Wiffle ball matchup: Game on!

Several candidates in the Fifth Congressional District race are to gather tomorrow evening. Only their minds this time will not be on high-minded policy or in-depth position papers. The competition will instead be over who can manage to take a skinny yellow bat and slam an eight-holed plastic ball the 60 feet necessary for a home run.

At least three candidates are scheduled to take to Alumni Field in Lowell around 7:30 p.m., responding to a wiffle ball challenge brought by Independent candidate Patrick Murphy. Confirmed to play so far are Democrats Jamie Eldridge and Niki Tsongas, according to Patrick's campaign. Jim Ogonowski declined to play, and they're still awaiting word from the other candidates.