THE TRILL– On Monday night, the SweatSox and Rockets faced off for the first time this year, and while it was looking for most of the game like it would be a low scoring Rockets win, it was the SweatSox who piled on the runs late, winning 10-7 in extra innings.
The Rockets wasted little time picking up where they left off during their 2021 quarter-final sweep of the SweatSox, taking a 2-0 first inning lead on a monster John Carbonette 2-run homerun off SweatSox starter Eric White. White has given up so many big HR’s over the years, we’d rank this one somewhere behind the Kingston slam, and Gadbois’ Fall Ball Pinecrest shot.
It was pretty boring between innings 2 and 7, with White and Rockets starter Brad Richardson pitching themselves in then out of jam after jam. It wasn’t until the final couple of innings that the SweatSox finally broke through, so let’s fast forward to crunch time…
Here was the situation: We were down 5-2 heading into the 7th, and then scored a couple scrappy runs to bring us within 1. Down to our final out, we had runners on 1st and 3rd, and the very top of our order now up.
Retired Rocket legend turned bench coach Mike Bayley then made the gutsy call to intentionally walk Eric White, who was 0-4 in the game at that point, and load the bases for Craig Cornell. Our Consultant made the Rockets pay, clearing the bases on a double off the right field fence. Coach Bayley’s move failed so spectacularly he actually ended his own retirement, took the mound, and tried to clean up the mess he made (and maybe even vulture a win along the way).
Down 2 runs, and down to their final out, the defending Tier 3 Champion Rockets (the Misfits will eventually have their 2021 title stripped for being in our Tier for no good reason) didn’t throw in the towel, scoring 2 big runs of their own in the bottom half of the 7th to send the game to extras.
In the 8th, again down to our final out, the SweatSox retook the lead after the Rockets shortstop made a throwing error to 1st, scoring 2. It was the biggest extra inning E6 that favoured the SweatSox since the 2013 Tier 2 semi-final clincher against the Athletics.
We added an extra run for good measure, and those 3 runs were more than enough for White to complete his game, and pick up his first W of the season (8IP, 11K, 1BB).
With Eric dominating on the mound, and Craig dominating in the clutch, Josh Ramage was once again busy dominating the boxscore, recording his second 5-hit (5/5) game of the season. The Arsonist even picked up a rare RBI, thanks to some serious hustle from “2-outs for the catcher courtesy runner” Cory Bond, who scored from 2nd on Ramage’s 3rd hit of the night. Josh was very appreciative, Cory was breathless.
Finally, an honourable mention goes out to Drew Clark-Brewin, who finally made his SweatSox/NCBL debut after weeks of anticipation. The Hammer went 1/5, scored 2 runs, had an RBI, broke 2 brand new bats, and learned that when Josh says move back, you move back.
Final SweatSox vs Rockets Notes/Thoughts:
- It’s obviously a +1 effect.
- Josh has hoes, in different area codes, area codes.
- Marc might be an x2 effect guy.
- The emergency spare list just got a whole lot more legendary.
- The SweatSox isn’t a democracy, it’s a dictatorship, and Cory is the big dic.
- We could mutiny, but then someone new would have to run the team.
- Mark Bond’s Thought of the Day: What I don’t understand is that everyone who is good at baseball knows how to pitch, so why do position players have to pitch like fucking donkeys?
- Josh is New Kent, without the bag.
- Jas jinx’s, Josh hyjinx’s.
- Jas predicted Josh would go 4-4, he was wrong.
- It’s called the hot corner not because of the sweat it exudes from you when Josh is pitching, but because of the hair.
- It’s been Josh’s dream to pull Eric in the middle of an inning.
- Kent’s beer gets delivered on Tuesdays.
- Josh believes Ross is a liar.
- Managing is easy: If someone asks for a start, they start. If someone asks to play 2B, they play 2B.
- There was a phallic image in the visiting bullpen; there was no bush.
- Eric’s first inning groundout to second earned him a standing ovation by his fans in the stands.
- Dave Rotari has seniority over the Hammer by 4 games.
- When Josh says move back, you move back.
- Eric thought when you get IBB’d, you can run the bases helmet-less.
- There was no time limit.
- All-Time Regular Season 5-Hit Games: Josh 2, Eric 0.
- The Hammer doesn’t drink double IPA’s.
- I have no idea who or what a Jason or a Drew is.
- Jas has no idea who or what a Shaun or a Josh is.
- Tim Hortons is a good place to make Boom Boom.
- Donut toppings are basically condiments.
- I took my chair out of my car so Josh would have room to sit, and I forgot to put it back.
- Mrs. Jas can borrow Bunny’s jersey if she can track that down; or wear Jas’ since he won’t be using it for a while.
- Josh’s piss smells like 5 hits.
- My piss smells like 2 HBP’s and a scoop.
- Who wins in a straight up donut for beer trade?
- 328 didn’t run out of TP because we bidet’d ourselves in the shower after every movement.
- Josh is still waiting for his Baconator delivery.
Next up for the SweatSox was supposed to be our first ever matchup with the Reapers, but that got rained out. Instead, we’ll look to take the field Friday night against Los Latinos at Trillium, weather and field conditions permitting.
“What’s my problem? Punks like you, that’s my problem. And you better not screw up again Seinfeld, because if you do, I’ll be all over you like a pit bull on a poodle.”
“Hard feelings? What do you know about hard feelings? You ever have a man die in your arms? You ever kill somebody?”
“I remember when the librarian was a much older woman: Kindly, discreet, unattractive. We didn’t know anything about her private life. We didn’t WANT to know anything about her private life. She didn’t HAVE a private life.”
Yeah, ’71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abbie Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don’t judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.
“Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y’know that little stamp, the one that says ‘New York Public Library’? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I’ve seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flouting convention. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. What’s this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we’re too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers? Doesn’t HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you’d better think again. This is about that kid’s right to read a book without getting his mind warped! Or maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld; maybe that’s how you get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over.”
#WEDIDITFORBOOKMAN