The first step was to figure out who was going to start for the SweatSox. We had already used 4 different starters (Ramage, White, Groves, Dorrington) so far in the series, but the games were so close together that nobody was fully rested. This would\u2019ve been a problem in any other year, but the 2013 SweatSox have depth, and we still hadn\u2019t used our GLE Cory Bond in the series. After all our pitchers had warmed up, it was decided for Cory that Cory was the best option; After all, he was the starter for our last Championship clinching game in 2005\u2026<\/p>\n
We also made sure that Craig Cornell batted after Kent Johnston, and Marc Lett batted after Cory. It worked in 2005, it had to work in 2013! In fact, the 1st<\/sup> pairing paid off in the 1st<\/sup> inning: Kent drew a walk then stole a base, then Craig knocked him in on an RBI single. This was a big run, not because it gave us the early lead, but because we knew we were 6-0 these playoffs when we had a lead at some point during the game, and 0-3 when we didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Things took a turn for the worse in the 2nd<\/sup>, when the River Rats put together a 5 run inning, forcing Kent to almost make his 1st<\/sup> career pitching change.<\/p>\n There was no scoring in the 3rd<\/sup> inning, Chris Lidstone did get doubled off from CF though. In the 4th<\/sup> the River Rats would add to their lead with a run off John Groves, they now led 6-1, and Susan Poirier\u2019s pregame prediction was looking like a done deal.<\/p>\n Nothing worth noting in the 5th<\/sup>, in fact the game remained 6-1 River Rats heading into the bottom of the 6th<\/sup>\u2026<\/p>\n Cory got the SweatSox their 2nd<\/sup> run of the game, scoring on an Armando Navarro dirty sacrifice fly to 1st<\/sup> base. Seeing their captain fight to the end inspired Eric & Kent to both get on base, which set the stage for Craig Cornell\u2019s 2RBI single to right-center that scored them both.<\/p>\n THC was on the mound for the SweatSox in the 7th, making his 3rd<\/sup> appearance of the series. After the leadoff woman got on base and was pushed to 2nd<\/sup> on some classic Cornwall small-ball, The Janitor cleaned up his own mess and struck out the next 2 batters. So the task was simple for the SweatSox in the bottom of the 7th<\/sup>, score 2 runs to send the game into extra innings, or 3 to win. Due up in the bottom:<\/p>\n Mark Stinson, subbing for Chris Lidstone, led the inning off and at one point in the at-bat the count was 2-2.<\/p>\n Stinson stayed calm, and drew the biggest walk of the season. The SweatSox had the tying run at the plate.<\/p>\n Bus Cop, who batted .346 in the postseason was up next, and got on base with a single to left.<\/p>\n This was it for Cornwall starter Ryan Daigle, bringing Tyler St. Denis, making his 6th<\/sup> appearance against the SweatSox this season, into the game to face the RBI machines Cory & Marc.<\/p>\n During warmups, there was a mad scramble on the SweatSox sideline to figure out what Cory should do with his at-bat: bunt the tying run to 2nd<\/sup>, or look for his 3rd<\/sup> hit of the game. We then came to a consensus that he should Unfortunately for St. Denis, he struggled with control and 5 pitches & 5 pulled-back bunt attempts later, the winning run was at 1st<\/sup> base.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve been in this situation before, a week earlier in game 1 to be exact; the bases were loaded with nobody out and we got no runs. Lidstone & Elias couldn\u2019t get it done then, but they don\u2019t have the inner strength of an OM like Marc Lett, who was now up does. First pitch was a called strike. Second pitch was a swinging strike.<\/p>\n The 3rd<\/sup> pitch will forever be known as: The Shot Heard Round the NCBL:<\/p>\n So, just to recap, the SweatSox win the Tier II Championship off a Marc Lett walk-off Grand Slam. Enjoy the celebration:<\/p>\n I have no idea who hosted the Apr\u00e8s Baseball Hyjinx, but there was beer, and there was lots of it.<\/p>\n The Hyjinx was extra special for MVP Eric White, who finally got to meet his new best friend, the Doug Dorion Memorial Trophy, handed over by last year’s MVP Cory Bond. Speaking of Eric & Cory, not only were they the only players to play in all 24 of the SweatSox regular season games, they were the only 2 SweatSox to start all 10 of our playoff games. Take care of him White.<\/p>\n The rest of the night was pretty predictable, Denver had a wheelchair beer spill:<\/p>\n Mindy cuddled with the Tier II Championship trophy in the trunk of her car:<\/p>\n This unnamed hooded man spent some quality time with the trophy:<\/p>\n A bunch of SweatSox kissed the trophy:<\/p>\n The entire team Eiffel Tower’d the trophy:<\/p>\n And of course we gave the trophy a hat and a beer:<\/p>\n We’d like to thank everyone who reached out to us via Twitter after word of our victory spread:<\/p>\n And just like that the season was over. Until next time.<\/p>\n![\"2013finalsgame5lineups\"](\"http:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2013finalsgame5lineups.png\")
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