{"id":4438,"date":"2026-05-26T22:09:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T02:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/?p=4438"},"modified":"2026-05-29T22:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T02:34:05","slug":"larry-pawelek-defies-modern-baseball-plays-all-seven-innings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sweatsoxbaseball.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/26\/larry-pawelek-defies-modern-baseball-plays-all-seven-innings\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Pawelek Defies Modern Baseball, Plays All Seven Innings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JETFORM PARK \u2014<\/strong> The SweatSox and Knights finally met on the baseball diamond again Monday night for the first time since 2004, back when the current core of SweatSox players were battling what was essentially the parents \u2014 and possibly grandparents \u2014 of the current Knights roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Knights had won that last meeting 14-7 more than two decades ago, but this latest chapter ended in a hard-fought 8-8 draw after a chaotic opening three innings and four scoreless frames of survival baseball afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The matchup also featured a battle between two managers cut from the same cloth \u2014 alumni of the famed Tito Frias school of coaching \u2014 with longtime SweatSox skipper Cory Bond squaring off against the young buck Derek Brennan of the Knights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always looked up to Cory and the SweatSox,\u201d Brennan said before the game. \u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to finally play against the two-time defending Tier 3 runners-up. For our group, this is a measuring stick game. We\u2019re trying to prove we belong in the upper tiers and there\u2019s no better team to test yourself against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early on, it looked like the Knights were ready to graduate with honours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Knights came out swinging \u2014 and swinging hard \u2014 piling up 10 hits and 8 runs over the first three innings to grab what appeared to be a commanding 8-1 lead. Aaron Botham set the tone early with an RBI double to deep left, while Oliver Varette, Cory and Mark Bond\u2019s second cousin-in-law, chipped in with an RBI double of his own in the second inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the SweatSox are no strangers to staring at ugly scoreboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trailing by seven runs and down to their final out of the third inning, the Sox erupted for one of the strangest and loudest rallies in recent memory. Ten consecutive SweatSox reached base with two outs, producing seven runs and completely flipping the momentum of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time the dust settled, the score was tied 8-8 and the Knights contingent at JetForm Park suddenly sounded a lot less confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game then transformed entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the offensive fireworks, both teams locked things down defensively over the final four innings, combining for four straight scoreless frames. As tradition apparently dictates after tie games, both teams ended up kissing my (Shaun Keay) sister on the way out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The turning point came once the game settled down, and much of the credit went to a brilliant defensive adjustment from Bond. Searching for a spark, the two-time Tier 3 Manager of the Year had the idea to swap the left side of the infield, moving James Paul to third base and Ron Martelle to shortstop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNobody was technically making errors,\u201d Bond explained. \u201cEveryone was just a step or two off. I wanted to shake things up and try to put everyone in a better position to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move paid immediate dividends. Paul and Martelle both made several key plays late in the game to keep the Knights off the scoreboard and preserve the comeback tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One move Bond never considered, however, was touching Jaspreet Sanghra at second base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanghra turned in a defensive clinic, recording a game-high four assists while using his speed to run down several difficult ground balls that looked destined for the outfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t worried about any wicked hawps at the Stadium,\u201d Sanghra said confidently. \u201cThe better the field is, the better I am, and most importantly the better my body feels the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry Pawelek also anchored the defense at first base yet again, recording a game-high 10 putouts while digging multiple throws out of the dirt to save runners and innings alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it was up to me, I would\u2019ve been subbed out after the second inning like usual,\u201d Pawelek joked. \u201cBut I\u2019m glad Coach kept me in so I could show my son that anything is possible \u2014 even playing seven full innings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the mound, Josh Ramage gutted through his second consecutive start, somehow turning a disastrous beginning into a complete-game tie. Ramage surrendered 12 hits and 8 runs while striking out seven and walking just one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not really sure why Cory left me in after giving up eight quick runs,\u201d Ramage admitted. \u201cHonestly, at that point I wanted Larry to go in for me. But I\u2019m glad Cory believed in me, and I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t make him look stupid in the second half of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offensively, the SweatSox were powered by \u201cDowntown\u201d Steven Brown, who apparently becomes unstoppable the closer he gets to Downtown Ottawa. Brown finished with a team-high three hits, including two doubles, while driving in three runs and scoring twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m getting the hang of this EH thing,\u201d Brown said. \u201cAll I have to do is hit nukes, and chirp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Paul, Phil Leduc, and Larry Pawelek each added two hits during the comeback effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Hierlihy also made headlines when his clearly corked metal bat shattered during an at-bat, immediately placing him in the market for a replacement and perhaps placing the NCBL Operations Committee on alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trevor Williams quickly volunteered for recovery duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI offered to sneak through the JetForm ceilings and recover the bat before the NCBL can inspect it,\u201d Williams said. Hierlihy politely declined, opting to take full responsibility for his actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ron Martelle survived one of the more ambitious cardio sessions of his adult life while scoring from first base on Brown\u2019s third inning double.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad the legs held up,\u201d Martelle said. \u201cIt helped that the ball was crushed and I could just turn on the cruise control at the end there. The greatest thing you can hear rounding third is, \u2018Ease up, you\u2019re good.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Knights received stellar work from opening pitcher Brian Kusiewicz and long reliever Liam Kennedy \u2014 however the Knights opted not to comment on the decisions that were made, or not made, between those appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind the plate, Greg Bono was everywhere for the Knights, blocking what felt like 100 pitches in the dirt while also surviving a memorable collision at home plate involving Phil \u201cHausen\u201d Leduc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Leduc charged toward the plate from 3rd, witnesses reported hearing him yell:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMr. Bono, you’re a great ballplayer, and I’d just like to say: you’re standing on the tracks and the train’s comin’ through, butthead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both players left this encounter unharmed, and in good spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SweatSox now enjoy an extended break before returning to action next Tuesday against the Barons. And judging by recent trends, Josh Ramage is probably making his third straight start whether he likes it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Final SweatSox vs Knights Notes\/Thoughts:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n