The 2022 NCBL Banquet is hours away, but we’re kicking NCBL Trophy Time off early with 69 Awards that most definitely won’t be handed out tonight.
Batter of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, MVP; we’ve been there, we’ve done that.
Feud of the Year, Upset of the Year, Beelen of the Year; this is the stuff you really want to see.
LFG!
1. Greatest Championship Clinching Play
The 4 NCBL Championships were all clinched in different ways, but which one was the greatest?
The Nominees are:
- Shawn Hopewell catches fly ball to center
- John Mahoney RBI single to right
- Brendan Ellingham strikes out one of the Shaw’s
- Joe Beelen pops out to second base
Catching an easy pop-up/fly-ball has been done a million times, and anyone can hit a single. But striking out one of the best hitters on the best teams to win it all doesn’t happen too often.
WINNER: Brendan Ellingham strikes out one of the Shaw’s
The @ReapersBSBL Championship clinching out…#REAPERSvsHEAT#NCBLplayoffs pic.twitter.com/V3PyZRWiqi
— SweatSox (@SweatSox) October 13, 2022
2. Fastest Man in the NCBL
The Fastest Man is an award given to the most efficient baserunner in the NCBL. Our proprietary equation determines who this is by factoring in the total number of stolen bases, number of times caught stealing or picked off, and of course overall speed.
The Nominees are:
- Justin Mombourquette (Cubs)
- Justin McCauley (Red Sox)
- Eric White (Sweat Sox)
- Shawn Curran (Bandits)
It was a close battle between Tier 3’s Eric White and Tier 4’s Shawn Curran, but Eric was picked off once, and was technically caught stealing that time when he walked back to 2nd thinking there was a foul ball. Turns out that lack of focus cost him more than just that stolen base.
WINNER: Shawn Curran, aka the Fastest Man in the NCBL
3. Tier 3 Manager of the Year
There’s no official NCBL award for Manager of the Year in Tier 3, even though there’s way more on-field managing in Tier 3 than there is in Tier 1, where there is an award.
The Nominees are:
- Cory Bond (Sweat Sox)
ColleenGary Embury (Heat)- Connor Gray (Reapers)
- Thomas Toll (Rockets)
NOTE: Colleen Embury was not eligible, since she was only manager for the Heat’s last 4 games.
He led his team to the promised land, and upset the pennant winning Heat.
WINNER: Connor Gray (Reapers)
4. The Greatest Righty Ever
The Greatest Righy Ever is a title given to the right handed pitcher that continuously exemplifies what it means to be a right handed pitcher over the course of their career. This award was voted on only by right handed pitchers.
The Nominees are:
- Mike Bayley (Rockets)
- Geoffrey Magnus (Brewers)
- Brian Merkel (Lumberjacks)
- Adam Oattes (Brewers)
- Brad Richardson (Rockets)
All the greats retire and then un-retire at some point. Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux, Tom Brady. Add one more to the list of people who aren’t ready to give up eternal glory…
WINNER: Mike Bayley
5. The Greatest Lefty Ever
The Greatest Lefty Ever is a title given to the left handed pitcher that continuously exemplifies what it means to be a left handed pitcher over the course of their career. This award was voted on by only left handed pitchers.
- Dave Barnes (Braves)
- Eric Boisvert (Blue Jays)
- Cory Bond (Sweat Sox)
- Marc Charbonneau (Cubs)
- Darren Keating (Braves)
- Nick Lenardon (Rockets)
…AND STILLLLLLL
WINNER: Cory Bond
6. Feud of the Year
For years the Panthers and Brewers dominated this category, but ever since the Panthers folded (aka the biggest W in Brewers history), this award is anyones for the taking.
