Week 10: Wonders steamroll Goats; Phils, Grays endure the longest day.

Wednesday's game:

Wonderboys, 13, Fainting Goats 7
WP: Chris Ciepiela, LP: Rick Stacy

The Ageless Wonders™ scored seven runs in the first inning -- 5 before an out was recorded - and 11 after the 2nd, and that, as they say, was all she wrote. The Goats would chip away, scoring 3 in the 3rd, 3 in the 5th and 1 in the 6th, to make a game of it. But that 11-run hole proved too deep to climb out of, too deep out of which to climb, or whatever.

Ol' reliable Chris Ciepiela went the distance for the Wonders for the win. Rick Stacy got the loss.
The first 6 batters in the Wonders lineup -- Andy Martindale, Rob Ostberg, Jim Healy, Scott Taylor, Dan Alvord, and Tod "One D" Garfield -- each scored two runs, and batters 7 & 8, Senior Jacques and Marty Langford, each scored once.

For the Goat's highlights, Tony Maspo, Paddy Johnson, Steve "Gargoyle" Gargone, and Eddie "Espo" Esposito were each 2-3. David "Dave O" O'Sullivan reached base 3 times with 2 walks and a base hit. Gargone, Esposito, and O'Sullivan each scored twice.

Also worthy of a special nod is Goats pitcher Mike O'Donnell. The Notorious M.O.D.™ came on in the 3rd of a blowout game and promptly shut down the Wonders offense.

He allowed 2 runs over 4, both unearned, and struck out 3.

Thursday's game(s)

Game 1: Phils 10, Grays 9 (resumed game)
WP: Max Strubel, LP: Jay Sadowski

Game 2: Grays 3, Phils 2
WP: Jay Sadowski, LP: Max Strubel

The almanac says the longest day of the year is June 21, while the Phils and Grays will argue the longest day was actually June 26.

The two teams played a total of 10 innings Thursday, covering two games, and those 10 innings were about as close as close can be.

Game 1 was the resumption of the May 23 game that was suspended at sunset with an 8-8 tie after 7 innings. For the resumption, the Grays' man of a thousand nicknames, Pres "Ol' 55" Pieraccini, squared off against Miracle Max Strubel in what would become a battle of venerable aces.

Each worked in and out of trouble and the game went on and on with neither side scoring after 4 bonus innings. In the 5th extra inning, the Grays scraped out a run and only needed to hold on for the win. It turned out to be easier said than done. With Pres giving way to Jay Sadowski, the Phils got the first two hitters on, and Jon "J.R." Ross sliced a double to right center to drive them home for the win. The stage for the inning was set with a lead-off walk by Jack Eisenstadt. In an insane AB that seemed to last 10 minutes and take 20 pitches, Eisenstadt fouled off pitch after pitch after pitch before drawing the walk.

All told, the 12 total innings may well have set a league record for the longest game.

In game 2, Strubel and Sadowski squared off again and continued to trade zeros. Stubel would pitch a total of 10 innings on the day. Is it any mystery why he's Miracle Max?

In the 3rd with the Phils leading 2-1, the Grays had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out. Special guest Paddy Johnson lined a sinking liner to right that Doug Stowers snagged off the grass with a diving catch to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 4th, Stu Clark laced a double to center to plate 2 and give the Grays the lead.

With sunset coming on fast, the Grays needed 3 outs in the 5th to make it an official game. Eisenstadt reached but was caught off the bag when Pieraccini snagged a liner at first to turn a double play.

Standings

Next Week

No games scheduled due to the holiday.
If you're free on July 3 (Wednesday) and want to celebrate America's game, we're doing a pickup game at Herlihy. Usual time.
No umps. no scorebooks, no pressure. Just good old American fun.
Please wear your team jersey so contextually at least we know who the hell you are.
Bring beer if you want to hang around and shoot the shit for a beer inning at the pavilion.

The season resumes the following week with Wonders @ Plugs on Wednesday at Herlihy, and the Grays @ Goats Thursday at Hopkins Academy in Hadley