{"id":4147,"date":"2024-09-18T10:17:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T14:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/?p=4147"},"modified":"2025-05-10T22:29:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T02:29:19","slug":"sweatsox-sweep-lumberjacks-to-advance-to-tier-3-championship-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/2024\/09\/18\/sweatsox-sweep-lumberjacks-to-advance-to-tier-3-championship-final\/","title":{"rendered":"SweatSox Sweep Lumberjacks to Advance to Tier 3 Championship Final"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KANATA\/ORLEANS<\/em> – 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The path to the finals, however, wasn\u2019t 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\u2014on a 10-game losing streak entering the playoffs\u2014pulled off a shocking upset in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said I wasn\u2019t disappointed we didn\u2019t get a chance to face the Rockets,\u201d Bond admitted before the series. \u201cThey\u2019ve had our number for years, and it would\u2019ve been extra satisfying to finally get past them. But credit to the Coyotes for shaking things up. We\u2019re focused on the Lumberjacks now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game 1: SweatSox 10, Lumberjacks 6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat grand slam was huge,\u201d said pitcher Josh Ramage, who earned the win with a gritty seven-inning complete game. \u201cI wasn\u2019t at my sharpest today, but the offense had my back, and the defense made big plays when it mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the defensive side, \u201csurprise\u201d starting left fielder Jaspreet Sanghra dazzled, making four highlight-reel catches that kept the Lumberjacks at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SweatSox Consultant Craig Cornell weighed in on the controversial decision behind-the-scenes to start Sanghra over defensive stalwart Trevor Williams. \u201cI\u2019ve watched Moneyball enough to know \u2018he gets on base\u2019 is the answer,\u201d Cornell quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the game, former Red Sox (take a drink) Phil Leduc summed up the team\u2019s mindset moving forward: \u201cThe tone has been set. Now let\u2019s get it done in Game 2.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game 2: SweatSox 9, Lumberjacks 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like Phil [Leduc] and I are completely in sync right now,\u201d White said postgame. \u201cThe chemistry we\u2019ve built is showing on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The turning point came in the seventh inning when Manager Cory Bond made an unconventional decision to bring in pinch-hitter Josh Ramage\u2014who had been ice-cold at the plate for most of the summer\u2014with the bases loaded. Ramage delivered a clutch two-run single as part of a five-run inning that sealed the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes you have to trust your gut,\u201d Bond explained. \u201cThe analytics didn\u2019t love the move, in fact, they vehemently protested it, but I believed Josh would come through, and he did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite their usual \u201cplay-to-win\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move sparked debate within the team about whether this strategy should continue in the finals\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t hold back, ensuring he got his “money\u2019s worth” before leaving the field, a moment that added extra drama to an already intense semi-final matchup. \u201cI felt everything I said needed to be said, and I stand by it. No regrets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next Stop: The Championship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019 Large Mike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a wild ride to get here,\u201d said Bond. \u201cBut this team is ready. Let\u2019s finish the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Congrats, gents! Was a great series. All the best in the finals!<\/p>— Ottawa Lumberjacks (@LumberjacksNCBL) September 18, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>