The Nominees are:
- NCBL vs Rain
- Brett Stott vs Chris Hart
- Joe Beelen vs I, Shaun Keay
- Beckwith Bandits vs the Win Column
The rain was a real bitch at times, but we got the season in. I, Shaun Keay, could’ve been a little more aggressive in my battles with the league censors. And the Win Column somehow lost twice to the Bandits. There was only one 2022 feud with no weaknesses…
WINNER: Brett Stott vs Chris Hart
7. Field of the Year
The NCBL is blessed with many great fields we get to play on. The question was simple, what was the best field this year? If you played in an NCBL game this year, you were eligible to vote.
The Nominees are:
- Kinsmen
- Morgan Field
- RCGT
- Sportsplex
It wasn’t even close.
WINNER: Morgan Field
8. Beelen of the Year
The annual Beelen of the Year award is given to the most dominant Beelen on a baseball diamond that season. This is an award for Beelens by Beelens, so only a Beelen (anywhere in the world, dead or alive) was eligible to vote.
The Nominees are:
- Bill Beelen (Braumeisters)
- Joe Beelen (Los Vampiros)
- Hank Beelen (Braumeisters)
- Matt Beelen (Brewers)
So right away we knew it wouldn’t be Joe, obviously. The voters were clear with their intentions, they wanted to be represented by a champion, so they went off the board and with a write-in candidate…
WINNER: Sid Beelen
9. Josh Ramage’s Umpire of the Year
The NCBL will name an Umpire of the Year this Friday night at the banquet, voted on by the other umpires. Boring. The more prestigious umpiring award is the Josh Ramage Umpire of the Year, voted on by our very own Josh Ramage, who claims to know a good umpire when he sees one.
The Nominees are:
- Christopher Hart
- Sebastien Morrissette
- Daniel Minor
We all expected Josh to go with his Winchester brethren, or maybe even the umpire who taught him how not to balk (by calling him for 2 balks in the same inning), but one umpire stood above the rest. An easy choice, and deserving winner.
WINNER: Sebastien Morrissette
10. Sebastien Morrissette’s Player of the Year
The Seb Morrissette Player of the Year goes to Seb Morrissette’s favourite player, as selected by Seb Morrissette.
The Nominees are:
- Samuel Morrissette (Blue Jays)
- Stephane Morrissette (Blue Jays)
- Josh Ramage (Sweat Sox)
There’s obviously a lot of mutual love here, they might as well be family now…
WINNER: Josh Ramage
11. Best Brayden Cochrane Start vs the SweatSox
The SweatSox played the Winchester Heat 7 times this year, and in 6 of those games Brayden Cochrane got the start (and often the finish) for the Heat. This award goes to the most dominant start Cochrane had against us, as voted on by both the Heat and SweatSox players.
The Nominees are:
- Regular Season Game 1
- Regular Season Game 2
- Regular Season Game 3
- Regular Season Game 4
- Playoff Semi’s Game 1
- Playoff Semi’s Game 3
Cochrane went 5-1 this year against the SweatSox, so it wasn’t easy to choose a winner here. Each start was dominant in their own way, but we all agree he had his best stuff the game his offense gave him 21 runs to play with.
WINNER: Playoff Semi’s Game 1
12. Worst Brayden Cochrane Start vs the SweatSox
The SweatSox played the Winchester Heat 7 times this year, and in 6 of those games Brayden Cochrane got the start (and often the finish) for the Heat. This award goes to the worst start Cochrane had against us, as voted on by both the Heat and SweatSox players.
The Nominees are:
- Regular Season Game 1
- Regular Season Game 2
- Regular Season Game 3
- Regular Season Game 4
- Playoff Semi’s Game 1
- Playoff Semi’s Game 3
Our only win against Cochrane came on opening day, a 2-1 slugfest at the Trill, but that wasn’t his worst start. With our playoff series tied 1-1, the Heat didn’t trust starter #3 against us so they went back to their ace, wasting him in a game they were heavy favourites to win either way, instead of resting him for Games 1, 3, and 5 of the championship series vs the Reapers. He may have won the game, but it was very costly to the Heat’s championship aspirations.
