This past Monday night, for the first time this season, the SweatSox (4-3) and Braves (1-3) faced off at the Sportsplex. Hoping to avoid dropping to .500, we turned to our opening day starter, the SweatSox GLE Cory Bond, who hasn’t lost a game since June 3, 2013.
It wasn’t an ideal start for the soon to be WLE, who was chased from the game with just one out in the first after walking 4 Braves, hitting 1 of them, while giving up 2 hits and 5 runs. CBond took full responsibility and remained positive, reminding the team that there was still 6 2/3 innings to go and to not give up.
Eric White threw the final 20 outs without giving up a single run. He allowed just 2 hits while striking out 9, and gave the SweatSox every chance to come back & win. Led by Whitey’s on field leadership, and The Authority’s off field positivity, we managed to claw back with single runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th innings, then tied it up in the 5th after RBI’s from Marc Lett and Mark Bond.
In the 6th inning with two outs, the bases loaded, and with the Brewers and ghost of Geoffrey Magnus watching from the stands, the SweatSox took the lead after a Cory Bond two-run single. Positivity always pays off. SweatSox win 7-5.
The co-winners of the 2004 A&W Kamloops International Baseball Game MVP Award, that Craig Cornell may or may not still have, are: Eric White and Marc Lett. The Janitor mopped up yet another mess, throwing 6 2/3 innings of 0 run, 2 hit, 9 K ball to pick up the win; he also had 2 hits and 2 runs scored at the plate.
OML had himself a great day at the plate as well, with 2 hits and 2 RBI. On defense, he caught the 21 outs with what we’ve recently learned is a life ending injury (keep reading for details), threw a base runner out with that same injury, and caught a tough foul ball at the backstop. The injury had nothing to do with the catch; it’s just rare to see those ones caught.
SweatSox 7. Braves 5. Final.
WP- White (2-1)
LP- StephensNo hashtags tonight. pic.twitter.com/H6ZhxodvlA
— SweatSox (@SweatSox) June 2, 2015
The Après Baseball Hyjinx was hosted by Kent Johnston, who brought many, many litres of beer for the team to enjoy, but hopefully not regret 2 days later. After enjoying some victory beers, victory nuts, and victory cigars, the SweatSox started getting ready to continue the Hyjinx elsewhere. Meanwhile, a few Braves were still hanging around in their section of the parking lot, and after having just played against them I now believe I know why they were still there.
The Braves have always been a tough opponent not just on, but off the field. We’ve always thought it was because they were a seasoned group of veteran drinkers, but I now believe the answer is much more simple. We studied the Braves circle before we left, and can confirm that just as if they were batting, after every sip of beer each Brave has to stand up, look at their coach for the take or drink sign, clean off their chair, sit back down, and then take another swig. Rinse & repeat a couple thousand times and of course you can outlast us, we’d be surprised if you weren’t still there at sunrise. See you guys in July. #whatsoldisneworborrowedorblue?
Braves score 5 in the 1st…and lose 7-5..but outlast Sox in the parking lot#winsomelosesome
— Ottawa Braves (@Ottawa_Braves) June 2, 2015
The SweatSox Slo-Mo Video of the Day: An empty beer can gets stomped on. You won’t see something like this anywhere else folks:
Once all cans were properly disposed of and the team split up into the “Part 2ers” and “Go-Homers”, Eric White (a would be Go-Homer) wondered if it would be possible for someone to drive him to the bus stop. Instead, he was presented with a counter offer: be a Part 2er, and walk the walk by setting a new SweatSox Hyjinx record with 50 wings eaten in a single sitting. If he could do it, not only would he earn a free ride home, Marc Lett would pay for his meal, and the team would give him a bonus 2004 A&W Kamloops International Baseball Game MVP award to cash in whenever he likes.
The Human Cockroach accepted the challenge, conquered the challenge in record time, and then for good measure ate the challenge too. Eric is a lean, mean, eating machine; Mrs. Eric 2015 is a real lucky girl…
Broment of the Day: Marc Lett turns the table on the customary drinker-drink relationship, and lets the drink drink him:
Speaking of Marc Lett, it’s my sad duty to report that we’ve lost the man who hit the most clutch homerun in the history or organized baseball. Very early in the first inning, OML was in obvious pain after blocking a pitch in the dirt, with this thumb. With only 9 SweatSox in attendance and his thumb twice it’s usual size, Lett had no choice but to suck it up and carry on.
Tuesday morning, instead of visiting our own team doctor (Elias), Lett used the contacts made during the SweatSox-Panthers Alliance and got checked by a Tier 1 physician, former Panther Dr. Ho. Diagnosis: broken thumb. Prognosis: negative. #RIP
Today’s SweatSox Phrase That Pays: strike zone
Final SweatSox vs Braves Notes/Thoughts:
- I miss my blind travel buddy
- Brian Samuel has jumped a few fences in his day
- SweatSox caught stealing home in recent memory: Armando Navarro, Marc Lett
- John Groves tried to steal one of Craig Cornell’s balls
- Kent Johnston made a really nice over the shoulder leaping catch in CF
- 2005 Kent Johnston would’ve been much quicker and been in position to catch it routinely
- Ottawa Deuces Kent Johnston wouldn’t have caught the ball since he would’ve been in RF (and out of position)
- The SweatSox are 1-0 this year when they have a pregame team stretch in RF
- The SweatSox are 1-0 this year when we give up 5 runs in the 1st inning
- The SweatSox are 3-0 this year when Cory Bond is the starting pitcher
- The SweatSox are 6-0 since 2013 when Cory Bond is the starting pitcher
- MinderStone Ruffo said she was going to be there, she never showed
- Josh Ramage said he was going to be late, he never showed
- The SweatSox have had 0 ejections this year
- Ross Hughes is now Marc Lett’s designated pants puller upper
- Eric White is now King of the Wing
- Charlene made sure we left the bar minty fresh
Boxscore from Game 8 vs Braves:
Next up for the SweatSox is our third and final matchup with the Orioles this Sunday night at Brewer. Ross Hughes is scheduled to start the game, while Mark Stinson is scheduled to catch that, and every game for the next 4 weeks.
#THEBALLWASTHERE