Week 4: Phils nip Goats, Plugs pummel Grays, Isotopes wash away Wonders

Fainting Goats 6
Phillies 7

WP: Max Strubel, Sv. Ken Sloat. LP: Jerold Duquette.

Behind the combo of Miracle Max Strubel and Ken "GDIK" Sloat, the Phils held off a late charge by the Fainting Goats to earn their first win of the year.

The game ended with the Goats threatening with the tying run on second and the go-ahead run on first.

The Goats, playing with nine, broke out to a 2-run lead in the first, but the Phils tied it in the bottom of the inning by scrapping out two runs on a combo of Goat miscues and wild pitches.

The Goats added two more in the 3rd to take a 4-2 lead, but again the Phils came back to tie and then take a lead they never relinquished.

Andy "AK" Klepacki was 2-3 with a double and 2 runs scored, Paul "Kappy" Kaplan scored two runs from the lead-off spot, and Al Harchik was 2-3 with a run scored.

For the Goats, Tom Conway was 2-4 with a run scored. He also throw out a runner at the plate on a throw from centerfield, and pitched a scoreless 6th. Jerold Duquette was 2-4 with a double and a run scored, and Stu Clark was 1-3 with a stolen base and 2 runs scored.

The game was originally planned for Wednesday at Herlihy, but was washed out before the first pitch. Instead, the makeup was played Thursday at Anniversary in Holyoke.

TNB+50 wishes to convey its thanks and appreciation to Al Harchik as his moving out of the region necessitates his departure from our league. A charter member of both the QVOTB and our league, Al for the last 20+ years has been recognized by teammates and opponents alike as a classy ballplayer and gentleman warrior. His presence will be missed and his absence will be considerable. Good luck, Al.

Stu Clark photo.

Isotopes 6
Wonders 1

WP: Gary Webber, LP: Chris Ciepiela

In a rain-shortened game, the Isotopes had their way with the Ageless Wonders™, earning a 6-1 victory.
The game ended after 5 when the heavy rains came, but the weather merely concluded what the Isotopes batters had started.

David Warner went 2 for 2 with a double and 2 RBI, Steve Ostrowski was 2-2 with a double and a run scored. Gary Webber pitched all 5 innings, giving up a lone earned run and striking out 5.

Dorian Grays 6
Plug Uglies 9

WP: Jeff Whitehead, Sv. Mo Partee, LP: Mike "Knuckles" Whately

Jeff Whitehead and three different relief pitchers combined to shut down the Dorian Grays and earn their 4th win of the year.

Whitehead, hobbled by a quad strain, still managed to go 5 strong innings for the win. He gave up 3 runs, 1 earned, and allowed 7 hits to go with 5 strikeouts.

Relievers Greg "E-Baum" Elbaum, Bill Evans, and Morris "Mo" Partee then kept the Grays at bay to secure the win.

The Grays started strong, scoring 2 in the 1st, but the Plugs responded with 4 in the bottom of the second. Nolan Anaya, Mike Olkin and Jack Wileden had successive singles to each drive in a run, and Eric Bennett drove in the 4th by being hit with the bases loaded.

In the 4th, Pete Jordon drove in Steve Powers to score the Grays' 3rd run, but the Plugs responded with 2 of their own on RBI singles by Olkin and Wileden.

The Plugs extended the lead to 9-3 on RBI doubles by Elbaum and Matt Boulanger and an RBI single by Jeff Cabana.

The Grays made it close in the 6th with Mitch Gaslin, Pete Jordan and Marty Newman scoring.

Partee closed the game with a scoreless 7th to record his second save.