WINNER: Playoff Semi’s Game 3
13. The Joe Beelen’s 2023 Team Award
Ever since he was unceremoniously cut from the Brewers, Joe Beelen has made it his mission to play on every other NCBL team before he retires. This legally binding vote was done to determine where Joe is going to play next year.
The Nominees are:
- Braumeisters
- Team Korea
- The Rassettica Testing Long Thick Dick Orleans Lynx (man that’s a mouthful)
- Sweat Sox
Shit…
WINNER: Sweat Sox
14. Twitter Account of the Year
Most teams have Twitter accounts; some of them even use them properly once in a while. Only 1 can be the best though.
The Nominees are:
- Lumberjacks
- NCBL
- Nepean Brewers
- SweatSox
FUN FACT: It’s not the Brewers. It’s obviously us; we’re so good, teams are switching social media platforms to be as far away from us as possible…
WINNER: Sweat Sox
15. Instagram Account of the Year
In 2022, 2 teams broke away from the NCBL’s Twitter exclusivity deal and expanded their social media presence into Instagram. Both produced great content on this new platform, but one has to be better than the other. To vote for this award, you needed to have an Instagram account, and be following both teams.
The Nominees are:
- Beckwith Bandits
- Cameron’s Misfits
- Rideau Valley Reapers
More followers = winning.
WINNER: Rideau Valley Reapers
16. Tik Tok Account of the Year
Most teams have Twitter, a few now have Instagram, but only 2 have a Tik Tok account. One has to be better than the other. To vote for this award, you needed to have a Tik Tok account, and be following both teams.
- Team Korea
- Braumeisers
The Braumeister content is hilarious, especially that old man in the sauna bit, but they were no match for Team Korea’s K-Pop parodies.
WINNER: Team Korea
17. Website of the Year
Once upon a time, team websites used to be a thing. Without the Diamondbacks site, there’d be no Hyjinx. Without the Old Sox site, there’d be no One Man Show. And without the Tribu site, we never would’ve gotten spammed with all those porn ads. Only 2 sites remain…
The Nominees are:
- NCBL
- SweatSox
All the NCBL site has is scores, schedules, and standings. That’s nothing compared to the content we upload like 5 times a year.
WINNER: Sweat Sox
18. Tier 3 Recruit of the Year
Every year a Tier 3 team recruits a stud to put them over the top. Last year, the Misfits recruited the Athletics, the year before that Team Cuba recruited Cory Bond for the bubble, and the year before that the SweatSox recruited Jaspreet Sanghra (technically he was Eric’s +1, but still). Who was the biggest Tier 3 signing of 2022?
The Nominees are:
- All the Expos (Lumberjacks)
- James Marshall (Capitals)
- Ty Murphy (Rockets)
- Dave Rotari (Sweat Sox)
- Josh Todd (Reapers)
While signing a bunch of the Tier 2 Expos did raise the Lumberjacks up a level in the Tier 3 standings, the Reapers were projected to finish last in the tier until they picked up a former Diamondback, who’s contributions both on and off the field is immeasurable.
WINNER: Josh Todd
19. Tier 3 Suspension of the Year
Many Tier 3 players were suspended for one reason or another this year, this award is presented to the player who got hit hardest with his suspension.
The Nominees are:
- Craig Cornell (Sweat Sox)
- Joshua Todd (Reapers)
- Councillor Matthew Uhrig (Heat)
One guy missed 4 or 5 games in the middle of the regular season, one guy missed 3 playoff games including 2 in the finals, but only 1 missed the ultimate stat padding game against the Coyotes.
WINNER: Craig Cornell
20. NCBL Upset of the Year
It happens all the time in sports: an underdog upsets the heavy favourite. Buster Douglas KO’d Mike Tyson, Team USA beat the Soviet Union, and of course everybody remembers where they were when the Tier 5 SweatSox beat the Tier 1 Kingston Ponies. Which upset was the biggest in the NCBL this year?
