Steve Ostrowski delivers a pitch against the Goats at Mitchell Field
Fainting Goats 6
Wonders 2
WP: Tom Conway
LP: Steve Ostrowski
The first game of the Monday/Wednesday doubleheader between the Goats and the Wonders was one to remember. On the mound for the Goats was Tom Conway, while Steve Ostrowski took the ball for the Wonders. Both teams came out swinging, each scoring a run in the first inning, setting the stage for a competitive battle.
In the second inning, the Goats began to pull away. Key hits led to a three-run surge, giving the Goats a solid lead. Meanwhile, Tom Conway settled into a groove on the mound, keeping the Wonders' bats in check.
The Wonders managed to scratch across a run in the fourth inning, hoping to spark a comeback. However, the Goats were quick to respond, adding two more runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 6-2. Base running and timely hitting played crucial roles in their offensive outburst.
Tom Conway continued to dominate, finishing the game with a complete 7-inning performance, striking out four and walking just one. His counterpart, Steve Ostrowski, also went the distance, but struggled with control, walking three and hitting two batters. Despite his efforts, the Goats' offense proved too much to handle.
Defensively, the Wonders were shorthanded, at one point down to just six players. In a display of sportsmanship, two Goats players stepped in to help, covering the outfield and first base positions for the Wonders. Despite the assistance, the Wonders' defense faltered, committing errors that led to three unearned runs for the Goats.
Stu Clark, Jeff Burniske, and Paul Iellamo contributed extra base hits to lead the Goats' offense. Wonders shortstop Shawn Thompson was a standout, assisting on ten outs in the first five innings alone, including five 6-3 groundouts and a slick 6-4-3 double play. His efforts were not enough to overcome the team's defensive woes.
In the end, the Goats emerged victorious with a 6-2 win, thanks to their balanced attack and Conway's strong pitching performance. The game showcased the resilience and camaraderie of both teams, setting the tone for an exciting doubleheader.
Game photos courtesy of Stu Clark
Wonders 17
Fainting Goats 13
WP: Steve Ostrowski
LP: Tom Salvini
The second half of the Monday/Wednesday rematch between the Wonders and the Goats was anything but ordinary. The action-packed affair took place on a windy night, with gusts blowing out to straight-away center and swirling around the field.
The Wonders jumped out to a seemingly insurmountable 12-2 lead after two innings, but the Goats battled back in the third, scoring ten runs to tie the game. Both teams swung the bats with authority, combining for a staggering 37 hits and 30 runs over just five innings. The wind played havoc all night, even snapping a big branch off a maple tree behind home plate. Luckily, no shade-seeking Goats were there to get bopped on the head.
As if the on-field fireworks weren’t enough, Holyoke’s police cruisers and firetrucks added to the chaos, blaring their sirens for quite a while, adding a surreal soundtrack to the already eventful game.
The offensive onslaught led to a busy night for pencil sales and usage, as the score sheet saw heavy action. Unfortunately for the flat-fee-paid umpire, the game stretched to almost three hours, testing his endurance.
The offensive highlight of the game came in the top of the fifth inning. Wonders’ center fielder Scott Taylor delivered a monumental lined shot for an in-the-park three-run home run to right field, effectively icing the win for his team.
The Wonders expressed their gratitude to Plug Uglies catcher Matt Boulanger, who stepped up to make them a full team of ten players. His presence became crucial when one of his new temporary teammates injured his throwing arm during the game.
In the end, this game was a thrilling, exhausting, and memorable experience for all involved. As Goats' manager Pres Pieraccini said, "You just had to be here."
Game photos courtesy of Stu Clark
Phillies 9
Dorian Grays 6
WP: Ken Sloat
LP: Chris Bernacki
The Phillies and Dorian Grays faced off on Thursday night at Mitchell Field, with sole possession of 2nd place at stake. The Dorian Grays were hoping to avenge a painful 7th inning loss to the Phillies earlier in the season and the Phillies were hoping to snap out of their offensive funk. Only the latter came to fruition.
Micah Winston led off the top of the first against Grays hurler Chris Bernacki with a double, stole 3B and came around on Ken Sloat’s RBI single. After a Sloat steal and a Paul Griswold single, Andy Klepacki lined an RBI single to left and then Jon Ross, in his first at-bat since coming off the DL with a fractured forearm, poked a 2-run single to right for a 4-0 lead, a lead the Phillies would never relinquish.
Not without trying however…as their porous infield defense led to 4 unearned runs, including 2 in the 1st. Ken Hartwright and Tim Sigda both singled off Phillies starter Ken Sloat. Following two infield errors, one of which scored a run, Chris Bernacki lined an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-2.
The Phils went down quietly in the 2nd, and the Grays inched within 1 in their half. After David Poppie reached on another infield error, Don Edwards singled, and then John Malikowski brought in Poppie with a hit to cut the lead to 4-3.
