For the first time since #Lettsanity, the SweatSox returned to game action last Thursday in Winchester, facing off against the Winchester Sox in Tier 2 Opening Day action.
It didn’t take long for the SweatSox to pick up where they left off, with leadoff hitter Eric White taking the 2nd or 3rd pitch he saw deep for a wind aided Winchester HR. This is the 2nd time in team history the SweatSox hit back-to-back HR’s, since technically Marc Lett hit a HR in the last official AB before Eric; of course the first time was back on June 30, 2003 when Craig Cornell and Daniel Massey went back-to-back against a Hurricanes team that may or may not have had Bobby Brooks on the bump.
The SweatSox extended the lead by 2 in the 2nd inning when Mark Bond hit a two-run HR, scoring Chris Lidstone who was HBP to start the inning. Add 1 more run to the SweatSox total in the 4th, after a Cornell RBI scored White to extend the Sox lead to 4-0. And then the bottom of the 4th happened…
When Josh Ramage came down with a mild case of the Winchester flu, and John Groves kindly declining the opening day nod, there was only one man who wasn’t scared to start despite the wind blowing out, the short porch, and the fact his throwing hand was recently bit by a dog: The 2013 Tier 2 MVP Eric White. THC had thrown well through 3 innings, giving up only a walk, a hit, and an HBP. In the 4th though, that damn wolf bite became too much to fight through and Eric had to leave the game after the rare HBP/HR/HBP/HBP stat-line. John Groves entered the game in relief, and nearly got out of the inning, but a Nik Paas grand slam capped a 7-run Winchester inning, that sucked the life out of the entire SweatSox roster.
Fortunately, the SweatSox didn’t stay down for long. RBI’s from Armando Navarro and Eric White were the appetizer for the 1st career grand slam for Craig Cornell, who’s offseason investment for a $1,400 hitting apparatus proved to be money well spent. The SweatSox answered the Winchester 7-run inning with a 7-run inning of their own, which ended up being enough to secure the 13-8 opening day win.
Honourable mention goes out to Chris Lidstone who reached base in all 5 of his plate appearances (3/3, HBP, BB) and was overheard during his 7th inning HR trot that he was just a triple away from the cycle. Another HM goes to Mark Bond, who reached base 4 out of 5 times (2/3, 2HBP) and pitched a run-free 7th inning. Cop also had the worst play of the day, being caught in a pointless rundown in the 7th inning, which means he officially wins the first ever regular season “Odlid”, a new game day anti-award.
Shoutout to Cory Bond, who seemed destined for the golden sombrero with 3K’s in 3AB’s through 4 innings, but fought it off with a hit and fly-out. Finally, shoutout to the leader through 1 game for the Sportsmanship & Ability award: Mark Stinson. The Fisherman was spotted complimenting the opposing pitcher’s breaking ball literally mid-pitch, and even gave the home plate umpire full reigns to punch him out in style.
The winner of the 2004 A&W Kamloops International Baseball Game MVP Award is: Craig Cornell. His 6RBI performance not only doubled his RBI total from 2013, but it’s the most RBI’s in a game by a SweatSock since GLE’s 2HR-7RBI game off the Commish back in 2005.
The Après Baseball Hyjinx was hosted back in the city at the Royal Oak, and featured Chris Lidstone eating a saled. Marc Lett ordered Chris’ salad. The cook in the back tossed Chris’ salad. Reports indicate its was neither a Cobb, Caesar, Garden, House, or BIG salad, but in fact a side. Elsewhere at the table, John Groves updated the team on his latest conspiracy theories, including one about how this cat is either a terrorist or part of the Illuminati:
Finally, a PSA to all fans attending SweatSox games this year: do not by tickets from Eric. After talking about 50:50 tickets, evolving that idea to selling 70:30 tickets, then devolving the idea to a 69:31 draw, White thought about selling 50 tickets to fans…just tickets, no prize payout. You’ve been warned.
Next up for the SweatSox is a matchup with the Mudd tonight (Thursday) at the Sportsplex.
A boxscore from the Winchester game can be found by clicking here.
#WONTHEHYJINX