{"id":4379,"date":"2026-05-09T18:06:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T22:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/?p=4379"},"modified":"2026-05-09T19:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T23:08:06","slug":"big-dong-big-inning-big-win-sweatsox-open-season-in-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/09\/big-dong-big-inning-big-win-sweatsox-open-season-in-style\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Dong, Big Inning, Big Win: SweatSox Open Season in Style"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kinsmen, Kanata, Ontario, Canada —<\/strong> The 2026 season could not have started much worse for the SweatSox. Fortunately for them, it also could not have turned around much faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

What began as a sloppy, uneasy opening night quickly transformed into one of the wildest innings in recent SweatSox memory \u2014 an inning that players afterward joked may have \u201csaved the season\u201d before it even had a chance to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

But in the third inning, everything changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Mike Pignat embodied the team\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Brown delivered one of the key blows of the inning, lining a two-run single that helped crack the game wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The loudest swing of the night, and the inning, belonged to Andrew \u201cBig Dong\u201d Hierlihy, who launched a wind-assisted three-run homer to deep left field that left no doubt off the bat \u2014 or at least no doubt once the wind got involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blast gave the SweatSox dugout life and pushed the momentum fully to the home side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cCan somebody get me some oxygen?\u201d Cornell gasped between innings. \u201cPhil getting on base four times in the first game of the season was not part of my cardio plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

\u201cNow that Eric White\u2019s out of the picture, I figured I\u2019d take a run at Tier 3 MVP and Top Pitcher honours myself,\u201d joked Stott afterward. \u201cThought calling my own number on Opening Day was the best place to start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

With the performance, Ramage made his eighth career Opening Day start for the SweatSox, tying Cory Bond for the most in franchise history.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Bond holds a 6-2 record in Opening Day starts, while Ramage improved to 4-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s honestly an honour any time my name is mentioned in the same conversation as Cory,\u201d Ramage said. \u201cHe\u2019s our greatest lefty ever, our greatest manager ever, and one of the best baseball minds I\u2019ve ever been around. I\u2019ve got nothing but respect for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramage also joked that Bond found a fitting way to humble him after last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI appreciated Cory making sure I didn\u2019t get any at-bats tonight as punishment for winning \u2018the Murdock,\u2019\u201d he laughed. \u201cEven 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defensively, Nick Henderson looked like he had never put the glove away for the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite many SweatSox players not having touched a baseball since last year\u2019s playoffs, Henderson was in midseason form at second base, recording five assists and four putouts while stabilizing the infield throughout the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick credited his offseason wardrobe adjustment for the performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve gotta give a lot of credit to the new Baseball Canada pants,\u201d Henderson said. \u201cThe maneuverability, the flexibility \u2014 it\u2019s really changed my defensive game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday also marked the debut of both SweatSox offseason acquisitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Defensively, however, the transition proved rough at times as Paul committed four errors at shortstop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess there must be four E\u2019s in the name Jameeees,\u201d he joked afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Ron \u201cBlackjack\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more bitches the better,\u201d Larry Pawelek proclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martelle, who joins the SweatSox after time with the Red Sox, embraced the opportunity afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honour to say I\u2019ve now played for two of the greatest managers in NCBL history,\u201d Martelle said. \u201cFirst Mike Whittaker, and now Cory Bond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Unfortunately for Sanghra, opposing teams may have simply evolved their strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While he avoided being hit in the batter\u2019s box, the Lumberjacks instead opted to throw at him while he was running to first base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope this doesn\u2019t affect my weeding plans tomorrow,\u201d Sanghra wondered.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

With Ramage currently standing as the club\u2019s lone established starter, the SweatSox are expected to deploy a bullpen game Monday \u2014 and likely every game this season that does not feature Ramage on the mound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SweatSox ride an 11-run 3rd inning to take our season opener vs the Lumberjacks 12-7.

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

HR- Hierlihy (1)#Satan<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MrLf8BNtwY<\/a><\/p>— SweatSox (@SweatSox) May 9, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>