KINSMEN– The SweatSox and Nepean Padres locked horns in a tense back-and-forth battle Thursday night, but the game ended in a rare 5-5 tie after the umpires called the game in the bottom of the eighth inning due to safety concerns. With the result, the season series between these evenly matched squads remains deadlocked at 1-1-1, setting up a must-watch final regular season matchup.
From the first pitch, it was clear this would be a dogfight. The game featured four lead changes, as both teams took turns delivering big hits and crucial defensive plays. The wet, unpredictable conditions added to the drama, with rain intermittently disrupting the rhythm.
“It was one of those nights where anything could happen,” said SweatSox Manager Cory Bond. “Both teams battled hard, and you could see the hunger on both sides.”
The most bizarre moment of the night came in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, two strikes, and the Padres threatening to walk it off, a Padres batter lost his grip on the bat mid-swing. The bat sailed over the visiting dugout, in an incident reminiscent of Pierre Dorion’s infamous airborne equipment moment (but this time it was clearly an accident). The umpires, prioritizing player and spectator safety, promptly called the game.
Both managers agreed with the decision. “It was the right call,” acting Padres skipper Kieran Paliwal said. “Nobody wants to see anyone get hurt.”
Bond echoed the sentiment: “You never want to stop a game like that, but safety comes first.”
A major storyline for the SweatSox was the return of veteran pitcher Martin Trepanier, who made his first SweatSox appearance in nearly a decade. Trepanier threw five innings of sharp baseball, allowing five hits, one walk, and striking out three.
“C’était incroyable d’être de retour sur le monticule”, Trépanier said. “Cela m’a manqué plus que je ne peux le dire. Maintenant, à propos de ces mouches pop… j’y réfléchirai la prochaine fois.”
Eric White followed with two solid innings of relief, keeping the SweatSox in the game with two strikeouts against one hit and one walk.
On the other side, Padres ace Shota Yamamoto showed why he’s one of the league’s top arms, recording an eye-popping 12 strikeouts over seven innings. He allowed 11 hits and five runs, including a towering two-run homer by Mattingly Romanin that became the talk of the night.
“That ball may still be traveling,” joked Bond. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it cleared Swiss Chalet.”
Romanin finished as the SweatSox’s Offensive Player of the Game with two runs scored and a walk to complement his home run. Honourable Menton to the Padres’ Jason Moss-McEachern, who also made his presence felt with a massive homer, though Romanin’s blast outshone it by a significant margin.
Eric White, Mark Bond, and Steve Brown each collected two hits off Yamamoto, showcasing the depth of the SweatSox lineup. Meanwhile, Kent Johnston earned Defensive Player of the Game honors with a season-high four catches in center field, solidifying the outfield when it mattered most.
Fittingly, the “Sweatiest Player of the Game” went to Trepanier. Despite a decade-long layoff, he rose to the challenge against a tough Padres lineup and held his own.
“He’s a gamer,” said Bond. “The SweatSox are better with Martin on the mound.”
The SweatSox also celebrated the return of our “2004 A&W Kamloops International Baseball Game MVP” medal, which had mysteriously ended up in the Bandits’ clubhouse. Josh Ramage was named its first recipient upon its return—for his absence, which some joked prevented the team from losing. Spite tie!
With a 9-8-1 record, the SweatSox will turn their attention to the Barons on Tuesday at Brewer. Both teams have plenty to prove, and the SweatSox will be looking to carry Thursday’s momentum forward.
For now, though, the team will reflect on an unforgettable evening that showcased the competitive spirit of local baseball—and a flying bat incident no one will forget anytime soon.
Final SweatSox vs Padres III Notes/Thoughts:
- Josh will always blame the officiating, in any sport.
- Craig is a traditionalist and prefers classic DP over any of the newer stuff.
- Trep needs my jersey, I need his arm. Trade?
- I, Shaun Keay, am too powerful to ever be cut by the SweatSox, the only thing that can take me out is a routine swing.
- If playing at Trillium is wrong, then Mattingly doesn’t want to be right.
- I’ve been going slingless these days.
- Josh missed the Padres game due to the Arby’s Customer Appreciation Banquet.
- I better start wearing pants to our games so I can get credit for the sits.
- The A&W is back!
- Are NCBL teams signing up for Instagram and Blusky to cleverly circumvent the NCBL’s Social Media Policy?