Kinsmen, Kanata, Ontario, Canada — The 2026 season could not have started much worse for the SweatSox. Fortunately for them, it also could not have turned around much faster.
After stumbling out of the gate and falling behind 4-0 through two innings, the SweatSox erupted for an astonishing 11-run third inning Friday night at Kinsmen, storming back to defeat the Lumberjacks 12-7 in the season opener for both clubs.
What began as a sloppy, uneasy opening night quickly transformed into one of the wildest innings in recent SweatSox memory — an inning that players afterward joked may have “saved the season” before it even had a chance to begin.
The Lumberjacks wasted no time capitalizing on early-season rust. They tagged SweatSox starter Josh Ramage for three runs on four hits in the opening frame, added another run in the second, and had the Sox looking flat and disorganized early.
But in the third inning, everything changed.
The SweatSox sent wave after wave of hitters to the plate, stringing together hits, walks, and loud contact in an offensive avalanche that completely flipped the game. By the time the inning ended, the Sox had scored 11 runs and suddenly held firm control of the contest.
Mike Pignat embodied the team’s turnaround. After opening his season by grounding into a 1-6-3 double play, Pignat rebounded in a big way, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI.
Steve Brown delivered one of the key blows of the inning, lining a two-run single that helped crack the game wide open.
The loudest swing of the night, and the inning, belonged to Andrew “Big Dong” Hierlihy, who launched a wind-assisted three-run homer to deep left field that left no doubt off the bat — or at least no doubt once the wind got involved.
The blast gave the SweatSox dugout life and pushed the momentum fully to the home side.
Phil Leduc quietly put together one of the steadiest offensive performances of the night, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances. That success came much to the dismay of the now 53-year-old Craig Cornell, who was summoned twice to courtesy run for Leduc and appeared progressively less enthusiastic with each trip to first base.
“Can somebody get me some oxygen?” Cornell gasped between innings. “Phil getting on base four times in the first game of the season was not part of my cardio plan.”
The Lumberjacks did not go quietly, however. Riley Maude paced the offence with three hits, including a pair of doubles, while Adrian Stellato opened the game with a leadoff triple, scored three runs, and turned in the defensive play of the game with a leaping grab at shortstop that robbed Hierlihy of another clutch hit.
Former NCBL Operations Committee alpha Brett Stott got the Opening Day start for the Lumberjacks and looked sharp early, keeping the SweatSox off balance and off the scoreboard through two innings before the third-inning chaos unfolded.
“Now that Eric White’s out of the picture, I figured I’d take a run at Tier 3 MVP and Top Pitcher honours myself,” joked Stott afterward. “Thought calling my own number on Opening Day was the best place to start.”
While the SweatSox offence eventually stole the show, Ramage gutted through a difficult but valuable complete-game effort on the mound. The veteran right-hander allowed 13 hits, six earned runs, and four walks while striking out five over seven innings to earn his first win of the season.
With the performance, Ramage made his eighth career Opening Day start for the SweatSox, tying Cory Bond for the most in franchise history.
Bond holds a 6-2 record in Opening Day starts, while Ramage improved to 4-4.
“It’s honestly an honour any time my name is mentioned in the same conversation as Cory,” Ramage said. “He’s our greatest lefty ever, our greatest manager ever, and one of the best baseball minds I’ve ever been around. I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
Ramage also joked that Bond found a fitting way to humble him after last season.
“I appreciated Cory making sure I didn’t get any at-bats tonight as punishment for winning ‘the Murdock,’” he laughed. “Even though I was one of the stronger hitters on the team last year, apparently there are actual consequences for being the last one to pay our fees.”
Defensively, Nick Henderson looked like he had never put the glove away for the winter.
Despite many SweatSox players not having touched a baseball since last year’s playoffs, Henderson was in midseason form at second base, recording five assists and four putouts while stabilizing the infield throughout the night.
Nick credited his offseason wardrobe adjustment for the performance.
“I’ve gotta give a lot of credit to the new Baseball Canada pants,” Henderson said. “The maneuverability, the flexibility — it’s really changed my defensive game.”
Friday also marked the debut of both SweatSox offseason acquisitions.
James Paul, who reconnected with former teammates Josh Ramage and Mark Bond roughly two decades after playing together, impressed offensively in his NCBL debut, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored.
Defensively, however, the transition proved rough at times as Paul committed four errors at shortstop.
“I guess there must be four E’s in the name Jameeees,” he joked afterward.
Meanwhile, Ron “Blackjack” Martelle made his SweatSox debut off the bench and contributed a walk and two runs scored. But according to teammates, his biggest contribution may have been bringing his good-luck charm, Lucky, to the ballpark.
“The more bitches the better,” Larry Pawelek proclaimed.
Martelle, who joins the SweatSox after time with the Red Sox, embraced the opportunity afterward.
“It’s an honour to say I’ve now played for two of the greatest managers in NCBL history,” Martelle said. “First Mike Whittaker, and now Cory Bond.”
In perhaps the strangest statistical note of the evening, Jaspreet Sanghra managed to avoid being hit by a pitch in both his at bats, ending his streak of 69 consecutive games getting plunked.
Unfortunately for Sanghra, opposing teams may have simply evolved their strategy.
While he avoided being hit in the batter’s box, the Lumberjacks instead opted to throw at him while he was running to first base.
“I hope this doesn’t affect my weeding plans tomorrow,” Sanghra wondered.
The SweatSox will look to improve to 2-0 Monday night when they travel to Trillium to take on the Barons in a 6:10 p.m. start.
With Ramage currently standing as the club’s lone established starter, the SweatSox are expected to deploy a bullpen game Monday — and likely every game this season that does not feature Ramage on the mound.
Final SweatSox vs Lumberjacks Notes/Thoughts:
- Josh Ramage is now a 2x Murdock winner! Congratulations.
- Mark isn’t a fan of our red-brimmed hats. It reflects too much in his eyes. It’s too bright of a colour.
- There’s something definitely being laundered over at Baseball Canada with those insane deals.
- What about me? What about Raven?
- When a patient gets difficult, you quone him.
- Ron has knuckle balls and knuckle sandwiches.
- Tonight’s game was the alleged final appearance of the team bag. We’re all on our own now.
- Who was that Duke at Locals, and can he pitch?
- R.I.P. Mattingly’s appendix.
- Kent’s weather “reports” have begun. Thanks, Craig.
- I don’t think Trevor even knows what a jacket is.
- The SweatSox are so old every dive or slide leads to either a concussion or broken bone.
- Josh is a tall boy.
- Phil’s got a pretty cool tourniquet bag.
- Steve is a better hitter when he’s part time.
- Craig uses every inch of that pant.
- Steve is always pre marathoning, but still shows up.
- A good chirper always respects a good chirp, no matter the source.
- Joe Beelen may play for TRV, but he’ll never be truly accepted until he gets rid of his blue belt & undershirt.
- Does Mike’s heated jacket use AA batteries or is it USB-C powered?
- Did Steve’s burnout make it on the Kanata car show Tik Tok?
- Tito may have a son, but we were his boys.
- Tom Toll can never know that Josh, Cory, and Kent miss being Rockets.
- The Neptune’s were a Pinecrest Little League house-league powerhouse during the Desclouds era.
- Sources within the NCBL’s umpire association have confirmed that you only get 1 funny ABS challenge per game.
- 67 is the new 69 ??
#WONTHEOPENER
#WONTHEHYJINX