Ottawa, ON– On a picturesque Sunday afternoon at Ottawa Stadium, once voted the second-best stadium in the 613 area code behind only The Morgan, the SweatSox put on a clinic against the Siempre Tequila Barons, cruising to a 17-4 mercy-rule victory. The win secured the SweatSox a bye in the upcoming Tier 3 playoffs as the #2 seed.
The SweatSox, finishing the season 14-9-1, delivered their most explosive offensive performance since 2022, when they scored 20 against the Coyotes (the Cornell suspension game), which also happened to be a 13-run victory.
“We’re playing our best baseball of the season,” said SweatSox manager Cory Bond. “This group has been locked in, and today’s result is proof of that.”
The SweatSox got off to a solid start, leading 6-1 after three innings behind a stellar outing from starting pitcher Mark Bond. Cop threw three innings of no-hit baseball, allowing one run on a walk while striking out three. Cory the Authority’s tactical handling of the pitching staff ensured the Barons never found a rhythm, with Josh Ramage and Eric White each contributing a shutdown inning in front of the sellout crowd.
The TSN Turning Point came in the fourth inning when the Barons, trailing 6-1, turned to their bullpen. Reliever Edgar Gosselin was unable to stem the tide, giving up 10 runs on six hits and four walks in just two-thirds of an inning. The SweatSox capitalized on every opportunity, sending a packed Ottawa Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Steve Brown led the offensive barrage, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. “It’s easy to hit when you’re surrounded by guys who get on base and give you opportunities,” Brown said.
Mattingly Romanin also shone, both at the plate and in the field. Romanin went 2-for-2 with a double, a sacrifice fly, five RBIs, and two runs scored. His three-run double in the fourth, immediately following a questionable intentional walk to Eric White, effectively sealed the game.
“We weren’t going to let Eric White beat us,” admitted Barons second baseman James Cloutier, a former teammate of White on the Metcalfe Mudd. “We’d never hear the end of it.”
Romanin’s defensive wizardry at shortstop earned him Defensive Player of the Game honors, highlighted by four high-difficulty assists. “It’s amazing what Mattingly can do on a properly groomed field,” said his #1 fan Henry Goulburn. “No offense to Trillium or Southgate.”
Special shoutout to Larry Pawelek, who was named the Sweatiest Player of the Game—not for his on-field performance, but for his off-field heroics in persuading a parking lot attendant to waive all parking tickets for SweatSox players. “Nobody says no to Larry,” said longtime teammate Andrew Hierlihy. “The man’s a legend.”
The game also marked a milestone for plate umpire Neal Phadnis, who officiated his 500th career NCBL game. Both teams congratulated him during a mid-game ceremony hosted by base umpire Mark Keeping.
The win extends the SweatSox’s lifetime series dominance over the Barons to 10-0. Despite the loss, Barons manager Josh Primeau was upbeat. “We’ve got to figure out those darn SweatSox next year before the Lynx and Gladiators do,” Primeau joked. His Barons currently sit at 8-13 with 3 games to go.
With their offense firing on all cylinders and pitching staff sharp, the SweatSox head into the playoffs full of confidence, but wary of the challenges a bye week, or two, might bring.
“Our biggest opponent now might be the layoff,” admitted the Sox Skipper. “But this team’s ready for anything.”
The SweatSox will await the results of the quarter-finals to find out who they’ll face in the semi-finals. If Sunday’s game is any indication, their opponents will need to bring their A-game.
Final SweatSox vs Barons IV Notes/Thoughts:
- What ever happened to Dave Duchene?
- 3 banks in 3 days, what could go wrong?
- When the 3rd person shows up to Summerhays, it’s no longer a loser party.
- You’ll never see me swimming in Renfrew County’s Cochrane Creek. Too dangerous.
- Sometimes, you just have to slow down in life and enjoy it.
- If a praying mantis accidentally upsets Trevor, the mantis will bite its own head off in disgust.
#GOTTHEBYE