Round 2: Miracle Max and the Cinderella Phils storm the playoff castle; survive epic 10-inn battle v. Wonders to reach finals

Max Strubel's 10-inning complete-game win over the Wonders was worthy of applause

Phillies 12
Wonders 10 (10 inn.)

WP: Max Strubel. LP: Chris Ciepiela.

The Phillies, 0-5 in the regular season, handed the Wonders their only loss of the year in a 10-inning back-and-forth affair Thursday night at Szot Park, earning themselves a spot in next week's championship game.

Miracle Max Strubel went all 10 innings, striking out 8, and pitching himself out of a 10th inning jam with runners on 2nd and 3rd and a 2-run lead. Shortstop Andy "AK" Klepacki charged in to catch a pop up on the infield grass for the final out to secure the win.

With the win, the Phils go on to meet the Plug Uglies Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Szot Park in Chicopee. The Plugs earned their trip to the finals by knocking off the Isotopes 6-3 Wednesday night.

The Phils opened the 10th with the heart of their lineup, Paul "Gris" Griswold, Klepacki, Jim "Kruk" Fogerty, and Ron "Tater" Totten, and each of them came through.

Griswold singled and stole second, and Klepacki singled him home to take the lead. Klepacki stole second, and came home on Fogerty's single. Fogerty moved over to 3rd on Totten's single, and scored on a fielder's choice, giving the Phils what would turn out to be an insurmountable lead.

Not that the Wonders, a team that won all of their games this year in their final at-bat, didn't try to overcome it.

In the bottom of the 10, after 2 quick outs, Andy Martindell singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Tod "One D" Garfield. Garfield moved up on a single by Scott Taylor, and both of them moved up to when a balk was called on Strubel.

With the season on the line, and the Wonders smelling blood, Strubel got the next batter to pop up for the final out.

Earlier in the game, the Wonders scored 4 in the bottom of the 6th to take an 8-4 lead. The Phils charged right back in the 7th with 5 to take a 9-8 lead.

The Wonders came back with a run in the 8th on a throwing error to tie the game, setting the stage for the extra-inning drama.

Nabil Hannoush started for the Wonders and went 6 before giving away to Chris Ciepiela who pitched the final four.

"What a game!" Strubel said.
Wonders manager Larry Pietras called Strubel's complete game "masterful" and wished the Phils luck for the finals.

"It was a classic quarterfinal playoff game that was enjoyed by all, " he said.

"We are all so thankful that in this year that has seen so much chaos, we got to play ball."

Notes:
Griswold went 5-5 with a double, scored runs and had 1 RBI. Totten went 5-5 with a double and RBI, and caught all 10 innings. Klepacki, 3-5, scored 2 runs and drove in 1, Fogarty went 2-5 with 1 run and 2 RBI, and Mitch Gaslin was 2-4 with a walk and an RBI.

Round 1	Round 2	Final
Sun, 8/16, 4 pm	Weds 8/19, 5:45 pm
Goats 4 (5)	Plug Uglies 6
Plug Uglies 12 (3)	Isotopes 3 (2)	Weds 8/26, 5:45 pm
Whalley Field	Szot Park	Plugs v. Phils
Sat. 8/15, 4 pm	Thurs 8/20, 5:45 pm	Szot Park
Phils 12 (6)	Phils 12
Grays 8 (4)	Wonders 10 (1)
Whalley Field	Szot Park