{"id":4195,"date":"2025-05-15T16:35:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T20:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/?p=4195"},"modified":"2025-05-15T16:44:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T20:44:17","slug":"lumberjacked-sweatsox-chop-down-rivals-7-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/15\/lumberjacked-sweatsox-chop-down-rivals-7-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Lumberjacked: SweatSox Chop Down Rivals 7-2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE TRILL–<\/strong> The SweatSox improved to 2-1 on the season Wednesday night, powering past the Lumberjacks 7-2 at Trillium Park in a rematch of last year\u2019s Tier 3 semi-final. Behind a balanced offensive attack, timely defense, and solid pitching, the SweatSox clawed back from an early 1-0 deficit to hand the short-handed Lumberjacks their second loss of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game didn\u2019t start ideally for the Sox, as the Lumberjacks plated one in the bottom of the first. But the 2024 Finalists responded with seven runs over the next three innings, including a 4-run second that flipped the script for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The offensive spark came off the bat of Phil Leduc, who went 2-for-3 on the night with an RBI double and a run scored. \u201cWe were a bit flat to start, but once Phil got us going in the second, it felt like the bats just followed,\u201d said manager Cory Bond. \u201cHe\u2019s been clutch for us all year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leduc had help. Eric White and Jaspreet Sanghra combined for four hits, five stolen bases, and three runs scored, while Mike Pignat, Andrew Hierlihy, and Mark Bond each added doubles to keep the pressure on Lumberjacks pitching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the mound, Josh Ramage went five strong innings, scattering six hits and allowing just two runs with a pair of strikeouts to earn the win. Eric White came on in relief and was lights out\u2014six up, six down, including four punchouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJosh gave us exactly what we needed tonight,\u201d said Bond. \u201cAnd Eric just slammed the door. That\u2019s a tough duo to hit against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White\u2019s night wasn\u2019t limited to pitching excellence. He (SS), along with Trevor Williams (LF) and Leduc (C), pulled off a perfectly executed 7-6-2 relay from the warning track to gun down a runner at the plate in the 1st. \u201cMike [Pignat] told me after the game he\u2019s going to show that one to his kid\u2019s team,\u201d said Leduc with a grin. \u201cThat\u2019s the kind of cut-off play you draw up and hope happens once a year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramage also flashed some leather, making what would become the Defensive Play of the Game\u2014chasing down a squibbler and backhanding a toss to Larry Pawelek at first. \u201cLarry actually video called me today just to talk about it,\u201d Ramage said. \u201cHe said he didn\u2019t think I had that kind of flexibility and velocity in me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not to be outdone, Kent Johnston added his own highlight with a diving catch in the 2nd that turned into a brief rules seminar. Originally ruled a sacrifice fly, then an out at third on appeal, and eventually reverting back to a sac fly, the play showcased the night\u2019s other major storyline: the umpires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, it\u2019s not easy out there,\u201d said SweatSox skipper Cory Bond. \u201cThere were some tough calls, and they were in a no-win situation at times, but I thought they did a great job managing the game and keeping things calm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lumberjacks manager Corey Valois echoed that sentiment. \u201cThe umpires had their hands full with a few weird plays and some confusion, but they kept it professional and composed. That\u2019s all you can ask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the loss, the Lumberjacks had bright spots. Stephane Lajeunesse battled control issues through three innings before handing the ball off to Tyas Montgomery, who impressed with four solid frames of relief. Starting center-fielder turned emergency-relief-catcher Riley Maude was a standout at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, while Alex Poulin was a vacuum at third, finishing with three assists and two putouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One lowlight for the SweatSox came in the fourth inning when Kent Johnston was doubled off third base with nobody out\u2014a play described by teammate Craig Cornell as \u201cstraight out of the OC Express playbook.\u201d Johnston will have a couple of weeks to think about it, as he embarks on a three-game absence for a trip to the Preakness, followed by a visit to Wendy\u2019s corporate HQ in Dublin, Ohio for a dream of a lifetime tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest of the SweatSox return to action on Tuesday at Southgate, where they’ll face the Orleans Lynx for the very first time\u2014a team led by former SweatSox players John Mendonca (1990\u2019s) and Dave Rotari (2020\u2019s). 6:10pm start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The SweatSox and @LumberjacksNCBL<\/a> must observe a 24-hour cool down period before we can officially comment on this one.

Probably a good thing Stott wasn\u2019t there though.

SweatSox 7. Jacks 2.

WP- Ramage (1-1)
LP- Lajeunesse (0-1)

\u201cDraw one more line and see what happens!\u201d pic.twitter.com\/xNYrHqvzMk<\/a><\/p>— SweatSox (@SweatSox) May 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>