GLOUCESTER– The SweatSox opened the 2021 NCBL season, and our quest to defend the 2019 Tier 3 Championship, with a 9-1 victory over Team Cuba last night at Trillium.
The SweatSox opened the scoring in the 1st with 2 runs, added 4 more in the 4th, and never looked back en route to the 8-run win.
Josh Ramage got the start for the SweatSox, and threw 6.33 innings of 0-hit baseball before Jose Olamendi blooped a single to shallow left (or deep short depending on who you ask) that ruined The Green Bastard’s first solo no-hit bid. 2 batters later, Paul Septimo ruined the Arsonist’s shutout with a hard hit ball to the Trillium fence that ended up being a long single. The Hero of Hydration ended up with a complete game, limousine riding, jet flying, soul stealing, wheelin’ n ‘dealin 2-hit son of a gun; not bad for a guy who hadn’t picked up a baseball before this game since Fall Ball 2019.
Kent Johnston, picking up right where he left off as our 2019 Finals MVP, led the SweatSox offense with a 1st inning double, and 3 of our 5 total hits, knocking in 3 runs while scoring once himself. Before the game, Johnston noted that this year wasn’t official in his personal record book, and that it was an “exhibition season in my mind”…
Marc Lett, who arrived at the game with no regrets and left the field with some, had the other 2 of our 5 hits, including a hard hit double to left, an RBI, and a run scored. The soon to be VOML was also a key factor in motivating Chris Lidstone to keep-on swinging during his 3rd inning 10-pitch at bat.
Craig Cornell was also an important part of the SweatSox opening day offense with 2 runs scored, after reaching base in all 4 of his plate appearances on 2 walks and 2 hit by pitches (with 1 uncalled elbowing penalty). Sexy Eyes was also in charge of making sure nobody started talking about Ramage’s no-hitter out loud.
A little bit of history was made in our first game of 2021:
First, Kyle Stewart became the 147th player to suit up and play in an actual game for the SweatSox. The Man in the Red Dress first crossed dressed paths with the SweatSox all the way back in 2007 when he debuted in the NCBL with our bete noires, the Outaouais Tribu. Now playing for the Black Sox, who opted-out this year, Little Kicks is on loan to us for the 2021 season, and made his SweatSox debut last night: 0/1 with 1 shattered bat.
Second, it was a record setting opening day crowd at Trillium last night (if you don’t believe us, check the COVID fan log). Spotted in the stands just behind the dugout was the Table Saw herself: Mrs. Eric White (aka Ms. Hyjinx 2019). Further down the line, making a rare appearance at the diamond, on her anniversary no less, was the OG Ms. Hyjinx: Kelly One. Seated next to her, socially distanced of course, and making her SweatSox fan debut was Brooklyn Winchester, who may need to come to all our games now when her Mr. Winchester is on the bump.
Third, John Groves set a SweatSox record, maybe an NCBL record, and possibly an overall baseball record by reaching base twice in a game via a wild pitch third strike; hey, whatever works right!?! Speaking of the now VOMG, we learned that during our baseball hiatus he’s been catching up on all things Marvel. We know he’s a fan of Loki and Wanda, but he’s not that big on the Guardians of the Galaxy; word is he kinda likes Rocket, Gamora, and Groot, but he’s very much anti-Drax. Noted comic book enthusiast Chris Lidstone isn’t yet sold one way or the other on the MCU’s interpretation of Drax.
Finally, I have to note the great defense the SweatSox played last night. While the scoreboard noted 0 SweatSox errors, that hardly told the story of how non-routine the plays we made on D actually were to help preserve the no-no as long as we did:
- Mark Bond turned a double play from RF (not sure he knows but he could’ve done it solo)
- Jaspreet Sanghra made several incredible sliding catches in RF
- John Groves had some tough hops on the hot corner and didn’t boot even one
- Ross Hughes made a barehanded grab & throw from the shallow grass at 2nd
- Kent Johnston caught a hard liner in CF hit straight at him
- I don’t want to brag, but I (Shaun Keay), made multiple big-time scoops at 1B, each more biggy & scoopy than the last
- Eric White made all the plays he could at SS; the bloop single to end the no-no was just out of reach as he valiantly dove backwards to try and make the catch
Next up for the SweatSox is a matchup with the Tier 2 Misfits Friday night at Brewer. The Misfits claim to have lost several key players which is why they had to drop back down to Tier 3, so no way we see The Darkness on Friday, right??
Final SweatSox vs Team Cuba Opening Day Notes/Thoughts:
- Kyle Stewart is coming for Ross Hughes’ spot, or not.
- Marc Lett regrets turning the Z back on
- There were no official, or unoffical practices leading up to the game
- Craig Cornell was waiting 662 days to put his pants on
- The peak time to catch COVID is at 8:30pm
- Josh Ramage never wants to do any team building
- Kent Johnston is not sharing his water
- BYOS
- It makes me (Shaun Keay) uncomfortable when cars are parked too close to the field
- There’s only one team: Team JBC
- Where was the traffic?
- Ross Hughes almost didn’t make it through pregame warmups
- 2nd base is 127 feet 3 and 3/8 inches away from the back tip of home plate
- 12 of the 13 SweatSox have now qualified for the playoffs
- It’s okay to turn the lights on before first pitch
- Why are the Reapers still wearing Ferda jerseys?
- You have to put that “1st single” ball on the mantle
- New Jazz has a change
- “Man, my girlfriend really gave me the fuzzy peach last night”
- Josh may have gotten pitching tips from Larry during their most recent lunch
- Habs win 3-2 in OT.
#WONTHEHYJINX