Plunkett was the number one pitcher for two Hornet baseball teams that advanced to the NAIA World Series in 1969-70. He earned First-team All-American honors as a senior in 1970. His 1.12 ERA for the 1970 season is still ranked fourth all-time at Emporia State at the time of his induction. He was a 16th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 10-7 in the minors during the 1971 season. He served as a graduate assistant for the Hornets in 1974 before embarking on a successful high school coaching career, winning over 100 games as the head football coach at Olpe HS.