EAST KINSMEN- The SweatSox turned a nail-biter into a slugfest on Thursday night at Kinsmen, erupting for an eight-run seventh inning to defeat the Coyotes 14–8. The victory pushes the SweatSox to 6–4 on the season as we head into the Canada Day break.
The Coyotes seemed to have the game under control through six innings, leading 8–6 behind a strong start from Jonny Trafford, who scattered eight hits and allowed just three earned runs. But a controversial decision to replace Trafford with reliever Tristan Haman to start the seventh proved disastrous. Haman failed to record an out as the SweatSox lineup erupted, stringing together timely hits and capitalizing on Coyotes miscues to take a commanding six-run lead.
Josh Ramage, who entered in the fifth inning for the SweatSox, was masterful in relief, throwing three scoreless innings. Ramage allowed just two hits, struck out three, and kept the Coyotes off the board when it mattered most, earning him the win.
“It was a gritty team win,” said SweatSox manager Cory Bond. “Ramage was lights out on the mound, and our bats came alive when we needed them most. That’s SweatSox baseball.”
Mark Bond was the star of the night, both at the plate and in the field. Bond went 2-for-2 with a triple, a sacrifice fly, and four RBIs, while also anchoring the defense with three assists and five putouts playing both shortstop and first base. Teammate Kent Johnston also contributed with three RBIs, a hit, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch.
“It felt great to contribute on both sides of the ball,” said Cop. “Everyone stepped up tonight, and that seventh inning was just pure fun to be a part of.”
The SweatSox also had to overcome an injury scare when I, Shaun Keay left the game mid-at-bat during the third inning after tweaking my elbow on an otherwise routine swing. While I am still in a tremendous pain, early indications suggest I won’t miss any time and should be back in the lineup next Wednesday against the Lumberjacks.
For the Coyotes, Trafford’s strong start went to waste, and Haman’s inability to stop the bleeding in the seventh sealed their fate. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Coyotes, who had looked poised to hand the SweatSox their fifth defeat of the season.
The SweatSox now head into the holiday weekend riding high, ready to take on the Lumberjacks next Wednesday. With momentum on their side and a balanced attack firing on all cylinders, this team is proving they’re a force to be reckoned with in the Tier.
Final SweatSox vs Coyotes Notes/Thoughts:
- It’s impossible to be hungover after a 1.25:1 beer to person ratio night.
- The SweatSox Gout House rotates between Kent’s and Steve’s.
- Somehow the new Trillium tarp makes everything worse.
- There is no scenario where Bill tries to fix Trillium after a storm, even he knows the limits of his power.
- Mark Bond will never get confused for Mark Keeping.
- Andrew is not a Drew.
- Per Josh Ramage, all SweatSox changes need to be approved by a Josh. Ramage, Primeau, Soffer, either or.
- Craig has been on the team so long that when he wants to start a game, he starts the game.
- Add the Coyotes to the list of teams that play the “home team card” re: dugouts.
- We needed somebody to reset the tone after the Trillium beer fiasco, and that someone was Cop? but really it was Trevor (aka the King Amongst Peasants).
- If Josh K. Ramage is the ass manager, Kent is definitely out.
#WONTHEHYJINX