Week 8: Wonders drub Phils; Plugs & Goats deadlocked

Rick Stacy of the Fainting Goats with a high fastball

Wednesday

Wonderboys 14, Phillies 4
WP: Chris Ciepiela, LP: Max Strubel

The Ageless Wonders ™ jumped out to a quick, 2-run lead in the top of the first and never looked back in their Wednesday night drubbing of the Phils.
"Drubbing" is commonly bantered about in the world of sports, but how many of you know it means to beat someone physically, and has its origins in the 17th Century form of punishment where petty criminals would be hit repeatedly with a stick on the soles of their feet? The Phils can take comfort in knowing this loss wasn't at least that bad.
The Wonders scored in every inning except the 2nd and 6th - and the scoring came in bunches.
The upshot was a 14-4 victory, buttressed by 22 hits and some good D behind a complete game win by Chris Ciepiela.
For the Phils, flying high after last week's lopsided win over the Plug Uglies, they were decidedly brought back down to earth by a relentless Wonders attack. And as The Tick famously put it, gravity is a harsh mistress.
The Phils' Paul "Griz" Griswold went 2-3 with a double and 2 runs scored, Ron Totten was 2-2, and Jim Fogarty batted 3-3.

Thursday

Plug Uglies 9, Fainting Goats 9 (suspended after 7)

The Goats broke out to an early 7-1 lead through 4 on a strong performance by starting pitcher Rick Stacy, but the Plugs came surging back with 4 in the 5th off Mike O'Donnell and 3 in the 6th off Todd Neumann to take an 8-7 lead.

In the 6th, the Goats tied the game when Neumann hit a booming triple to left center to drive in Ed Webb who had singled. They then re-took the lead when Neuman scored on a fielder's choice.

The Goats had a chance to win it clean in the top of the 7th when the throw on a 2-out grounder to short handcuffed the first baseman and allowed Jon Adolph to score from second.

For the Goats, Steve Niec was 2-4 with a run, Ed Webb was 3-4 with 3 runs, Neumann was 2-4 with a triple and 2 runs. and Steve "Gargoyle" Gargone was 2-3 with a walk and 2 runs.

For the Plugs, Benji Benjamin was 2-2 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, and Mike Olkin reached base 4 times and scored twice.

The suspended game will pick up where it left off, in the top of the 8th, when the two teams meet again on July 25.