THE GREEN OUT
Getting to the Ship wasn’t easy. First, we battled the Winchester Sox, who are no strangers to winning in the playoffs, making the Tier II Finals in 2 of the past 3 seasons. Got through that series in 2 games. Then, we faced off against the two-time defending champion Ottawa Athletics, who were the heavy favourites after going 3-0 against us during the regular season. We gave it absolutely everything we had, culminating with an extra-inning win in arguably the greatest game front to back we’ve ever played. We were equally impressive in the ensuing Hyjinx, leaving many players hoping we hadn’t blown our proverbial load with 3 to 5 games left in our season.
Before we could find out what we had left in the tank, we needed an opponent. When we won our semi-final series, the Cornwall River Rats and Ottawa-Nepean Cardinals semi was still going on, with the River Rats taking the opener 9-3. Cornwall wouldn’t end up needing a 3rd game, winning 2-0 at home three days later to punch their ticket to the Ship.
With the matchup set, the SweatSox found ourselves in an interesting position. After missing the playoffs last year, we definitely had the mindset all season that we were underdogs with nothing to lose; and we were winning. If the Cardinals would’ve taken care of business in the semi’s, we could’ve kept up that charade, after all we lost the season series 2-1 and were outscored 12-8. Against Cornwall though, we were 3-0 (including 2 road trips to Cornwall), outscoring them 10-3. We then started hearing rumours that the River Rats were shorthanded, missing at least their Pitcher of the Year nominee to higher education. Finally, we began hearing from other teams, before the series started, congratulating us on winning the Championship, with messages to the effect of “you might win in 4, if you happen forfeit a game”. While we certainly didn’t believe for a second it would be easy, one thing was perfectly clear: we were the FAVOURITES.
After days of schedule negotiations and weather delays, it was finally time to play ball. Game 1 featured the SweatSox Opening Day starter Josh Ramage vs Tyler St. Denis, who had started for Cornwall in all of their 3 regular season games against us. Fast forward to the bottom of the 7th, where the SweatSox were being shutout 3-0 with just 3 hits. The Bond Brothers each reached base to start the inning, and both would end up scoring before an out was made. In fact, the SweatSox had the bases loaded, with nobody out, down just 1 run…
So Game 1 didn’t exactly go as planned, but we still had a Hyjinx to partake in. It wasn’t long before someone went to the bathroom (see, no pictures!) and brought back some of the helium balloons that were floating near the Annual Sportsplex Automobile Liquidation Sale Bonanza area. Did somebody say HeliumOff?
When we ran out of drinks and gas, it was time to move the party to a warmer location. We decided to go to Boston Pizza and get in on the half price apps. Turns out there were no half price apps, so we went across the street to East Side Mario’s, leaving Mindy in the bathroom to figure the new plan out on her own. At East Sides, we tried to play the trivia game, but apparently SweatSox is not an acceptable name. Somebody should’ve told us that in 1981!
After a Championship game and a two-part Hyjinx, it was time to call it a night and go to sleep, although at least 1 member of the team reportedly did just that, but forgot the part where you go home first. Hope this unnamed sleepyhead would be ready for game two!
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ROCK BOTTOM?
In the history of the NCBL, only once has a team lost the first two games of a Championship series, then come back to win the title; and that of course was the 2000 Nepean Brewers. This meant that if the SweatSox couldn’t win Game 2 vs Cornwall in Cornwall, our chances for our first Tier II Championship were as good as dead. We needed to make sure we started the right person; enter the 2013 Doug Dorion Memorial Trophy winner: Eric White. Eric lived up to the hype, pitching an extra inning complete game, giving up just 5 hits and 2 walks, unfortunately a double from Kent Johnston then an RBI double from Mark Stinson was the only offence we brought with us.
Well, we had a good run. See you in 2014…
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THE TURNING POINT
Two days later Game 3 rolled around, and we didn’t have anything better to do so we figured we might as well play it. John Groves got the ball, but like his Winchester playoff start, he gave up a run to the first batter he faced. Army tied the game up in the 3rd inning, after his leadoff walk led to a SweatSox run. Seconds later, the unthinkable happened, on a wild pitch Denver Hunt tried to score from third, but an extremely favourable bounce led to our second basemen being DOA by 20 or so feet, or was he? Attempting to avoid a collision with the pitcher while somehow still trying to score, the Shostappa failed miserably and ended up on the ground in audible pain.
Hoping Denver was just milking it for the cameraman, it quickly became clear that this was no joke, that Hunt had seriously hurt himself, and we had most likely lost him for the rest of the season.
At that exact point in time we were down 2 games to 0, we just blew a chance at taking our 1st lead of the series, and we lost our all-star second baseman, one might even say the best 2B in the tier, for the forseable future. There was only one positive we could take from all this: we were now officially UNDERDOGS. Let’s do it.
Kent followed the injury play with a hit, then Brownshow got on with a walk. Craig Cornell then scored both of them with a 2-run double. The SweatSox are leading for the first time this series!
With a 2-run advantage, the SweatSox started to relax, in fact Chris Lidstone even took a moment out of his 2B duties to introduce himself to the best RF in the league:
The SweatSox gave a run up in the 4th, and it probably could’ve been a few more if not for some Jordan like ups from our first baseman:
In the 6th inning, the SweatSox were looking for some insurance runs on a 3-2 lead. The Brothers Bond answered the call:
The 3 run lead was more than enough for closer Eric White, who picked up his 3rd save in 3 tries of these playoffs.
The next morning, we got confirmation on the suspected injury Denver suffered at home plate:
#DOITFORDENVER
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BUILDING MOMENTUM
The Cornwall River Rats only brought 8 guys to Kinsmen for Game 4 of the ‘Ship. We brought this guy:
RBI doubles from Eric White, Cory Bond, and Mark Stinson helped lead the offense, while Mark Dorrington pitched a complete game 3-hitter, with 3 walks and 12 K’s.
Holy crap, there’s going to be a Game 5!!!
#WONTHEHYJINX