Plant Agrees With Hammers

HOUGHS NECK, MA- The McInnis Carpentry Hammers and free agent outfielder Neal Plant agreed on a two-year deal on Thursday night.

"He can play right or left field and will give us lineup options on an everyday basis," general manager Tom Fratolillo said. "We think he's going to help certainly put up some numbers offensively, his consistency is an important factor for us and we would see him being a very significant part of this club in '08."

"Neal had multiple suitors in this process," said agent Steve Waas. "It was a difficult choice, but this is a great opportunity for him. McInnis Carpentry is a fantastic softball club, that lineup is a murderer's row, and he's looking forward to being a part of it."

Plant, 38, is a .526 career hitter who has won 3 batting titles with M.C. affiliate Tru-Wheels. He has been a key figure in the Wheels 4 Sunday Night Softball League championships in 1997,'98,'99 & '06. The team has reached the finals a league record 8 times.

An All-Star in 1993,'96,'98 & '02, Plant looks forward to hitting in a lineup that features hitters, Bill Wysocki, Steve Yocco, Greg Harper, John Gray and Mark Free. "Hitting in that lineup is going to be great, it's going to be awesome," Plant said. "There's going to be guys on base quite a bit and chances to drive guys in constantly. I'm going to be looking forward to that for sure."

The Hammers, who lost several players through free agency and injury, have been extremely active in the last few weeks. They acquired infielder Rob Cinquegrano last week and are in talks with other high-impact players. Fratolillo added that the club is by no means done with making moves. "As someone suggested to me, I think we've bought the suit and we have to go out and buy a couple of neckties," he said with a chuckle. "I hope that over the next couple of days, there will be a few more things we're looking at."