players. The Topes quickly turned out the lights and put an end to the Wonders 2026 season with a 17-5 victory in a game shortened to 6 1/2 innings by the mercy rule. Hats off to the Isotopes as they advance to the second round.

For the Wonders, not many highlights, other than newlywed Luke Cavagnac slugging a double and turning a nifty double play at second against his former team. Brett Constantine making his usual dazzling catch (as one of two outfielders) and Tod Garfield’s tumultuous trip around the bases after getting plunked on the elbow and the fastball’s laces glowing like a bad tattoo.

Wonder's manager Rick Stacy expresses his sincere appreciation for the outstanding grit and fight his team displayed under difficult circumstances, not only this game but for the better part of the season. Despite the loss, each player showed immense support for one another, great character and perseverance. These attributes will be the cornerstone of this team next year. Stacy says, "Thank you Wonders! You shined bright in many ways this year...onto Cincinnati"!

8/13/26- Goats 18 - Plug Uglies 15

Thursday the 13th turned out to be a glorious night for baseball with the 3rd seed Plug

Uglies meeting the 6th seed Fainting Goats at Mackenzie field in Holyoke. With the sun

shining, and the Goat mascot (an actual goat) in attendance, players started milling around

the field around 5 o’clock for the 6PM start. Many pleasantries were exchanged before the

game, but once the first pitch was delivered things got serious (or Ugly, depending on your

perspective).

Whether the Fainting Goats or the F-ing GOATS would show up remained in

question for the entire 9-inning contest. It appeared that the Goats saved all their allotted

hits for the post season with FIVE first inning runs crossing the plate. The Plugs retaliated

right away, putting 4 runs across in the bottom of the first. The Goats would not faint

though and put up another 4 runs in the top of the second and the Plugs could not match

this, only scoring 1 run in the bottom of the second.

The Goats won every inning through 5 and led 16-6 in the middle of the sixth. Then all hell broke loose, and all in attendance saw the Fainting goats arrive. The Plugs scored 7 runs in the bottom of the sixth, averting a mercy killing, when their bats came alive and rifled hits to every open space in the field. At the end of 6, it was the Goats retaining the lead 16-13. By comparison, the last three innings seemed like a pitcher’s duel with the Goats and the Uglies each getting 2 more runs to end with a final score more like a football game of 18-15.

Ultimately there was no fainting, and the F-ing GOATS prevailed. As with any TNB50 game, the night was filled with stellar and clumsy plays, highlighted by Shawn O’Grady (4 for 4, 2- 3B, 2B, HBP) trying to knock the field attendant off the right-center fence, nearly missing an actual home run. In this wild game the Goats led from start to finish, never relinquishing the lead. In addition to a 4-hit night for O’Grady, the Goats had many players with offense contributions including Jeff Burniske 5 hits, Don Edwards and Eddie Esposito 3 hits each.

Plugs pitching

Bill Evans (L)

Jeff Whitehead

Goats pitching

Tom Salvini (W)

Tom Conway