{"id":4407,"date":"2026-05-12T22:21:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/?p=4407"},"modified":"2026-05-12T22:47:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:47:51","slug":"henderson-martelle-lead-sweatsox-past-barons-at-trillium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/12\/henderson-martelle-lead-sweatsox-past-barons-at-trillium\/","title":{"rendered":"Henderson, Martelle Lead SweatSox Past Barons at Trillium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gloucester High School –<\/strong> The SweatSox made it two wins in as many games Monday night, defeating the Siempre Tequila Barons 8-2 at Trillium Park behind a dominant pitching debut from Ron Martelle and a four-run performance from shortstop Nick Henderson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming off an opening day win over the Lumberjacks, the SweatSox improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Barons dropped to 0-2 following their opening loss to the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visitors wasted little time getting rolling offensively. Henderson opened the game with a leadoff double before Josh Ramage drove him home with an RBI single to give the SweatSox an early 1-0 lead. The offence kept coming in waves, with two more runs in the second, three in the fourth, and another pair in the sixth to steadily pull away from the Barons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henderson was everywhere offensively, finishing with two doubles and four runs scored, while Ramage added two hits and three RBI in another strong showing at the plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what happens when you put me in the lineup,\u201d said Josh Ramage after his first game of at bats this season. \u201cI\u2019m not saying I\u2019m the engine that makes this whole thing go, but I\u2019m also not not<\/em> saying it. The numbers speak for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the mound, Martelle made an immediate impression in his SweatSox pitching debut. The veteran right-hander tossed five strong innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out five without issuing a walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just really thankful for the opportunity,\u201d said Martelle after the game. \u201cThis is a fantastic group of guys and I wanted to come in and do whatever I could to help. I\u2019m glad I was able to produce and give the team a chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Player-manager Cory Bond handled the final two innings, punching out four hitters to slam the door shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just want to find a way to contribute,\u201d Bond said with a smile. \u201cWhether it\u2019s on the bench, in the field, or on the bump, I\u2019m happy as long as I\u2019m helping the boys out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The turning point came in the fifth inning when the Barons appeared ready to climb back into the game. A pair of SweatSox defensive miscues helped the home side load the bases and cut the deficit to four runs, threatening to completely swing the momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, Henderson delivered the defensive play of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racing back into shallow left field, the shortstop stumbled while tracking a blooper, somehow making a falling catch from his backside to end the inning and strand all three runners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was our chance right there,\u201d said Barons manager Josh Primeau during his post-game presser. \u201cYou get the bases loaded against a good team, you\u2019ve got to cash in. We just couldn\u2019t get the clutch hit we needed. Honestly, not having James Clouthier here hurt us too. Somehow that guy always turns into Babe Ruth against the SweatSox whenever anyone other than Josh Ramage is pitching. We missed that tonight\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SweatSox offence also received a memorable contribution from Mike Pignat, who \u2014 after more than a decade of loudly calling his shot before seemingly every at-bat \u2014 finally delivered on the promise Monday night with a \u201ctowering\u201d two-run homer to straightaway center field \u2014 the shortest part of Trillium Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t ask how far, they ask how many,\u201d said Mike Pignat after the game. \u201cAnd now I have one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pignat\u2019s blast nearly plated three runs, but Kent Johnston had been picked off moments earlier after getting caught up in an animated conversation with Barons first baseman Kaghlen Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to sources, Roberts had been telling Johnston about how the Barons allegedly found their new relief pitcher through Facebook \u2014 though not through the NCBL baseball page, but rather an erotic meetup group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moments later, Johnston was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil Leduc earlier suffered a similar fate on the basepaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do or say whatever I need to get the out,\u201d laughed Kaghlen Roberts. \u201cIf I\u2019ve got to tell stories, I\u2019ll tell stories. If I\u2019ve got to dive around like a maniac, I\u2019ll do that too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roberts certainly backed up the trash talk defensively, making two outstanding diving catches at first base as part of an impressive overall showing by the Barons defence. Shortstop Andy Murphy, left fielder Craig Steeves, and reliever Alex Amey also turned in highlight-reel plays that repeatedly robbed the SweatSox of additional offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rookie James \u201cPJ\u201d Paul was one of the biggest victims of the Barons leatherwork, having two rockets turned into outs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought I signed up to play baseball against other old men,\u201d Paul joked. \u201cNot the Steel Curtain of the 70\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Jaspreet Sanghra etched his name into the early-season record books with the SweatSox\u2019 first \u2014 and so far only \u2014 stolen base of the season in the second inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to be leading the team in stolen bases,\u201d Sanghra said. \u201cBut I already know my BFF Eric White is going to show up for like two or three games this year and steal<\/em> the team lead again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind the plate, Andrew Hierlihy quietly battled through one of the tougher catching assignments of the young season, handling Martelle\u2019s dancing knuckleballs and Bond\u2019s sweeping breakers while recording nine putouts, an assist, and a couple of passed balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d seen it all after 40 years of catching,\u201d Hierlihy said. \u201cThen tonight happened. Ron had stuff moving all over the place, Cory was snapping off sweepers \u2014 it was an adventure back there. Both of them were outstanding though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SweatSox will look to stay unbeaten Wednesday night when they travel to Southgate for a 6:10 p.m. matchup against the Coyotes, weather permitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

SweatSox win 8-2 over the Barons.

Ron Martelle picked up his first NCBL win in 1,742 days.

Andrew Hierlihy caught his first knuckleballer after 40+ years of catching.

Phil Leduc and Kent Johnston got picked off at first.

Mike Pignat hit his first HR** since 2010.

**Trillium pic.twitter.com\/33VHplcyic<\/a><\/p>— SweatSox (@SweatSox) May 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>