The Nominees are:
- Team Korea over Knights (regular season)
- Coyotes over Reapers (regular season)
- Irish sweep Bombers (playoffs)
In every championship run, there’s always a moment when a team hits rock bottom, rethinks life, and moves forward stronger than ever before. Forget the magic Crocs, losing to the Coyotes had to be the turning point of the Reapers season.
WINNER: Coyotes over Reapers
21. SweatSox Baby of the Year
The SweatSox family expands every year. Usually it’s through free agency, but sometimes (like this year), procreation wins out. One baby must stand above the rest though…
The Nominees:
- Callie Hughes
- Gus Bond
- Tate Lidstone
UPSET ALERT: There were 3 SweatBabies born this year, but it was one of our adults that’s taking home the hardware, probably for all the screaming & crying done after an “obvious” strike is called a ball (pitching), or when an “obvious” ball is called a strike (batting).
WINNER: Josh Ramage
22. Pickoff Attempter of the Year
One of the greatest plays in baseball is the successful pickoff move. It can kill a rally, swing momentum, and keep future baserunners honest, all in a single move. This award is presented to the pitcher who threw the most times to a base (whether they were successful in the pickoff attempts is irrelevant).
The Nominees are:
- Dave Rotari (Sweat Sox)
- The rest of the NCBL pitchers combined
He averaged 1.4 pickoff attempts per baserunner per batter this year. The rest of the league averaged 0.0069.
WINNER: Dave Rotari
23. The Eric White of the Year Award
The 2022 SweatSox MVP was Eric White. He was great as a pitcher, a hitter, a baserunner, and a defender (except in game 3 of the semi’s), but which Eric White was the best Eric White?
The Nominees are:
- Eric White the Pitcher
- Eric White the Hitter
- Eric White the Baserunner
- Eric White the Defender
Eric White the Pitcher had many wins, Eric White the Hitter had many hits, and Eric White the defender had many assists; but Eric White the Baserunner shattered the NCBL single season SB record, stealing base after base when everyone and their mother knew it was coming, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
WINNER: Eric White the Baserunner
24. The Eric of the Year Award
There are many Eric’s in the NCBL, but who is the best of the bunch? To vote for this award, your name couldn’t be Eric, nor could you have an E, R, I, or C in your name, just to be safe.
The Nominees are:
- Eric Bekkers (Lumberjacks)
- Eric Boisvert (Blue Jays)
- Eric Huggard (Capitals)
- Eric Lizotte (Rockets)
- Eric Longpre (Irish)
- Eric Robichaud (Mavericks)
- Eric White (Sweat Sox)
Honourable Mention: Erik Bourassa (Reapers)
I was eligible to vote since my name is Shaun, so I can safely say “we” wanted our Eric of the Year to be a winner, and only 1 Eric led his team to an appearance in the finals this year.
WINNER: Eric Boisvert
25. The Josh of the Year
There aren’t as many Josh’s as Eric’s in the NCBL, but with several Josh’s having big years, it was important for everyone to determine who the best one actually is.
The Nominees are:
- Josh Primeau (Barons)
- Josh Ramage (Sweat Sox)
- Josh Soffer (Battalion)
- Josh Stubbings (Heat)
- Josh Todd (Reapers)
- Josh Villeneuve (Cubs)
Many of the Josh’s did great things this year, but only 1 of them led his time to a pennant and a championship, both on the field as a player and behind the scenes as manager.
WINNER: Josh Primeau
26. The Joe of the Year Award
There are many Eric’s, a few less Josh’s, but even fewer Joe’s in the National Capital Baseball League. Did I just make up an award so Joe Beelen can win something?
The Nominees are:
- Joe Beelen (TRV)
- Joe Guthrie (Bandits)
- Joe Majic (Sweat Sox)
- Joe Martel (Bandits)
He just shows up and baseballs…
WINNER: Joe Majic
27. The Cory of the Year
OK, so lots of Eric’s, a few less Josh’s, even fewer Joe’s, but how many “Cory’s” are there?