In the 3rd, the Phillies tacked on 3 more runs. Following a Jack Eisenstadt leadoff walk and a Micah Winston bloop single, Paul Griswold and Colin Hosley hit back-to-back ground-rule doubles, scoring Eisenstadt, Winston, and Griswold.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Grays answered with a 3-spot of their own. Jay Sadowski led off with double down the RF line and Brian Kryolowicz drove him in with an RBI single. Steve Powers reached on a fielder’s choice and promptly stole 2B. Two more Phillies infield errors and a wild pitch resulted in a run and put a runner at third base for Poppie to bring in with a sacrifice fly to left: 7-6 Phils after 3.
At that point, the bats and defense settled down, with only 2 runs scoring over the next 4 innings. The Phillies escaped a jam in the 4th when Sloat induced a 1-2-3 DP to end a bases-loaded 1 out threat by the Grays.
In the Phillies’ 5th, facing reliever Sigda, Winston reached second base on an error with 1 out. Winston promptly stole third and scored on a Paul Griswold single.
The Phils threatened in the top of the 6th when Ross reached on an error and stole 2nd, but was thrown out at home after Jim Fogarty's single when CF Marin Goldstein threw a perfect strike to C Steve Powers who applied the tag on Ross.
Colin Hosley entered the game to pitch for the Phils in the 6th and made quick work of the Grays. Hosley pitched the only 1-2-3 inning of the game, recording two K’s.
In the top of the 7th, Miguel Ringler walked, stole 2B, and moved to third on a perfect sac bunt by Paul Kaplan. Ringler then scored on Craig Allaban’s grounder to the right side.
The Grays threatened again in the bottom of the 7th. After John Malikowski reached on an error, Ken Hartwright singled, bringing the tying run to the plate. Hosley proceeded to shut the door, inducing a pair of pop-ups surrounding a groundout to end a thrilling game.
For the Phillies, Winston was 2-3 with a double, 2 SBs and 3 runs, Griswold was 3-3 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBIs, and Ringler was 2-2 with a walk and 2 SBs.
For the Grays, Hartwright was 2-3 with a walk and a run and Malikowski was 2-3 with a double and an RBI.
Game photos courtesy of Stu Clark
Isotopes 2
Plug Uglies 3
WP: Jeff Whitehead
LP: Gary Webber
The Isotopes faced off against the home team Plug Uglies at School Street Park in Agawam on a beautiful July evening. It was another battle of aces as Gary Webber faced off against Jeff Whitehead.
In the first inning, Whitehead got in trouble early when Scott Dunaisky reached on a fielder’s choice, and both Gary Webber and Dave Warner singled to load the bases. But he was able to induce a fly to center and the Uglies were out of the jam.
In the bottom of the first with two down, Topes ace Gary Webber got into a similiar pickle when he gave up two singles. But he took care of business by getting the next batter to groundout, and after one inning it was 0-0.
Later, in the bottom of third, Webber loaded the bases after singles from Mike Olkin, Chris “Chaka” Scanlon and Greg “G-Bomb” Elbaum. But he kept his cool, striking out Matt Boulanger to keep the Uglies off the board.
In the top of the fourth the Isotopes had Mike Arbour and Warner in scoring position, but Whitehead was able to strike out the last two batters to end the Topes’ rally.
In the bottom of the fourth the Uglies were the first to score. Whitehead hit a bomb to right field that landed far afield and kept rolling, generating the first home run in Plug Ugly history.
The Topes responded in the top of the fifth when Ed Cauley walked and Dunaisky reached on an error. Dunaisky then scored on a Webber put out and Cauley scored on a Mike Arbour single.
With the Isotopes up 2-1 in the bottom of the 5th, Nolan Anaya singled and Olkin reached on an error. With two men on Scanlon deposited a ball into left field to score Anaya from second to tie the game. Three batters later, with the bases juiced, Matt Boulanger singled to drive in Olkin to give the Uglies a 3-2 lead.
The Isotopes put the pressure on yet again in the top of the sixth with a two out rally. Both Matt Kostek and Kevin McElhinney walked and Cauley reached on a single. With the bases loaded Whithead was able to strikeout Dunaisky to avert another threat.
With Plugs holding a slim one run lead in the top of the 7th, the Topes tried to battle back. Dave Warner singled with two outs, but David Leslie hit a 1-3 groundout and the ball game is over. Final score: Plug Uglies 3, Isotopes 2.
Standout players were Dave Warner (3-4, 1 SB), Mike Arbour (2-4, 1 RBI), Ed Cauley (2-3, 1 R, 1 BB) for the Isotopes, and Jeff Whitehead (7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K, 3 BB and a HR at the plate), Matt Boulanger (2-3, 1 RBI), and Chris Scanlon (2-2, 1 RBI) for the Plug Uglies.
Game photos courtesy of Jefff Whitehead
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