Week 10: Plugs plunk Wonders; rain, rain go away already

Wonders 4
Plug Uglies 7

WP: Jeff Whitehead, LP: Chris Ciepiela.

Finding a narrow window in the almost-biblical rainfall that drenched Western Mass. last week, the Plugs and Wonders game went on as scheduled Wednesday night. And that is more than you can say about the rest of the over-50 action. Both Thursday games were washed out.

The 7-4 win by the Plugs avenges their only loss on the season, a 12-8 loss to the Wonders on June 10, and gives them the season series, 2 games to 1.

Jeff Whitehead out-dueled Chris Ciepiela with each pitcher going the distance.

Whitehead retired the first 9 batters through 3 innings. Ugly bats struck in the first inning off Ciepiela, with an RBI single from Jon Adolph and a pair of RBI doubles by Whitehead and Matt Boulanger. The Plugs added another run in the 3rd and it 4-0 Uglies.

The Wonders struck back in the 4th with an RBI double by Tod "One D" Garfield, followed by an RBI single by Rob Osterberg to make the score 4-2.

The Uglies got 3 more runs across the plate in the 5th when Ciepiela walked in two runs and gave up an RBI single to Mike Olkin. Still the Wonders fought back for two more runs in the 6th. Whitehead took the mound in the 7th with a 7-4 lead and that's how it ended as two Wonders were left on base with the final out.

Ugly© highlights included a shoestring catch in right field by Jack Wileden in the first, and Matt Boulanger went 3-3 night, scoring 2 runs, with 1 RBI and 2 stolen bases.

The win gives the Plugs sole possession of first place as they gained a half game over the Isotopes.

Standings