The Nominees are:
- Cory Bond (Sweat Sox)
Honourable Mention- Corey Valois (Lumberjacks)
WINNER: Cory Bond
28. The NCBL Murdock
The SweatSox Murdock (soon to be renamed Lowry) is awarded each year to the person that pays their fees last. Naturally, the NCBL Murdock is given to the team that pays their fees last.
The Nominees are:
- Blue Jays
- Nepean Brewers
- Rideau Valley Reapers
They were 1 day away from being disqualified from the season, which would’ve ended their championship run before it ever really got started. But Scott Easterbrook finally got his shit together and paid the man.
WINNER: Rideau Valley Reapers
*Shoutout to the Red Sox who paid their fees first. If the SweatSox actually paid fees (we know a guy), we’d win that one every year.
29. Emergency Spare of the Year
In 2022, the NCBL was introduced to the Emergency Spare List, where teams could call someone up at the last minute to ensure they don’t default a game. This list had many unknowns, a few familiar names, and several future NCBL Hall of Famers.
The Nominees are:
- Colin “CK” Kargus
- Alex “Mr.” Lipman
- Pat Lyons
Before the season, Pat Lyons announced he was stepping away from full-time baseball. It was a sad day for him, the league, and most importantly the sport of baseball. The Tier 1 Pirates were hit the hardest by this news, and it was no coincidence that they finished in last place this year, recording 12 fewer wins (7) than they did in their last full season (19).
Fortunately, Pat was able to make it out a few times this year as a spare, and dominated each and every single time.
WINNER: Sir Patrick Lyons
30. Best Larry Pawelek Moment from the 2022 Dodgers Fall Classic
In early October, a team of NCBL All Stars made their way to Clarington, Ontario for the 2022 Dodgers Fall Classic. The semi-finalist Ottawa Sox were led by tournament MVP Lawrence Pawelek (Black Sox, and before that he ran the Dukes into the ground), who hit .690 in the tournament, but that didn’t even make his top 3 moments of the weekend.
The Nominees are:
- Larry throws a no-hitter against the Bowmanville Dodgers
- Larry hits into an 8-3 putout
- Larry gets back to his car after taking a leak at a 401 rest stop, only to find a fully naked Louis Gadbois spread eagle in his front seat
A no-hitter is pretty sweet, and who among us hasn’t seen Louis naked at one point or another, but who has ever seen a clean groundout to the center fielder playing regular depth.
WINNER: Larry hits into an 8-3 putout
31. NCBL President of the Year
Each NCBL tier has a President, certainly one is greater than the rest?
The Nominees are:
- Robert Lay (T1)
- Brian Samuel (T2)
- Colleen Embury (T3)
- John Mendonca (T4)
She will have to relinquish her presidential title now that the Heat are moving up to Tier 2, but she goes out a champion (in this category, not on the field after that Winchester playoff collapse).
WINNER: Colleen Embury
32. Team of the Year
4 Champions, 1 Champion of Champions…
The Nominees are:
- Kanata Athletics
- Sports Aux Puces Red Sox
- Rideau Valley Reapers
- Bytown Barons
A sub .500 regular season team, a team playing in the wrong tier if they’ve won 3 of the last 4 titles, a team that came up from Tier 4, and a Tier 4 team.
WINNER: Rideau Valley Reapers
33. through 68.
Yadda yadda yadda
69. SweatSox Mr. Hyjinx Two Thousand Twenty Two
Mr. Hyjinx is the most prestigious award the SweatSox hand out each year. It goes to the person who best represents what the SweatSox Hyjinx are all about.
The Nominees are:
- Cory Bond
- I, Shaun Keay
- Josh Ramage
It was a 3-way race all season, but only 1 person was there every night until the bitter end, doing what they do best: kick ass and chew bubble gum. And that was the difference.
WINNER: I, Shaun Keay
BIG THANKS to everyone who took part in these award polls, surveys, and questionnaires. As promised, I’ll buy a beer for the first 5 people that manage to take a selfie with me (Shaun Keay) at the banquet, and post it online.
Yours,
Shaun R. Keay