KANATA/ORLEANS – The SweatSox are heading to the Tier 3 Championship final after a commanding sweep of the Lumberjacks in their best-of-three semi-final series. The second-place SweatSox (14-9-1) took down the fourth-place Lumberjacks (10-13-1) in two games, earning their ticket to face the top-seeded Nepean Padres later this week.
The path to the finals, however, wasn’t quite what SweatSox Manager Cory Bond had envisioned. The SweatSox were initially projected to face the third-place Rockets, a team that has long been a thorn in their side, but the sixth-seeded Coyotes—on a 10-game losing streak entering the playoffs—pulled off a shocking upset in the quarterfinals.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed we didn’t get a chance to face the Rockets,” Bond admitted before the series. “They’ve had our number for years, and it would’ve been extra satisfying to finally get past them. But credit to the Coyotes for shaking things up. We’re focused on the Lumberjacks now.”
Game 1: SweatSox 10, Lumberjacks 6
Sunday’s opener at Kinsmen saw the SweatSox jump out to an early lead thanks to a second-inning grand slam from Mark Bond, putting the team up 7-0. Despite the Lumberjacks clawing back, the early deficit proved insurmountable.
“That grand slam was huge,” said pitcher Josh Ramage, who earned the win with a gritty seven-inning complete game. “I wasn’t at my sharpest today, but the offense had my back, and the defense made big plays when it mattered.”
Ramage allowed six runs on 16 hits, walking three without recording a single strikeout. Lumberjacks starter Tyas Montgomery, throwing against the SweatSox for the umpteenth time, settled in after a rocky start, dominating the final four innings, but the damage was already done.
Offensively, SweatSox catcher Andrew Hierlihy led the charge with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, including two doubles and two runs scored. Nick Henderson, Eric White, Mark Bond, and Kent Johnston also delivered at the plate, each contributing two-hit games to the team’s offensive effort.
On the defensive side, “surprise” starting left fielder Jaspreet Sanghra dazzled, making four highlight-reel catches that kept the Lumberjacks at bay.
SweatSox Consultant Craig Cornell weighed in on the controversial decision behind-the-scenes to start Sanghra over defensive stalwart Trevor Williams. “I’ve watched Moneyball enough to know ‘he gets on base’ is the answer,” Cornell quipped.
After the game, former Red Sox (take a drink) Phil Leduc summed up the team’s mindset moving forward: “The tone has been set. Now let’s get it done in Game 2.”
Game 2: SweatSox 9, Lumberjacks 1
Tuesday’s series-clincher at Heritage was a showcase of SweatSox dominance, who scored a run in the top of the 1st and never looked back. Starting pitcher Eric White delivered a masterful seven-inning complete game, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine.
“I feel like Phil [Leduc] and I are completely in sync right now,” White said postgame. “The chemistry we’ve built is showing on the field.”
The turning point came in the seventh inning when Manager Cory Bond made an unconventional decision to bring in pinch-hitter Josh Ramage—who had been ice-cold at the plate for most of the summer—with the bases loaded. Ramage delivered a clutch two-run single as part of a five-run inning that sealed the victory.
“Sometimes you have to trust your gut,” Bond explained. “The analytics didn’t love the move, in fact, they vehemently protested it, but I believed Josh would come through, and he did.”
Mattingly Romanin led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch. White himself contributed at the plate as well, finishing 3-for-4 with three stolen bases. Center fielder Kent Johnston and second baseman Nick Henderson also chipped in with multi-hit games.
Despite their usual “play-to-win” playoff philosophy, Bond made it a point to give everyone a chance in Game 2, even inserting Consultant Craig Cornell into the lineup after Kent Johnston exited with what he described as a penile-related injury.
The move sparked debate within the team about whether this strategy should continue in the finals…
The series ended on a fiery note as Lumberjacks Manager Brett Stott was ejected following a one-sided heated exchange with the home plate umpire. Stott didn’t hold back, ensuring he got his “money’s worth” before leaving the field, a moment that added extra drama to an already intense semi-final matchup. “I felt everything I said needed to be said, and I stand by it. No regrets.”
Next Stop: The Championship
The SweatSox will face the top-seeded Nepean Padres in a best-of-five championship series starting Friday at 8:00 PM at the Sportsplex. All eyes are on a potential Game 1 pitching matchup between SweatSox ace Josh Ramage and the Padres’ Large Mike.
“It’s been a wild ride to get here,” said Bond. “But this team is ready. Let’s finish the job.”