WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Fastpitch Johnny. August 8, 2004: The first place Texas Thunder visits the New York New Jersey Juggernaut tonight in Montclair, New Jersey, leading the Juggernaut by 3-1/2 games. With 10 games to play, the Nauts need to win all three games, tonight Monday and Tuesday at 7:35 P.M.. This is the final regular season homestand of the season for the Juggernaut. They finish the season with three in Sacremento and three in Arizona, and are hopeful that Akron and Texas will stumble if they take care of business against the Thunder. 

NY-NJ Juggernaut Owner, Paul Plemenos at Friday's Akron-Juggernaut game. Whether the Juggernaut finish first or second in the NPF it's been a interesting season for their owner, Paul Plemenos who now is living every man's dream, owning and managing a big league ball club in a pennant race and pioneering professional softball. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

"Yeah, it is every man's dream," Plemenos told WPCNR after Friday afternoon's win against Akron.  "Beyond that the team responds well and we've got a great understanding with one another. And when I step  on the field, I'm no longer the owner, I'm just the coach. And, when I step off the field, I go back to being the owner again. It's really been great."

Asked about tonight's series with Texas, and if the Juggernaut was ready for their big three pitchers of Peaches James, Lindsay Chouinard and Chista Williams, Plemenos said, "I think that we are, especially in the last two games against Akron, we went 1-2 but we really dominated Akron the last nine innings of play, the last two innings of Thursday's game and all seven innings Friday. It was total and utter domination. We just weren't ready to play in the first game, and that showed a little bit and hey, everybody has those days."

Juggernauts celebrate 3-0 Win over Akron Friday. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

"We are ready to face Texas.  They're a big challenge for us, but we're ready, we took  2 out of 3  from them last time they were and we play very strongly at home.We're excited for it."

Plemenos was enthusiastic about the support the Juggernaut have been receiving at the Little Ball Park on Campus, Montclair State University Softball Stadium: "The crowds have been decent and certainly very enthusiastic. We don't get the biggest crowd in the afternoon, but our evening games are very packed. Our YES game (Sunday night's game with Texas) we have great  advance sale for that and we always have very strong walkup sales. I am very pleased, the next three games should be very good gates."